Hilton HHonors - Which to Choose for a 6-nite GLON Stay in LA: Checkers or Beverly Hilton?

As the subject line indicates, can anyone provide some insight as to which hotel might be preferable for a six nite award stay as an HHonors Gold? Thanks.

While Checkers is a very nice hotel, it is located in the downtown business district. If you're planning to stay there for a vacation, be aware that it isn't close to many major tourist attractions, and downtown is absolutely DEAD on the weekends.

The Beverly Hilton is closer to the beaches, Beverly Hills (obviously), Westwood, Hollywood and Universal Studios.

As far as which one will honor Gold benefits better, I'll leave that to others who have a better idea.

I've stayed at both properties and I'm not sure why you would want to spend the award at these properties. Can you give us some idea as to what you are going to do in the area?

As for the hotels, Hilton Beverly Hills is old and in need of an update. Not very nice and dated. I like the Doubletree up the street in Westwood over this property anyday. Very nice place and I've been able to get upgraded to a Excecutive Suite almost every time I've stayed there.

Checkers Hotel is right downtown and not close to anything. Parking is very expensive and the rooms are nice. I've been able to get upgraded to a corner room and the PS on my first stay.

Give us some more information and we can help you better.

Well ok, here's some more info: I'll be attending a week long conference in dtwn. LA; my wife will be with me and may attend some of the events; I plan to have a car so that she, or we, can drive out of, or into, the city as need be; however, she may be spending some time at the hotel by herself if she doesn't feel like navigating LA traffic; wanted to know, among other things, which property treats golds better, possible nearby(within walking distance, in case I need to take the car) activities. NCRBILL: What kind of Gold amenities could I expect at the Westwood Doubletree?
Thanks.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by arkangel:
NCRBILL: What kind of Gold amenities could I expect at the Westwood Doubletree?
Thanks.</font>

You will get free breakfast buffet in the morning, and if available, upgrade to the executive rooms (which are very nice). I know as a diamond, they give you a choice of a free pay-per-view movie, fruit basket, chocolates and some other things when you check in. I don't think you will have a problem with the property. I do know you will like it very much and if the wife wants to drive around, it is a better area to drive.

Thanks for the info NCRBILL. It looks like it's now between the Westwood DT and Checkers since both will require the same amount of points for a six nite stay. Unless the DT decides to offer a point stretcher for my dates of stay. What might I expect at Checkers as a HH Gold?

Just a quick note about the Beverly Hilton, where I've been statying the past few days. The location is very nice if you want to see around Bev Hills by foot, no need for a car since the main shopping is all within easy walking distance.

The DoubleTree is not much further up the street by car, but I drove past it tonight and was thinking that it would not be as nice of a location without a car.

I'll admit that the Beverly Hilton is older than some properties, but that they have always been good about upgrading me without any problem to their nicest rooms (in years past as a Gold and more recently as a Diamond). There is also some nostalgia associated with the hotel, and that is fun too.

I like to ask for a Cabana room if available -- they are poolside or overlook it from the 2nd floor. Otherwise, I usually get a suite or at minimum a decent sized room.

One downside if you are here for pleasure is the parking fees (self-park is $21/night).


[This message has been edited by elbidercni (edited Feb 05, 2004).]

I really disagree with the comments about Checkers being nowhere. It is across the street from the Biltmore which has an architectural walking tour at 10 AM every Sat starting with the fabulous architecture of that hotel itself. It is walking distance to the Modern Art Museum, Temporary Contemporary Art Museum, Music Center, near to Japantown, Olvera Street, Central Market (authentic Mexican food) and so much more. Not only that, your wife could get around on the Dash bus or Subway (clean with interesting art at every station). The subway can take her to the shopping mall at 5th (?) and Flower. Lunch at the Bonaventure. Also some great restaurants nearby for both of you - check Zagat. If she wants to drive, the Huntingdon Museum and Gardens are not far from downtown. There are two theaters at the Music Center for matinees if she is bored, also the new Disney theater and the new archtecturally interesting Catholic Cathedral. If she walks to the Modern Art Museum, she will see outdoor art at every turn along the way, all part of the museum. There are often concerts at noon at the water park across from the Arco building. Nothing to do downtown?? I beg to differ. My husband and I go down to LA a lot and we love it. Almost always stay downtown. Sundays the on street parking is free and plentiful. Checkers is a charming older hotel and, I believe than Thomas Keller of French Laundry chefed there at one time. Check the LA Times Calendar on the Sunday before you go - sometimes there are specials on plays, pre-Broadway, for $10 walk up. Have a great time! LA is more than Disneyland and Rodeo Drive.

about the nothing downtown comment...
I used to live in Los Angeles for 12 years.

There are a lot of people who just stay in the westside (Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Venice, etc...) and rarely go downtown.

Los Angeles is very fragmented and vast. There are tons of neighborhoods to visit. I never felt like I had visited everywhere in the area, unlike most other cities.

The area is about 2-4 hours drive N-S and E-W. Enormous.

P.S. If you enjoy watching dance, the Edge dance studio is IMO the best professional jazz dance studio in the world. Stop by M-Th evenings and watch some amazing classes.

[This message has been edited by mitchell (edited Feb 09, 2004).]

Thanks everyone for your input. I've just booked a GLON2 award at the Checkers. And I'll be able to use an old 20,000 points credit Gold certificate with it, for a net 130000 points from my account. The fact that I just learned that some friends of ours will be staying at the Bonaventure during the same time tipped the scale in favor of the Checkers.