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Vacationing Here Archives 2
As part of the deal for getting Maggie to come to Italy in April (which I didn't book yet but hope to soon!), I told her we would have a fun (read: non-cultural) trip during our summer vacation.
She wants to go to Los Angeles and I wouldn't mind going there myself since I have not been there in about 15 years!!! I have enough miles for both of us to fly free, and even if I can't get the dates I want, the price I was quoted was only $296.
My plan is to stay two nights in the city of LA. That will be my splurge because the hotels I like there aren't too cheap (at least the Beverly Wilshire and Four Seasons are not!), but then I want to go to a place on the beach. A friend of mine who works with me and just moved from San Jose is also familiar with LA and she recommended Santa Monica. I'd like to stay in a hotel or condo on the beach, near the Santa Monica pier and have scoped out many websites but can't find many that are right on or very close to the beach.
Anyone have any ideas? I'd really prefer a condo, maybe a two bedroom so if anyone wants to join us, we'd have room and could maybe split the cost... (Danette--what are you and Jeni doing in August????????)
Fran in NY
Last week there was a show about the Santa Monica Pier. I bet they suggested some hotels. I really didn't pay that close attention but the hotels they suggest are always fine -- I think it was on the "Great Hotels" show that they do with Samantha Brown.
I found a couple that seemed okay and were not too bad as far as price is concerned, but some had good reviews in trip advisor as well as bad reviews, so I don't know!!!
I'll definitely look on the travel channel... I want to be on the beach and close to the pier but I'm not looking for anything really expensive or luxurious because I want to stay in a really nice place in the city of LA, and the hotels I like there are not cheap so I have to cut corners somewhere!!! Between renting a car, going to Universal or Disneyworld, the bills are already going up...
Fran in NY
i can tell you, FOR SURE, that you will BOTH absolutely LOVE santa monica!!! i've been there a few times, driving through from san francisco to san diego--we stopped there...at the pier...and had MUCHO fun! AND YOU TWO WILL, TOO!
is the reason she wants to go out there so she MUGHT be able to run into her heart-throb from the musical group--"good charlotte"? hmmmmmmmm--let me see...i say YES! that is EXACTLY why she want s to go there--and you know it!
all i can say is...BE CAREFUL! (and yes, that hotel IS in the entertainment book, so you would get 50% off the rack rates)
I went to Entertainment.com and must have looked at every hotel in LA but could not find the Regent Beverly Wilshire anywhere and I could really use a discount!!!
Fran in NY
don't bother looking for it any longer. it's not in there--i was looking at something entirely different. i'm so sorry.
and it looked very nice. I love Samantha Brown! Fran, I think you would like this place so check it out.
di
It isn't too far from Santa Monica, and its just a short walk along the boardwalk from Venice, which I'm sure Maggie would like. While you're in the area, either Santa Monica or Marina del Rey, I hope you'll check out the WONDERFUL (and free)Getty Museum. If you'd like, contact me privately and I'll send you my copy of the current (Feb) schedule of what is showing, to give you an idea of what to expect. JackS
I stayed at a very nice hotel in Marina del Rey when I was in LA once, but didn't get to look around much as I ran to Universal one day, Disney another.
I think the hotel was called the Marina del Rey something or other... The rooms were beautiful and I didn't pay a thing since it was a business trip!
Any advice/events you know about would be appreciated!
Fran in NY
That and Loews seemed to be two of the nicest (and the nicest prices as well!!) 
Will keep you posted... I have a little time to check on things, pray for a good deal, etc., etc.
I'm hoping to stay about two or three nights in LA in town (and I'm dying for the Beverly Wilshire!) and then five more on the beach somewhere around Venice, Santa Monica or maybe Marina del Rey. These prices sure ain't like Cancun, though! Could stay a couple of weeks in Isla for a few days in LA but being from NY, we should be used to that, right???
Anyway, it's an important year for us so that is why I want to go to Italy and California. Maggie is making her confirmation in May and I will be celebrating my 50th birthday in April! So I'm splurging on myself a little--hell, might not have too many years left to splurge!!! 
Fran in NY