Los Angeles is one of the more expensive cities in the USA, making it time-consuming to find affordable, safe, and well-rated accommodations in a convenient location. The cheapest hotels often have discouraging reviews, are unclean, or are located in unsafe neighborhoods. In this article, you’ll find 5 tips for affordable accommodations in good areas and 5 tips for hotels offering the best value for money.
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Table of Contents
Where to Stay in Los Angeles
🗺️ Location is the Most Important Factor
When choosing accommodations, I strongly recommend focusing primarily on a good location. Distances between popular attractions in Los Angeles are significant, and a poor choice of hotel could result in losing hours to traveling and being stuck in endless traffic jams. Some neighborhoods are not safe for unfamiliar visitors at night, so it’s better to avoid them.
Booking ratings for location should be at least 8.0/10, ideally 9.0/10 or higher. I also recommend reading reviews and checking the hotel’s surroundings on Google Maps.
💰 How to Save Money on Accommodations in Los Angeles
For groups of four, you can save up to half of your costs by booking a single room with separate beds. Beds in American hotels are typically large enough for a couple to sleep comfortably. The most affordable types of accommodations include hostels (you pay for a bed in a shared room) and motels (offering lower standards with generally lower ratings).
📅 Book Your Accommodations in Advance
I recommend booking your hotel as soon as you know the dates of your stay. The earlier you reserve, the larger the selection you’ll have. Last-minute bookings or stays during busy periods often leave only less desirable hotels available.
🛏️ How to Choose a Hotel on Booking.com
I almost exclusively reserve hotels worldwide through Booking.com. The platform offers a wide range of accommodations, high reliability, and a lowest-price guarantee. Thanks to the Genius loyalty program, I often enjoy free breakfasts or upgrades to better rooms without additional charges.
For stays of one to two nights, I consider a rating of at least 6.0/10 sufficient, while expecting only basic standards and some shortcomings. To ensure satisfaction, I recommend ratings of 8.0/10 or higher.
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Affordable Accommodations in Los Angeles
The following five tips do not include the absolute cheapest accommodations in Los Angeles. Most of such places have discouraging reviews or are located in unsafe neighborhoods. During my research, I came across a review of one motel by a guest from the Czech Republic that said: “There was gunfire on the street across from us at night, and in the morning, a coroner was outside.”
I recommend only accommodations that offer at least basic standards and are located in areas where I would feel comfortable booking a stay for my girlfriend alone. I last updated these tips on January 23, 2025.
1️⃣ HI Los Angeles – Santa Monica Hostel
✔️ The HI Los Angeles Hostel offers one of the best price-to-quality ratios in the city. On Booking.com, it has an overall rating of 8.7/10, and since it’s located just a few meters from the beach in Santa Monica, guests rate its location 9.6/10. Positive reviews frequently highlight its location, excellent cleanliness, and breakfasts included in the price.
❌ Negative comments are relatively rare. Common complaints include squeaky beds and unapproachable staff.
2️⃣ La Mirage Inn LAX Airport
✔️ For Los Angeles standards, La Mirage Inn offers a good balance of price and quality. Its proximity to the airport (around 15 minutes) and some tourist attractions is a benefit for visitors. The hotel has an adequate rating of 7.1/10 on Booking.com.
❌ Reviews from past guests often mention the less impressive surroundings, with a notable presence of homeless individuals near the hotel. Complaints about insufficient towels in the rooms and outdated bathrooms are also common.
3️⃣ Samesun Hollywood
✔️ Samesun Hostel is located in Hollywood, making it an excellent choice for those looking to spend a few days in the heart of the action. For example, the Walk of Fame is within walking distance, and other attractions are easily accessible. The hostel has an above-average location rating of 9.2/10 on Booking.com, with an overall score of 7.8/10. Guests appreciate the included breakfast and the good level of cleanliness.
❌ Negative reviews frequently mention unfriendly staff and a limited selection for breakfast.
4️⃣ Economy Inn Hollywood
✔️ Economy Inn Hollywood is located near the same area as the previous hostel, making it a good alternative for guests seeking private rooms. From the motel, it’s easy to access the Walk of Fame, the Hollywood sign, and Universal Studios. Free parking is a major advantage.
❌ The motel has a below-average Booking.com rating of 6.9/10. Guests frequently complain about high noise levels from the street, outdated furniture, and missing coffee makers in the rooms.
5️⃣ Best Western Burbank Airport Inn
✔️ The only hotel in this list located near Universal Studios, the Best Western Burbank Airport Inn offers free parking and breakfast included in the room rate. The hotel has a Booking.com rating of 8.0/10, and guests often praise the clean rooms, friendly staff, and stylish design.
❌ Repeated negative comments mention the unattractive surroundings of the hotel and unpleasant street noise. Some guests have also been dissatisfied with the challenging parking setup.
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Accommodations in Los Angeles with the Best Price-to-Quality Ratio
The second group of tips features hotels that offer higher comfort levels. These are ideal for longer stays or for guests with more demanding preferences. The accommodations have ratings above 8/10, perfect locations, breakfast included in the room price, free parking, and occasionally some additional amenities. From my perspective, these represent the best value for money.
1️⃣ Hollywood Homes minutes to everything
✔️ These apartments, with an excellent location rating of 8.8/10, are situated in Hollywood, close to the Paramount Pictures film studios. Guests often praise the free parking, the beautiful view of the Hollywood sign, and the high-quality amenities. The overall rating on Booking.com is 8.7/10, making them ideal for accommodating larger groups.
❌ There are very few negative reviews. One recurring criticism is the narrow parking spaces.
2️⃣ Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles LAX
✔️ The three-star Holiday Inn Express is located near LAX Airport, providing guests with free shuttle services. Breakfast is included in the room price, and the hotel also offers free parking and an outdoor pool. The hotel has an above-average Booking.com rating of 8.4/10. Guests appreciate the location, quality breakfast options, and high cleanliness standards.
❌ Some guests have criticized the airport shuttle service, citing unprofessional drivers and infrequent schedules.
3️⃣ Park Plaza Lodge
✔️ Park Plaza Lodge is situated in a safe part of Los Angeles, earning it a high location rating of 9.2/10. The hotel features free parking, a pool, and tastefully furnished rooms. On Booking.com, it has an overall score of 8.7/10, with guests frequently praising its cleanliness, location, and friendly staff.
❌ There are relatively few negative comments, with most mentioning poor sound insulation in the rooms.
4️⃣ Comfort Inn & Suites Near Universal
✔️ This Comfort Inn is located in North Hollywood, making it a great choice for visiting Universal Studios, the Hollywood sign, or the Walk of Fame. It has a location rating of 7.9/10 and an overall score of 8.2/10 on Booking.com. Breakfast is included in the room rate, and guests often praise the hotel’s cleanliness and convenient location.
❌ Negative reviews often mention paid parking and a small pool, which some guests found disappointing.
5️⃣ Mayumi Los Angeles
✔️ Located in Culver City, the stylish Mayumi Hotel has earned a high location rating of 8.6/10. Its overall Booking.com score is 8.7/10, with guests frequently complimenting its excellent location, well-furnished rooms, and exceptional cleanliness. The room price includes breakfast, and parking is free.
❌ Negative reviews are minimal. However, some guests have noted small bed sizes and low water pressure in the shower.
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