# Los Angeles — Where to Stay (shortlist)

*Candidate accommodation for the LA leg. Nothing booked yet.*

**Dates:** Sun Sep 27 → Wed Sep 30 (3 nights)
**Guests:** 4 adults (2 couples) → 2 separate bedrooms
**Car:** the same rental continues through Las Vegas and returns at SFO on Oct 4 → **on-site parking is a hard requirement**

> **Arrival is late.** Gilmore checkout is 11 AM Sep 27 and the drive from Miramonte is ~4.5–5 hrs, so the group lands in LA Sunday late afternoon. Real sightseeing days are **Mon Sep 28 and Tue Sep 29** — pick a base that keeps those two days short on driving.
>
> **Monday caveat:** several LA venues close Mondays — the Getty Center, The Broad and the Griffith Observatory building are the ones to verify before planning Sep 28.

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## Choosing the base — trade-off

| Base | Griffith / Hollywood | Getty / Beverly Hills | Santa Monica / Venice | Sep 30 drive toward Las Vegas | Price level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Hollywood / West Hollywood** | 10–20 min | 15–25 min | 30–45 min | Central; reasonable eastbound start | $$ |
| **West LA (Sawtelle)** | 25–35 min | 10–15 min | 15–20 min | West-side detour before I-15 | $$ |
| **Venice / Santa Monica** | 40–55 min | 20–30 min | walk | Longest cross-city departure | $$$ |
| **Hawthorne / near LAX** | 45–60 min | 30–40 min | 25–35 min | South-side detour before I-15 | $ |

*Driving times are rough and assume LA traffic — add 50% for 8–10 AM and 4–7 PM.*

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## Shortlist

### 1. Hollywood apartment, West Hollywood — **recommended**

| | |
|---|---|
| **Price** | **US$683** / 3 nights (fees incl.; was $801 — $117 off) |
| **Layout** | 2 bedrooms (queen + queen) · 2 bathrooms · full kitchen · balcony · A/C |
| **Rating** | 4.79 (75 reviews) · Superhost James, 11 years hosting |
| **Parking** | Secured garage, **+$20/night** (~$60 total) |
| **Cancellation** | Free until **Sep 13** |
| **Check-in** | Self check-in (lockbox) — good for a late Sunday arrival |
| **Link** | https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1353770635164312607 |

Best fit for the sights list: Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Beverly Hills, the Getty and DTLA are all short drives; a beach afternoon is one dedicated trip. Bed layout matches two couples exactly. Cheapest way to stay central, and the only shortlisted option with cancellation that runs past the Sequoia payment date.

### 2. Architectural house, Sawtelle (West LA) — best space

| | |
|---|---|
| **Price** | **US$990** / 3 nights non-refundable · **US$1,075** refundable |
| **Layout** | Whole house · 3 bedrooms (king + queen + bunk) · 3.5 bathrooms · roof deck |
| **Rating** | 4.92 (258 reviews) · Superhost Eve · "rare find" |
| **Parking** | ⚠️ **Street only** — garage not included |
| **Link** | https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/657217888151762689 |

A bathroom each and a spare bedroom, in a genuinely convenient spot: 10–15 min to the Getty and 15–20 to Santa Monica. The catches are street parking in a dense residential area and a west-side start for the Sep 30 drive to Las Vegas.

### 3. Venice Canals duplex — beach option

| | |
|---|---|
| **Price** | **US$1,051** / 3 nights |
| **Layout** | 2 bedrooms (queen + 2 doubles) · 2 bathrooms · balcony over the canal · laundry |
| **Rating** | 4.88 (**592 reviews**) · Superhost Mike, 10 years hosting · Guest Favourite |
| **Parking** | **Free, 2 cars**, private, on site + EV charger |
| **Cancellation** | Free |
| **Link** | https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17143834 |

Walk to the boardwalk, Abbot Kinney and the canals. The most proven listing on this list by review count. It is also the most expensive, the furthest from Griffith/Hollywood, and the slowest starting point for the Sep 30 drive to Las Vegas.

### 4. Executive house, Hawthorne — budget option

| | |
|---|---|
| **Price** | **US$523** / 3 nights |
| **Layout** | Whole house · 2 bedrooms (queen + queen) · 2 bathrooms · enclosed patio · washer/dryer |
| **Rating** | 4.94 (342 reviews) · Superhost Fellipe, 9 years hosting |
| **Parking** | **Free, on site** |
| **Cancellation** | ⚠️ **Free 24 h only — non-refundable after that** |
| **Link** | https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/19894464 |

Cheapest solid option, near Manhattan Beach. Downsides: Hawthorne is a dull base, every Hollywood-side day costs ~45–60 min each way, and it is south of the best route toward Las Vegas. The cancellation policy is the real catch.

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## Also seen (not shortlisted)

| Listing | Area | 3 nights | Rating | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [LA Duo](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/724702784084375528?check_in=2026-09-27&check_out=2026-09-30&adults=4) | Culver City | TBC | 4.71 (17) | 2BR · 2 beds · 2.5 baths · free on-site parking |
| [Hollywood Blvd 2BR](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1422055427310245886) | Hollywood | $758 | 4.73 (49) | Free parking + breakfast |
| [Designer Spanish house](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/45527850) | LA | $760 | 4.90 (203) | Only 1 bathroom |
| [Glendale house](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/53692156) | Glendale | $724 | 4.87 (228) | ⚠️ listed as 2BR but the sleeping plan shows one room — verify before booking |
| [Glendale apartment](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/961909682458125803) | Glendale | $771 | 4.88 (121) | Pool + gym; 10 min to Griffith |
| [DTLA view apartment](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1293165603159436911) | LA | $786 | 4.91 (95) | — |
| [2BR Hollywood Blvd](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1762132644333459801) | Hollywood | $819 | no reviews | Free parking + breakfast |
| [Santa Monica retreat](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1762074774541772863) | Santa Monica | $967 | no reviews | Host active 3 months |
| [Beverly Hills 2BR](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1762557500049507724) | Beverly Hills | $976 | no reviews | Garage parking |
| ~~Alhambra mid-century house~~ | Alhambra | — | 4.97 (153) | ❌ **not available Sep 27–30** |

**Booking.com alternative** — Koreatown / DTLA 2BR apartments come out cheaper but with thinner review history and mostly paid parking. Search: [Booking, entire 2BR, rating 8+](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Los+Angeles&checkin=2026-09-27&checkout=2026-09-30&group_adults=4&no_rooms=1&nflt=privacy_type%3D3%3Bentire_place_bedroom_count%3D2%3Breview_score%3D80&order=price)

**Hotels** — Santa Monica hotels for 4 people put all four in **one room** and still run higher than options 1–2; only worth it if the group drops the 2-bedroom requirement.

**Own search:** [Airbnb, LA, 2+ bedrooms, Sep 27–30](https://www.airbnb.com/s/Los-Angeles--CA/homes?checkin=2026-09-27&checkout=2026-09-30&adults=4&min_bedrooms=2&room_types%5B%5D=Entire%20home%2Fapt)

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*Prices checked Aug 31, 2026 for Sep 27–30 — LA rates move, re-check before booking.*
