We stayed in this hotel last week for three nights. The location is great with walking distance to Hollywood Highland Ave metro station which is a direct metro ride (red line) from Union station. The hotel is very clean and the staff is excellent in maintaining the hotel. There is a microwave in the lobby of you want to reheat your pizza or other food. Room has coffee maker which I personally don't like - I'm a fan of the good old electric kettle.
I enjoyed the breakfast as they served various types of healthy oatmeal (incl. plain) along with standard stuff like brown/white bread, cinnamon buns, scrambled eggs, juices, tea, coffee, yoghurts, milk, pancakes, some meat stuff etc. The breakfast area is not very large - so it could get full pretty quickly. It was not a problem for us as we would get very up very early at 6 and crave for food (time difference) :-).
The staff is very helpful with directions. Hollywood walk of fame (kodak theatre, chinese grauman etc.) is to your right when you come out of the hotel and hollywood bowl is to your left (easily walkable). Lots of eating points inside Hollywood and Highland mall - it is a very touristy area. So be prepared to get bombarded with people looked to sell you stuff. We just ignored them. You will also find a grocery next to HollyWood and Highland mall and other eating points nearby.
The hotel is a bit pricey but I guess it was worth it as the other hotels next to this hotel did not look very attractive from the outside. If you are coming from the airport, just book a super shuttle in advance (32 dollars for two people) to take you to the hotel. Alternatively, you can take the flyaway bus to Union station and then it is a red line metro to Hollywood and Highland AVe station followed by a short walk to the hotel.
Los Angeles is a huge spread out city - a bit tasteless for some people. So staying at this hotel provides easy access to Universal Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theatre, Amoeba Music, Highland center, Kodak theatre and Sunset Strip. Rest is far far away. If you are looking to go to Santa Monica or Venice beach - you need to take the 60-90 min bus (733) from Union Station. Be sure not to take this bus in peak time (5-6:30 PM) as it is crammed with people and they don't speak English very well (esp. in Venice). The bus stop is "Main and Grand" for Venice beach. I would not advise staying at Venice beach after dark but it is a great beach (better than Santa Monica). Do take a jumper with you as it can get cold at the beach.
The hotel can arrange LA tours - a bit boring but that's the best way to see LA in a short space of time. For me - the best attraction in LA was probably the farmer's market - I found the others bland and tasteless.
I definitely recommend this hotel though.
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