Originally Posted by darthbimmer

Sorry if this is obvious to you, but did you call the hotel and speak to a senior manager at the hotel? A front desk agent is not going to be empowered to negotiate a long term rate with you. A corporate reservations agent at the 1-800 number won't, either.

Also, consider trying hotels that are not part of a major worldwide brand family. (Towneplace is Marriott.) Unaffiliated hotels and hotels that belong to smaller brands are sometimes more willing to negotiate rates.

Originally Posted by aBroadAbroad

Not only is Southern California extremely expensive compared to most of the rest of the country, but you are looking at being in a highly touristed coastal area during the summer (peak season).

The advice to speak with a manager, not just a desk clerk is very good. Usually there is a sales manager who handles special room arrangements like these. I would initiate negotiations by telephone. Often you can get a better rate if you agree to sign a rental agreement, committing to the full period in question, and/or agree to prepay monthly.

You also might have better luck negotiating a good deal with a place that has kitchenettes, but does not specifically market itself as a long stay property (e.g., Homewood Suites,

Finally, if you're open to trying something a bit more creative, you might look at a housesitting gig (several websites that specialize in connecting parties), or check out something like AirBnB to find a room letting arrangement (in somebody's home). Might be a challenge in such a high demand area, but could be worth a try.

Good luck!