Where to Stay - Los Angeles 2010 - page 72

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Huntley Santa Monica Beach Finds Even though it's housed in one of Santa
Monica's tallest buildings (18 floors), the Huntley is a hidden gem—tucked away behind
the Fairmont on the edge of a quiet neighborhood, y et close to Third Street Promenade
dining and shopping and just a shor t walk from the beach. I lo ve this hotel's strikingly
stylish lobb y, but the coup de gr âce is the18th-floor Penthouse r estaurant, bar , and
lounge. Combine the incredible views of the Santa Monica skyline, a lively bar scene, and
great Contemporary American cuisine, and it 's no surprise that hotel guests rar ely ven-
ture elsewhere for dinner and drinks. The Huntley's modern, ear th-toned guest r ooms
offer ocean or mountain views, good work desks, 42-inch flatscreen TVs, and pillow-top
beds with Egyptian cotton linens. Book a r oom on floors 9 to 17 for ocean vie ws. Fun
tip: Take a thrilling ride in the str eet-side glass elevator (acrophobes will prefer the inte-
rior lobby elevators).
1111 2nd St. (nor th of Wilshire Blvd.), Santa M onica, CA 90403. & 310/394-5454. Fax [phone].
www.thehuntleyhotel.com. 209 units. $289-$335 double. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Valet parking $18. Ameni-
ties: Restaurant and bar ; lobby cafe; concierge; exercise room; room service. In room: A/C, TV/DVD, CD
player, hair dryer, Wi-Fi ($9.95 per day).

Marina del Rey Marriott Finds This is not y our average Marriott. In order to
attract a more L.A.-hip clientele, this Marina del Rey hotel has made some rather unortho-
dox modifications to what would typically be a boring business hotel. As soon as you enter
the lobby, three of y our senses ar e subliminally put at ease: inhale the Z anzibar Mist, a
subtle aromatherapy mixture that circulates throughout the hotel; hear the faint soundtrack
of ambient world beats; gaz e into the hypnotic tiers of fir e at Glow , the hotel 's outdoor
lounge, which is ranked as one of the top hotel lounges in the countr y (p. 270). Okay, so
things get a bit mor e utilitarian when y ou enter y our guest r oom, but each is soothingly
spacious and comfortably appointed with down comforters and pillows, 32-inch HDTVs,
bathrobes, Jacuzzi-style tubs, a work desk, and small balconies with stress-relieving views of
the marina or Pacific Ocean. Best of all, this is mainly a business hotel so the weekend rates
are often heavily discounted (be sur e to check the website for deals).
4100 Admiralty Way (at the nor th end of the marina), M arina del Rey, CA 90292. & 800/228-9290 or
310/301-3000. Fax [phone]. www.marriott.com. 370 units. $239-$289 double. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V.
Valet parking $26. Amenities: Restaurant; lobby bar and out door lounge; concierge-level rooms; exer-
cise room; Jacuzzi; outdoor pool; room service; Wi-Fi (free, in lobby). In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, Internet
($13 per day).

5

Venice Beach House Finds Listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
this two-story, ivy-covered 1911 Craftsman bungalow is now a homey bed-and-breakfast
on one of funky Venice's unique sidewalk streets, just a block from the beach. The inte-
rior has a homey lived-in look—shelves of vintage books, antique furnishings, hardwood
floors, faded O riental r ugs—that adds charm for r omantics but won 't liv e up to the
expectations of trav elers who like their lodgings to be flawless (or who ar en't keen on
possibly sharing a bathr oom). What's mor e, the inn hums noisily with activity when
there's a full house—seekers of absolute quiet and designer appointments will not be
comfortable here. Still, the huge r epeat clientele base doesn't seem to mind these minor
caveats. My favorite room is the upstairs Venice Pier Suite—light and airy, with a wood-
burning fireplace, king-size bed, private bathroom, and sunny sitting room. An expanded
continental breakfast with homemade baked goods is served in the sunroom overlooking
a splendid garden.
15 30th A ve. (at Speedwa y, 1 block w est of P acific A ve.), Venice, CA 90291. & 310/823-1966. Fax
310/823-1842. www.venicebeachhouse.com. 9 units (5 with private bathroom). $145 double with shared