Alex Schechter

Set at the edge of Griffith Park, the famous Hollywood Sign is surrounded by a network of winding mountain trails. A hike through here in the early morning reveals not just unsurpassed views of Los Angeles, but also a quiet moment to reflect on an important piece of the city’s history—though it underwent massive renovations in the late ’70s, the original sign dates back to 1923. Make it an easy visit during your vacation by staying at one of the best hotels in L.A. near the sign. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we’ve based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Let's be honest, there’s no such thing as too much luxury in Los Angeles. Especially when you’re sleeping in Liz Taylor’s honeymoon bungalow (or at least, one of her honeymoons). From tropical beach cottages to high-style penthouse suites (and all the gourmet, 24-hour room service your taste buds can handle), these landing spots showcase the best of L.A. opulence. With lavish rooftop bars, pools and some of the best spa services in town, the offerings of these luxury lodgings can’t be beat. Oh, and while you’d be correct to assume that the highest concentration of five-star properties exists in and around Beverly Hills, our lists proves you don’t have to be limited to the Westside when you’re after some white-glove service at L.A.’s best luxury hotels. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels on the beach in L.A. Who makes the cut? While we might not stay in and review every hotel featured, we've based our list on our expert knowledge of the destination covered, editorial reviews, user reviews, hotel amenities and in-depth research to find you the best stays. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.

Let's get boujee, let's get boutique! Los Angeles is absolutely brimming with getaways just as individual as the city’s neighborhoods – whether you're looking for the kind of chic retreats that Beverly Hills has to offer or thriving Hollywood hideaways. When it comes to character and style, L.A. is your go-to. It's a veritable hub of creativity that encompasses film, arts, fashion, food, and design (the list goes on). This buzzing way of being is noted nicely in the city’s best boutique hotels, where imagination is at the forefront. It encompasses everything from funky lobby bars to colorful and casual retreats, and even rooms styled after fictional characters. Even the food and drink options are enough to lure you to one of these top boutique getaways. Here, you'll find rooftops with sweeping views of Los Angeles (including the Hollywood Sign), award-winning cocktail programs, dining under a twinkling greenhouse, and cozy lounges for a late-night aperitif. Whether you’re a tourist who's just passing through or have recently moved here, it’s only fitting that your first glimpse of L.A. life should come with all the trimmings—especially if you're staying at one of the city's best boutique hotels. Each spot on our list has its own twist, but as far as we’re concerned, the more distinctive, the better. RECOMMENDED: The best hotels on the beach in L.A.RECOMMENDED: The best museums to visit in L.A.RECOMMENDED: The best train trips from L.A. Who makes the cut? While we might not st

Florida's flat geography and boomerang shape tend to give the impression that there's not a whole lot else to do and see around here—at least, not without driving hours on end. But if you're itching for a quick escape from the bustling city life of Miami, its glistening beaches and 24-hour mega-clubs, we have a few solid suggestions that will have you packing a change of clothes and fueling up the car for a fun day of local adventures. Our picks for worthwhile day trips from Miami run the gamut from the quaint-but-charming Key Largo, where can actually swim with dolphins, to West Palm Beach, a low-key-chic waterfront with great shopping and dining. Expect to find major museums, exciting nightlife and impressive natural landmarks at these destinations, none of which are farther than 100 miles away. Ready to take a little trip? Peep our suggestions for the best day trips from Miami below. RECOMMENDED: The best weekended getaways from Miami

¡Hay tantas cosas para hacer en Nueva York! Sus exposiciones y museos son la envidia de todo el mundo, así como su variada oferta gastronómica, sin olvidar sus bares, que marcan tendencia en el resto del planeta. Su skyline es la octava maravilla del mundo, por eso decidimos resaltar los edificios más bonitos de la ciudad. Llamadnos locos, pero no importa si has vivido en la Gran Manzana toda tu vida o si solo estás de visita, no hay nada como la emoción de disfrutar de las mejores vistas de Nueva York desde el Empire State Building y el Edificio Chrysler. Pero ¿qué hay de la arquitectura de los museos de arte o de las joyas menos conocidas de la ciudad como el conservatorio del New York Botanical Garden? Hemos hecho una lista que incluye lo mejor en arquitectura sin olvidarnos, claro, de los rascacielos más asombrosos. Sal a verlos todos, así como muchas otras cosas de Nueva York que nos encantan. NO TE LO PIERDAS: Las 10 mejores cosas para hacer en Nueva York

L.A. life is pretty sweet if you’re a dog. Between dog-friendly beaches, restaurants with outdoor seating, and hiking trails like Runyon Canyon, there are a million ways to keep your best friend’s tail wagging as you explore the sights. L.A. is so pet-friendly, in fact, many hotels keep themselves stocked with dog beds, treats and litter boxes, knowing full well that a good percentage of their guests are showing up with a whiskered plus-one. In fact, some hotels are so excited to welcome your four-legged friends, they’ll waive the pet fee altogether.

If 2019’s headliners—Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala—prove anything, it’s the wide, genre-thwarting scope of Coachella. Mainly, everyone’s just showing up for a wild weekend out in the sun. But a little planning is involved. While mapping out the best hotels for Coachella (or Stagecoach), we prioritized location and convenience above all. We also figured that different festival-goers require different settings, so we’re letting you pick your own adventure. If you’re all about the perks, you’ll like a swankier spot like Omni Rancho Las Palmas or the Saguaro. For those who are too busy crowd-surfing to notice whether their bed has 50- or 500-thread count linen, we’ve got you covered, too. Whatever your scene, these hotels promise to keep you close to the action all weekend long.

For weeks now, you’ve talked about treating yourself to a nice deep-tissue massage. And the idea of a scented steam bath, followed by a manicure and maybe even a facial (why not?) doesn’t sound so bad either. Call it a staycation, call it a mental health day—however you want to rationalize your visit to one of L.A.’s heavenly hotel spas is fine with us. From luscious coffee-and-lemon body scrubs to Chinese acupuncture or mineral soaking pools, each of these hotel spas offers a slightly different twist on “aahhh.” And we guarantee you’ll be impressed with the results.  

“Bohemian” seems to be the watchword for Venice, the scrappier, more free-spirited sibling to polished Santa Monica. If you’re here for carnivalesque street life, you won’t be disappointed with a night in a Venice hotel. Artists, fashion hounds, fortune tellers and surfers alike congregated here in the 1970s, though the recent arrivals of tech biggies like Google and Snapchat have brought slick, modern developments to some of the city's best beaches amid the incense clouds and folk art stands. With a neighborhood so small, your Venice hotel will never be too far from the action; simply step outside (or onto a rooftop bar) and the party awaits.

The colossal Universal Studios entity, in business since 1912, taps into every tourist’s desire to not just visit Hollywood, but penetrate its very core. From new attractions like Walking Dead and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, to classic backlot studio tours and the always-exhilarating Jurassic Park ride, the theme park is a hive of activity, and its surrounding hotels make it easy for guests to get to and from the attractions (almost all have free shuttles). Inside the park itself, there are two resorts with breezy outdoor pool areas, or you can opt for something more casual at one of the retro inns along Ventura Boulevard. Wherever you end up, chances are you'll fall under the Hollywood spell.

If the bulk of your L.A. vacation itinerary revolves around marathon sessions by the pool, then our list won’t disappoint. From beachy Santa Monica getaways that deliver fresh-pressed juice right to your chaise lounge to a Downtown athletic club hotel that boasts scuba diving lessons, hotel pools in Los Angeles have a tradition of going the extra mile. If you’re more the partying type, a selection of stylish rooftop pools with thumping nightlife scenes ensures plenty of fun in the sun—or sunset, as the case may be.

A business trip to L.A. doesn’t have to be dull, depending on where you stay. From Downtown to Marina del Rey, the city is fortunate enough to offer dynamic options for itinerant professionals of all types. Need a quiet suite to finish up that quarterly report? Hoping to wow a new client with a rooftop cocktail event at your hotel? Or maybe you’re just looking to decompress from a busy day of meetings with a spa treatment or glass of milk and cookies. Whatever your business is in L.A., these hotels are happy to be your home away from the office.

Inter-guest bonding opportunities abound at this hostel-like landing spot. Prices are certainly higher than what you’d pay for a dorm-type situation, but then again, you’re also getting more than just a bunk bed and a locker: crisp, Pop Art-themed rooms have flat-screens, mini fridges and CO Bigelow toiletries. Better yet, the front desk agents won’t look askance if you show up with a crew—thanks to dedicated Crash Pad Suites with pull-out sofas and expanded living rooms, the more-is-merrier consensus seems justified. Between the Ping-Pong tables, record players and weekly pub crawls, staff seem to go out of their way to ensure the party doesn’t stop. Neighborhood: Located right on the cusp of Marina Del Rey and Venice, the Kinney offers the best of both scenes. Head to the marina for stand-up paddleboarding or boating, or stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard to soak up the hip Venice atmosphere. Nearby:Sunny Spot: For boozy Caribbean brunch with a hip Venice crowd Tortoise General Store: For home goods that put a modern twist on traditional Japanese design The Lincoln: For inventive cocktails on the gorgeous open-air patio Time Out tip: Much as we love the shops, bars and restaurants lining Abbot Kinney, Venice Beach isn’t actually the most relaxing place to stretch out on the sand. Decamp to Marina Beach or Playa Del Rey Beach for a much more peaceful experience.

Close proximity to Hollywood isn’t the only selling point here: vibrant, mountain chalet-inspired rooms, a 1960s-themed diner, and a healthy dose of old Hollywood memorabilia help this humble chain win the stamp of approval from foodies, culture snobs, and design critics alike. With an upbeat spirit and eye-catching old Hollywood decor, this Best Western Plus wins the award for budget hotel most likely to charm your pants off. On the side of the building, a bright mural depicting a giant turquoise coffee mug has the tagline “Last cappuccino before the 101,” and you’d be tempted to pull over just to see what all the fuss is about. Upon entering, over a hundred autographed portraits of famous Hollywood actors line the hallways, making the lobby pulse with Tinseltown lore. Rooms are surprisingly chic and full of character, with knotty pine walls, headboards wrapped in cow hide (with matching cow spotted armchairs), and granite-top bathroom sinks. Admittedly small, the themed rooms and suites all yield at least one conversation piece (a throw pillow embroidered with a dog, a pair of bull horns fastened to the wall), ensuring a modicum of entertainment even before you switch the TV on. Each unit has a kitchenette (sink, microwave, coffeemaker), AC, and iPod docking station. The courtyard pool in the center of the complex showcases the building’s bright exterior, which is painted in sunny shades of turquoise, yellow and gray. Location: Slightly east of Hollywood, the Best Western P

Free parking and an outdoor pool are about the only frills to speak of at this budget option, which nevertheless has recently refreshed rooms, and offers good value for any traveler doing Hollywood on the cheap. It’s telling that visitors to Hollywood tend to focus exclusively on the dense, lit-up stretch between Vine and La Brea, when in reality there are outer layers to the iconic hood also worth exploring. Case in point: the Hollywood City Inn, an unassuming 2-story motel that sits just across the 101 in an area known as Thai Town. While the family-owned budget spot can’t really compete with the glitzy 300-room hotel blocks west of here, it has a low-key, reliable appeal of its own. The external corridors all face out to a small kidney-shaped pool with a few picnic tables and sunloungers—a humble haven for the warmer months. Meanwhile, the rooms themselves have all been recently updated, and the former carpets and musty curtains have been switched out for smooth hardwood floors and plantation shutters. There are flat-screen TVs, AC, microwaves, and a desk (no coffeemakers, but the lobby keeps a pot brewing 24 hours a day). Though amenities are on the slight side (a basic continental breakfast and laundry facilities), the motel serves its purpose as a cheap entry point for exploring the rest of Hollywood. Location: Set just east of the 101, the Hollywood City Inn has easy-in easy-out access from Hollywood Boulevard (with free parking), and adjoins a host of Thai restauran

This laid-back Hollywood hideout isn’t one for grand gestures, but for simple lodging with a cheerful retro theme rippling throughout the 70 rooms and on-site diner, it infuses an otherwise dreary strip motel with life. A full-on time warp back into 1950s-era Hollywood, the Dixie doesn’t claim to be the trendiest or the most luxurious landing spot on Hollywood Boulevard, but as a throwback motor inn, it fills an appealing niche for travelers on a budget who like a little schmaltz with their sleeping quarters. A mural around the hotel’s perimeter shows Marilyn Monroe and James Dean in familiar poses, and inside there’s a low-key diner, 54Twenty, with a long counter and red swivel seats. Rooms are connected via an external walkway, and the (free) parking is organized so that you can pull up right in front of your individual room. While there are no major amenities to speak of, the rooms themselves are colorful and straightforward: all include AC units, minifridges, and wall graphics which depict the Hollywood Sign. Beyond that, there’s an outdoor pool encircled by a small garden-like patio, with abundant greenery, some lounge chairs and a soda machine. Location: The Dixie Hollywood faces Hollywood Boulevard and sits less than a block from the Hollywood/Western metro station, offering easy access to Union Station and other parts of LA. Technically part of Thai Town, there’s a decent selection of Thai restaurants within walking distance; meanwhile, the main tourist attractions

For an airport hotel, the sprawling Westin is a pretty sophisticated pick, with firepits, a swish outdoor pool and a surprisingly diverse range of room options. The all-day restaurant is a stylish place to grab a meal, and there’s even a weekly group morning run to get your heart pumping before you sit on a plane for 6 hours. A quick glance at the outside of Westin Los Angels Airport indicates it’s one of the more visible options along West Century Blvd, with a meatier buffet of services and amenities to boot. The white, palm-lined 747-room tower certainly hits the expected Westin criteria: polished interiors and a strong focus on fitness and well-being. Hence the well-equipped 3rd-floor gym, rentable New Balance sneakers ($5) that come in an array of sizes, and weekly morning group runs led by a member of the hotel staff. Though you might not have the willpower to tear yourself from bed at 7am on a Tuesday, it’s nice to know the hotel attracts the kind of healthy, self-disciplined guests who do. Ditto for the gym-themed rooms, which come with a Peloton stationary bike pushed right up to the window, so you feel like you’re pedaling up with the planes. There are also executive rooms (the accompanying lounge has free hors d’oeuvres at night) and, in case airports put you in the mood for entertaining, a tier of luxury, apartment-style suites with 1,200 square feet of space. Location: Set on the hotel strip of West Century Blvd, the Westin Los Angeles Airport is down the block f

This intimate, boutique hotel scores big with the fashion set, and offers handsomely designed rooms without the pretension that usually accompanies a lifestyle hotel. Don’t sweat the $40 club fee, as the benefits (free all-day snacks, a compact cocktail lounge) outweigh the cost. You didn’t come all this way to LA’s most notorious zip code to not have Rodeo Drive as your temporary address, did you? This is the only hotel to call Rodeo home, and it certainly doesn’t let you forget. The allure of sleeping above Michael Kors and Rolex is obvious, though sometimes the hotel’s insistence on fashionable, carefully curated spaces can feel a little sterile. There’s no restaurant on-site, but for those who love sipping cocktails in immaculate, color coordinated rooms, the hotel’s Luxe Club isn’t a bad deal: the $40 per person per night fee gets you access to a jewel-toned lounge with small plates served throughout the day, plus beer, wine, and cocktails in the evening. The rooms, designed by Vicente Wolf, are where the hotel shines best. Totaling 88, they are luxury oriented, and full of life, with seafoam green, fresh flowers and Victorian armchairs—like sleeping in an expensive beach cottage, minus the surf. This being Beverly Hills, the Hollywood views get better the higher you go, and some of the Premier-style rooms even add a furnished balcony. Location: Set directly on Rodeo Drive, this hotel is happily sandwiched between Roberto Cavalli and Tom Ford, with dozens of other high-

Classic, spacious rooms and a 24-hour front desk with friendly staff makes this tried-and-true chain a safe choice for business travelers or LAX passengers in need of an affordable, unpretentious place to stay. Designed to appeal to as wide a range of traveler types as possible, La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX is comfortable, neutral, and efficient. You won’t find specially commissioned art or high-falutin’ restaurant concepts here—just warm, functional interiors with traditional features like a heated outdoor pool and modern suites with HD flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers and minifridges. Being an all-suites all hotel, the lodging is spacious and offers homey accents like oversize mirrors and plush loveseats; some upgraded options add living rooms with pull-out sofas. There’s definitely room to spread out here, and should your plane get delayed, it’s not the worst place to kill an extra 24 hours. The free hot breakfast buffet (with eggs and sausage, as well as bagels, pastries and fresh fruit) is a highlight, while the small gym and unremarkable outdoor pool area do little to entice. Often utilized for meetings and functions, there’s definitely a ‘convention’ feel to La Quinta, but that same quality ensures quick service and a high standard of cleanliness and professionalism. Location: On a busy row of airport hotels along West Century Boulevard, La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX is a mile from the airport, and sits adjacent to the busy 405 freeway. Nearby: Manhattan Beach Pier: Follow

Modest it may be, this 130-room Ramada goes for a simple, straightforward approach to hospitality within unremarkable surroundings; the lobby restaurant, which doubles as a sports bar, is a stylish place to end an evening. What the surrounding neighborhood lacks in scenery, the Ramada Los Angeles Downtown West makes up for in comfort. Inside its 3-story brick edifice, there’s a conventionally charming lobby with a fireplace and some anodyne artwork displayed on glass shelves. Frills aren’t a hallmark of Ramada, and the 130 rooms are suitably stark, albeit recently renovated. Enlivened with accents of red, gold, and dark wood, the interiors are modern and allow plenty of natural light through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Desks are nice and big, too, with sleek ergonomic chairs. If you’re sticking around for a while, there are useful features, like apartment-esque units with kitchens (cabinets are stocked with dishware), plus coin-operated laundry, a 24-hour convenience mart, and an outdoor pool. The best part of the hotel, surprisingly, is the ground-floor restaurant. Despite its humdrum setting, the contemporary dining room is refreshingly vibrant, with shiny hardwood floors and an appealing menu of nachos, steak and pasta—as such it attracts a diverse crowd of hotel guests and neighborhood regulars. You might still opt for a ritzier place downtown, but after a long day of exploring LA, the built-in eatery is an unexpected source of relaxation and merriment. Location: On th

Created as the sister property to Hollywood’s glamorous Roosevelt hotel, this 1926 gem stays faithful to its roots, with a roaring 20s-themed cocktail bar, plus live jazz, a cigar patio and a 3rd-floor pool deck. It’s an inspired space for drinking, learning downtown LA lore, and, of course, sleeping. Modeled after the grand European hotels of yore, this subtly elegant 15-story tower opened in 1926. That rich history (the hotel famously hosted the after-party for the first-ever Oscars award ceremony in 1929) and design is on view throughout the lavish lobby and rooms, which are all fresh from a top-to-bottom renovation in late 2017. First up: the rooms, which are done in playful, 1920-inspired black-and-white motif, with white orchids, pinstripe curtains and giant black-and-white maps of old LA installed over the beds. It’s an old structure, so the bathrooms are small. Upgraded suites simply add space, but the amenities (free Wi-Fi, coffeemakers, media hubs with USB charging ports) remain consistent throughout all 295 rooms. A big focus for the remodel were the hotel’s many dining outlets, which include a lobby lounge with iron lattice atrium and a vintage martini cart (it wheels right up to your table!), as well as Eve, an American bistro by Scott Cummings, winner of season 12 of Hell’s Kitchen, plus a coffeeshop, live piano bar, and a pool deck with a cafe on the third floor. Location: The 110 freeway splits downtown in two, and the Mayfair Hotel sits on the west side of

Affordable and relaxed with spacious (if slightly drab) rooms, this 6-story hotel block serves as a handy home base for deeper exploration in bustling K-town, and comes with a reputable Korean-Japanese restaurant. There’s a solid case for booking a stay here if all your activity is centered around Koreatown, whose prolific dessert cafes, shopping plazas, and late-night BBQ joints encircle this mid-range, 6-story hotel. Admittedly, you won’t be wowed by any of the services—and certainly not the design, which feels stuck a few decades behind. Nevertheless, the JJ Grand serves a function. The rooms are unremarkable, and could use some brightening up (the wallpaper, for example, needs replacing), but are well-sized and outfitted with the basics, like flat-screen TVs and minifridges, and the beds have crisp white linens. (There are no coffeemakers, but there’s a Starbucks 2 blocks away.)  An upgraded tier of suites offer almost double the space, with wide open living rooms and sofas, though you get the same amenities in the end. What keeps customers coming back, aside from the unbeatable location, tends to be the free parking (a boon in congested parts of town like this), as well as the on-site restaurant Woo Mi Kwan, which is something of a hidden gem: even non-hotel guests show up here for steaming bowls of Korean bibimbap and Japanese teriyaki lunch boxes. Location: Set on a side street from busy Wilshire Boulevard, the JJ Grand has access to all of Koreatown’s colorful divers

Dramatic views and a bold, exaggerated design help this 18-story tower compete in the booming DTLA hotel scene, but the luster isn’t just on the surface—a string of modern amenities, plus an outdoor pool and canine-friendly happy hour keep up the momentum. As glittering new towers like the $1 billion Metropolis, which houses the 350-room Hotel Indigo, reshape the LA skyline, luxury travelers will be among the first to reap the benefits. In this case, that means evening dips in the 4th-floor outdoor pool, access to a shiny 24-hour gym, and a “penthouse” cocktail bar with glorious views of the entire city. It’s easy living at the Hotel Indigo, a strikingly contemporary building that aims to impress. From the Presidential Suite—with marble columns and hardwood floors—down to the regular rooms, the interiors all have a rich, saturated look. The amenities are consistent throughout, though, so no matter what you book, expect 43-inch flat-screen TVs, bluetooth Tivoli radios and Keurig coffeemakers. The lobby looks like something out of a futuristic concert hall, with brass-sheathed armchairs and chandeliers that resemble flying saucers. A similar UFO motif runs through the restaurant, Metropole Kitchen & Bar, with its neon green banquettes and circular pods (the menu skews international, with Peking duck steamed buns, short rib flatbread, and steak frites). In short, a forward-looking, cosmopolitan hotel to go hand in hand with the booming downtown scene. Location: Adjacent to the

Sophisticated in design not to mention comfortable, this well-liked chain takes care of business with a handsome indoor pool, a 24-hour convenience store, and a free breakfast. Ending up at an airport hotel doesn’t have to be as bleak as it sounds. Sometimes, you can be pleasantly surprised. Such is the case with Hampton Inn Los Angeles, International Airport Hawthorne, a slightly more sophisticated take on the usual formula. There’s a heated indoor pool, for instance, whose generous ceiling-height windows and earthy flagstone lend an expansive, resort-like vibe. The polished dining room—with hardwood floors and recessed lighting (contrasted with typically bland breakfast rooms at similar properties)—represents good bang for your buck, as does the free gated parking and 24-hour tea and coffee in the lobby. Rooms have a modern, focused look with mahogany headboards and armchairs; while it’s no Waldorf Astoria, thought clearly went into making these accommodations looks as fresh and uncluttered as their price point allows. While there’s no dedicated restaurant, a 24-hour convenience kiosk in the lobby can alleviate the hassle of commuting to and from the airport at odd hours of the night. Location: Set on a busy intersection at Imperial Highway and Hawthorne Boulevard, this hotel neighbors a cluster of food outlets (KFC, Taco Bell, Starbucks) as well as a supermarket, and it offers direct access to the 105 and 110 freeways, which connects to downtown LA. Nearby: Redondo Beach