Beverly Hills vs Hollywood – Where’s Best to Stay?
Beverly Hills and Hollywood are two of the most popular places to stay in Los Angeles, but which is best?
If you want a high-end, luxurious trip to LA (and have the budget to support it), then Beverly Hills is the best place to stay. Here, you’ll find five-star hotels, stores and restaurants. However, most people, especially first-time visitors to LA, stay in Hollywood.
Hollywood is more central to the major tourist spots in LA. You can hike to the Hollywood Sign and Hollywood Walk of Fame from here. Meanwhile, the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park is just 15 minutes in a cab.
There are still great high-end hotels in Hollywood. In fact, I stayed in one on my last visit, the four-star Loews Hollywood Hotel. But you won’t find celebrities staying overnight in this part of town – they all head to Beverly Hills.
However, having been to LA more than ten times, I don’t think most people should focus on the neighbourhood’s vibe. Unless you’re ultra-rich, in which case Beverly Hills is a given.
Instead, you should focus on your hotel’s location in relation to all the other things you want to see and do on a trip to LA.
LA’s tourist attractions are pretty spread out. Sure, you can walk from the Hollywood Walk of Fame to the TLC Chinese Theatre to the Hollywood Sign. But you can’t walk from Venice Beach to Universal Studios to Disneyland.
Public transport is virtually nonexistent outside of downtown. So, if you’re not careful, you’ll spend much of your trip battling the crazy LA traffic or paying a fortune in Ubers.
This is why, for most people, Hollywood is the better choice. Sure you might travel from Hollywood to Beverly Hills, take photos in front of the sign and explore Rodeo Drive. But that’s a one-off compared to the several times you may find yourself from Beverly Hills in the direction of Hollywood.
Los Angeles Travel Planning Guide
🏥 Should I Buy Travel Insurance for a Trip to Los Angeles?
Yes, you should definitely buy travel insurance for any vacation to Los Angeles. Basic travel insurance coverage with Safety Wing averages between $5 – $10 per day and offers peace of mind.
🚘 Do I Need to Rent a Car for a Trip to Los Angeles?
Whether you’ll want a rental car in Los Angeles will really depend on how long you’re visiting for and where you plan to go during your trip. The traffic in Los Angeles is notoriously crazy, yet public transport is still somewhat limited.
If you do decide to hire a car in Los Angeles, then I’d recommend using Discover Cars to find the best car rental deals.
🏨 Where to Stay in Los Angeles?
The best place to stay in Los Angeles will really depend on what you plan to do most during your trip. If you’re planning to visit Disneyland, for example, then staying in a hotel in Anaheim is likely going to be best.
Alternatively, if you’re planning on exploring the city and visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, then I’d recommend Loews Hollywood.
When booking your accommodation in Los Angeles, I recommend using either Booking.com or Hotels.com. However, for large families and groups, VRBO is my number one choice.
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