The Hotel Hollywood

Perhaps engrained from its early days as a short- and long-term hotel, the Hotel Hollywood still retains that standard, traditional small hotel vibe and personalized service. This is quite a feat considering the hotel was bought in 2005 by a local apartment rental company. Currently, it is run as a hotel and short-term residence and features friendly staff who are on a reciprocal first-name basis relationship with guests. Although the hotel is just one block from the famous Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard and walking distance from other iconic sights and landmarks, the hotel is off a quiet side street with low traffic. At first glance, the area may seem a bit sketchy, but that's Hollywood. The area is safe, although guests should always exercise caution when traveling. The hotel itself doesn't have much common space save a few high tops in the breakfast room, which doubles as the lobby. Hotel decoration is minimal but oddly doesn't feel too lacking. Pale yellow walls, natural wood trim, and occasional framed black-and- white photos of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe (whose old rooms are available for rent) constitute the predominate decor. Whether its the hotel's history, small size, or bed and breakfast style service, the vibe feels much more residential than hotel -- a place to rest one's head from days gone past.

Within easy walking distance from myriad tourist sites and iconic landmarks, the Hotel Hollywood is in an ideal spot for exploring on foot. Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame is only a block from the hotel, and the famed Chinese Theater, El Capitan (where they film "Jimmy Kimmel Live"), Dolby Theater, and shopping mecca Hollywood and Highland are less than a quarter mile away. The hotel is also convenient to Universal Studios, The Grove and Farmers' Market, and CBS Studios (where "The Price is Right" is filmed) are all within a 10-minute drive from the hotel. Shops, restaurants, bars, and movie theaters are within a 15-minute walk, and just three blocks away, guests can hop on the metro at the Hollywood and Vine red line stop to head downtown or toward the Valley.

Rooms at the Hotel Hollywood are basic but clean and contemporary. Guests who request the Marilyn Monroe or James Dean rooms (306 and 102, respectively) may be disappointed to find out that there is nothing special about the rooms except for the fact that someone famous once stayed in them. By far, the rooms' best feature is the super comfy memory foam mattress beds complete with fluffy pillows. Rooms on the whole are fairly small, made even more snug by the addition of sitting furniture and dedicated kitchenette spaces for the mini-fridge. Carpets are style-less and industrial, while hanging ornate mirrors add a little pizazz to the modern but slightly dated bathrooms. Some rooms have flat-screen TVs, while others have high-mounted archaic sets, but all have self-controlled air-conditioning units.

The Hotel Hollywood isn't one for amenities. The hotel's best feature is the hotel's free continental breakfast. Served as a spread in the lobby turned breakfast room, guests can fill up on coffee, bagels, cereal, fruit and toast -- and grab a few granola bars for the road. Other than this, social interaction is minimal as the only other public areas are a slim side smoking alley, a four-machine laundry room (also where the microwave advertised as "in-room" can be found), and a two-computer business center area. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and the front desk is happy to arrange hop-on hop-off tours or give local recommendations toward the best food, bars, shops, and sights. Off-site parking -- which in this popular area of L.A. is always hard to find -- is available for a fee and is located about a block away.