Los Angeles: Where to stay?

what's the best way to get from the bay to LA without a car?

and without spending a lot

or taking 12 hours

craigslist rideshare

dunno where it leaves from but there's a bus from the bay that my cousin used to take that drops people off at usc or ucla I think, and according to her it took at long as a car ride or w/e

how much is "a lot"? depending on when you book, you can get cheap flights between SFO->LAX and OAK->BUR (i've seen them go as low as $65 one way)

megabus is even cheaper and takes about 7 hours each way but i've never done it

Is it possible to stay somewhere walkable to the beach, in redondo, Manhattan, or whatever beach, or elsewhere?

airbnb maybe? That's an expensive area.

yeah airbnb in venice maybe?

compare hotels vs airbnb. it's weird. sometimes hotels are cheaper depending on the area, how many people are staying, etc.

Coming to L.A. in the fall. May be able to crash with a friend, but am def. interested in hotel recommendations if anyone has some.

I was out there a few months ago and split my time between the Sunset Tower (West Hollywood) and and the Roosevelt Hotel (regular Hollywood).

The Sunset Tower is pricier, more staid, the rooms more immaculately old-fashioned. The Roosevelt is a bit rougher around the edges but has appealing mid-century modern-ish decor in the rooms, at least in the cabana rooms bordering the swimming pool where I was. The main building is very very spacious, mediterranean-styled, with tiled floors; IIRC there are three separate bars on the premises, each with a different vibe.

The Roosevelt has a very lively pool scene with DJ's in action almost all day and night. The music is not too loud, though, or at least it wasn't during the non-weekend days that I stayed there. The Sunset Tower has a very quiet pool situation where there's typically 3-5 people at a time hanging out.

Both hotels have a solid restaurant. I thought the Sunset Tower's breakfast was superior to the Roosevelt's breakfast, which sucked, although with the latter you're seated by the pool which allows for exceptional people watching. The Roosevelt also has a hamburger-oriented diner inside.

Both hotels are conveniently located - it's kind of a wash as far as that's concerned.

The Best Western on Franklin - near Hollywood and Los Feliz and Griffith Park
The Line in Ktown - central location good transit options
The Farmer's Daughter on Fairfax - near LACMA and Farmer's Market
The Charlie in WeHo - awesome old hollywood vibe

i have had fam stay in all those places except farmer's daughter, no complaints on any of them

Thank you!

To live and stay in LA

to stay & leave from LA