Originally Posted by
sdsearch
In that case, I'd say the HIX West LA is a safe enough area, with plenty of restaurants within a few blocks walking distance, and a nonstop Big Blue Bus to the Santa Monica Pier (or just walk 4 miles if you like).
But you'll need that Uber for pretty much anything else.
And at any other location, you'll need the Uber for absolutely everything!
IHG doesn't have any hotels near the new Expo line (light rail for West LA), so your public transportation options (other than into Santa Monica, Westwood, or along SM Blvd toward downtown LA) would require a bunch of transferring (sometimes in less safe neighborhoods). Btw, the most unsafe neightborhood you mentioned is Venice.
LA is based on car culture, so if you pick a random location (which basically all the IHG hotels are), you need the use of a car to get most anywhere outside your immediate vicinity, or else transfer buses all day.
Not entirely true. The Expo line is just over 1 mile from the HIX WLA. All one needs to do is take the Culver City Bus (green bus) from Sepulveda and Santa Monica Blvds (2 blocks east of the HIX West LA) down to Pico Blvd. (southbound - going back north the bus is right at Exposition where the Expo line is). That's just 1.2 miles if anyone is inclined to walk it.
Line 6 - Sepulveda Blvd | Culver City, CA The Expo line can take you within walking distance of the pier and Downtown Santa Monica going westbound or into the Downtown Los Angeles area eastbound where you can pick up the subway to Hollywood and Universal Studios.
I live just over 1 mile from the HIX WLA so I know the neighborhood very well. Although most of West Los Angeles is affluent and a fairly crime free area, there are homeless everywhere in Los Angeles and concentrated along the offramps of the 405 at Santa Monica Blvd and along Santa Monica Blvd. east of the 405. During the day that's fine. At night, watch yourself.