On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I knew that the Hollywood and Highland area was the place that I wanted to be in. But where should I stay? Should I stay at the Celebrity Hotel or the Orchid Suites? Both have good reviews, were just meters apart and were both in my price range. A difficult choice.
My solution? Divide my stay between the two hotels. Since my actual stay in L.A. would be divided into two by a short trip to San Diego and Anaheim in between, I decided to spend the first couple of nights at the Orchid Suites and the second bunch at the Celebrity.
So having stayed at the Orchid Suites earlier, I was a bit disappointed at the Celebrity upon arrival. And the culprit is the parking area. Aside from it being full with cars (a number double parked), the gate is constantly open. And since my family with small kids arrived close to midnight, this did not offer much in terms of security. I also had to park the car in such a way that a small part of it's tail is exposed out the sidewalk. In effect, I had to repeatedly look out the sidewalk to see if there was anyone around as I opened the trunk.
After the parking lot experience, I entered our hotel room not helping to notice that it was less appointed than that of the Orchid's. The kitchen in particular paled as it didn't have the same number of amenities. An in-room safe was sorely missed, too.
While wi-fi signal in the room was poor, a wire for broadband access was present in the room. Neat.
Aesthetically though, the room at the Celebrity looked better and newer. The same could be said of the hotel as a whole in comparison to the Orchid, which still looked like an apartment which was just converted into a hotel.
The front desk personnel were helpful when I needed some info during our stay. Not as cheerful in my opinion, but still to the task.
The biggest difference that the other hotel didn't have was the breakfast that came with the Celebrity's room rate. Though some may complain that it didn't offer much, to me the bagels, muffins and croissants together with juice and coffee were enough to start my day.
I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the amount I payed for our stay here was actually cheaper than that of the Orchid's by $10/night. Surprised because the quotes here in T.A. are cheaper for the Orchid Suites.
Lastly, I might be mistaken but I didn't see any elevators. So if your room is in the upper floors and have heavy luggages with you...
So which to me was a better hotel? Let me sum it up this way: if you have a car, the Orchid Suites might be a better option. But if you don't have one, then let the free breakfast and cheaper rates sway you to the Celebrity instead.
To expound on the parking situation, firstly, the number of parking slots in the Celebrity is not enough for all their guests. One night, I heard a European man giving his car keys to the person manning the front desk insisting that he park his car. I can tell that he was exasperated from finding a parking slot himself. The front-desk person did not take it reasoning that though parking was available, it is limited.
Second, parking at the Celebrity is actually to the side of the hotel accessed via Franklin Ave. So if you are coming from the direction of Highland (as I always do) in heavy traffic, turning left to the garage entrance is impossible, not to mention illegal in the first place. Turn to Google Earth for a better picture.
In comparison, the entrance to the Orchid's garage is along Orchid Ave., turning left to which from Franklin is aided by a traffic light. No problem.
A solution to the Celebrity's parking woes would be to return late at night when traffic at Franklin is light (drivers at your back will honk at you for stopping to turn left into the garage). But since the garage gates are always open, and chances are yours will be the last car in, one can't help but feel unsafe with nobody around late at night in Hollywood.
Third, if you park farthest from the gate the night before and leave the earliest the next morning, be prepared to wait a while since backing up all the cars blocking your way will take some time.
But despite all this, I would have honestly considered coming back to this hotel. Afterall it is hard to disregard the free breakfast and the slightly cheaper rates. The parking- you get used to it.
I however have a beef with the front desk person who promised to e-mail me the breakdown of my expenses since their printer was malfunctioning when I checked out. I've e-mailed them a reminder as I got back and still no answer to my request. I just have this impression that they are nice when they need your business but don't care when your business with them is done.
So it's Orchid Suites for me by a whisker.
Remember, this is my pinion and I just hope that with this I help you formulate your own.
hotel reviews