I’d be inclined to stay around Disney and travel up to Universal for the day. There’s plenty of mid-level hotels there and I found this site which has some great tips on using public transport to get between them.
Oops, looks like you can’t post links. Didn’t realize. The site is called disunplugged, search for “no car?”
You should consider staying Downtown. It's halfway between Anaheim & Hollywood, and you can get the subway to the latter very easily. Downtown has changed a lot in the last ten years, lots of cool places to eat and drink and new art museums up on Bunker Hill. The Biltmore is a classic old school hotel, 4 stars and a great location. The Omni is more modern and across the S.Grand Ave from the Broad Museum. Also 4 stars.
We stayed at Loews Hotel Santa Monica . It was on the beach , close to the pier , great neighbourhood , beautiful hotel . It was about 20 minutes from LAX but would be far from Disney .
If it’s your first trip to Disney then you’ll want at least 3 days there between the parks. If budget allows then cannot recommend staying on property enough. Not only do you get the all important early entry but a tonne of other benefits too. It’s not cheap but if it’s a once in a lifetime thing then do it. Mrs B and I did DL hotel and loved it.Â
(This goes double for chefs counter at napa rose).Â
The unofficial guide to Disneyland is worth purchasing before your trip, as is a listen to the Mousetalgia podcast.Â
Pretty sure there’s day trips that will allow you to do Universal from Anaheim.Â
As a resident of LA I would second the earlier suggestion. Downtown LA has cleaned up a lot and plenty of good choices. Subway to Universal/Hollywood/Santa Monica - so very central for getting around. Im sure there is a train or shuttle to Disney from there as well. The subway goes to the airport (not through the nicest of areas - but its safe) otherwise use direct bus. UBER and LYFT is your friend in LA if without a car, so consider that an option. $20-35 per car from LAX to downtown LA (whereas a supper shuttle is around $20 per person).
There are a ton of hotels in Anaheim but the area is ummm boring. IF prices are skyhigh when you are going, LAX offers great value for money but is removed from everything except beach city activities which are great! Hotel $ just go much further by the airport, and Manhattan Beach is great. Shuttle to Universal and Disney, or subway to other parts from there works ok.
Most parts of LA have cleaned up A LOT since the 90s, so you will be fine.
Hotels.com and booking.com are great for looking at apartment style hotels and they also list some upscale airbnb condos that are very nice (and great for families) - 30 floor buildings with great views with apartment space in downtown LA.
Agree with you Brassy - We purchased a family 4-day pass for Disneyland and it was the best thing we did!
We actually rented a house at Hermosa Beach for the week via VRBO - it was about an hours drive to Disneyland - but worth it. Hermosa Beach is like Noosa - laid back, really safe, everything you need within walking distance.
any suggestions for a transit hotel nearby airport, all that i can find under AUD150 has horrible horrible reviews.
Hyatt Place LAX/El Segundo is good if you book early enough to get a good rate. I stay there a lot (around ~20-30 nights / year) when I am in LA on business as my client's offices are a 10 minute walk away. Breakfast is included in the rate, with the hotel having a gym, swimming pool as well as laundry facilities. They do have a 24hr kitchen for other meals (i'm not a huge fan of what's on offer) but there are plenty of places to go to within a 20 min walk up on Sepulveda Blvd or you can always take an Uber downtown El Segundo (E Grand and Main St) or Manhattan beach for more options.
The hotel runs a free shuttle bus to and from LAX which is shared with the Parking 105 of airport parking company. The bus runs ~10-15 mins from LAX and the hotel will happily arrange for the bus to take you back to LAX when you need to depart.
One thing to not if you join up to World of Hyatt rewards program you will get 10% off the room rate. The rewards program is free to join.
As a resident of LA I would second the earlier suggestion. Downtown LA has cleaned up a lot and plenty of good choices. Subway to Universal/Hollywood/Santa Monica - so very central for getting around. Im sure there is a train or shuttle to Disney from there as well. The subway goes to the airport (not through the nicest of areas - but its safe) otherwise use direct bus. UBER and LYFT is your friend in LA if without a car, so consider that an option. $20-35 per car from LAX to downtown LA (whereas a supper shuttle is around $20 per person).
There are a ton of hotels in Anaheim but the area is ummm boring. IF prices are skyhigh when you are going, LAX offers great value for money but is removed from everything except beach city activities which are great! Hotel $ just go much further by the airport, and Manhattan Beach is great. Shuttle to Universal and Disney, or subway to other parts from there works ok.
Most parts of LA have cleaned up A LOT since the 90s, so you will be fine.
Hotels.com and booking.com are great for looking at apartment style hotels and they also list some upscale airbnb condos that are very nice (and great for families) - 30 floor buildings with great views with apartment space in downtown LA.
Many many options.
Enjoy!
Does anyone know what the Kimpton Everly in Hollywood is like ?
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los angeles hotels suggestions please
akronflyer
akronflyer
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aggie57
aggie57
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Member since 04 Apr 2014
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I’d be inclined to stay around Disney and travel up to Universal for the day. There’s plenty of mid-level hotels there and I found this site which has some great tips on using public transport to get between them.
Oops, looks like you can’t post links. Didn’t realize. The site is called disunplugged, search for “no car?”
KT
KT
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Member since 21 Jan 2018
Total posts 13
You should consider staying Downtown. It's halfway between Anaheim & Hollywood, and you can get the subway to the latter very easily. Downtown has changed a lot in the last ten years, lots of cool places to eat and drink and new art museums up on Bunker Hill. The Biltmore is a classic old school hotel, 4 stars and a great location. The Omni is more modern and across the S.Grand Ave from the Broad Museum. Also 4 stars.
Chris C.
Chris C.
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Total posts 1,116
You can post links, they're just often flagged for approval by moderators to prevent spam.
Eagles94
Eagles94
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We stayed at Loews Hotel Santa Monica . It was on the beach , close to the pier , great neighbourhood , beautiful hotel . It was about 20 minutes from LAX but would be far from Disney .
aggie57
aggie57
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Member since 04 Apr 2014
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Great, thanks Chris 👍
Brassy
Brassy
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Member since 15 Apr 2016
Total posts 36
If it’s your first trip to Disney then you’ll want at least 3 days there between the parks. If budget allows then cannot recommend staying on property enough. Not only do you get the all important early entry but a tonne of other benefits too. It’s not cheap but if it’s a once in a lifetime thing then do it. Mrs B and I did DL hotel and loved it.Â
(This goes double for chefs counter at napa rose).Â
The unofficial guide to Disneyland is worth purchasing before your trip, as is a listen to the Mousetalgia podcast.Â
Pretty sure there’s day trips that will allow you to do Universal from Anaheim.Â
Eli
Eli
Member since 30 Jul 2015
Total posts 9
markpk
markpk
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Member since 29 Nov 2013
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Agree with you Brassy - We purchased a family 4-day pass for Disneyland and it was the best thing we did!
Blake
Blake
Member since 03 May 2017
Total posts 39
any suggestions for a transit hotel nearby airport, all that i can find under AUD150 has horrible horrible reviews.
townaz
townaz
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Member since 31 Jan 2018
Total posts 17
Hyatt Place LAX/El Segundo is good if you book early enough to get a good rate. I stay there a lot (around ~20-30 nights / year) when I am in LA on business as my client's offices are a 10 minute walk away. Breakfast is included in the rate, with the hotel having a gym, swimming pool as well as laundry facilities. They do have a 24hr kitchen for other meals (i'm not a huge fan of what's on offer) but there are plenty of places to go to within a 20 min walk up on Sepulveda Blvd or you can always take an Uber downtown El Segundo (E Grand and Main St) or Manhattan beach for more options.
akronflyer
akronflyer
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Member since 29 Jul 2014
Total posts 145
Does anyone know what the Kimpton Everly in Hollywood is like ?