# 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.

---

## 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.*

---

## Potential winners

### 1. Hollywood apartment, West Hollywood

| | |
|---|---|
| **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 potential winner with full free cancellation (until Sep 13); the other two refund only partially after 24 h.

### 2. Glendale apartment — downtown Glendale

| | |
|---|---|
| **Price** | **US$771** / 3 nights (C$1,082 total incl. fees) |
| **Layout** | 2 bedrooms (queen + single · queen + air mattress) · 2 bathrooms · in-unit laundry |
| **Rating** | 4.88 (121 reviews) · Guest Favourite · Superhost Lux Flat, 5 years |
| **Parking** | **Free, on premises** (reviews mention 2-car) |
| **Amenities** | Year-round pool · hot tubs · gym · rooftop BBQ |
| **Cancellation** | Free 24 h · partial refund before Sep 20 · no changes after confirming |
| **Check-in** | 3–11 PM (late check-in for a fee) |
| **Link** | https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/961909682458125803 |

Walkable downtown Glendale (Americana at the Brand), 10 min to Griffith, 17 to DTLA, 20 to Hollywood. Both bedrooms have a queen — fits two couples. One recent review flags upstairs gym noise ~7–8:30 PM and a wrong address sent initially.

### 3. DTLA view apartment — near Dodger Stadium

| | |
|---|---|
| **Price** | **US$786** / 3 nights (C$1,231 total incl. fees) |
| **Layout** | 2 bedrooms (**king + 2 twins**) · 2 bathrooms (one ensuite) · air mattress in living room |
| **Rating** | 4.91 (95 reviews) · Guest Favourite · Superhost Kye (4.91 across 3,179 reviews) |
| **Parking** | **Free, gated underground, 2 cars** (tandem) |
| **Amenities** | Rooftop deck + BBQ · gym · skyline views |
| **Cancellation** | Free 24 h · partial refund before Sep 20 |
| **Check-in** | 4–11 PM · keyless · mandatory rental agreement before check-in |
| **Link** | https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1293165603159436911 |

Great for DTLA, Little Tokyo, Olvera Street and Dodger Stadium; described as DTLA but sits near Ramona Gardens Park (east of downtown). ⚠️ **Bedroom 2 has two twin beds, not a queen** — one couple sleeps in separate beds or on the air mattress. Strict 8 PM–8 AM quiet hours.

---

## Other candidates

### 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.

### 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.

### 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.

---

## 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 |
| [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)

---

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