I have a few cat. 6 cert and a free cat. 5 cert. I'm probably going to use the cat. 6 in venice, Italy unless I can be convinced otherwise so I have a catergory 5 free night cert to spend.
I'm travelling with a family of 4 . Wife two small girls 4 and 2 plus myself. I'm staying at the Hilton Anaheim doubletree first and will be driving from there to this property. Then I will be continuing onto the JW Marriott downtown live. I also have a few nights later at Beverly hills so will be spending time around there. From searching around I have found the W-L.A Westwood to be a good choice. But looking around the property on google maps seems to look like its in a kinda dead area no action.
Taking into consideration the other properties I'm staying at and my family which property would you recommend and why.

What's the SLS hotel like?

Thank you,
Shane.

 

I love the SLS hotel, you can check the master threads for hotels there.

 

Westwood is a great area. There are lots of restaurants and the neighborhood is very nice. You can walk from the hotel to go out to eat. It is next to UCLA so there are reasonably priced places. The rooms at the W Westwood are also very large which is good for a family. The SLS is a more unique experience. The rooms are smaller though it is more upscale. Depends what you are looking for...

 

It's not the most smashing property in LA, but the Sheraton Delfina in Santa Monica is only a couple of blocks to the beach and all the best stuff Santa Monica has to offer. Great for families.

 

Thanks ppl I think I like the look of the SLS hotel just wondering what is available to do nearby. I won't have a car , I read they charge thru the nose for parking in L.A

 

Yup it reaches 30 USD in some hotels but at the SLS I remember they charged me 12 USD which is not bad.

 

when you say best Hotel do you mean where is the rate the most expensive? and what are you looking to do

Ive sent friends to the Sheraton Universal since they wanted to check out Universal Stuidos , Park and City Walk and didnt want to be hassled about having to drive back & forth, or have to spend the whole day there. That way they if they wanted could grab the shuttle back to the Hotel relax or eat or whatever and head back over later on.

Ive used some certs from different Chains for Hotels whose Cat was less then the top allowed, if the hotel I was looking for was expensive. eg Ive used a MR Cat 1-4 at a Cat3 once even at a Cat2 and saved $250

is SPG running promos downunder offerring free Certs that they arent elsewhere. After all you did say you have a few Cat 6 and 5 certs

also better get confirmation for Venice that you can have 4 people in the room, alot of the rooms there are smallish

 

SLS is best.

 

Not much! Unless you consider visiting a very dreary indoors mall something to do....

Also, for your young family it doesn't seem the best match. You've seen this thread, right?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html

I second dll's suggestion. You'll experience the best of SoCal in Santa Monica. Third Street Promenade, the Santa Monica Pier - your little girls would surely enjoy that. Here's a detailed PDF that is linked to the Santa Monica Pier site above: Youth Guide to the Historic Santa Monica Pier. And of course you have the beach...

I live nearby the SLS and have lived in the general vicinity for 30+ years. IMO for a visit without a car, with a wife and 2 toddlers, there is no better LA location to be based than Santa Monica. (However, I know nothing about the Delfina - I'm commenting on location alone).

See this thread (which I'll read now too )

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...er-thread.html

Edited to add:
Link for Google streetview of the pedestrian-only "Third Street Promenade"

 

I agree with the previous posters re: location - Santa Monica has lots more to offer in terms of shopping/dining/outdoor stuff when compared to Westwood, especially if you dont plan on having a car. I do like the W Westwood much better than the Sheraton, however. If you are not tied to SPG, you can even take a look at the J W Marriott in Santa Monica - I havent stayed there but it is located close to the Pier and Main Street and the Pier and looks quite nice from the outside.

 

I was there in December and was charged $36. Per the web site: There is an overnight fee of $36.00 ( including tax), and a restaurant /event/ visitors rate of $12.00 (including tax) that includes in/out privileges. Cars, motorcycles, and bikes are welcome. Visitor parking does not include in/out privileges.

My wife loved the SLS and we hope to return at least once a year.

 

Neither SLS nor a W is appropriate for a family. Pick Santa Monica.

 

Get a car and go to St Regis Monarch Beach!

 

I'd suggest the W Hollywood if you don't have a car and need to get around on foot - it's above the LA Metro station at Hollywood/Vine and there's also stuff to see and do there. From that Metro line you can get around to Downtown etc. fairly easily and/or even transfer to other lines and go to places like Universal Studios or Pasadena etc.

 

Normally I'd agree, but with a family this might not be the best hotel. If the family is used to cities and urban areas then yes, but while I love the area around W Hollywood, it's not a sanitized location Disney-esque location.