Help with Studio City area hotels /driving etc

[kc10family]

I have to go to Studio City and West Hollywood in a few weeks and wondering if anyone could help me with a few questions.

1- I know going from DL to the Universal area can take hours on the highway so I wont be staying in the DL area at all.

2- What city should I stay in that will be safe and have a good price for hotels and I wont hit traffic going into Studio City?

 

[khmbug]

Studio City is safe and the Sportsmans Lodge on Ventura Blvd is convenient and cheap for LA
Otherwise stay on Hollywood blvd at the Roosevelt ( across from the Kodak theater ) or in Westwood
The best place would be Santa Monica right by the beach re the Huntley. I stayed there with four kids last summer and we had so much fun walking Third Street Promenade and driving up PCH to Malibu to hang out at Paradise Cove. We saw dolphins, played in the sand, went to UCLA and relaxed! It is a bit pricey but worth the location. I met Sean Penn and James Caan on the elevator.
Have fun! Don't forget Sunset Strip, Venice Beach, Hollywood, Westwood, and driving the Map of the Stars (people sell these in LA fun)
I am jealous.

 

[heathpack]

I heard recently that the Sportsman's Lodge is closing, but am not sure if that's true.

Consider the Sheraton at Universal Studios. You will have some traffic but not terrible by LA standards. You can take the 134 into Studio City. In the worst traffic time of the day, this would take you about 20-25 minutes, depending on where you need to go in Studio City. Expect about 15 minutes of stop-and-go traffic on this trip. Just chill with some good tunes. To get to West Hollywood from Universal, I'd cross over the 101 and take Mullholland to Laurel Canyon. Take Laurel Canyon Blvd south and you will pop out at the junction of Hollywood and West Hollywood. Laurel Canyon Blvd is stop-and-go during peak traffic hours and a bit trying, I'll admit. But that stretch of Mullholland is a breeze almost all hours of the day (I know this because I live on Laurel Canyon Blvd in the Hollywood Hills and drive Mullholland as part of my daily commute). The only bad thing about Mullholland is if you get stuck behind someone who is afraid to drive normally because of the curves on the road and lack of adequate guard rails. A car that handles well and is fun to drive makes this a great road, though. You can also take the subway in to Hollywood from Universal, but you can't really get to West Hollywood too easily.

You could also consider some of the hipper hotels on Sunset in West Hollywood. Chateau Marmont and the Standard would allow you to get quickly onto Laurel Canyon Blvd (which is a cut-through the Hollywood Hills from Hollywood/West Hollywood to Studio City).

By the way, you will not be able to avoid traffic between Studio City and West Hollywood. Your most direct route will be Laurel Canyon Blvd and this road will be very conjested most of the day. You can also consider crossing the hills at Coldwater Canyon (less traffic) or on the 101 (to be avoided like the plague in my opinion due to dreadful and unpredictable traffic), but both of these routes will take you somewhat out of your way.

Hope this helps. My other bit of advice is to expect traffic and leave yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. Rent as sweet a ride as you can (this would be the time to spring for a convertible if you can afford it), bring some good music, put on your shades, and enjoy the sunshine!

Heathpack

 

[Lori2202]

We recently stayed at the Universal Sheraton. It has recently been remodeled and was very nice. We managed to get a $109 rate on a Saturday night stay for 4. We booked thru hotwire.com about a week before we left. See betterbidding.com for advice on how to pinpoint which hotel you are bidding on. This hotel offers a free shuttle every 15 minutes to Universal and the City Walk. You do, however, have to pay about $18/day for parking - but I think that is somewhat the norm in LA. BTW, be aware that Universal was crazy packed on a Saturday afternoon. Much more crowded than any of the 3 previous days we were at Disney.

 

[jlmarr]

The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn seems well situated for what you want.

 

[kc10family]

thank you all so much, I am looking into the places right now.

 

[honeymom]

Say it ain't so about the Sportsman's Lodge! I used to live around the corner and it was a great little secret. I hope it is just refurbishing or something, not shutting down for good.

 

[kc10family]

I love these hotels, but they are not in my price range for this event. It is not a vacation and I have to pay out of pocket for this one (in the end it is worth it) but I am looking to spent a bit less per night.

 

[tracys2cents]

What's your budget? I've seen Burbank hotels (decent ones) at $80 a night on hotwire. It's 5-10 minutes to Studio City.

 

[KimAshton]

I was at an event in July at the Sportmen's and someone said they were getting rid of the meeting halls etc. So I probably won't be there next year.