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The Better Trip

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The Hollywood Roosevelt vs The Garland

From about $235 and $275, this comes down to where you want to wake up. The Hollywood Roosevelt if you want Hollywood Boulevard outside, the TCL Chinese Theatre two minutes' walk away and a pool scene round David Hockney's painting; The Garland if you would rather have seven tree-shaded acres in Studio City, a Family Suite that sleeps five and a free trolley to Universal Studios Hollywood.

The Hollywood Roosevelt: The Tropicana pool and tower at duskThe pool one

The Hollywood Roosevelt

The 1927 tower on Hollywood Boulevard where the first Academy Awards were presented and David Hockney painted the pool.

$From about $235 a night

Choose The Hollywood Roosevelt if

  • A first Hollywood trip
  • Pool weekends
  • Film fans
  • The Walk of Fame at the door

The catch

Noise is part of the deal. The hotel runs restaurants, bars, private events and pool programming, music and pool activity can be audible in the cabana rooms around the pool, the Tropicana is shared with day-pass guests aged 21 and over, loungers are first come, first served, and the pool can close for private events or film shoots.

The Garland: The outdoor pool and its fireplaceThe family one

The Garland

Seven tree-shaded acres in Studio City, with a pool, bunk-bed family suites and a free trolley to Universal Studios.

$$From about $275 a night

Choose The Garland if

  • Universal Studios trips with children
  • Families of four or five
  • Pool evenings and dive-in movies
  • First Los Angeles trips with a hire car

The catch

The 101 freeway runs along the north-east edge of the grounds, and some rooms hear it. The hotel had its balcony doors replaced in 2013 to cut the noise, so keep the door shut at night and ask for a room away from the freeway side.

Which of our lists each one is on

Best forThe Hollywood RooseveltThe Garland
Best pool hotels in LAOn the listNot on the list
Best family hotels in LANot on the listOn the list
Best value hotels in LAOn the listOn the list
Best central hotels in LAOn the listNot on the list

Both hotels on the same scales

The Hollywood RooseveltThe Garland

Beach & pool optionalBeach & pool central
Under the radarSee and be seen
QuietLively
InternationalStrong sense of place
ClassicContemporary
Smart spendSplurge
CouplesFamilies

The Hollywood Roosevelt

Area
Hollywood, United States
From the centre
0.1 km
Airport
30 min from LAX
Price band
$
Typical rate
From about $235 a night
Rooms
300
Last renovated
2015 (opened 1927)
Pool
Outdoor
Beach
None
Spa
No
Adults only
No
Restaurants
2
Parking
Yes
Selected by
Independent research
Last checked
October 2026

The Garland

Area
Studio City, United States
From the centre
5.4 km
Airport
34 min from LAX
Price band
$$
Typical rate
From about $275 a night
Rooms
257
Last renovated
2015 (opened 1972)
Pool
Outdoor
Beach
None
Spa
No
Adults only
No
Restaurants
1
Parking
Yes
Selected by
Independent research
Last checked
October 2026

The verdict

From about $235 and $275, this comes down to where you want to wake up. The Hollywood Roosevelt if you want Hollywood Boulevard outside, the TCL Chinese Theatre two minutes' walk away and a pool scene round David Hockney's painting; The Garland if you would rather have seven tree-shaded acres in Studio City, a Family Suite that sleeps five and a free trolley to Universal Studios Hollywood.

Questions people ask

Good questions about The Hollywood Roosevelt vs The Garland

The Hollywood Roosevelt or The Garland?

From about $235 and $275, this comes down to where you want to wake up. The Hollywood Roosevelt if you want Hollywood Boulevard outside, the TCL Chinese Theatre two minutes' walk away and a pool scene round David Hockney's painting; The Garland if you would rather have seven tree-shaded acres in Studio City, a Family Suite that sleeps five and a free trolley to Universal Studios Hollywood.

Is The Hollywood Roosevelt worth it?

Book The Hollywood Roosevelt to swim over a Hockney, step out onto the Walk of Fame and sleep in the hotel that hosted the first Academy Awards. Take a Cabana Garden King for the pool without the front row, and count the $37 fee and the $79 valet before you commit. A historic Hollywood hotel built around a famous pool, where the scene, the address and the history are the point and the rooms are compact. Expect company on the deck and music from the bars.

Does The Hollywood Roosevelt have a pool or a beach?

It has an outdoor pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.

Is The Garland worth it?

Book The Garland for a Universal trip with children: a free trolley to the park, a pool with weekend movies and a Family Suite with its own bunk nook. Budget for about $89 a night in fees and parking, and keep the balcony door shut at night. A 1972 motor lodge turned retro-mod family base on seven acres beside the 101, where the pool, the movies and the free trolley to Universal do the work. Expect a relaxed, kid-friendly stay that works best with a car and a plan for the park.

Does The Garland have a pool or a beach?

It has an outdoor pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.