Hotel Comparison

We are traveling in July with our two teenage

daughters (18 %26amp; 14) and are trying to decide between

The Hotel California and Cal Mar Suies. Can

someone give me some thoughts on these two

hotels

Hotel Comparison

I think if you come with kids that age you might want to go with Cal Mar Suites as you will have more room to roam around, a living room, dining area e.t.c.

You are still close to the Promenade, Ocean and Pier so probably wont spent much time inside the hotel but at least you have a little more room while you are inside

Hotel Comparison

Thanks for your thoughts. I do want to be

able to get to the beach without much trouble;

we want to ride bikes, etc., but it sounds

like that%26#39;s very doable from Cal Mar too.

It is 2 blocks from the beach, i think you can handle it,lol.

Great! Where is the beach access from Cal Mar?

Is there access right at California Street?

We also want to rent bikes in the morning

and ride to Venice, so can you tell me

where we should get the bikes.

From Cal Mar, you%26#39;ll walk about 2 blocks to the beach, walking down the California Incline. At it%26#39;s base, is the bike rental. The walk is 5 minutes.

Thanks so much. If I may tap your knowledge a bit

more, we will be having to head to Paramount

on a Friday morning and need to be there by

9:30. Should we take the freeway or get there

on the other main arteries. On Friday and

Saturday, we are going to be doing the Hollywood/

BH, West Hollywood tourist things and will

then be heading back to Santa Monica late

afternoon (I know - -the times everyone says

to avoid travel by car)

You won%26#39;t encounter much traffic driving back to Santa Monica from Hollywood or Beverly Hills (you%26#39;re going against traffic), but you will in the morning, going to Paramount Studios.

What I do is take the 10 East to Crenshaw and turn left onto Crenshaw. At Wilshire, turn left (it seems like you%26#39;re going backwards and forwards, but I%26#39;ve found it to be the most direct and easiest way there). Heading west on Wilshire, you%26#39;ll make a right on Rossmore (this turns into Vine). At Melrose, turn right. You%26#39;ll see Paramount on your left, just at Gower. Expect the 10 to be trafficky, give yourself plenty of time, leave the hotel no later than 8:15.

I%26#39;ve decided you should not follow my directions, they%26#39;ll be too confusing and I wouldn%26#39;t want you to make a wrong turn.

Just take the 10 EAst to La Brea, take that exit heading North, making a right onto La Brea and take that to Melrose, where you%26#39;ll turn right. You%26#39;ll see Paramount on your left, at Gower.

the off-10 directions don%26#39;t sound too bad. We

have a GPS system on our phone, but are you

concerned because roads are not marked well

or what? We also are heading that way on

early Thursday evening for dinner at Pizzeria

Mozza at 6:45 -- will we be okay on the 10 then?

I%26#39;ve really appreciated your help.

Stick to the simplest, which is the 10 to La Brea, to get to Paramount.

After Mozza, take surface streets back: Melrose to Robertson (turn right) and left on Santa Monica. You can take this all the way to Ocean, then make a right to your hotel. Or, take a drive through Westwood and Brentwood - take Santa Monica Blvd only to Wilshire and turn right. This will take you through the Wilshire Corridor (expensive condos, some are stunning) and Westwood. Make a right on San Vicente (it forks off to the right at the large lawn of the VA) which will take you through Brentwood and down directly to your hotel (a left at 4th or Ocean) and through a very pretty part of LA, lined with Corral Trees.