Report - Best Western Sunset Plaza (Hollywood) by CJW

Here is a report on the Best Western Sunset Plaza.

Here is the general information on the hotel:

http://www.sunsetplazahotel.com/

http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05377

8400 Sunset Blvd.

Los Angeles CA 90069

323-654-0750

800-421-3652

So, who is this hotel good for...

People who are looking for a place to stay in Hollywood area before or after a cruise.

Couples of any age, and families.

This is a very nice, safe, walkable area in Hollywood/Beverly Hills.

Very safe all day and night.

This is a very good area for people who are looking for fun, cool, local Hollywood nightlife (and restaurants for celebrity/people watching).

This hotel is good, because you can usually find it at a very reasonable, affordable price - in comparison to other Hollywood/Beverly Hills hotels.

There are plenty of nice Hollywood restaurants, clubs, activities in walking distance.

It's easy and quick to take the local bus a few minutes to get to Hollywood and Highland for typical "tourist" tours and activities.

So here we go...

(click on any of the thumbnail pictures to get a full sized version)...

Here is the general hotel, street Sunset Blvd. view...

You want to ask for an inner courtyard room...

Ideally you don't want those few rooms that are facing Sunset Blvd. - as it will have noise, cars, and people all day and night.

This is a good thing for this hotel and area, as it is well lit, and because there are lots of people and activities all day and night - it is one of the safest, nicest hotels in Hollywood!

:D

Click on this to get a good view of the really nicely appointed rooms:

Please note in the right side of this picture/composite...

There is a mini-fridge and a microwave in all of the rooms!

This is a wonderful addition, that is not typical of this level of hotel in the Hollywood area!

The bathrooms are nice, but basic:

What is a little extra nice is the soaps and shampoos.

There is also a nice view of Los Angeles (as you are at the top/beginning of the Hollywood Hills from here) out the various windows.

The grounds, pool and landscaping around this hotel are really wonderfully beautiful California style:

Great to just lounge around in the courtyard and pool area.

Some of the rooms have the balcony facing this, so you can just hang out on your balcony on the pool level.

Maybe you can order some food in, or get some take out from the great places nearby!

Here are a bunch of fantastic places, restaurants, shopping, right in walking distance!

You can order from Pink Dot (a very cool local Hollywood thang) 24/7 for delivery - if you are feeling particularly lazy, or just living the Hollywood life in general!

:cool:

I'll give details about the rest of the venues in that picture in another post.

So let's add some info from a previous thread on things in the area...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=12759313&postcount=5

Okay, so here are TONS of cool restaurants and activities right in walking distance. Day and night.

For the BEST people watching and great California/Chinese fusion:

Chin Chin just down on Sunset Plaza

http://chinchin.com/menu.html

also lots of great boutique shopping (even window shopping is good) here!

I can't recommend this enough, chinese chicken salad, vegetable potsickers, peanut noodles, lettuce wraps, yummy!

And if anyone tells you that I saw Colin Farrell hitting on the hostess, while two tables away at the same time was a reunion of several of the Alfred Hitchcock leading ladies, right next to several actors from The CW; All I can "legally" say is "allegedly"...;)

Can you guarantee something like that? No, but here as well as these others mentioned below definitely are the highest probabilities in LA...:cool:

For great hamburgers, hotdogs, FRIES, and you get to eat in a train!

http://www.carneytrain.com/

It's a local favorite!

Mel's Drive In:

http://www.melsdrive-in.com/hoursandlocations/westhollywood.html

You'll know it when you see it! 24 hours of fun food and people watching!

And then if you forget anything, need a small grocery store, Pink Dot will deliver!

http://www.pinkdot.com/

Ketchup:

http://www.dolcegroup.com/ketchup/

If you are a major fan of "The Hills", or want an ultimate trendy spot for lunch...

Now there are several very "high end" restaurants up and down this Sunset Strip area, so I'm not going to name them all. Just walk by look at a menu, and choose. Too many to list.

So the one's above are the hidden "gems", best people watching, and best bang for the buck that could be easily missed and/or good for budgets.

And as you can see in the picture above...

The Comedy Store

http://www.thecomedystore.com/home.html

If you are a fan of Stand Up Comedy in general...

A fan of HBO, Comedy Central, SNL, Mad TV...

This is the premiere spot for up and coming people for those shows.

This is the premiere spot for major comedy types doing unannounced special try-out shows...

Check what is on the playlist here, as you never know what hidden gems you can find...

;)

also check House of Blues here...

http://www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/sunsetstrip/

Great club, good restaurant...

And you never know who will be playing when you are in town!

and there is more here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=12755037#post12755037

Next door I really like The Restaurant Lounge at the Hyatt:

http://westhollywood.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/lounges/index.jsp

for low key relaxing, best here late night after performers are finished with their shows...

Down the street aways is Key Club, for the collest upcoming bands as well as the occasional "old school" classics:

http://www.keyclub.com/index.php

Rainbow Bar and Grill, where Marilyn Monroe and Joe Dimaggio hung out:

http://rainbowbarandgrill.com/

So finally (for the moment)...

Here is the thread/link to the other hotels I like in the area

The Grafton on Sunset

and

The Hyatt

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=17934490

Just for a compare and contrast!

Enjoy and let me know if you have any questions!

:D