A family trip to Universal or a night at the arena. The Garland, from about $275, for a Family Suite, dive-in movies and the free trolley; Hotel Figueroa, from about $260, with a check-in age of 21, for Crypto.com Arena five minutes' walk away and a heated courtyard pool.
Seven tree-shaded acres in Studio City, with a pool, bunk-bed family suites and a free trolley to Universal Studios.
$$From about $275 a night
Choose The Garland if
Universal Studios trips with children
Families of four or five
Pool evenings and dive-in movies
First Los Angeles trips with a hire car
The catch
The 101 freeway runs along the north-east edge of the grounds, and some rooms hear it. The hotel had its balcony doors replaced in 2013 to cut the noise, so keep the door shut at night and ask for a room away from the freeway side.
A 1926 YWCA hotel restored in Spanish Colonial style, with a heated courtyard pool and L.A. Live two minutes away.
$$From about $260 a night
Choose Hotel Figueroa if
Concert nights at the arena
A first Los Angeles trip on Metro
Afternoons by the pool
Convention Center weeks
The catch
The entry rooms are small: the 1 Queen Bed room is about 187 sq ft (17 m²) and the 1 King Bed about 270 sq ft (25 m²), so book the king or a suite if you want space to sit.
A family trip to Universal or a night at the arena. The Garland, from about $275, for a Family Suite, dive-in movies and the free trolley; Hotel Figueroa, from about $260, with a check-in age of 21, for Crypto.com Arena five minutes' walk away and a heated courtyard pool.
Good questions about The Garland vs Hotel Figueroa
The Garland or Hotel Figueroa?
A family trip to Universal or a night at the arena. The Garland, from about $275, for a Family Suite, dive-in movies and the free trolley; Hotel Figueroa, from about $260, with a check-in age of 21, for Crypto.com Arena five minutes' walk away and a heated courtyard pool.
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.
Is Hotel Figueroa worth it?
Book it for a restored 1926 hotel, a heated courtyard pool and L.A. Live on foot, and pay the step up to the 1 Bedroom Suite for space. Skip it if you want the sea within reach or a pool shallow enough for young children. A restored 1926 hotel in the middle of downtown's arena district, where the courtyard pool, the Metro and the price are the draw. The entry rooms are small and the nightly fee is extra.
Does Hotel Figueroa have a pool or a beach?
It has an outdoor pool. There is no beach; the nearest is a drive away.
The family one