Los Angeles was unfortunately our last stop on our honeymoon tour of the States and we decided that we would need to stay for three nights to take full advantage of seeing Universal Studios and to have a look around the city.
My husband is a big film fan and when we were looking at where to stay in LA we wanted somewhere near to the Studios, as we had pre-booked our tickets in conjunction with our earlier visit to Sea World in San Diego. We decided that location would definitely take priority over luxury and when we discovered that there was a Holiday Inn in the area, we allowed our travel agent to go ahead with booking it for us.
***Arriving***
Getting to this hotel was relatively easy, as Vineland Avenue is situated just off the main 101 Ventura Freeway and Vineland Street is well signposted along the freeway exits. The only problem we had initially, was that we did not know whether to turn right or left at the exit, as Vineland Avenue is an extremely long street. The inevitable happened and we went the wrong way. This was soon rectified though and it gave us a chance to have a look at our surroundings before we turned back.
The hotel is just beside the exit so getting back onto the freeway was going to be easy for us when we decided to go out exploring, although at one end of the street you can also find Ventura Boulevard which leads you towards Universal Studios one way or Mulholland Drive the other.
When we entered the small lobby area we were given a warm welcome by the staff and told a little bit about the facilities and benefits of staying there. These included a restaurant, bar, coffee room, swimming
pool, tenniscourts and perks such as free internet and a complimentary shuttle bus to Universal Studios.
We were given a map of the hotel and a parking ticket that would be activated for our stay. We were given electronic card keys to our room and shown that the entrance to our block was just round the corner. On closer inspection we found that we could get parked right beside the entrance and the main door to the building could only be opened by our keys for security purposes.
Once inside the building we found ourselves in front of a lift that we could use to take us to our 3rd floor room. Outside in the lobby we could see a vending machine next to a much-needed icemaker.
***The Room***
On opening the door to our room we felt a little bit cramped after the spacious suite at The Handlery in San Diego, but that's not to say the room was small by any means. It was well laid out with a lovely king size bed with plenty of soft pillows and a big comfortable chair. Other furniture included a desk with internet facilities on it, along with notepaper and a large television unit that matched the redwood colouring of the bed and bedside cabinets.
These blended in beautifully with the cream wallpaper although was spoiled a little bit by the fact that one wall consisted of white painted bricks. There was also a sink and coffee making area outside the bathroom, which we made excellent use of. There was a fridge in this area too and again we used this for storing our soft drinks.
The bathroom area wasn't the biggest we had seen on our travels but was more than adequate for the two of us. It had a selection of various sized towels, a hairdryer, a shaver point and a selection of free toiletries including aromatherapy face and bath soap, fresh mint shampoo and conditioner and a revitalising lotion all from the Garden Botanika range. We also had to ask for some extra toothpaste here, as we ran out and housekeeping were happy to supply us with a tube for our stay. The shower was extremely powerful and just what we needed after our hot trip up the coast.
The built in wardrobe had an iron and ironing board in it, as well as a safe to store any valuables. There was a large hanging area for our clothes and drawers were situated as part of the television unit too.
One thing we really liked about this room was that we had our own private little balcony, which caught the sun and was lovely to sit out on in the comfy chairs provided while we sipped on cool drinks. It overlooked the tennis courts but was kept private by the tall trees that were abundant in the area. Because of this privacy we were able to open up our curtains here and really take advantage of the early morning sunshine that beamed into our room.
***The Facilities***
We ate at the restaurant on two separate evenings and for one breakfast. Food wasn't included in our hotel price so this was going to be an added expense for us. We were delighted to discover though that the prices here were very reasonable and we enjoyed a variety of dishes between us including a chicken and pasta dish for me and a steak for my husband. The breakfast buffet was ideal for us and we both enjoyed a selection of hot food including bacon, sausage, egg and pancakes, as well as some croissants
Pictures of Beverly Garland's Holiday Inn, Los Angeles
The bed
and pastries. Coffee and orange juice were included too and again the price was very reasonable.What we loved about the staff here was that they remembered us each time we visited and always took the time to chat with us and check back that everything was to our liking. There was a choice of whether to eat inside the restaurant or outside on the patio area and we took advantage of both during our stay. Although it could get slightly chilly in the evening, the outdoor heaters meant that dining outside was comfortable and enjoyable.
Just beside the restaurant was a bar where we sat and enjoyed a couple of cocktails on our last night staying there. Again the staff were fantastic and chatted in a friendly manner, as we sat on big comfortable chairs enjoying our final night on honeymoon.
We also had the chance to take advantage of a slice of cake from the coffee shop, which we took to our rooms to enjoy with a coffee on our balcony. I say slice but really they were huge chunks of cake and thoroughly enjoyable.
The pool area was beautiful and there was also a sauna there too. This was situated in a quiet spot at the rear of the hotel just beside some beautiful gardens, where benches were placed to sit and enjoy the ambience. The tennis courts at the front of the hotel looked lovely but we didn't have the time or the energy to have a game ourselves. Tennis equipment could be borrowed from the hotel for a deposit.
***My Thoughts***
This certainly wasn't the fanciest hotel we stayed at during the honeymoon but it was lovely and clean throughout and the staff were fantastic. Being recognised in the restaurant made us feel special and we were able to relax fully as we enjoyed our meals. The room was a decent size and I loved having a little balcony to sit on although there was a little bit of noise from the nearby freeway. Luckily we didn't hear this in the room once the French doors were closed and we were able to sleep well on the comfortable bed. I had finally been able to sleep through the night here, which was typical, as I had just become accustomed to the time difference at the end of our stay in the States.
The complimentary shuttle bus to Universal Studios meant that we didn't have to worry about parking costs at the site and we were dropped off just outside the front gate and given a list of times for the return trips to the hotel. What should have been the final trip back at night could have been awkward for some guests, as the bus was full, but the driver promised that he would return for them when we had been safely dropped back. The hotel was only about 10 minutes drive away so they didn't have too long to wait.
The front of the hotel looked lovely with fountains and trees surrounding the area and it really looked perfect for the location in Hollywood. This location was ideal for a trip along Mulholland Drive where you can get spectacular views of the Hollywood Bowl and of course the Hollywood sign itself. It also takes you along towards Laurel Canyon where you climb into the hills around some long winding roads that give you views of mansions in the distance.
Also nearby is Beverly Hills and of course no visit is complete without a drive through this area to see all the mansions and to see the famous Rodeo Drive nearby in West Hollywood. Unfortunately we drove down here at night so I wasn't able to visit any of the famous stores along this street. I think it had something to do with the fact that I mentioned diamond encrusted Jimmy Choo's to my husband that he refused to go there during opening hours.
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Beverly Garland Hotel and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to be in nearby location to take in the sights of Hollywood.
***Prices***
This hotel was booked as part of our package so I'm not sure about the rate we paid. However, I have done a price check and for an August weekend booking in a king room with a balcony and view overlooking the tennis courts, it would cost around £85 per night. This may be a bit more expensive than some hotels but it is due to the fact that it is close to Universal Studios and there is a free shuttle bus that runs on a regular basis throughout the day.
Parking costs $11 per day so we had this charge on top.
What did make up for this though were the cheap prices in the restaurant. We ate there on two separate evenings and had a breakfast buffet. The meals cost us less than £15 for the two of us each night and the buffet was around £10 for us both.
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