Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, borders the South Bay, a region that includes upscale the California cities of Manhattan Beach, Rancho Palos Verde and Rolling Hills. The airport is 20 miles west of downtown, but this area is still close to the ocean. Parking is at a premium in the area, and many luxury hotels charge fees for overnight valet services.
Casa Del Mar is in Santa Monica, less than 10 miles from LAX and within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier. Housed within a 1920s Italian Renaissance building, the oceanfront hotel hosts Catch, an upscale restaurant serving seafood. To save money, consider dining at the less expensive bar, The Veranda, also located onsite. The hotel's lobby features floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the ocean. Many guestrooms offer ocean views, and have hydrotherapy tubs and Italian marble bathrooms.
Casa Del Mar
1910 Ocean Way
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-581-5503
hotelcasadelmar.com
The Cape Cod-inspired Beach House Hotel Hermosa Beach is 10 minutes from the airport, between the wealthy neighborhoods of Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. The all-suite hotel offers 96 loft units, each equipped with a fireplace, a whirlpool bathtub and furnished balconies or patios -- some with views of the Pacific. The hotel serves a complimentary continental breakfast. The Strand, a 22-mile bike path that connects the region's beaches, passes near the hotel. An onsite spa offers yoga classes on the beach and in-room massages.
The Beach House Hotel Hermosa Beach
1300 The Strand
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
310-374-3001
beach-house.com
The Inn at Playa del Rey, five minutes from the airport, is along the shores of the 600-acre Ballona Wetlands. The hotel offers complimentary bicycles for guests who would like to explore the nearby trails. The hotel lounge, with a fireplace, offers views of the neighboring marsh. The hotel serves fresh-squeezed lemonade, coffee and wine on the sundeck. The majority of the guestrooms offer fireplaces, balconies, canopied beds and whirlpool bathtubs.
Inn at Playa del Rey
435 Culver Blvd.
Playa del Rey, CA 90293
310-574- 1920
innatplayadelrey.com
