Los Angeles hotels — Expedia and Hotels.com

LA is a car town — factor rental, parking (£15–40/night at most hotels), and traffic into the budget before picking a neighbourhood. Santa Monica and Venice for beach access and walkable restaurant strips; West Hollywood for nightlife and LGBTQ+ scene; Downtown for walkability and the sharpest weekday business-hotel pricing; Pasadena for a calmer base with Metro Gold Line into Union Station. Summer (June–September) is peak beach season; awards season (January–February) spikes Westside pricing. LAX to Santa Monica is 30–60 minutes depending on traffic — the FlyAway bus to Union Station plus Metro is often faster than a taxi at rush hour. Universal Studios and Hollywood Boulevard are tourist-heavy; Griffith Observatory and The Getty deliver better value for a first visit.

Typical nightly rate: £150–£460