Where to Stay in Los Angeles: A First Timers Guide to The Best Places

Best Places To Stay In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a very big city encompassing several smaller areas that are also cities. Beverly Hills is not administratively part of the city of LA, but it is such an iconic part of the area that everyone disregards the technicalities. And it’s one of the best places to stay in LA, even if it’s technically a different city.

LA is massive, and choosing the right place to stay can make or break your trip. Consider which attractions you’re most interested in and how you plan to get around, and then decide on the appropriate area. If you want to party like a rockstar, make it West Hollywood or Santa Monica if you enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the sounds of the whooshing waves. I’ve got a few more suggestions, so let’s get into all the top places to stay in Los Angeles.

West Hollywood

The bustling West Hollywood is an excellent area of LA for first-time visitors. It’s known for live music venues and clubs where the party never stops. This is by far the best part of LA for nightlife, whether you want to rock out with up-and-coming bands at Whisky a Go Go or laugh until your stomach hurts at The Comedy Store.

West Hollywood is also known for the Sunset Strip, a vibrant neighborhood along Sunset Boulevard. That’s precisely where you’ll find most of the area’s best bars and clubs and some of .

Consider staying here if you’re looking for mid-range or high-end hotels with premium service and excellent amenities. This isn’t the best area of LA for budget stays, but it offers more options than neighborhoods like the Beverly Hills or the Hollywood Hills.

Luxury: The West Hollywood Edition

The West Hollywood Edition is a luxury hotel on Sunset Boulevard. Featuring a rooftop swimming pool with panoramic views, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an excellent spa, the hotel is truly a top choice for a lavish stay in LA. The guest rooms at The Edition are all extra large and decorated with contemporary, LA-style furnishings, which means a lot of white furniture with warm wooden accents.

Every room at this fabulous hotel offers an ensuite bathroom, a desk, a seating area, and a flat-screen TV. All the guest rooms have walk-in showers, while the larger suites offer both a shower and a bath. The hotel offers rooms on lower and higher floors, and I must point out that the rooms on higher floors have some of the best views of LA.

Mid-Range: The Charlie West Hollywood

The Charlie West Hollywood is a four-star hotel set in a house that Charlie Chaplin once called home. As far as unique stays go in LA, this is one of the best options. The hotel is also within walking distance of Melrose Avenue, where you’ll find some iconic LA sights like the Pink Wall and the Hollywood Improv.

The Charlie offers spacious suites, all featuring a bathroom and a kitchen. Every suite also has a desk, a seating area, a TV, and a coffee maker. Guests have access to a dishwasher in their room and the hotel’s laundry room. Everyone staying at The Charlie gets a private terrace, and guests can also use the shared garden space.

Mid-Range: Hotel Ziggy Los Angeles

Hotel Ziggy is a nice hotel with excellent rates for Sunset Strip. And it’s a hotel you won’t regret booking, which I can’t say about some of the other, cheaper hotels in this area Trust me on this one.

In addition to the premium location, this boutique hotel offers medium-sized rooms with comfortable beds and private bathrooms. Every guest room has a desk, seating area, and a TV. All guests at the Ziggy Hotel are welcome to make use of the saltwater pool and 24-hour gym. Some of LA’s best clubs and live music venues are just a short walk from this hotel, so definitely consider staying here if you want to experience this aspect of life in Los Angeles.

Budget: Banana Bungalow West Hollywood Hotel & Hostel

The Banana Bungalow is one of the very few true budget options in West Hollywood. I originally wasn’t going to include it because its cleanliness ratings don’t meet my very high standards, but I figure you should be aware that the option exists, especially if cleanliness isn’t your pet peeve. Beds at this hostel are as low as $35 per night, with breakfast included, which is possibly the lowest rate in LA.

Guests can also enjoy free coffee and tea all day long at this property, which is pretty cool. Billiards, foosball, and table tennis are available in the common spaces, so there’s plenty of opportunity for mingling and entertainment. The hostel’s cheapest option is dormitory beds, but it also offers a double room with a private bathroom.

Pros of Staying in West Hollywood

Excellent nightlife
Very LGBTQ+ friendly
Great for luxury hotel stays

Cons of Staying in West Hollywood

The hotels aren’t cheap
Limited public transport
A crowded neighborhood

Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles is probably my favorite area of LA for a first visit. It’s one of a few walkable neighborhoods in the city with enough attractions that you can stay busy for a couple of days. Book a hotel in Downtown LA if you don’t have a car to get around because many interesting sights are within walking distance, plus the neighborhood has great public transport connections to other parts of the city.

Ride the Angels Flight Railway, discover the modern art displayed at The Broad, see the iconic Walt Disney Concert Hall, and get something to eat at Grand Central Market. Downtown LA is the undisputed heart of the city with music arenas, historic movie theaters, and high-rise buildings.

This part of LA offers various hotels in every price range, and it’s one of the best city areas for a budget stay. It’s also the best part of the city to truly understand the divide between the vastly wealthy and the poor; just a few blocks from the high-rise office buildings and lavish hotels is Skid Row, the neighborhood with the largest population of homeless people in the US. Keep this in mind when exploring the Downtown, and stay away from the more dangerous neighborhoods, especially at night.

Luxury: The Ritz Carlton

There are many luxury hotels in Downtown Los Angeles, but few are as fabulous as The Ritz Carlton. It’s one of the tallest skyscrapers in the neighborhood and one of the priciest hotels in the city, so there’s hardly a better option for a true luxury stay in LA. The hotel features very spacious rooms and suites, all of which are equipped with private bathrooms, TVs, desks, and seating areas.

If you’re going to book a room at this hotel, make sure it’s on one of the higher floors. All the rooms at the Ritz Carlton have huge windows, but only the ones on the higher floors offer sweeping views of the Los Angeles skyline. As for the other amenities, this luxury hotel boasts a heated outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a spa center, and several restaurants.

Mid-Range: Omni Los Angeles Hotel

Omni Los Angeles is a nice four-star hotel with an excellent location in Downtown LA. It’s situated right next to the Museum of Contemporary Art and just a few steps from the Angel’s Flight Railway. Book a room at this hotel if you want to be within walking distance of some of the best landmarks in Downtown Los Angeles, but also just a couple of minutes from the Grand Park metro station.

The Omni offers an outdoor swimming pool, three restaurants, a bar, and a nice spa and wellness center. All the guest rooms are spacious and feature ensuite marble and granite bathrooms. Desks, seating areas, flat-screen TVs, and coffee makers are also included in every room. Try to get one of the high-floor rooms for sweeping city views from the comfort of your bed.

Budget: Freehand Los Angeles

The Freehand Los Angeles is probably my favorite option for budget travelers. It’s a four-star hotel with fantastic private rooms, as well as mixed dormitories. Travelers can book a single bed in a larger dormitory and spend a night in the heart of LA for less than $70. Yes, that’s still a bit steep for a budget stay, but the hotel has a rooftop pool with a sprawling pool deck that offers fabulous views of Los Angeles.

Also, the bigger dormitories have two ensuite bathrooms, which is twice as many as you get in most hotels. Smaller, female-only dormitories are available, and they’re only a little pricier per night. The hotel is only a five-minute walk from the 7th Street metro station, which can take you to the iconic Holywood Walk of Fame in under half an hour or even all the way to Santa Monica in under an hour. It’s worth noting that the private rooms are much pricier, so only the dormitories are a true budget option in this part of LA.

Pros of Staying in Downtown Los Angeles

Walkable area
Affordable hotel options
Lots of attractions and landmarks
Great public transport connections to the rest of the city

Cons of Staying in Downtown Los Angeles

Quite far from Hollywood and Beverly Hills
Very busy during the day
Not all areas are tourist-friendly

Beverly Hills

Few places in this world are as well-known and legendary as Beverly Hills. The posh LA city is known around the world for Rodeo Drive, the iconic shopping street lined with luxury fashion stores. Beverly Hills is the synonym for wealth and opulence, and as such, it caters to a very niche group of travelers.

In other words, if you’ve got money to burn, you’ll absolutely love it here. But if you’re trying to visit LA on a budget, I do not recommend staying at Beverly Hills at all. The neighborhood is nice and generally quite safe, but it’s also one of the most expensive areas in LA. There are no true budget hotels here, only cheap mid-range hotels and very old hotels that are very much falling apart.

Beverly Hills offers iconic LA landmarks and locations, plus it’s pretty close to West Hollywood and Hollywood. It’s a good base for a more thorough exploration of LA, especially if you want to stay in a more quiet part of the city. Just remember that everything here is very expensive.

Luxury: The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the best five-star hotels in this upscale area. It is on Sunset Boulevard, so it is just a short drive from The Strip and Rodeo Drive. Come here if you want to have an epic vacation in Los Angeles and enjoy some much-deserved R&R. Everything about this hotel screams luxury, from the high-end furniture to the vast ensuite bathrooms with double sinks.

The Beverly Hills Hotel suites are in a league of their own, but it’s the bungalows that offer the authentic Hollywood experience. They’re inspired by their most famous guests, and you can usually tell which movie stars inspired the bungalows from the decor. The hotel also offers an outdoor pool and a full-service spa, as well as three restaurants.

Luxury: Beverly Wilshire

We’re talking about Beverly Hills, so of course, I had to include two luxury hotels. Beverly Willshire offers the best shopping location in the area because it is only a few feet away from Rodeo Drive. It overlooks the Rodeo Drive Steps, and all that stands between this hotel and the best shopping in Los Angeles is a street crossing.

This is a Four Seasons hotel, so everything about it is top-notch. The rooms are large and modern, with private bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling windows. The beds are extremely comfortable, and every room features a desk, a seating area, and a TV. All guests are welcome to use the hotel’s outdoor pool and can enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Michelin-starred steakhouse with a menu created by Wolfgang Puck.

Mid-Range: The Beverly Hilton

The Beverly Hilton is the best option for a mid-range hotel in Beverly Hills. The four-star hotel features large rooms with comfortable double beds and roomy private bathrooms. All the guest rooms are equipped with a desk, couch, and flat-screen TV. Terraces with views of Downtown LA are reserved only for specific rooms.

The Beverly Hilton offers a swimming pool, restaurant, fitness center, and several entertainment spaces. The hotel has many other facilities that make it a great place to stay, in addition to the superb location. Guests can play outdoor chess, visit the beauty salon, or just hang out at the hotel lounge.

Budget: Maison 140 Beverly Hills

Maison 140 Beverly Hills is one of the most affordable hotels in this area. The rooms go for around $200, which is as cheap as it gets in Beverly Hills. The hotel is in need of some updating, but it’s in pretty good condition. All the rooms are decorated with somewhat tacky furniture, which is a bit of a nod to Parisian Inns from the previous century.

The guest rooms are medium-sized, with large ensuite bathrooms and lots of decorations throughout. Every room features a desk and TV, and all guests get access to free Wi-Fi. However, the hotel lacks other facilities, as there is no restaurant, pool, or gym on the grounds.

Pros of Staying in Beverly Hills

The best part of LA for luxury hotel stays
High-end shops and restaurants
One of the safest areas of LA

Cons of Staying in Beverly Hills

Worst area for budget travelers
Fewer tourist attractions
Far from Downtown LA

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a small city on the coast, situated west of central Los Angeles. It’s a more peaceful area near LA with easy beach access, a small amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier, and more affordable hotel rates. If you want to experience a different kind of Los Angeles and stay close to the beach, Santa Monica might just be perfect for you.

The small city is connected to Downtown LA by metro and bus, and you can be in the heart of Los Angeles in less than an hour. From there, you’re only 20-30 minutes away from West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and all the tourist sights that might interest you. And if you have a car in LA, you’re just a 20-minute drive along Santa Monica Boulevard from the center of all action.

Santa Monica is also much closer to the airport than central LA, making it my top choice for shorter stays in Los Angeles. You’ll be able to beat the traffic more easily, and Uber will be significantly cheaper than if you were to travel to the airport all the way from the center of Los Angeles.

Luxury: Shutters On The Beach

Shutters On The Beach is a fantastic five-star hotel located on Santa Monica Beach.  The hotel is also within walking distance of Venice Beach, as well as all the top attractions in Santa Monica. The beachfront hotel offers a fantastic outdoor pool, two restaurants, and a great spa center. Everything about this hotel reminds me of a huge country house, which I think is the perfect vibe for a relaxed vacation.

Both restaurants are on the beach with lovely panoramic views. As for the guest rooms, they’re all spacious with extra-large and comfortable double beds. Every room has a spacious private bathroom, TV, a seating area, and a coffee machine. Some superior rooms have balconies that overlook the beach, and they’re the best option if you want to experience the best Shutters offers.

Mid-Range: Viceroy Santa Monica

Viceroy Santa Monica is an excellent hotel for travelers who want to stay close to the beach. The rooms are contemporary but with lots of colorful accents that make them feel cozy and homey. Every hotel room features a spacious private bathroom, a desk, a small lounge area, and massive windows with stunning views.

The Viceroy has two outdoor pools lined with cabanas. It’s the perfect setup for a relaxed day spent sipping cocktails by the pool. For meals, the hotel offers a restaurant with eclectic furniture indoors and a sprawling outdoor terrace. Overall, if you enjoy staying in design hotels where everything is carefully thought-out, and the staff is extremely professional, you will not be let down by the Viceroy Santa Monica.

Budget: HI Los Angeles – Santa Monica Hostel

HI Los Angeles – Santa Monica Hostel is one of the cheapest hostels in the LA area. If you’re on a very tight budget and are looking to spend as little money as possible on accommodation, this is one of the best options. The hostel is mere steps away from Santa Monica Beach and Palisades Park, plus it’s within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier.

The metro station is also very close to the hotel, and it offers direct access to Downtown LA. Everything at the hostel is squeaky clean, which is the most important thing for me. Guests can choose to stay in single-sex or mixed dormitories, which can have 4-10 beds. A private room with an ensuite bathroom is also available, and it’s well worth the money if you’re traveling with at least three other people. The hostel also offers a lounge area, a TV room, and a garden that all guests are welcome to enjoy.

Pros of Staying in Santa Monica

Best for beach vacations
Cheaper than Downtown LA and Hollywood
A safe area for tourists
Closer to the airport

Cons of Staying in Santa Monica

Quite far from the city center
Fewer landmarks and attractions in the area
Crowded with tourists

Culver City

Culver City is a great area of LA for a very specific group of travelers. If you’re excited to come to the City of Angels for its moviemaking history, you really should consider staying in Culver City. It is a little farther away from Hollywood and Downtown LA than most people like, but it has so many interesting things to see that you don’t even have to venture into Los Angeles proper to have a good time. It takes just 45 minutes to reach the Downtown area by public transport.

Culver City was the center for film production in the 1920s, and would later become equally important in television production. It was the home of MGM for the better part of the previous century, and it’s still the headquarters for Sony Pictures Entertainment and National Public Radio West.

Tour the Sony Pictures Studio to see where the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy are filmed, and then catch a movie at the historic Culver Theater. The city also has a buzzing gastronomic scene with loads of top-notch eateries and nice cocktail bars. Oh, and staying here is significantly cheaper than staying in LA proper, so it’s great if you want to save some money.

Luxury: The Culver Hotel

The Culver Hotel is one of the best hotels in Culver City. It is a four-star hotel situated right next to the Culver Theater. The location can hardly get any better, especially since the hotel is less than a mile up the street from Sony Pictures Studios. Also, the hotel is set in a historic building, which was erected way back in 1924.

The rooms at the Culver Hotel exude vintage luxury. Every room has an ensuite bathroom, a desk, a small seating area, and a coffee maker. The hotel offers in-room spa services to all the guests, which is pretty amazing. There’s a restaurant on-site as well as a fitness center, but no pool. And that’s probably the main reason why this hotel doesn’t have a five-star rating.

Mid-Range: The Shay

The Shay is a Hyatt hotel, in a similar price range to the Culver Hotel. It’s situated on the northern edge of Culver City, directly opposite the Culver City light rail station. You can be in Downtown LA in under 30 minutes from this hotel, which is awesome for sightseeing. The Shay Hotel offers large rooms with modern furnishings and two on-site restaurants.

Every guest room includes an ensuite bathroom, a desk, a TV, a coffee maker, and a seating area. I really like the decor of the rooms; it is contemporary, but there are plenty of colorful accents that make the rooms actually feel warm and cozy. The Shay also boasts a fitness center and a rooftop pool with a cocktail bar. Oh, and there are chairs in the pool, which is by far my favorite little detail about this excellent hotel.

Budget: Travelodge by Wyndham Culver City

Travelodge by Wyndham is a good option for travelers on a tighter budget who don’t want to stay in hostels. This hotel offers affordable double rooms and studios at reasonable rates. All guests have access to a private bathroom in the room, as well as a desk and a seating area. There’s also a coffee machine in every room. The beds are big and comfortable, plus the hotel is in a pretty peaceful area of Culver City, so you’ll get a good night’s sleep.

Also, the Travelodge Hotel is just a 20-minute walk from Sony Pictures Studio, and it’s close to several bus stops that can help you get to Downtown LA in under an hour. There’s a restaurant on-site and a vending machine for drinks, but it’s worth noting that the hotel doesn’t have a fitness center, spa, or pool.

Pros of Staying in Culver City:

Hotels and restaurants are affordable
Easy access to Downtown LA with public transport
Great for movie lovers

Cons of Staying in Culver City:

Fewer tourist attractions than in LA proper
Traffic jams can make the journey into LA last a while
Fewer hotel options

Silver Lake

Silver Lake is a trendy area of LA that has been consistently growing in popularity. Nowadays, it’s known as the hipster part of the city, which means one thing: craft coffee shops in Galore. If you’re anything like me and can’t resist a good cup of coffee, I think you might just love it at Silver Lake.

This neighborhood is also mostly residential, with very few hotels. But that’s not a bad thing at all; Silver Lake is generally a more peaceful part of LA, which is considered perfectly safe for both locals and tourists.

Stay at a hotel in Silver Lake, and you’ll be roughly half an hour from both Hollywood and Downtown LA. The neighborhood also borders Los Feliz, from where you can easily hike to the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory. Overall, it’s a good place to base yourself for exploring the touristy sights in LA, especially if you prefer being away from the crowds and noise of the busiest tourist centers.

Luxury: The Paramour Estate

The Paramour Estate is a sprawling luxury property in the heart of Silver Lake. Featuring opulent guest rooms, suites, and cottages, this is one of LA’s premier estates for anyone who wants to feel like a movie star for a couple of days. It’s possible to rent the entire property, but I can’t even imagine how much that would cost. So, it’s great that you can also rent individual rooms at The Paramour Estate.

All the rooms and suites are adorned with luxurious decor and equipped with designer furniture. There’s a pool on the grounds that guests are welcome to enjoy, and the entire estate is just a few minutes from the Silver Lake Reservoir with beautiful nature and relaxing walking trails.

Mid-Range: Silver Lake Pool & Inn

Silver Lake Pool & Inn is a four-star hotel with modern and spacious rooms. The hotel is on Santa Monica Boulevard, roughly an hour’s walk from both the Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, so you’re still pretty close to all the top tourist attractions in Los Angeles. The rooms are clean and beautifully decorated, with spacious ensuite bathrooms and lots of warm wooden decor.

There’s an outdoor pool at this inn, which is a tad small but still very nice. Guests can relax on the loungers by the pool and enjoy LA’s endless sunny days or hang out at the on-site coffee house to see why Silver Lake is locally known as a hipster’s paradise. There’s an Italian restaurant at this hotel for delicious dinners, but it’s worth noting that the inn doesn’t offer a fitness center or a spa.

Budget: Comfort Inn Los Angeles

Comfort Inn Los Angeles is an affordable place to stay on West Sunset Boulevard. It’s only half an hour from the city center by public transport, and a bus stop is directly across the street from the Inn. Also, this small hotel includes breakfast with every nightly rate, which starts at just $130 for a double room. That’s insanely cheap for LA, so consider this hotel if you’re on a tight budget but you would prefer not to share a bathroom with strangers.

The Comfort Inn rooms are medium-sized and include ensuite bathrooms. The furniture is a little outdated, but nothing is falling apart, and the place is clean. Every room includes a TV, a microwave, a desk, minifridge, and small seating areas. Granted, it’s a pretty small TV, but I wouldn’t count the inches for this price.

Pros of Staying in Silver Lake

Accommodation is more affordable
Safe area for tourists
Very close to Hollywood and Downtown LA

Cons of Staying in Silver Lake

Few tourist attractions in the neighborhood
Not many hotels to choose from
Quite far from Beverly Hills

Best Places To Stay in Los Angeles FAQ’s

What is the best area to stay in Los Angeles?

The best area to stay in Los Angeles is either West Hollywood or Downtown LA. Either area offers easy walking access to famous landmarks and attractions, as well as good public transport connections to the rest of LA.

Should you stay in Downtown LA or Hollywood?

It is better to stay in Downtown LA than in Hollywood. Downtown LA is walkable and offers many hotels in every price range, while Hollywood is generally overpriced, dirty, and a tourist trap.

Where should I go for the first time in LA?

You should go to Downtown LA, West Hollywood, or Beverly Hills for the first time in LA. Either place is great for a first visit to the City of Angels and offers a chance to discover unique city landmarks.

What is the safest area in Los Angeles for tourists?

West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills are generally considered safe for tourists. Downtown LA is also mostly safe, but tourists should avoid some areas (like Skid Row) that are known for a very high homeless population.

Where Not To Stay In Los Angeles

You might not like hearing this, but Hollywood is one of the worst areas of LA for a hotel stay. The neighborhood is dirty and crowded, with overpriced hotels and restaurants. It’s the most touristy part of Los Angeles, and most of it is just a massive tourist trap. Plus, the top attractions there are the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Paramount Pictures Studio, both of which you can visit without staying in the neighborhood.

Instead, stay in West Hollywood or even Silver Lake. Both areas are relatively close to Hollywood so you can access the top tourist sights without a car. Silver Lake is a nice residential neighborhood with walking access to the Griffith Observatory and hiking trails that lead to the Hollywood Sign, so it’s a top choice if you want to experience the hiking culture of LA.

Other areas to avoid are Compton and West Adams, both of which have a high crime rate and are known for high police activity. Instead, consider Culver City, Santa Monica, and even Venice Beach if you’re okay with being farther from central LA. You’ll get better hotel rates and more enjoyable surroundings, but you’ll still stay in a safe part of the city.

Also, consider Hotel Bel Air if you’re fine staying outside central LA. It’s one of the best luxury hotels in the entire city and a place where you, too, can feel like Holywood royalty. Plus, it’s actually not too far from popular tourist attractions; both the Getty and Beverly Hills are less than a 10-minute drive from the iconic hotel.

Why We Love Los Angeles

We love Los Angeles because the city promises glitz and glamour, and it delivers! It’s the best city in the world for celebrity sightings, whether you’ll catch them shopping on Rodeo Drive or heading to work in Hollywood.

LA is a great city to visit because it offers something to everyone. If you’re into beaches and surfing, you can have the best time at Santa Monica and Venice Beach. But head to West Hollywood to experience some of the best nightlife in California and discover the city’s many clubs, live music bars, and comedy clubs.

This fabulous city is also a top destination for hiking and nature excursions. More than a dozen state parks, forests, and recreation areas can be easily visited on day trips from Los Angeles, plus there are countless trails in the hills above the city.