Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1401 S. Oak K noll Ave., Pasadena, CA 91106.
&
800/591-7481
or 626/568-3900. F ax 626/568-3700.
http://pasadena.langhamhotels.com. 392 units. $249-$450 double; from $549 suite. AE, DC, MC, V. Valet
parking $21.
Amenities:
2 restaurants; 2 lounges (bar, lobby lounge for high tea); babysitting; concierge;
exercise room; Jacuzzi; Olympic-siz e heated outdoor pool; r oom ser vice; full-ser vice spa w/whirlpool ,
sauna, and steam room; 3 tennis courts (lit for night play).
In room:
A/C, TV, CD player, hair dryer, minibar,
Wi-Fi ($9.95 per day)
MODERATE
Artists' Inn & Cottage Bed & Breakfast
Pleasantly unpretentious and furnished
with wicker throughout, this yellow-shingled Victorian-style inn was built in 1895 as a
farmhouse and expanded to include a neighboring 1909 home. Each of the 10 r ooms is
decorated to r eflect the style of a par ticular ar tist or period. Among the ar tistically
inspired choices ar e the countr y-cozy New E ngland-style G randma M oses r oom; the
soft, pastel-hued D egas suite; and the bold-lined, primar y-hued E xpressionist suite, a
nod to such artists as Picasso and Dufy. Every room is thoughtfully arranged and features
a private bathroom (many with period fixtur es, three with J acuzzi tubs), phone, fr esh
roses from the front garden, port wine, and chocolates. M ost rooms have TVs; if yours
doesn't, the innkeeper will pr ovide one if y ou want it. The quiet r esidential location is
just 5 minutes from the heart of Old Town Pasadena, just a few stops on the Metro Gold
Line.
1038 Magnolia St., S outh Pasadena, CA 91030.
&
888/799-5668
or 626/799-5668. F ax 626/799-3678.
www.artistsinns.com. 10 units. $135-$225 double. Rates include full br eakfast and afternoon tea. Extra
person $20. AE, MC, V. Free parking.
In room:
A/C, TV, hair dryer, Wi-Fi (free).
Bissell House B ed & Breakfast
If you enjoy the tr ue B&B experience, y ou'll
love the Bissell House. Hidden behind hedges that carefully isolate it from busy Orange
Grove Avenue, this antiques-filled 1887 gingerbread Victorian—the former home of the
vacuum heiress and now owned by the Hoyman family—offers a unique taste of life on
what was once P asadena's “M illionaire's R ow.” O utfitted in a traditional chintz-and-
cabbage-roses style, all individually decorated r ooms have private bathrooms (two with
an antique claw-foot tub, one with a whirlpool tub , four with showers only), individual
heating and air-conditioning (a B&B rarity), Internet access, and very comfortable beds.
If you don't mind stairs, request one of the more spacious top-floor rooms. The modern
world doesn't interfere with the mood in these r omantic sanctuaries, but the do wnstairs
library features a TV with VCR and a telephone/fax machine for guests' use. The beauti-
fully landscaped gr ounds boast an inviting pool, J acuzzi, and deck with lounge chairs.
Included in the room rate is an elaborately pr epared breakfast served in the large dining
room, as w ell as an afternoon tea, cookie, and wine ser
102
5
vice. A self-ser ve continental
breakfast is also available weekdays for business guests.
201 Orange Grove Ave. (at Columbia St.), South Pasadena, CA 91030.
&
800/441-3530
or 626/441-3535.
Fax 626/441-3671. w ww.bissellhouse.com. 5 units . $150-$350 double . Rates include full br eakfast. AE,
MC, V. Free parking.
Amenities:
Jacuzzi; outdoor pool.
In room:
A/C, hair dryer.
INEXPENSIVE
Saga Motor Hotel
Value
This 1950s r elic of old R oute 66 has far mor e character
than most other motels in its price range. The rooms are small, clean, and simply fur-
nished with the basics. The double/doubles are spacious enough for shar es, but budget-
minded families will prefer the extra-large configuration dedicated to them, which has a
king-size bed and two doubles. The best rooms are in the front building surrounding the
gated swimming pool, shielded fr
om the str eet and inviting in warm w
eather. The
