<p>For those of you that have stayed in some of the hotels in the area, which ones and how did you like it? Or, if there are any locals who have any hotel recommendations near LMU, it would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>I suggest staying in Marina Del Rey. Ritz and Marriott are both ok…</p>
<p>How’s Radisson Hotel in Culver City?</p>
<p>Old and tired.</p>
<p>oh gheesh!! I looked at all the hotels on the LMU site, and thought the Radisson in Culver City looked good! And the website says it has just been renovated! Have you been there lately, or should I definately cross it off my list?</p>
<p>What about the Renaissance LAX, Airport Blvd?</p>
<p>the Courtyard, Century Blvd?</p>
<p>the Courtyard LA Westside, Culver City?</p>
<p>LAX hotels look to be cheaper…but perhaps Marina del Rey is the way to go…don’t want an old run down hotel with lousy beds…but not sure I want to pay for the Ritz (got that college tuition to pay for, you know!! :)</p>
<p>If they have renovated, than it might be acceptable. It has been a couple of years, but unfortunately I have stayed there on business over the years at least 5 times. I do recall it was reasonable, and it would be convenient. You do need to have a car to “go out” as there is nothing in the proximity of the hotel. Breakfast buffet was fine; would not recommend lunch or dinner from my visits.
I don’t know the locations of the hotels near the Marina, but you could perhaps walk the amrina and shops/restaurants.</p>
<p>[The</a> Inn at Playa del Rey - Retreat. Naturally.](<a href=“http://www.innatplayadelrey.com/]The”>http://www.innatplayadelrey.com/)
Inn at Playa del Rey … excellent little inn, VERY close to LMU, great homemade breakfasts and afternoon wine and hors d’oeuvres, free parking … and bicycles to ride the few blocks to the beach and then on bike path north to Santa Monica or south to Manhattan Beach. I’ve stayed there many times, with spouse or alone and won’t stay anywhere else.</p>
<p>For longer stays and a full house this beach place with looks great (I haven’t stayed there):
[ON</a> THE SAND/OCEANFRONT 4 BED RETREAT, FAMILY FRIENDLY](<a href=“http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/vac/1703325331.html]ON”>http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/vac/1703325331.html)
close to LMU,
great location RIGHT on the beach,
4 bedrooms and 2 baths,
full kitchen,<br>
free parking,
no 14% hotel tax</p>
<p>Both locations are more convenient than staying in Marina del Rey or by LAX, because you have traffic on Lincoln Blvd ONLY from LMU to Jefferson Blvd and Culver Blvd.</p>
<p>great!! thanks so much for the tip! really appreciate it!! I will definately check them out!</p>
<p>only hitch might be that the LMU rates at the Courtyard Westside, Culver City and the Sheraton Gateway LAX on Century Blvd are really really good (like a $100 a night!), so price might sway me to try the cheaper ones first!</p>
<p>[Culver</a> City Hotels: Radisson: LAX Airport Hotel: Culver City Restaurants](<a href=“http://www.radisson.com/hotels/caculver/dinings]Culver”>http://www.radisson.com/hotels/caculver/dinings)
Spouse has stayed at this Radisson Hotel on Centinela Ave and thinks it’s fine for a short stay. You will probably be spending most of your time on LMU’s beautiful campus anyway. It’s an easy drive to LMU through neighborhood. Good value but no free breakfast or afternoon hors d’oeuvres. Parking is $14 day, but free airport shuttle. </p>
<p>Inn at Playa del Rey has rooms for $175 that include secure parking, great breakfast and hors d’oeuvres (which are usually enough for dinner) and they always have their homemade baked goods and lemonade and other drinks set out all day long.
[Great</a> place to stay in LA - Review of Inn at Playa Del Rey, Los Angeles, CA - TripAdvisor](<a href=“http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32655-d73936-r61766366-Inn_at_Playa_Del_Rey-Los_Angeles_California.html]Great”>http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g32655-d73936-r61766366-Inn_at_Playa_Del_Rey-Los_Angeles_California.html)</p>
<p>[Commencement</a> Information](<a href=“http://www.lmu.edu/resources/commencement.htm]Commencement”>http://www.lmu.edu/resources/commencement.htm)
you can watch LMU commencement activities LIVE May 7 and 8 … really nice for relatives who can’t attend</p>
<p>LMU’s live webcams:</p>
<p>[Live</a> view - AXIS 211 Network Camera](<a href=“http://lioncam2.lmu.edu/view/index.shtml]Live”>http://lioncam2.lmu.edu/view/index.shtml)</p>
<p>[Live</a> view - AXIS 211 Network Camera](<a href=“http://lioncam1.lmu.edu/view/index.shtml]Live”>http://lioncam1.lmu.edu/view/index.shtml)</p>
<p>Bookmarked</p>
<p>We recently stayed at the Courtyard in Culver City. They have both LMU and AAA rates which helped. I thought it was perfectly fine. I had also researched hotel reviews on TripAdvisor etc. and was not sure about any of the choices. For the amount of time spent in the room, I did not want to spend the money on the Ritz C or other Marina Del Rey options. I do need a nice room and one that feels clean, modern and safe. This Courtyard was great for our campus visit. I would stay there again. I do recommend renting a car to get around wherever you are staying in the LA area. Taxis are difficult to get when you need one.</p>
<p>We are very picky about where we stay, so we were surprised and happy when we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott in Culver City just this month, and for the $$, it was the best deal. It’s a newer hotel, everything is clean, the staff was very helpful and friendly, the beds were definitely newer and very comfortable, we felt safe/secure with their parking onsite which is $10 per day (their parking is cheaper than anyone else’s in area). We would definitely stay here again - it’s just down the hill from LMU and close to everything else.</p>
<p>Can’t believe our daughter is finishing her first year at LMU already! We have been down to visit several times this year, so thought I would pass on some hotel opinions. </p>
<p>We are also very picky as to where we stay, and my husband has a very bad back, so a firm, quality, new bed is crucial to him!!</p>
<p>We have also stayed at the Courtyard in Culver City on Briston Parkway, twice, and it was a good location and easy to get to LMU, and it was a nice hotel. I like Courtyards in general, as they are newer and well kept up, and this one was good.</p>
<p>Another visit, we splurged and stayed at the Ritz in Marina del Rey, and it was WONDERFUL!! You can use the LMU Marriott promo code “L82” and also AAA rate…or if you book early enough or during an off time, you can get better rates. I stayed there for $229, and it was really really a treat!</p>
<p>I also looked at a room at the Marina del Rey Marriott, and the hotel and rooms looked nice. I will probably try it one of these days. Though, in my opinion, it was not that much less $ wise than the Ritz, and the Ritz was much nicer.</p>
<p>I noticed that the Courtyard in Marina del Rey was under construction. Maybe a big renovation? I am going to call and ask at the front desk there. This Courtyard I had heard was not as nice as the Culver City one, but maybe if it is newly remodeled it will be a good choice in the near future? Marina del Rey is a nice spot to stay, with a lot of good restaurants nearby, closer to Santa Monica, and just feels a little quieter than the LAX/Culver City side of LMU, so it would be great if this location gets upgraded!</p>
<p>Next time, I think I may try staying in Manhattan Beach for something different.</p>
<p>I have some good restaurant recommendations in the area, too. Maybe I should start a new thread?</p>
<p>The Ritz in MDR, naturally, and Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach. Shade doesn’t compare to The Ritz, but the location is phenomenal. Shade is a small boutique hotel in the heart of Manhattan Beach. You can walk to all restaurants, nightlife and the beach. Simzy’s in Manhattan is good, but usually very busy. I would also recommend Mucho’s (mexican), Mamma D’s (Italian… the best service ever), The Kettle (upscale 24 hour diner), and Cafe Pierre (fine dining). The Ritz is also surrounded by some great restaurants including: Tony P’s (casual good food, breakfast on the weekend), Cheesecake Factory, The Warehouse (really cool place, kind of reminds me of being in Hawaii), and Cafe Del Rey (fine dining). All these restaurants in MDR are right on the water. I would say don’t stay in Culver City or near LAX. The areas are kind of sketchy.Thats the only downside to LMU… Drive 5 minutes to the east and it is ghetto!</p>
<p>Is the Kettle the place with the fried chicken? They were listed in a serious eats newsletter this week!</p>
<p>"Drive 5 minutes to the east and it is ghetto! "</p>
<p>Pretty nice as ghetto’s go…</p>
<p>Just got back from LMU yesterday. Stayed at The Belamar Hotel in Manhattan Beach (on Sepulveda, just past Rosecranz, barely in Manhattan Beach). Was there literally 12 hours, but it was a very nice hotel, I would definately go back. I got a good corporate rate of $129. Room was very nice, bed was comfy, sheets, pillows and towels were good. Bathroom was small. There is a nice restaurant and bar on the 2nd floor. It was nice to walk down there and get a glass of wine at the end of the evening. Not too far - about 10-15 minutes from LMU, so not as close as Marina del Rey or the Courtyard Bristol Parkway in Culver City, but an easy drive, and nice hotel.</p>
<p>My parents and I always enjoyed staying at either of the Embassy Suites hotels near LMU. They offer free breakfast with a lot of food options that I liked, and they have a happy hour where you can get drinks and snacks for free. The have decent prices, clean rooms, and comfortable beds!</p>
<p>My husband is insisting on the “AAA hot deal” at “The Renaissance” @ $80.00/might. That sounds a little scary to me. Last time I stayed Courtyard Marriott Westside, and that’s about as… “affordable”…as I want to go. This “orientation” is my only vacation this summer! Any thoughts?</p>
<p>@shrinkwrap: renaissance by the airport is a marriott…marriott’s are generally good hotels. You can’t go wrong…it’s big and newer, rooms are nice…I say give it a try! In comparison: renaissance is about equal distance from LMU as the Courtyard Marriott. Renaissance rate is $80 vs. Courtyard rate (LMU discount) of $117, but renaissance charges $25 parking per day, whereas courtyard charges $10 per day. Renaissance charges for using internet in the room, courtyard’s is free. Neither offers free breakfast. I like the Courtyard because it’s very quiet. Renaissance is right by the airport, more traffic. You will have to drive everywhere, as opposed to walk. If they’re both about the same in accomodations and amenities, I would go with what will cost the least, so you can spend the extra money on eating or entertainment! Hope this helps?</p>