Irvine Lake Park

For my first time in L.A., I couldn’t have chosen a better place to stay. Tucked between two high-end boutique hotels, the Best Western offers that exclusive Hollywood vibe at a much better value. Rated highly among guests, the location is clean, safe, and within walking distance to the bars and clubs on Santa Monica and several iconic WeHo restaurants. The staff is attentive and friendly, and the hotel offers a daily breakfast included with your room. Besides the expected coffee and pastries, they had a variety of juices, eggs, breakfast meats and potatoes; fresh fruit, yogurt and cold cereal; hot oatmeal and made-to-order waffles. For a free breakfast, I was really impressed. My room was modern yet charming—spacious, clean, with a comfortable king-size bed, and a large bathroom with marble finishes and a rain shower. But what drew me to this hotel and really made my room special, were the large French-style windows that opened on to a secluded European-style courtyard with a large pool, vine-covered pergola and private sitting areas nestled among manicured foliage and flowering shrubbery. It gives classic Hollywood hideaway, allowing you to truly unwind among the fast-paced energy of Los Angeles.