Travelodge by Wyndham Hollywood-Vermont/Sunset

Travelodge is a national motel chain for the budget-conscious traveler, and the Hollywood-Vermont/Sunset meets the expectations of the brand. The reception area is small and plain, with white tile floors and blonde wood counters with marble tops. There are two chairs, one for the sole guest computer, and a large display of tourist brochures. One counter along the wall is dedicated to the continental breakfast bar, which includes breads, cereals, coffee, tea, and juice. Beyond the lobby, there is small enclosed patio where guests can enjoy breakfast. A bright, sunny space, it has only a few chairs and, at the height of breakfast time, the lobby and the patio are overflowing the guests who have nowhere to sit. Outside, teal-colored doors and railings add a splash of color to the white cement building. There is a large pool off the parking lot that can be great for dipping on a hot day, though there is little lounge space and only a few plastic chaise lounges circle the pool. The motel especially attracts families on a budget, who take advantage of the children-stay-free policy.

Not in a particularly pretty part of town, the Travelodge Hollywood-Vermont/Sunset is convenient for getting around, with downtown L.A., the Sunset Strip, and the trendy neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silver Lake all within short driving distance. With the Vermont/Sunset metro right outside its doors, the motel is well situated for getting around greater L.A., though, in general, Los Angeles requires a car. The hotel offers free parking, but spaces are limited. On a high-trafficked street, the motel is within walking distance of a number of affordable restaurants. The motel is not far from Griffith Park, with its iconic observatory. Across the street from the Howard Presbyterian Medical Center and Children's Hospital, this hotel may also be useful to the families of people with extended hospital stays. 

The rooms at the Travelodge Hollywood-Vermont/Sunset are uninteresting and basic, on par with expectations for a budget motel, but they are surprisingly spacious. In rooms with two double beds or a queen, there is room for a light wood table/desk and chairs, microwave, mini-fridge, dresser, and flat-screen TV. King Rooms have small, unattractive sofas. The blue and green carpets are worn and the furniture has nicks in it, but, overall, the furnishings are clean and comfortable. Bathrooms look worse for the wear with dirt-stained tubs and calcified showerheads in shower/tub combinations, but do come stocked with San Francisco Soap Company toiletries. A handful of smoking rooms are available, and the smell doesn't seem to permeate the non-smoking rooms.

As a budget motel, the Travelodge has limited features, although it does offer free Wi-Fi, free continental breakfast, free newspapers, and coin-operated laundry facilities. Breakfast can become crowded and overrun, as there is little common space. The outdoor pool is large and surprisingly deep, but there's little space for lounging and the loungers are white plastic. The lobby also has a computer for guest use. As an added perk, children 17 and under stay for free at the Travelodge.