Looking for great hotel recommendations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco

Hello,

I’m currently looking for well-located hotels near points of interest in the cities below. I’ve found a few, but the prices are really high. Could any of you share some great addresses in the following cities? - Los Angeles - Las Vegas - San Francisco

Also, do you have a preferred airline for domestic flights? If so, which one?

Thanks so much, and have a great day, everyone!

Gertjan

Hi Brigitte,

The idea of a "very high price" really depends on everyone's budget. Here’s our experience with hotels in the 150/200 € range (breakfast included). Before, it was more like 100/130 €, but hotel prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed in recent years.

In San Francisco, the Cornel Hotel de France, just two blocks from Union Square, is a clear winner. Don’t hesitate to book directly through their website—it’s very reliable and avoids paying fees to a middleman.

In Los Angeles, I found it harder to find a hotel in that price range, so we had to stay a bit farther out. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Calabasas. It was great, but breakfast wasn’t included. We picked up a few groceries and had breakfast in the room. Still in the outskirts, you might want to check out Poco Revera or Gardena.

In Las Vegas, avoid weekends if you can. We had a great stay at the Desert Rose Resort, which is outside the Strip but not far. The advantage is that it has apartments, so you can cook and save money. This summer, we stayed at a hotel on the Strip: the Aria Resort and Casino. The room prices are reasonable for a Strip hotel (just watch out for resort fees and parking, which usually costs around $20 per day on the Strip).

For domestic flights, I’ve always used Southwest and never had any bad surprises. Just note that checked bags aren’t free anymore, which used to be their big selling point. So compare with other airlines—Google Flights is your friend for that!

Happy planning!

Hi Caussat, and thank you so much for this really detailed info. I’ll check all of this out soon, but I don’t want to stray too far since we won’t have a car. Thanks again and have a great afternoon. Gertjan

You're welcome!

Without a vehicle, the hotel in LA won’t work. More "central" (if you can even say that about LA), I went twice a few years ago to the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel behind Hollywood Blvd with nearby public transport. It was decent. Maybe check out the "Little Tokyo" area. We visited this summer and found the neighborhood really lively, safe, and well-connected by public transport. But I don’t have any hotel experience in that area.

For SF, we didn’t have a car, and the hotel was well-located.

In LV, the Aria is on the Strip, so no worries. The Desert Rose Resort isn’t too far from the start of the Strip. I remember we walked to the MGM to see *KA* by Cirque du Soleil, and it was doable. However, it’s trickier to go back to the hotel for a break and head out again. So, maybe opt for a hotel right on the Strip?

Thanks so much, it’s really kind of you to share all these details! How did you like the Cirque du Soleil show? We’re thinking of going too. Have a great evening.

There are several Cirque du Soleil shows in LV, each one as unique as the next, but with one constant: they're exceptional!

The best thing to do is check out their website to get an idea and also see which days they're dark. Then, either book tickets in advance or try your luck the same day at the kiosks on the Strip that sell same-day leftover seats for half price.

Hi,

Any particular reason for not taking a vehicle?... In the US, it's complicated without a car.

Yes, a good reason—our age! We’ll arrange to do tours with a local agency.

We’re planning to organize visits with a local agency.

For SF: I get the feeling that everything is pretty easy to visit on your own, especially since the tourist areas are quite concentrated and there’s a well-developed public transport network. Plus, you can find plenty of detailed info on VF or travel guides to follow or create your own itineraries. You can also organize the bike tour from SF to Sausalito via the GGB (Golden Gate Bridge) with a boat shuttle return, either on your own or through an agency. Depending on how long you’re staying, you might want to spend half a day at Muir Woods—I’m not sure if any agencies offer trips there from SF.

For LV: Surprisingly, there’s "not much" to visit! You just wander around the hotels to soak in their over-the-top grandeur and the free shows they offer. Again, I’d say it’s easy to explore on your own.

For LA: We did a guided tour in French with the organization "Voyage en Français". We were *very* satisfied with it. They also offer tours in SF and LV, so it’s up to you to decide.

Hi there, I checked the rates yesterday for the hotel where we stayed in Las Vegas, the Planet Hollywood, across from the Bellagio and Caesars Palace... Average price: $45. That’s pretty cheap, right? Have a great day!

True, I get that not everyone wants to drive, especially with rental age restrictions varying by location. But SFO and Vegas should be fine. Los Angeles, though, is trickier without a car.