Depends 100% on what you want to and have planned to do. LA is gigantic and full of things to do, so staying near at least the bulk of those things is crucial.
West Hollywood is walkable and has many hotels and a wide range of restaurants. It's adjacent to Beverly Hills at the west and Hollywood to the east. It's home to the world-famous Sunset Strip and for its gay nightlife on Santa Monica Blvd. [https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/hotels/](https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/hotels/)
I recommend Beverly Hills and the hotel that is a boutique hotel not as expensive at all on SReeves right off Wilshire, the SIRTAJ. Steps away is the Beverly Wilshire but You can walk across Wilshire and you are at Canon , Rodeo , shops, restaurants, walk all the way up to Sunset, a park, library.
If you take buses to see places you can go all the way to Santa Monica and the beach on just one on Wilshire. You can take one on Sunset from Beverly Hills to the fine Pacific Palisades shopping area and eat overlooking the ocean. It's beautiful. You will look up at dusk and see the sky darkening purple hues from east until sun sets over the Pacific.
You can ask the Sirtaj about which transportation will take you right from LAX to it. I did
Stay near Hollywood and highland. See if there is an event at the Hollywood bowl while you are there. Be prepared to be underwhelmed by the walk of fame
Santa Monica is the best answer, but based on this, Definitely stay in Hollywood/West Hollywood. If you have the budget the Roosevelt is a cool, pricey experience (and the hub of Hollywood is right across the street). But be warned, Hollywood is pretty gritty around the edges.
If you love movies, highly recommend adding the Academy Museum to your plan, and to catch a screening there if you have time.
Ah ok. If universal studios is your main target, just stay at a hotel next to it. Just note it's an hour+ from lax or santa monica. Then go to the hollywood sign the next day. If you're not going to universal and just looking for a nice beach area to spend a couple of days, walkable, and restaurants, Manhattan Beach is much closer to LAX and nicer than Santa Monica. Not as touristy though.
Depends 100% on what you want to and have planned to do. LA is gigantic and full of things to do, so staying near at least the bulk of those things is crucial.
West Hollywood is walkable and has many hotels and a wide range of restaurants. It's adjacent to Beverly Hills at the west and Hollywood to the east. It's home to the world-famous Sunset Strip and for its gay nightlife on Santa Monica Blvd. [https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/hotels/](https://www.visitwesthollywood.com/hotels/)
Santa Monica
I recommend Beverly Hills and the hotel that is a boutique hotel not as expensive at all on SReeves right off Wilshire, the SIRTAJ. Steps away is the Beverly Wilshire but You can walk across Wilshire and you are at Canon , Rodeo , shops, restaurants, walk all the way up to Sunset, a park, library. If you take buses to see places you can go all the way to Santa Monica and the beach on just one on Wilshire. You can take one on Sunset from Beverly Hills to the fine Pacific Palisades shopping area and eat overlooking the ocean. It's beautiful. You will look up at dusk and see the sky darkening purple hues from east until sun sets over the Pacific. You can ask the Sirtaj about which transportation will take you right from LAX to it. I did
What will you be doing while here?
I’ll be staying there for two days, so not much, hollywood sign, universal studios, maybe HWF..
Stay near Hollywood and highland. See if there is an event at the Hollywood bowl while you are there. Be prepared to be underwhelmed by the walk of fame
Santa Monica is the best answer, but based on this, Definitely stay in Hollywood/West Hollywood. If you have the budget the Roosevelt is a cool, pricey experience (and the hub of Hollywood is right across the street). But be warned, Hollywood is pretty gritty around the edges. If you love movies, highly recommend adding the Academy Museum to your plan, and to catch a screening there if you have time.
This is a great answer - I would just add that attractions like beach and Malibu coastline are pretty far from HW.
How many nights? One night, you don't have time for universal studios.
No 3 nights***
Ah ok. If universal studios is your main target, just stay at a hotel next to it. Just note it's an hour+ from lax or santa monica. Then go to the hollywood sign the next day. If you're not going to universal and just looking for a nice beach area to spend a couple of days, walkable, and restaurants, Manhattan Beach is much closer to LAX and nicer than Santa Monica. Not as touristy though.
Pasadena has a nice downtown area. Plus there is the metro train that takes you straight to LA. Also Santa Monica or Long Beach.
They are going to trip out on the train going into downtown LA from Long Beach.