Los Angeles is a doozy for travelers—largely thanks to the city’s unending spread.
Videos by TravelAwaits
Is Santa Monica actually part of Los Angeles? What’s with everyone visiting Torrance, too? Most importantly, where should someone stay if they want to stay relatively close to the action?
After all, you’re going to face a lot of tough decision narrowing down your itinerary. From bar-hopping to dessert-tasting to studio tours, there’s tons to do. And you don’t want to waste precious time—and money—on transportation to and from your must-sees.
While Los Angeles has a solid list of boutique hotels where you’ll pay more for a top-tier experience, you don’t need to spend more if you don’t want to. In fact, there are more hotels in Los Angeles at affordable price points than you might think. And some of them are just as flashy and well-known as the boutiques.
Here’s where to find hotels in Los Angeles with amenities and style that match their room rates.
Hotels in Los Angeles that won’t empty your bank account
- The Biltmore: Swanky, classic design
- The Delphi: Top contemporary feel
- Park Plaza Lodge Hotel: Most walkable neighborhood
- The Garland: Best hotel for hanging around
- Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX: Excellent hotel close to LAX (for day use, too)
- The Hollywood Franklin Hotel: Best for families with young kids
- CitizenM Los Angeles Downtown: Ideal for social travelers
- Aventura Hotel: Perfect for saving
Hotels in Los Angeles that won’t empty your bank account
I’m listing out my favorite hotels in Los Angeles in order from swankiest to most budget-friendly. The Biltmore and The Delphi aren’t always available for affordable prices, but they’ll drop every now and then, especially on Agoda.
Be mindful of when you’re visiting. Deals on luxury hotels aren’t as common when high season rolls around.
The Biltmore
- Location: Downtown Los Angeles
- Great for: Central location, classical architecture, and great views of the city
- Coolest amenities: The Biltmore is located inside a Beaux-Arts landmark building that was finished in 1923. It’s part of LA’s Historic-Cultural Monuments list, making every public space, from the indoor pool to the bar-lounge, a feast for the eyes. Despite its gorgeous setting and central location, you can book rooms for less than $300 a night.
The Delphi
- Location: Downtown Los Angeles
- Great for: Central location, rooftop pool, and high design décor
- Coolest amenities: It’s swanky and special thanks to its unique design features, like open-plan ensuite showers and bathtubs, along with retro diner-style restaurants. The Biltmore is your gateway to a classic hotel stay in Los Angeles—The Delphi is its young, contemporary counterbalance. Again, you can find rooms for under $300 a night.
The Garland
- Location: North Hollywood
- Great for: Proximity to film studios (there’s a free shuttle to Universal Studios), high design décor, and a hotel worth hanging out at
- Coolest amenities: If you like a little retro vibe, you’ll love the 70s boho-bungalow feel of The Garland. It’s a callback to Hollywood’s heyday, and is exactly the type of ambiance you want when you lounge by the outdoor pool or sip on a cocktail at the bar. If you want to feel like you’re in the lap of West Coast luxury without going into five-star resort territory, look no further.
Park Plaza Lodge Hotel
- Location: West Hollywood
- Great for: Walkability, families who want a spacious room, and a great location
- Coolest amenities: You can’t walk to many destinations in Los Angeles, but Park Plaza Lodge Hotel has a fantastic location in West Hollywood. You can walk to a Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, along with The Grove and the LA County Museum of Art. Staff is also known to be very friendly and helpful, making this great for out-of-towners who haven’t visited LA before. Families are also more than welcome—and kids will love the outdoor pool.
Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX
- Location: LAX
- Great for: Day rates, layover stays, and a rooftop pool
- Coolest amenities: No need to reinvent the wheel here. The Sonesta Los Angeles is the perfect place to spend the night if your flight is canceled. You can also find day rates for the hotel if you need to pass the time between your flights. Best of all, Sonesta Los Angeles is located less than 1,500 feet from the airport, meaning your shuttle will arrive in minutes.
(If the Sonesta Los Angeles doesn’t do it for you, check out the nearby Hyatt House LAX.)
The Hollywood Franklin Hotel
- Location: Hollywood
- Great for: City views, great location near Hollywood Blvd, and family-friendly vibes
- Coolest amenities: This is a refurbished, upscale motel setup, meaning the rooms open onto balconies that overlook a central outdoor pool below. In keeping with many of the hotels in Los Angeles, there’s an updated retro-chic vibe throughout. The Hollywood Franklin Hotel is also great for families; multiple rooms have bunkbed setups.
CitizenM Los Angeles Downtown
- Location: Downtown
- Great for: Young travelers, social travelers, and great location
- Coolest amenities: CitizenM hotels are known for their hyper-modern, colorful, and modular style. I’ve always had a great experience at these hotels thanks to their cleanliness, useful amenities, and bars. (There’s always a great bar on the grounds.) They also have an energetic, social vibe, making it great for travelers who like to make friends and chat it up.
Aventura Hotel
- Location: Koreatown
- Great for: Super-comfortable beds, great location, and lower prices (plus, no parking fee)
- Coolest amenities: Aventura Hotel is located near Koreatown’s coolest bars, restaurants, and street food, making it great for travelers who want to dive deep into LA culture. The hotel isn’t reinventing the wheel—it’s clean, rooms are spacious, and staff are helpful. You can also add an extra bed in your room for just $20, in case you have an overnight guest.
[Just a heads-up: We may earn an affiliate commission when you make a purchase from a link in our articles.]
