Where to stay

The Pacific coastline of Los Angeles stretches from Redondo Beach to Malibu, with a wide variety of neighborhoods in between for enjoying sun, sand and water. Book luxury accommodations in Santa Monica, where the pleasant mix of beach volleyball and pier entertainment is backed by shopping and dining. While Malibu is an hour's drive northwest of Downtown Los Angeles, it is a great place to stay for year-round surfing. Alternatively, consider booking a hotel in Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach, which are especially good for winter surfing. To see LA's quirky side, find accommodations in Venice Beach and stroll or roller-skate along the Venice Beach Boardwalk where bodybuilders, mimes, jugglers and musicians provide entertainment next to the ocean.

To be close to Rodeo Drive, the epitome of shopping in Los Angeles, book a hotel in Beverly Hills and stroll from one luxury brand store to another. Melrose Avenue, running between West Hollywood and West Los Angeles, has great places to stay and boutiques filled with vintage and one-of-a-kind fashion items. Hotels in Chinatown and Little Tokyo offer access to inspired shopping for kitchenware and home goods with Asian themes as well as a few art galleries.

Northeast of Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is a bit less hectic and a great place to stay with kids. Settle into a hotel and get interactive at the Kidspace Children's Museum, see peacocks at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, explore the desert garden at the Huntington Library and marvel at outer space at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For action and adventure, book a hotel in Universal City, and make the most of Universal Studios Hollywood's immersive worlds, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Accommodations in the heart of Long Beach, 23 miles south of Downtown LA, are great for touring the historic Queen Mary ocean liner, meeting marine animals at the Aquarium of the Pacific and viewing the giant art murals on the city streets. Kids will love any of the beach neighborhoods, but Marina del Rey is practically perfect with the marina's gentle waves and hotels that cater to family groups.

For many people around the world, Los Angeles is synonymous with Hollywood, the California neighborhood that had great influence on the beginning of the movie industry. Book a hotel here or in Burbank, Universal City, Culver City or the Universal Studios Area, where stars often commute to and from sets and the film industry offers frequent tours. Some of the best hotels to stay in to spot celebrities are near the same places any LA visitor goes to enjoy good food, a fun day in the sun or a shopping outing. West Hollywood's trendy restaurants are noted for celebrity sightings. The bohemian vibe of Venice draws stars for beach activities and people-watching. Celebrities do actually stay in Beverly Hills and shop in the area's luxury stores or get coffee in the same cafés as regular folks.