Los Angeles Marriott Downtown

The Los Angeles Marriott Downtown is a cookie-cutter chain hotel, propped by the brand name, a solid downtown location in the heart of the financial district and close to the Los Angeles Convention Center and the usual amenities and services afforded to guests at a Marriott. For all of that, though, there's precious little personality to speak of, and in an age of fierce competition for filling up hotel rooms, a posh hotel without a personality or a USP is like a not-so-beautiful woman wearing designer threads. Looks good from afar, but once you get up close, the proposition doesn't seem so attractive. Not to belittle a Marriott, because there's many pluses to counter the blandness.

If you inquire a bit more than usual, and select the right room out of the 400 guest rooms and 69 suites spread over 13 floors that the Marriott offers, you can get hold of a spacious room with floor to ceiling windows and a sweeping view of downtown Los Angeles with new and luxurious beds. Some of the rooms are dumps, but if you get the right one (change if you have to), a stay at the LA Marriott Downtown will definitely be a positive experience. But then, this applies to just about everything. If you do a little research about the attractions and things to do in Los Angeles, you can make teh entire trip an unforgettable experience. Point is, when you book a hotel room, make sure you get the best value for money.

In-room amenities at this Marriott include coffee maker, Web TV/internet browser, iron & ironing board, a seperate bath and shower with hairdryer, and bottled water, rollaway beds and cribs available upon request. Hotel services and amenities include an outdoor heated pool, business center with copying, fax and parcel services, car rental, vending machines, ATM, concierge desk, 24 hour room service, valet dry cleaning, 25,000 sq ft of meeting space with 23 meeting rooms, on-site fitness center, and valet parking for a fee.

Dining facilities on-site at the hotel include the Back Porch Restaurant with continental cuisine open for breakfast and lunch, the Lobby Bar and Lounge offering sandwiches and appetizers, and Moody's Bar and Grille for dinner.

Info: 333 South Figueroa Street Los Angeles CA 90071; (213) 617-1133; www.marriott.com

Sterling Hotel Sacramento

Situated 3 blocks from the State Capitol, Sacramento's Sterling Hotel looks like, and actually was, a Victorian mansion from yesteryear when the amber glow of gas-lit lamps would merge with the pristine white facade and the green lawn with the neatly paved entrance, with a horse drawn carriage awaiting guests, and creating an etherally beautiful landscape of charm and warmth and old southern style hospitality.

Today's Sterling Hotel, from the outside, looks much like the mansion did in the 1890s. Only, the inside is now a modern hotel with 17 impeccable guest rooms, a four star restaurant - the Chanterelle - and all the amenities and little perks which guests expect from an upscale hotel.

The old money atmosphere which the Sterling exudes draws not only visitors looking for things to do in Sacramento, and a storied, comfortable and luxurious place to stay, but also Sacramento residents for whom the combination of the stylish catering from the Chanterelle and the Sterling's magnificient ballroom with chandeliers, beautiful stained glass rotunda and arched beveled mirrors, and the seven-foot ivy laced topiaries offers a perfect setting for weddings, receptions, parties, tea gatherings and holiday events. Simply put, the Sterling is not only a high-class act, its also a status symbol for Sacramento's upper class.

Eeach of the 17 rooms at the Sterling have been exquisitely furnished and designed to recreate a Victorain aura along with the latest amenities, with Italian marble tiled bathrooms and jacuzzis, four poster beds, chandelier lighting, continental breakfast and a reception bar in the lobby, and individual attention and personalized care for each guest.

Info: 1300 H Street Sacramento CA 95814; (800) 365-7660; Photo credit & copyrights - Sterling Hotel

Ayres Hotel Anaheim

There's a certain sameness to all the resorts dotting the lanscape around Disneyland in Anaheim. I understand that the theme park is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, and as such, even hundreds of hotels wouldn't be enough to cater to the never-ending flow of visitors. Even so, at some point, the whole scene becomes one giant tourist trap, catering to kids and families and offering all kinds packages with Disney specials and such.

There's not that many things to do in Ahaneim which are not in some way or the other connected to Disney. Very upscale stuff, all this, and in such lean times (recession and all), what you need is a middle range hotel which offers location, comfort and a homey feel which seperates it from the Hiltons and the Marriotts. Enter the Ayres Hotel Anaheim. First, while all the other resorts and luxury hotels are chain hotels totally in sync with Disney as all American hospitality providers, the Ayres is a distinctly European themed boutique hotel with its own unique identity - a lobby with marble flooring, a central fireplace and Italian oil paintings.

Even though the hotel looks vast from the outside if you include the grounds, it has only a 126 guest rooms and 7 suites. This enhances the perception of the Ayres as an independent hotel offering personalized service to each guest, not to mention the fact that this makes the rooms comparatively large. It doesn't hurt, of course, that the hotel is located minutes away from everything of importance in Anaheim. And that includes the Honda Center, the Grove, Angel Stadium and Knott's Berry Farm. Its about 10 minutes away from Disneyland. Amenities offered include a spacious parking lot, compimentary breakfast and an evening reception, high speed internet, business center with meeting and conference space, a heated pool and a whirlpool spa, fitness center, self-laundry facilities with a washer and dryer, and valet laundry.

The rooms, again, speak of a slightly personal touch, with a view of the city parking lot or poolside area, are equipped with a mini-kitchen with refrigirator, wet bar and microwave and coffee maker, workdesk area, satellite television with HBO, wi-fi and high speed internet, and a full private bathroom with vanity. Much larger than the standard boxes you get at tourist traps, clean and furnished with extremely comfortable beds - Triple sheeted with feather pillows. And the noise level inside the rooms is very low, inspite of the hotel being situated close to train tracks. Room rates start at $129 plus taxes.


Info: Ayres Hotel Anaheim - 2550 E. Katella Ave Anaheim CA 92806; (714) 634-2106; www.ayreshotel.com/anaheim/