As implied above, it really does matter what the visitor's interests are.

Not everyone is a beach person (I live a mile from the FLL beach, for example), and not everyone sees shopping as the be-all and end-all of a visit.

Imagine a visitor who:

1) is interested in architecture (classic aka the Bradbury Building) and modern (Disney Hall, the Cathedral, the Caltrans building).

2) wants to take in a sports event (Dodger Stadium or Staples Center)

3) wants easy access to both the Warners studio tour and to Universal

4) wants access to museums (Norton Simon, LACMA) that offer something different than the Getty

5) would rather eat something they can't get at home (food from the stalls at the Grand Central market)

Such a visitor might be better served (and might get better value) in a DT hotel than a Westside lodging.

@kef0913 :D Yes, I probably am misjudging LA. Size-wise, that is.
However, a 20-30 min ride doesn´t seem that bad...

I would like to see the beaches, but shopping is certainly no motivation for me to take this trip.

Yes, that sounds interesting.

Would August tickets still be available. And where would I go?

I probably won`t be taking studio tours. It´s too time consuming for such a short stay...

sounds good.

sounds very good. What kind of food do you get there?

So, I think I´ll give the 'Checkers' a chance...

Thanks again, again!

-txl.

Other downtown fun:

Head to P.E. Coles and Phillippe the Original for lunch - and taste the origins of the French Dip Sandwich

Asian restaurants galore:
Chinatown (and Monterey Park - great restaurants 20 mins. to the east)
Little Tokyo
Koreatown (just west)

Hip bars at night -
Golden Gopher and Broadway Bar, for example

Downtown is not so far from the east side... Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Griffith Park - even Hollywood - and as others said Dodger Stadium is right up the freeway - plenty to do.