I’m ready for my close-up, Mr. Teeming Millions. My family is going to fly to LA in several weeks. We’re going to spend two days in Hollywood hitting the clichèd highlights (Walk of Fame, pix with the famous sign in the background, Warner Bros studio tour, Graumann’s Chinese Theater) and then drive up to San Francisco for a couple more days visiting family. Can anyone recommend a non-dumpy but not-too-pricy hotel for us in Hollywood? Close to the action would be nice, to save us having to navigate too many unfamiliar streets (I’ve heard heinous things about the traffic in LA, and I’m inclined to believe them).
Bonus question: we were thinking about driving up the PCH and staying overnight along the way. I don’t know that area of the country at all; does anyone know of a good place to rest our weary heads, hopefully close to the water and a nice restaurant?
Thanks in advance, TM!
I’ve stayed at theBest Western Hollywood Plaza-it’s decent enough. You can walk to the Hollywood Blvd sites and it’s pretty close to Warner Studios.
If you’re driving all the way up on Hwy 1, Moro Bay is kind of half way. If you decide to take 101 all the way, Pismo or Avila Beach are more or less your last spots to overnight by the seaside.
When my family & I visited Hollywood last year, we stayed at the Highland Gardens Hotel. It’s just a few blocks walk from the Walk of Fame & Chinese Theater. There were three of us so we stayed in the 1 Bedroom Suite, which is currently listed on the website at $169 per night. I don’t know how many people you’ll have, but they have larger rooms as well. The room was pretty nice, with a full kitchen & living room, balcony and pool.
We also drove up the PCH all the way to San Francisco, stopping overnight in San Simeon so we could tour Hearst Castle. We stayed at the Best Western Cavalier Oceanfront. Looks like summer prices for that are much more than when we went in Oct though. I think then it was less than $100.
Thanks for the tips! There will be four of us and since my husband is a light sleeper, we were thinking to get either two rooms or a 2-bedroom suite, depending on what the hotel offers.
I’m particularly grateful for the ideas of where to stay along the way, as I’ve never been to that area at all and have no bright ideas of where to look aside from randomly throwing darts at a map.
I stayed at the BW Cavalier years ago and it was really nice. That beach is popular with wind surfers and you watch them from the comfort of your room. If you decide to stay in the area, don’t miss the elephant seal colony just up the road.
Cambria is another spot half-way up the coast. A number of inns and restaurants. We get up there often for a weekend away.
Oh, I see Cavalier Oceanfront in Cambria is already mentioned.
Elephant seals! Now that’s cool. I’m really looking forward to experiencing something of Califorrnia’s natural side – the cities will certainly be interesting as well, but I love the mental picture of being on the water and knowing we’re not at home, if that makes any sense.