Discover our best places to stay in Los Angeles for a weekend. Los Angeles is one of the most visited cities in California and the United States. Unfortunately, Los Angeles is also known for its traffic jams, long distances, and bad public transportation. Thus, choosing well-located accommodation is crucial in Los Angeles. Find the best neighborhoods for a first trip to Los Angeles and lovely places to stay on a budget.
- For a first trip to Los Angeles
- If you come to Los Angeles without a car
- For a romantic stay
- Places to stay in Los Angeles with family
- Budget accommodation
- Best neighborhoods in Los Angeles
- Areas to avoid
1. Best hotels for a first-time stay in Los Angeles
Hollywood and Santa Monica. If you are looking for where to stay in Los Angeles for a first trip, the best neighborhoods are Hollywood and Santa Monica. Travelers choose Hollywood to visit Los Angeles and its must-sees and Santa Monica for its beautiful sunsets and beaches.
Mama Shelter Los Angeles: a lovely hotel in the heart of Hollywood with private parking. The decoration is perfect, and the location is excellent for visiting Los Angeles. There are rooms for 2 or 3 people.
Hollywood Celebrity Hotel: a hotel that offers excellent value for money. This hotel is located in Hollywood, within walking distance of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Hollywood Roosevelt: located in Hollywood, a stone’s throw from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this hotel is a charming place for couples to stay in Los Angeles.
Huntley Santa Monica Beach: This hotel is located on the beach and offers rooms with an ocean view for 2, 3, or 4 people. Its location is ideal for enjoying the sun and the beaches of Los Angeles.
Where to go out in Los Angeles? Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Downtown, and West Hollywood are neighborhoods where you can dine or drink. Our blog post, What to do in Los Angeles, outlines the 20 best things to do in LA.
2. Where to stay in Los Angeles without a car?
Downtown. Downtown LA is one of the best places to stay in Los Angeles without a car. Here is our selection of the best accommodations for a first trip to Los Angeles without a car.
citizenM Los Angeles Downtown: Located right in the city center, this hotel is close to subway stations and interesting places to discover in Los Angeles. It is a perfect place to stay in Los Angeles without a car as a couple or alone.
Freehand Los Angeles: an excellent hostel where you can stay in Los Angeles without a car to party, meet people, and visit the city’s must-sees.
Kawada Hotel: located not far from public transport and the metro, this hotel offers affordable rates for cheap accommodation in Los Angeles.
3. Best neighborhoods and hotels for a romantic stay in Los Angeles
Where to stay in Los Angeles for couples? Santa Monica, Malibu, and Beverly Hills are the best places to stay for a couple in Los Angeles. Santa Monica and Malibu offer beautiful landscapes and unforgettable sunsets. In comparison, Beverly Hills allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of one of the most legendary districts of Los Angeles.
Palihouse Santa Monica: an excellent hotel where to stay in Los Angeles as a couple! The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the beach at the foot of Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels, is perhaps one of the finest hotels in Santa Monica. This lovely hotel will make your stay in Los Angeles unforgettable.
Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills: This hotel has decent rates for Beverly Hills. It is a perfect hotel for couples to stay in Los Angeles.
Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills: located in Beverly Hills, this luxurious hotel offers a magnificent setting for a couple to stay in Los Angeles.
Malibu Beach Inn: a beautiful beachfront resort facing the ocean! What more? It is one of the best places to stay in Los Angeles for visiting and enjoying the beach and the sun.
4. Hotels to stay in Los Angeles with family
Santa Monica. Of course, the Santa Monica district is among the best neighborhoods to stay in Los Angeles with your family. Here, you face the ocean and can enjoy the Californian sun. Accommodation rates in Santa Monica are generally higher than rates in Downtown Los Angeles.
Santa Monica 2 Bed/ 2 Bath: This spacious apartment for a family of 4 is ideally located in Santa Monica. The big plus: parking is available on site. It is an excellent place to stay in Los Angeles for an enjoyable family vacation!
Luxury, Hollywood Walk of Fame: located in Hollywood, just steps from Hollywood Boulevard, these apartments are a fantastic place to stay in Los Angeles with family.
Venice Suites: located on Venice Beach, on the beach, this hotel is an excellent place to stay in Los Angeles with family.
5. Budget hotels to stay in Los Angeles
You can find affordable accommodation in these Los Angeles neighborhoods: Downtown, Venice Beach, and sometimes Hollywood. Discover our selection of the best cheap places to stay in Los Angeles on a budget.
American Hotel: an excellent value-for-money hotel located in downtown Los Angeles.
Orange Drive Hostel: an excellent and affordable place to stay in Los Angeles on a budget, close to the Dolby Theater and the Walk of Fame. An outstanding value for money.
Banana Bungalow Hollywood Hotel & Hostel: a fantastic hostel in Hollywood! Here you will find beds in dormitories and rooms for 2 people.
Little Tokyo Hotel: also located Downtown, this hotel offers double or twin rooms with shared bathrooms. The cheap rates for this accommodation allow you to stay in Los Angeles on a budget.
Samesun Venice Beach: located in Venice Beach, close to the beach, this hostel offers rooms for 2 people and bunk beds in dormitories.
6. Best areas to stay in Los Angeles
The best areas to stay in Los Angeles are Hollywood, West Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Venice Beach, Malibu, and Silver Lake.
By the ocean! The best places to stay in Los Angeles’s beaches are Santa Monica, Malibu, and Venice Beach.
Hollywood: probably the most visited place in Los Angeles
Hollywood is home to many of Los Angeles’s must-see places, which is why many travelers stay in this area, especially for a short stay. Here are some outstanding accommodations.
Dream Hollywood: a 4-star hotel with a rooftop pool! Located not far from the Mentor but also the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this hotel is a well-located place to stay in Los Angeles.
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood: cool decor, good location, rooftop pool!
Downtown: the best area to stay for a weekend in Los Angeles
Downtown is the best area to stay in Los Angeles without a car. Choosing accommodation close to public transport will facilitate your travels during this trip. On average, accommodation prices are lower Downtown compared to other neighborhoods such as Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Malibu.
Sheraton Grand Los Angeles: a hotel in downtown Los Angeles that could suit for a couple or family stay.
Omni Los Angeles Hotel California Plaza: this 4-star hotel offers spacious, comfortable rooms. Parking is available on-site.
Santa Monica: stay in Los Angeles near the ocean
Among the most famous neighborhoods in Los Angeles is Santa Monica! This neighborhood is right by the ocean. Here, you will enjoy stunning Californian sunsets, the sun, and the beach.
Channel Road Inn, A Four Sisters Inn: This guesthouse is located in Santa Monica within walking distance of the beach.
Oceana Santa Monica, LXR Hotels & Resorts: a 5-star hotel in Santa Monica. The setting is charming and intimate. Traveler reviews are praising.
West Hollywood: best place to party in Los Angeles?
West Hollywood is where you will find many places to hang out. This is one of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles to stay in, enjoy the nightlife, and party.
The Charlie West Hollywood: a charming place to stay in Los Angeles as a couple.
Palihotel Melrose: Located in the Melrose shopping district, this hotel is a good place for a romantic getaway in West Hollywood.
Beverly Hills: legendary neighborhood
You certainly know Beverly Hills by name or Zip Code 90210. This legendary neighborhood is one of the best areas to stay in Los Angeles. However, accommodation rates in Beverly Hills remain among the highest in Los Angeles.
Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel: this 5-star hotel offers a magnificent setting for a stay in Los Angeles as a couple or with the family. You will love your trip!
Venice Beach: an alternative to Santa Monica?
Located close to Santa Monica, Venice Beach is less famous and luxurious. Here, you will find accommodation at more affordable prices than in Santa Monica while enjoying the beach and the sun.
STAY OPEN Venice Beach: located on the beach, this hostel offers beds in dormitories at very affordable rates. It is an excellent cheap place to stay in Los Angeles on a budget.
Hotel Erwin: a 4-star hotel that offers spacious rooms for 2, 3, or 4 people. The hotel is located close to the beach.
Malibu: the most beautiful sunsets?
Located 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Malibu is one of the most famous places in California. Accommodations in Malibu that face the ocean have relatively higher than average rates.
The M Malibu: This motel offers reasonable rates for staying in Malibu.
Echo-Park
Echo Park is not the best area to stay in Los Angeles for a first trip. However, this district can be considered if you want cheap (and less bling-bling) accommodation. Larchmont Village, Silver Lake, and Hermosa Beach can also be good alternative places to stay in Los Angeles.
The Lexmar – Dodger Stadium Hollywood: A motel in Echo Park that offers rooms at affordable rates for Los Angeles.
7. Areas to avoid in Los Angeles
In Downtown, the Skid Row and South Central neighborhoods should be avoided. You must also take precautions in the most touristy areas such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, or Santa Monica. For example, take care of your belongings, especially in the evening. But overall, these neighborhoods are not dangerous, despite the significant presence of homeless people (like everywhere in California).
The most touristic areas of Los Angeles are Hollywood and Santa Monica. In Hollywood, you will find luxurious hotels and hostels offering affordable prices. Downtown Los Angeles is an excellent place to stay without a car to visit Los Angeles.
