The Gateway to Los Angeles
Written: Sep 07 '04 (Updated Sep 26 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Conveniently located; clean; nice pool and fitness area; cute lobby bar
Cons: The rooms were average; no frills; one not so nice staff person
The Bottom Line: This is a decent hotel but not if you are looking for a week's vacation in LA and want to party at your hotel.
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| jo.com's Full Review: Sheraton Gateway Hotel Los Angeles Airport |
The second hotel I stayed in with my children during our week in California was the Sheraton Gateway in Los Angeles. Although it is only 5 minutes from the airport we were driving so that’s not why we chose this hotel. We chose it because of the location to our family with whom we were visiting and the price we got at priceline.com for $86 a night. The current rate for our room is an average of $189.00. The Sheraton Gateway is located at 6101 W. Century Blvd. Their phone number is 310-642-1111.
Hotel information:
When we drove up to the hotel we were all impressed. My children told me that we didn’t have to spend so much money for one night. (I didn’t tell them how inexpensive it was.) It is 15-story hotel shaped in a slight U with 802 rooms. If you are going there by car yourself, though it is very close to the airport and a major road, it is tricky to get see. It sits back a bit. We passed it the first time. You’ll see a Starbucks and then know the next driveway is the Sheraton Gateway’s.
There is uncovered parking for $10.00 a day as well as valet parking. We didn’t use either since my husband dropped us off and then he went to the campground. There is a side street that you can park on, at least short term. He came in with us and got us the next day. He also easily found the restroom on the first floor if you need one.
I checked us in and only had to wait a minute or two. There is a separate check-in clerk for airport employees – something I have never noticed elsewhere. The clerk was very nice. We were able to get a non-smoking room with two double beds. If you use priceline you cannot be guaranteed smoking or non-smoking or the type of bed.
I was happy with the staff until one small interaction but one that was unnecessary, in my opinion. I assumed my children might wander around the hotel alone. They are adults; I wasn’t worried about them. However, we are usually given a map of the hotel and we were given nothing. After leaving the clerk whom gave us room keys (I guess we were given next to nothing.) I walked over to a man who was standing at a table for guest services. I asked him if he had a map I could give my children. He wasn’t at all nice. He gruffly said that everything is on the first floor so nothing should be hard to find. Since he made me feel stupid I followed up with a question as to where the fitness room was and he said “next to the pool.” It is next to the pool but I didn’t know if it was inside or outside. These are small points but points nonetheless.
The lobby is large with comfortable sofas and chairs. It is fancy without being ornate. As we walked to the elevators I could then see the pool. I was also impressed with the lobby bar. A large round bar sits in front of the pool making for a nice view since I personally would rather look at a pool than a parking lot! This was a Friday night and the bar was hopping.
Public areas are accessible to wheelchairs as our hotel room on request.
Our room:
I was delighted to see the room. I am more concerned when I am with my children because I want to please them and they were just as impressed with the room as they were with the building. Although not fancy by many standards it was for them. The room was fairly large (larger than chains but smaller than many upscale hotels) and very clean. The décor was simple but matching and just because I like bamboo I really liked the headboards!
If you’ve read any of my hotel reviews you’ll notice that I have learned there are double beds that aren’t double if you were going to buy a mattress. However some of the chains call their small beds double. Not so here. The beds were a true doubles and even looked larger. We had a coffee and tea maker, a mini bar inside the armoire where the television is (no refrigerator which surprised me); the usual radio, iron/board; hairdryer and toiletries, and a closet with a door! (Another pet peeve of mine- open closets)
The coffee maker was on a nice desk with a chair; there was a table and chairs as well as a night table and the armoire. You can tell by the amount of furniture that the room wasn’t small. The bathroom is separate; it was clean and comfortable.
Other amenities:
There is a very nice free fitness room open 24 hours a day, which I am embarrassed to say I didn’t use though my younger daughter, did. I looked in. The room is large and filled with cardio- vascular machines. Each machine had its own television so she was really impressed. My older daughter and I sat outside at the pool the next day while the other one was working her heart. The heated outdoor pool is lovely. As I said it is situation right outside the lobby. You can see it through glass walls. Pretty plants surround the pool area; comfortable loungers were plentiful and there are even covered seats/cabanas for those of us who do not sunbathe.
You’ll find a gift shop as you walk into the hotel (remember everything is on the first floor!) where you can find souvenirs as well as treats and gifts.
You’ll find 3 restaurants and the bar I mentioned above. Brasserie serves breakfast and lunch from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM and has a breakfast buffet; Landry’s is a casual restaurant open from Thursday 5:00 PM to 10 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 to 11:00 PM; and Daimon's is the area's only sushi bar open for dinner Sunday to Thursday 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Friday and Saturday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. The really pretty Rendezvous Cocktail Lounge in the lobby is open 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
If you are thinking of a meeting for business or pleasure you’ll find 38 meeting rooms and event spaces, with a total of 44,000 square feet of function space. They have a ballroom that can hold up to 900 people.
Jo’s final thoughts:
We did get a good deal on our room at Sheraton Lax I must say. However, if you are going to the L.A. area it will be very difficult without using priceline to find a room much less. This hotel has decent amenities but you won’t have entertainment or a club if you like to dance. It isn't a destination vacation spot. It is terrific if you are planning on visiting the area or going on business. The hotel is 10 miles to Malibu, where my husband, our dog and camper were staying; 6 to Santa Monica where we were going; 12 miles to Rodeo Drive; 25 miles to Universal Studios and 14 miles to Downtown Las Angeles.
For business this rates 4 stars; otherwise 3. Since I can't give it 3.5, I'm going with 3 stars and a recommend.
Please feel free to leave me a comment or question.
I am keeping track of the reviews I am writing chronicling our 3-month cross country trip:
Applebee's in Ohio
Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky
Bella Notte This is a restaurant in Lexington, Kentucky
Buckstaff Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas
Bicentennial Mall State Park in Nashville, TN
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, TN
Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN
National Civil Right Museum in Memphis, TN
Graceland in Memphis, TN
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma
Souper Salad in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Taste of Thai a San Diego restaurant
Handlery Hotel in San Diego, CA
Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles, CA
Antelope Island State Park in Salt Lake City, Utah
Recommended:
Yes
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