Finding a Place to Stay in Santa Monica

Santa Monica's Pier 1

Named after Santa Monica of Hippo because the area was first discovered by the Spaniards on her saints' day, Santa Monica experienced a boom in the early 20th century when it was populated by resorts and holiday-goers. The city has grown in popularity ever since, due to its climate, laid-back lifestyle and proximity to both the city and the beach. The Santa Monica of today is a unique blend of free-spirited hippies, bronzed beach denizens, adventure-loving skate and surf enthusiasts, polished vacationers and much more. The city, which is the hometown of several big Hollywood stars, is known for a few things, including but not limited to its world-famous skateboarding culture, colorful pier and undeniably laid-back beach culture.

A Row of Santa Monica Hotels 2

This WorldWeb.com Travel Guide article can help travellers with their accommodation choice with three important information sources:

1) Accommodation Directory - This is a complete accommodation directory containing detailed information about hotels, B&Bs, hostels and more. With links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory will help visitors find the right place to stay based on their personal preferences.

2) Room Search & Secure Room Reservations - This convenient room search page allows the user to check for room availability and then make a secure room reservation at appropriate properties. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year, the online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful in the peak seasons when finding accommodation at properties can be difficult.

3) Maps - The Santa Monica map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours, transportation and more.

ORIENTATION

Santa Monica is wedged between Malibu to the north and Venice to the south, and is easily accessed from central Los Angeles by the Santa Monica Freeway and Santa Monica Boulevard, made famous by a Sheryl Crow song. The city is also bisected by the Pacific Coast Highway, which runs from north to south.

Districts
Downtown is where the third street promenade is located, and offers lots of shops, restaurants and services concentrated into a relatively small area. Mid-City is where Bergamot Station and other galleries charm artsy-types, where several record companies have studios and where Irish and British pubs lull passersby with promises of good times and Guinness.

Montana Ave is where the posh people go, for shops and cafes that offer luxurious, unique goods in exquisite settings. Nearby Main Street is vibrant and hip, its streets lined with funky shops selling everything from coffee to coiffures.

Ocean Avenue, not surprisingly, runs alongside the ocean and gives way to the Santa Monica Pier, which offers a day of fun for the whole family. Ocean Park is a charming, non-touristy area, as is Pico Ave, which offers a number of international eateries.

Finally, the Santa Monica Airport may not be open to commercial flights, but that doesn't mean visitors can't head there for a day of plane-watching. The Santa Monica Airport, formerly known as Clover Field, holds an important place in aviation history as the first flight to circumnavigate the world originated and ended here. The airport is also home to Douglas Aircraft.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting There
Santa Monica is 8 mi (13 km) from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), from which visitors can take a taxi or shuttle to downtown Santa Monica, for approximately $35 or $20, respectively, each way.

Downtown Los Angeles is about 15 mi (24 km) from Santa Monica, and the two are connected by the Santa Monica Freeway, as well as public transit with service to and from central LA provided by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. A bus schedule can be picked up at the Santa Monica Visitors Centre.

Getting Around
Santa Monica is relatively small in area, so walking throughout the city, or at least between the major attractions, is easy and fairly straightforward. For those who'd rather not travel by foot, Santa Monica has a thorough and reliable public transit system, the Big Blue Bus, which also provides service to West LA and offers an express to downtown LA. Riding on the Big Blue Bus is convenient—buses run every 15 minutes 365 days of the year—and cheap—an adult bus fare is less than $1. But if hoofing it and taking the bus are not options, there are plenty of taxis available.

Parking in Santa Monica can be expensive, is subject to a number of limitations and is difficult to come by. It's a good idea to choose a hotel that provides parking and leave the car there while exploring Santa Monica via one of the aforementioned methods.

WHEN TO VISIT

Santa Monica enjoys a temperate climate. September is the hottest month, with the recorded high being 99°F (37°C.) August and July aren't far behind temperature-wise, so late summer is the ideal time for heat-seekers to visit. Winter isn't all that bad either though, with temperatures around 63°F (17°C.) However, in December, the occasional Santa Ana wind can bring dry, hot weather to the area, so those in search of a white Christmas, or even a seasonal Californian Christmas, might want to look elsewhere.

One of Santa Monica's major draws is that it enjoys 325 days of sunshine per year on average. May and June are sometimes smoggy and overcast, so serious sunbakers should pick a different month to visit.

ATTRACTIONS

Sign at the Santa Monica Pier 3

For inland dwellers, the beach itself is a big enough reason to come to Santa Monica. But beaches are standard issue in California and what makes this one stand apart is its amazing pier, full of unique vendors and rides like the historic Santa Monica Looff Hippdrome Carousel, which has been a fixture on the pier since 1909 and is a registered national historic landmark.

Another great place for a stroll in Santa Monica and one of its best-known attractions is the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-only shopping district that has been helping people unload the extra weight from their wallet for decades. Because no cars are allowed on the road, it's a perfect place for people to congregate, surrounded by shops, eateries and colorful street performers. It runs for three blocks between Wilshire and Broadway Boulevards.

Cultural attractions also abound in Santa Monica. The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium is a historic performing arts venue that hosted the Academy Awards from 1961 to 1968. Bergamot Station is a former trolley station and celery packing factory-turned art complex, which features several prominent galleries including the city-owned Santa Monica Museum of Art.

ACCOMMODATIONS

	Enjoying a Warm Evening on the Veranda 4

Santa Monica enjoys an ideal location near the beach but away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Los Angeles. But the desirable location means staying in this city is not cheap. High-end hotels dominate the landscape, though there are a limited number of other accommodation choices.

High-End
Posh Hotels are Santa Monica's specialty, where big-name luxury hotels like the Fairmont Miramar stand alongside historic establishments such as the Georgian Hotel, offering classic art deco style and a rich history as the stomping ground for many famous names throughout the 20th century.

Though several hotels are located beside the beach, only two have the distinction of being on the beach. The Casa Del Mar was the place to be seen on the west coast when it originally had its heyday in the 1920s, and since re-opening in 1999, it has lived up to its old reputation. Visitors who can't afford the price of a room, which can cost thousands a night, should take a look around the grand ballrooms and sweeping hallways of the hotel anyway—it truly is a sight in itself. The beach's other hotel, Shutters, is just as pricey and just as luxurious, but evokes a classic breezy Californian feel coupled with all the amenities of home to create the perfect beach vacation.

Other impressive hotels include the Viceroy Hotel, situated not far from Casa Del Mar and Shutters on Ocean Ave. The Viceroy is a boutique hotel offering a unique sense of style and a convenient location. Those who don't mind staying uptown should check in to mid-city's Ambrose Hotel, where Asian-inspired décor and a quiet setting away from the bustle of the beachfront make for a relaxing stay.

For accommodations that are smaller, more personable and just as fancy, the Channel Road Inn is a B & B-style establishment located only a block from the beach. Filled with charm and classic style, the 1910 Inn is the former home of Thomas McCall, an early, prominent settler from Scotland.

The Unique Georgian Hotel 5

Mid-Range
Historic Hotel Carmel enjoys a convenient location on Broadway, just off Ocean Ave, where most of the high-end hotels are situated. While it may not be as luxurious as its neighbors, it comes without the hefty price tag, offering good value for money.

Classic Rock fans may have their hearts set on staying at the Hotel California. Yes, it's that Hotel California, the one featured in the classic Eagles song of the same name. There are a few differences though: Guests can leave when they check out, they have to drink regular champagne on ice instead of the pink variety, and there aren't any mirrors on the ceilings.

Days Inn, Comfort Inn and other chain hotels offer uptown locations, providing guests with a reasonably-priced room and the basic necessities for a pleasant stay, on the condition that the beach and popular attractions are a bit of a walk away.

Budget
Travelers on a budget can choose between the privacy of a motel or the convenience and amenities of a hostel. The Palm Motel offers rooms at a fraction of a cost of a night at one of the hotels located on Ocean Avenue, while the Ocean Park Inn provides a number of amenities and the convenience of being situated close to busy Lincoln Avenue.

Santa Monica's Hostelling International Hostel, located near the beach, offers over 200 rooms, with dorm-style accommodations available for rent for under $50.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

1. Santa Monica's Pier, Santa Monica, CA, USA
2. A Row of Santa Monica Hotels, Santa Monica, CA, USA
3. Sign at the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, USA
4. c/o The Georgian Hotel; Enjoying a Warm Evening on the Veranda; Santa Monica, CA, USA
5. c/o The Georgian Hotel; The Unique Georgian Hotel; Santa Monica, CA, USA