Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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restrictions; may r equire a hefty deposit
and/or a signed waiv er against damages;
and may be r evoked at any time. Always
inquire when booking if y ou're bringing
Bowser along— never just sho w up with a
pet in tow.
1 BEST HOTEL BETS
Note: In addition to the best hotel bets belo w, be sur e to check out “ The Best Splurge
Hotels” and “ The Best Moderately Priced Hotels” in chapter 1. F or additional help in
choosing a location, take a look at “ The Neighborhoods in Brief” in chapter 4.
Best for Families: With a great location close to both beach and boardwalk, a terrific
oceanview pool, and a kids-stay-fr ee policy (plus welcome goodies and special menus
for young ones), Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
( & 800/235-6397 or 310/458-6700), tops my list as L.A. 's best family hotel. S ee
p. 71. F amilies on a tighter budget might pr efer Hotel E rwin, 1697 P acific Ave.,
Venice ( & 800/786-7789 or 310/452-1111), located right next to the carniv al-like
Venice Beach and boar dwalk. The large suites ar e equipped with full kitchens and a
pullout sofa. S ee p. 76. I f you're heading to U niversal Studios, stay at the Sheraton
Universal Hotel, 333 U niversal Hollywood Dr., Los Angeles ( & 800/325-3535 or
818/980-1212), which offers free shuttle service to the theme park and adjacent Uni-
versal CityWalk, both just a minute away. See p. 100.
Best for B usiness Travelers: With an o versize wor k desk, a fax machine, two-line
phones, a terrific business/copy center , extensive recreational facilities, plus 24-hour
room ser vice and a w et bar for late-night, r eport-due-in-the-morning munchies,
the guest office suites at Westin Bonaventure Hotel & S uites, 404 S. F igueroa St.
( & 800/WESTIN-1 [800/937-8461] or 213/624-1000), ar e Downtown's best accom-
modations for business travelers. See p. 98.
Best Budget Hotel: The bargain of the beach is the friendly , family-run Sea Shore
Motel, 2637 M ain S t., S anta M onica ( & 310/392-2787 ), whose motel-basic but
beautifully kept r ooms couldn't be better located, in the hear t of stylish M ain Street
shopping and dining, and just a stone's throw from Santa Monica's pier and sand. See
p. 77.
Best for Travelers with Disabilities: With 25 accessible rooms, the Sheraton Univer-
sal H otel, 333 U niversal H ollywood D r., U niversal City ( & 800/325-3535 or
818/980-1212), offers the most extensiv e facilities for wheelchair-using and vision-
impaired visitors. Two bathrooms have roll-in showers; the rest have tubs with av ail-
able benches, lowered closet rods and peepholes, and raised vanities and toilets. There
are also strobe kits for door and phone, and B raille symbols on the r estaurant menus
and on all public facilities. See p. 100. Downtown, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel &
Suites, 404 S. Figueroa St. ( & 800/WESTIN-1 [800/937-8461] or 213/624-1000),
boasts 39 r ooms with similarly extensiv e auxiliary aids, and 15 with r oll-in showers.
See p. 98. For more information on resources for travelers with disabilities, see “Trav-
elers with Disabilities,” in chapter 3.
Best Hotel Nightlife Scene: The gorgeous 18th-floor Penthouse restaurant, bar, and
lounge at the Huntley Santa Monica Beach, 1111 2nd S t., Santa Monica ( & 310/
394-5454 ), is my ne w favorite hotel hangout. I t has everything you need for a gr eat
night out: a liv ely bar scene, gr eat food, beautiful vie ws, and plenty of ey e candy. All
this and no lines, cover charge, or snobby attitude. See p. 75.
5
 
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