<p>Just wondering about feedback from folks who have stayed at hotels near USC: where have you stayed? Was it good? Bad? So-so? Is there parking? Would you recommend the hotel? Would you return? Would love some feedback as we're trying to sort all of this out now. [Note: The Radisson across from USC is full for move-in day (8/16) already & quite pricey for the days prior.]</p>
<p>I haven't used it, but have heard good things about the Vagabond Inn. It's just up Figueroa, walking distance to campus. Unfortunately though, they know when the big demand times are. I tried to get my parents a room there for my graduation and their prices were doubled for that weekend.</p>
<p>I stayed in Holiday Inn City Center on Figueroa across from Staples. It was pretty decent. And also I stayed at the Sheraton Hotel at Macys Plaza on Hope Street and it was very nice. Look the LA Convention Center site for info too.
<a href="http://www.lacvb.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.lacvb.com</a>
<a href="http://www.seemyla.com/directory/accommodations.aspx%5B/url%5D">http://www.seemyla.com/directory/accommodations.aspx</a></p>
<p>Well, the raddison is across the street</p>
<p>bmanbs2, did you even bother to read the first post?</p>
<p>My family is all about getting the best value, so we don't go for 5 star hotels every time, just something AAA approved.</p>
<p>When my parents moved me in last year, we stayed in a Quality Inn in Koreatown off of Olympic. Cost $70 a night only and is about a 5 minute drive from USC. There is free secure parking for hotel guests, and the area is OK. Not the nicest hotel, but it was clean, safe, and close to USC.</p>
<p>There's also another Quality Inn near the corner of Wilshire and Vermont near the edge of K-Town. This one was a little nicer, but cost the same. Only reason we stayed there was the other Quality Inn was fully booked during move-out days. Chances are we'll go back to the Quality Inn at Wilshire and Vermont when I move in August.</p>
<p>Since we fly in on Jetblue we ALWAYS stay at the Holiday Inn Media Center in downtown Burbank. We just love it there. The management is very pleasant. There is free validated parking. Burbank is fun and safe to walk around at night - there are about 50 moderately priced restaurants and bars just outside the door of the hotel including a wonderful PF Changs. Plus we have seen TV shows shot just outside the door of the hotel. There is an Ikea, a mall within walking distance where we shopped for our son move in week. There is a Ralphs and Trader Joes - 3 minute car ride. There is a fridge in the room to keep your supermarket goodies cold. The rooms are VERY spacious too. The concerige can get you free tickets to Jay Leno, etc, if you have the time. It is a 20 minute ride with traffic straight to USC and even during the rush hours, it isn't bad at all. If you want to stay in a clean reputable place, you can't beat this hotel. I am a flight attendant so I know my hotels! I stayed there for move in day then again for Parents week in Oct. I saw a few other USC parents there too - we recognize each other by the shirts!</p>
<p>Dude, you can always stay at a hotel even if it is full. Show them money and they'll put you somewhere, though it might be on a cot in the basement</p>
<p>
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Just wondering about feedback from folks who have stayed at hotels near USC: where have you stayed? Was it good? Bad? So-so? Is there parking? Would you recommend the hotel? Would you return? Would love some feedback as we're trying to sort all of this out now. [Note: The Radisson across from USC is full for move-in day (8/16) already & quite pricey for the days prior.]
HImom is online now
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<p>Try the Downtown hotels like Marriott, Bonaventure, Wilshire Grand, Holiday Inn, Hotel Figueroa, etc. You can easily get to SC by car or taxi. Stay away from the Vagabond Inn, it is more like a old motel than an actual inn. </p>
<p>Use <a href="http://losangeles.citysearch.com%5B/url%5D">http://losangeles.citysearch.com</a> to read about reviews of the hotels aforementioned.</p>
<p>Actually, that's not always true. My hubby was booked via the government travel agency & was on official business & had a confirmed reservation, guaranteed by a credit card but was nonetheless forced to surrender his room early because the hotel overbooked. His travel agency was unable to clear it up & was so messed up they CANCELLED the reservation I made for him at a replacement hotel that I ended up having to rebook. The replacement hotel was cheaper & more convenient but we were REALLY IRKED with the original hotel & will NOT stay there again & complained loudly to the hotel & government travel agency. ARGH! That's the ONLY time we've had that done to us.</p>
<p>When we were in Italy & due to some miscommunication our hotel room was given away (& hotel was totally sold out), the owner had a bellhop from his hotel walk us & our luggage over to a hotel 5 minutes away with profuse apologies and come back the next morning to pick up our luggage and check us into their hotel. It turned what could have been very stressful into an interesting experience. The same rate was charged by both hotels & the staff was very nice at both places as well.</p>
<p>It's true if you know what to say</p>
<p>If you use priceline, you should be able to get a nice 4-star hotel downtown for about $60. I got the Westin Bonaventure last time and it was a very nice hotel. Valet parking is around $25 though. I've also gotten the Biltmore. Hotwire is also good but their prices are slightly higher.</p>
<p>The problem with many of these bidding services is you can't be GUARANTEED you will have a non-smoking room, which is KEY for us with severe allergies. It is a pity, but oh well!
Thanks for the tips & would love to read more by others with experience. Will likley be crossing the Vagabond off our list, since they accept pets & we're pretty allergic to those as well. It was attractive that it's within walking distance of campus tho.</p>
<p>I can sympathize with needing the non-smoking room, I have/had asthma in the past... I should recommend though that if NS is critical, after you make the reservation to call the hotel itself to confirm non-smoking, and call again the day before. And get the name of the person you talk to both times. :)</p>
<p>Unfortunately I don't know which hotels are good or not since I've always lived in the area. Forunately, hotels in California (in general) I've felt to be much better about controlling smoking than other states (probably due to stricter laws). I've recieved "non-smoking" rooms in other states that seem to have the ashtray removed just prior to arrival :)</p>
<p>Under no circumstances go to the Vagabond. The contributor was joking. It's a slum.</p>
<p>We stay at the downtown Marriottt 333 S. Figueroa. It's 2 or 3 miles from campus. You're a Fed, right? Ask for the Federal rate. </p>
<p>I wasn't joking. But that's why I was clear that it was second-hand information. There are always some people as are more particular than others.</p>
<p>The 4-star hotels on Priceline usually have very clean smoking rooms. The Westin, which is the biggest hotel in LA and comes up the most on Priceline, is a completely non-smoking hotel. See biddingfortravel.com to get some advice about this stuff.</p>
<p>A "clean" smoking room will still be a tremendous problem for highly allergic folks. Our entire family is unable to tolerate ANY smoke. I've spoken to hotel clerks who say they won't adjust whatever you have purchased on any on-line bidding site & under the clearly-stated rules, they are NOT obligated to.</p>
<p>miltm: How far is the Westin from USC? I panic on LA freeways (I always tend to get on the wrong one and become totally lost, even though I grew up in SoCal) so I would like as little driving as possible.</p>
<p>If you stay at the Westin you do not need to go on the freeway. It's near the Marriott and about 2 miles or so on city streets from New/North.</p>