Hotel Aventura

This is primarily a hotel for travelers doing business in Koreatown, so expect to see plenty of Asian guests here (in-room TVs have 14 Korean-language channels). But given its proximity to downtown Los Angeles and to the airport, tourists stay here as well. The five-story property opened in 2015, with a funky exterior that's a mix of stone and wood, framed by large palm trees. The lobby is bright and stylish, with a natural stone wall and a cluster of quality furniture set on an oval rug in front of the registration desk. The space has designer touches, such as large pieces of modern art in vibrant colors, and beautiful sheer drapes that shimmer in the daylight. With no restaurant or bar, it’s a quiet place where guests don't tend to linger and generally keep to themselves. 

The Aventura is located in a safe and primarily residential area of Koreatown. Several Asian restaurants are within walks of five minutes or less (some are directly across the street), and a supermarket is six minutes on foot. Downtown attractions such as the Staples Center and Los Angeles Convention Center are roughly a 10-minute drive or about 25 minutes by bus, which stops just outside the hotel. It takes about the same time to reach the University of Southern California campus. The Santa Monica Freeway (Interstate 10) is nearby, making connections to area attractions like Dodger Stadium (15 minutes by car) fairly easy. Hollywood is about a 20-minute drive, and driving to Los Angeles International Airport takes approximately 40 minutes. Santa Monica and the nearby beaches can be reached by car in about 25 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.

The contemporary guest rooms are still fresh from their 2015 debut, and they're well-maintained. White comforters with tree branch patterns and bold pieces of modern art give them a look that's a touch chic, if a bit stark, with a sophisticated, earth-tone color palette. Modular-style wood furniture has a dark finish and includes desks with stainless steel and leather chairs. Units benefit from plenty of natural light coming from large windows that mostly overlook the streets below. Standard rooms (Queens and Double) are a comfortable size though they aren't overly spacious; Doubles don't have side-seating. Queens include upholstered armchairs, and two Suites with full kitchens and sleeper sofas in separate living rooms also are available. Bathrooms are quite spacious, with nice beige tiling framing roomy walk-in showers with glass doors and rainfall showerheads. Standard amenities include Nespresso coffeemakers, mini-fridges, free bottled water, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Ambient noise between rooms can be heard, especially between connecting rooms, but many past guests have reported that their stays are peaceful.

For an 86-room hotel, this property has a huge fitness center that offers an excellent selection of the latest cardio machines as well as strength-training equipment. The business center also is very nice, located in a dedicated room with two computers and phones. A big plus is the free parking in the hotel’s underground garage, though spaces are tight and it can fill up when the hotel is sold out. Wi-Fi throughout is free, and there's a lovely outdoor courtyard with cube-style seating. There's no laundry facilities, but the front desk is staffed 24/7, and there is security around the clock as well. The major drawback is that there's no food or drink sold on-site -- not even vending machines.