Accommodation LAX, LAS, SFO

[tuapekastar]

Meaning the cities, not necessarily airport hotels.

Looking at options for mid-late April. Twin bedded room required (except obviously if a 2BR option is selected). As a matched Hilton Diamond would really like to give myself a chance to retain at least Gold for next year (I think Diamond is out following curtailment of planned travel), so Hilton preferred (but a really good other option could possibly sway me).

The following Hilton properties have come under my notice:

LAX - Hilton Universal Studios - located not far from WB studios, which is on the travel agenda (Universal Studios, whilst right next door, is a bit too ride oriented for my mum)

LAS - Hilton Grand Vacation suites (both Conv Centre and Strip) - 2BR suites. Hilton Garden Inn South Strip

SFO - Hilton Fishermens Wharf, Hilton Union Square

Would be interested if anyone has experience/opinions of these properties, or of other HI properties, or even any compelling non-HI properties. I've been dithering too long on this.

Thanks

 

[deejo77]

We travel as a family (anywhere from 4 to 7 people) so I always book a house/appartment - I use a website called homeaway dot com - never had any problems with any of them

 

[Mollycram]

I'm interested in Lax and Las Hilton reviews also.....I too have been dithering (but also hoping for Q2 Hilton promotion to be a good one).

Hilton has just taken over the Planet Hollywood hotel on the strip...does anyone know anything about this hotel? It seems to be in a better location than the other Hiltons in Vegas.

I am only going to be in Lax for about 36 hrs so interested in views as to whether I should just stay at an airport Hilton or make the effort to get to Universal Studios Hilton/Beverly Hilton etc

 

[Deewhy]

I'm interested in Lax and Las Hilton reviews also.....I too have been dithering (but also hoping for Q2 Hilton promotion to be a good one).

Hilton has just taken over the Planet Hollywood hotel on the strip...does anyone know anything about this hotel? It seems to be in a better location than the other Hiltons in Vegas.

I am only going to be in Lax for about 36 hrs so interested in views as to whether I should just stay at an airport Hilton or make the effort to get to Universal Studios Hilton/Beverly Hilton etc

Planet hollywood is in a good central location. The public bus running up and down the strip is right out front. It's the easiest way to commute up and down the strip. I've stayed at aria which was relatively new and had to walk to the PH bus stop. But didn't step inside PH. the cosmopolitan is the newest casino and hotel, which is opposite PH.

As for Lax hotels, it depends on what you want to do. Being near universal is useful if you want to go there and Beverly hills and Santa Monica. If you want to do say Disney, it's a bit of a drive depending on bad LA traffic.

 

[serfty]

I do a lot of research on FT. I try to stick with Hilton as these generally provide the better amenities for status.

My LAX stays have only ever been at the one place (Double Tree) and that was due to pricing and the fact it was simply a layover - I have had sub $100 rates.

As for SFO I have stayed both at an airport Hampton Inn (based on Price) and the Fisherman's wharf (Based on Location and price) - both did the job.

As for LAS, only stayed the once and that was at the now rebranded Hilton. I'm doing a layover next month and have booked the DoubleTree Las Vegas Airport on a prepaid sale for USD83 all up.

 

[QF029]

I've been doing a bit of research for an upcoming trip. Some general tips are:

• Hilton MVP rates are widely available and give 20% of BAR. If you have status it's pretty hard to go past them.
• Starwood have promos such as Starpicks, SPG50 and Pay Your Birth Year etc which are OK but not as compelling as Hilton MVP.
• Keep an eye on the FT Hotel Deals thread and the FT LAS thread. Jetsetter etc are also worth monitoring but I haven't seen anything amazing yet.
• If all else fails, AAA rates are handy for booking a refundable rate.
• If you can, check rates once a day. You'd be amazed how quickly rates can change.
• For multiple night stays book individual nights if possible - that way if a subset of your stay becomes much cheaper you can take advantage of it.
• LAX - I have a 3 night stay in April. I'm tossing up between Beverly Hilton (~230 per night plus tax plus about $35 for parking) and Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo ($87 per night plus tax, free parking). I know they are completely different hotels and locations but the difference in pricing for a longer trip is pretty compelling. Having a car has just about pushed me to the HGI although I might stay 1 night at the BH.
• LAS - This is the only location where I haven't booked Hilton. I got a very good deal at Harrah's which averages ~$40 all in and no resort fee (the weekend nights are actually $3 each). If Elara (HGVC) comes down a bit more (currently $119 per night) I may switch to that property. Anecdotally the LVH is still honoring HH benefits as the rumour is that Corporate may buy back the hotel. There are very mixed reports about the hotel. I know that munitalP has stayed there a few times and done some trip reports. They have some very low prices (~$40 per night). Also monitor mycheapvegas.com for deals which depending on your dates can be excellent.
• SFO - I've been monitoring the Hiltons and booked the Hilton Financial District for $116 a night which with platinum benefits (Exec Lounge) I'm pretty happy with. The Union Square property gets mixed reviews. The Parc 55 hotel is consistently well reviewed if you're not worried about status. The SFO hotels often seem to get very cheap (~$100) a few days in advance, or at least for weekends.
• If you have booked a refundable rate, keep an eye on Priceline forums such as Bidding For Travel for last minute deals.

 

[AVC]

The Hilton Union Square is centrally placed. Downtown. And a nice distance to the cable car terminus, which gives good options fro going to FW or elsewhere. We're staying there in July.

In LA, if your only doing the Universal/Santa Monica area, stay up there. Trying to cross the downtown LA areas (to say South LA/Annaheim) during peak times (which started in 1986 and will finish when the oil runs out, lol) is only for those who like sitting on freeways.

 

[UP4014]

When in SF I stay here Union Square San Francisco Hotels | Chancellor Hotel San Francisco A Boutique Hotel , excellent value and very central, I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Vegas, I stay at the MGM.

LA, I just stay near where I want to be, but other than a trip to visit Micky Mouse I try not to stay there at all.

Matt

 

[nate89]

Hi!

I think universal studios is the way to go in LA for holidays. I stayed at the Hilton Checkers which is quite nice, but not really designed for holidays as I found out. It is more of a business hotel. Having said that it had a roof top pool/heated spa so even at night in Winter it was quite nice!

I also stayed at Fisherman's Wharf Hilton in SF. There wasn't really a spectacular view, but the location was pretty good. Right near Pier 39 and it's touristy attractions, lots of restaurants and if you feel like it you can rent a bike and ride to the bridge (maybe 20 minutes leisurely ride?). I would recommend that one I can't speak for the rest though - maybe there is a more suitable hotel.


A friendly word of advice if you are walking around at night near Pier 39 - watch out for the buggers that scare unsuspecting pedestrians. They sit in between or behind roadside objects like post boxes or bins with a bush over them and when you walk by, "BOO". They scared my girlfriend and I pretty badly! It's all in good humour though. The biggest giveaway is if there are people on the other side of the road crowding and watching ahead of you...

 

[amaroo]

Here are my reviews for Vegas,

MGM - stayed there mid 90's can't remember much & have never been back.
Paris - nice room but actually never used it.....stay was early 2009
Caesars - Nice room & location....would stay again.....stay was mid 2010
Four Seasons - Rubbish location, very poor excuse for a FS property.....stay was early 2011
Planet Hollywood - Absolute dive of a place....filthy, noisy & full of your average drink till you spew college students......hate this place.....stay was 2011
Mandarin Oriental - Oasis of calm, beauty & outstanding service......stay was 2011

Play hard & sleep when you get home:mrgreen:

 

[Danger]

LAS - Hilton Grand Vacation suites (both Conv Centre and Strip) - 2BR suites. Hilton Garden Inn South Strip

I have stayed at the convention centre property. It is away from the action but the monorail station is right next door. Reports on Flyertalk suggest elites are treated very well.

I've been doing a bit of research for an upcoming trip. Some general tips are:

• If you can, check rates once a day. You'd be amazed how quickly rates can change.
• For multiple night stays book individual nights if possible - that way if a subset of your stay becomes much cheaper you can take advantage of it.

I have found these points to be particularly pertinent for Hilton properties.

 

[Lisee]

I am staying at HGI Strip South for two nights this weekend before moving to Four Seasons (Jetsetter mystery hotel).

Will report back soon!

 

[pshepvic]

I know it's not Hilton, but the SLS Beverly Hills is fabulous but possibly pricey depending on the dates (it's a Starwood Luxury Collection hotel).

Even if you don't stay there, go to the restaurant "Bazaar" - it won an award for LA's best restaurant last year, and that award was thoroughly deserved. Amazing meal ... and at the end, they take you to a whole separate dessert room!

 

[tuapekastar]

Thanks for the responses, much food for thought.

 

[Lisee]

Sorry! Have been having such a nice time enjoying my first holiday in ages that I forgot to report back.

HGI Strip South was overall a good property. Clean, comfortable, restaurants & outlet shops within 5-10 min walk. Had a problem upon checkin which they initially did not handle well & I was prepared to have a rubbish stay. However, someone higher up the Front Office food chain got involved & from then on the staff could not do enough for me. Decent free cooked brekky & reliable wireless (HH Gold).

Two caveats = location & price. Located off-strip with free shuttle to start of strip (Mandalay Bay), two different shuttle drivers broke the rules & cheerfully dropped me off mid-strip but YMMV. I got it at $89/night for multiple nights & was very satisfied with the stay at this price. I notice that rates at this property are highly variable however!!

I wished I had remained at this property instead of transferring to the Four Seasons. The only advantage to the FS was the on-strip location. Even at Jetsetter mystery hotel rates I felt ripped off at the FS, & once I am back at work & thus no longer on a holiday high, I will be voicing my displeasure in the form of a TA review.

 

[Batesy]

Check out the Mosser in San Francisco, stayed there twice before, great location and pricing.

 

[Foreigner]

I recommend Paris Las Vegas and Parc 55 in San Francisco.

http://www.parc55hotel.com/

 

[cove]

My picks would be
SFO Omni or Fairmont
Las Vegas Caesars
Santa Monica. Loews
Each hotel I have listed we would stay at again.

 

[tuapekastar]

Just to report back post-event! Thanks all for the input especially Lisee for the promised HGI review (but I only got back to this thread post-stay - so busy! ) Briefly:

SFO - stayed at Hilton Union Square (USD227++ per night for a 2 bed room - upgraded). his property was fine without being brilliant in anyway - fairly typical HH benefits, and certainly well located.
LAX - Hilton Universal City (USD188++ pn for a 2 bed room - upgraded) - located next to Universal studios though we went to Warner Bros (also nearby) instead. Overall a bit nicer than the SFO property
LAS - Hilton Garden Inn Las Vegas Strip South (USD125++ pn for a 2 bed room - not a big enough property for upgrade) - nice smaller property, off strip but with shuttle. Expected HH benefits - would stay again.

A very interrupted and busy lead up to this trip meant I did not get to nailing bookings until quite late in the piece - around 2 weeks out. I had checked occasionally and noted rising prices but on the day I decided I had to book, I noticed prices had come down somewhat, so pleasantly surprised. I was happy enough with all the properties listed above, though it is fair to say none of them knocked the socks off me (not that I was expecting them to do so). LAS property was the nicest - a smaller more intimate property and atmosphere.

 

[amaroo]

I wished I had remained at this property instead of transferring to the Four Seasons. The only advantage to the FS was the on-strip location. Even at Jetsetter mystery hotel rates I felt ripped off at the FS, & once I am back at work & thus no longer on a holiday high, I will be voicing my displeasure in the form of a TA review.

We've stayed at the FS and were bitterly disappointed - this place is the furthest thing from FS you could imagine. It's really the Mandalay as from memory it occupies the top 5 floors.

If I hadn't experience it myself I wouldn't believe that FS were capable of getting it so wrong.