b9deff6c89
Reservation confirmed for 4 adults at 1100 W Temple St; check-in from 4 PM Sep 27. Online check-in form still required to activate the entry code. Host email filed under emails/.
8.4 KiB
Los Angeles — Where to Stay (shortlist)
✅ BOOKED (Aug 31): the DTLA view apartment — see
bookings/airbnb-la-dtla.md. The rest of this file is kept for reference.
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 | Culver City | TBC | 4.71 (17) | 2BR · 2 beds · 2.5 baths · free on-site parking |
| Hollywood Blvd 2BR | Hollywood | $758 | 4.73 (49) | Free parking + breakfast |
| Designer Spanish house | LA | $760 | 4.90 (203) | Only 1 bathroom |
| Glendale house | Glendale | $724 | 4.87 (228) | ⚠️ listed as 2BR but the sleeping plan shows one room — verify before booking |
| 2BR Hollywood Blvd | Hollywood | $819 | no reviews | Free parking + breakfast |
| Santa Monica retreat | Santa Monica | $967 | no reviews | Host active 3 months |
| Beverly Hills 2BR | Beverly Hills | $976 | no reviews | Garage parking |
| 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+
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
Prices checked Aug 31, 2026 for Sep 27–30 — LA rates move, re-check before booking.