Coral Sands Motel

Coral Sands epitomizes L.A.’s retro vibe. Its chartreuse facade is surrounded by gardens and palm trees, though the property itself is a bit run-down. The check-in clerk sits adjacent to a window in the lobby, with the wooden front desk having seen better days. The landscaped and flower-filled central courtyard is the nicest space, and there’s a clean outdoor pool and hot tub.

The surrounding area has a fairly quiet street with some restaurants and bars as well as a grocery store, and the motel offers free parking -- a rarity in this city. Coral Sands sits to the east of Route 101 and is not far from I-5, while the Hollywood/Western metro stop is around the corner, with good connections to Hollywood proper and downtown. Fit, adventurous travelers can walk west on Hollywood Boulevard and reach the TCL Chinese Theatre in about 40 minutes. For comedy fans, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is a 15-minute walk west as well.

Coral Sands’ rooms are fairly old-fashioned with basic blue carpeting and colorful patterned bedspreads that are slightly worn. Spaces have safes, mini-fridges, and hairdryers, along with satellite TVs. The tiny, bright white bathrooms feature small curtained stall showers. The rooms are not a place to spend a lot of time in, but fine for sleeping.

Amenities for the property are generally basic. The motel’s central courtyard has a garden area as well as a pool and hot tub. There’s a community room with a microwave and an ice machine, and an on-site computer with Internet access is free to use. There are also two coin-operated laundry machines available 24 hours a day and free luggage storage.