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Location, location, location is the mantra of the robust southern California real estate industry, and location should be your mantra, too.

Where you stay in the Los Angeles area can make all the difference between a fulfilling, uplifting visit and a stressful, tiring, and even dangerous one.

Los Angeles is heaven and . . . not heaven. Some parts are heaven and some parts are not. Even the legendary Los Angles area smog concentrates in some areas and not in others.

Avoid centre city Los Angeles and most of Hollywood

The biggest mistake a visitor can make is to stay more than one night near the centre city Amtrak Union Station or the downtown or Hollywood Greyhound stations. Most of the area more than a few blocks east of Los Angeles International Airport (just beyond the most expensive airport hotels) is downright dangerous, too.

If at all possible, avoid accommodation in Hollywood—especially the eastern portion of Hollywood—and downtown Los Angeles altogether, unless you are arriving or leaving southern California by bus or train at some very late or very early hour, and you want a convenient place to stay for one night, or you are attending a conference downtown.

Outstanding Los Angeles-area hotel bargains. Check out: Save up to 75% on 4- star Los Angeles hotels!

The only reason to stay in Hollywood for more than a night would be if your overwhelming purpose in visiting southern California is to experience its vibrant music scene. Hollywood offers less expensive accommodation near many of the best clubs. However, stay away from hostels in Hollywood and very cheap motels along the streets east of West Hollywood, which are often venues of prostitution and hard drug use.

Stay on the west side of Los Angeles or in Santa Monica

If you must be near the Hollywood music scene, stay at a hotel near the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, a much safer area.

The Standard makes a good "mid-priced" but nevertheless chic hotel choice there. (This was the venue for several HBO Sex in the City episodes set in Los Angeles.) Also, the area near the new Hollywood and Highland entertainment centre and Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has become safer as tourists flock to see the new home of the Academy Awards and other sights there.

Beverly Hills, adjacent Westwood Village (UCLA), and Bel Air area all make good choices. The deluxe choice in this area, the Hotel Bel Air, is just a few minutes from Beverly Hills and the beach, and set in the midst of beautiful gardens.

Using Hotwire.com, you can actually find affordable hotels in West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Westwood Village. You pick the quality, price, and neighbourhood, but don't find out your hotel name until you pay. Allow a minute or two for prices to show.

A visitor with a car can conveniently and comfortably stay anywhere between Santa Monica and West Hollywood, which includes Beverly Hills.

Santa Monica Beach

Seriously consider basing your Los Angeles visit in Santa Monica.

There you'll find a fine beach, great restaurants, the well-run Santa Monica Hostel (a short walk to the beach), a wide range of hotel choices, and easy access to sightseeing. You'll also be near LAX Airport. See our Santa Monica page for more details.

For more introduction to your L.A. area visit:

Go to >> Introduction to your visit
Go to >> Santa Monica
Go to >> Finding the perfect beach
Go to >> Why L.A. is so unique

For additional L.A. information:

Go to >> Off the beaten track L.A.
Go to >> L.A. at night
Go to >> Disneyland
Go to >> Links to the most useful information

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