Wilshire Grand Los Angeles Rating: 3.0 Pearls

Downtown, Los Angeles, California

The Wilshire's public spaces have a casino feel.

Oyster alert: Don't book the Wilshire Grand too far in advance. Despite having completed a $25-million renovation of all rooms and the lobby on September 15, 2009, the owners plan to tear it all down in 2011 and erect a 40-story, 800-room hotel and a 60-story office tower at a cost of $1 billion. Why spend millions on a remodel that will last less than two years? To maintain quality, says the management. And it also plans to recycle/reuse furnishings, bedding, curtains, etc., for the new hotel.

Originally opened as the Hotel Statler in 1950, the Wilshire Grand is now run by Korean Air, and its management is as fastidious as the airline itself. The lobby bustles with Korean Air flight attendants, the front desk staff is like a phalanx of personable ticketing agents, and the overall experience is not unlike flying a Korean Air jumbo jet to Seoul -- lots of room, decent bibimbap (at the Seoul Jung restaurant), and a diligent, friendly staff.

You get great rates for a downtown L.A. hotel, a convenient location -- within strolling distance of major L.A. institutions and across the street from the 7th Street Metro center (you may not even need a car) -- and a good number of amenities (a pool, Jacuzzi, room service, three restaurants, lots of shops, Wi-Fi). The tolerant attitude of the staff, huge public spaces, and fair number of children at times turn this convention/conference property into a giant playground for rambunctious kids.

Unfortunately, what you won't get here are particularly large standard rooms. At 240 square feet, the rooms aren't bad for a solo traveler and they're recently renovated, but they'll be a tight squeeze for a family. And in status-conscious L.A., the Wilshire Grand is way off the hipster circuit. Staying here won't afford you access to the hottest eatery or the best pool scene. If you want downtown cool, try the Standard.

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The Wilshire Grand is in downtown Los Angeles, the city's central business district and hub of its developing rapid transit system. There are few hotels in L.A. that do not require a car; the Wilshire Grand is one. It's not only within strolling distance of the Staples Center, Nokia Theatre, Museum of Contemporary Art, and L.A.'s historic Central Library (where the likes of Raymond Chandler and Charles Bukowski once haunted the stacks), it's also across the street from the 7th Street Metro center, a key hub of the city's woefully underappreciated subway system.

• Take on the Metro (located across the street) to the corner of Hollywood and Vine in 15 minutes, Universal Studios Hollywood in 20 minutes, or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in 30 minutes.
• Beverly Hills, an enclave of wealthy living and high-end shopping, along with the famous designer shops of Rodeo Drive, are about 30 minutes by car.
• Santa Monica Beach is about a 30-minute drive.
• Hot night spots like 7 Grand and The Must, and the foodie mecca Bottega Louie, are a few blocks away.
• Within walking distance are the seedy, but lively, Diamond District, and the garment district (aka Fashion District), a 90-block hub of the apparel industry, including wholesalers, retailers, and designers.
• Valet parking is $35 a night, about average for downtown (Hilton Checkers charges $38).

Buffet with kid-friendly options at City Grill

• Attractive rates for a downtown L.A. property
• Landscaped outdoor pool and Jacuzzi
• Tolerant staff attitude; lots of carpeted public space
• Free cribs; rollaway beds are $30 per night.
• Standard rooms, at 240 square feet, are a tight squeeze for families; upgrade to a junior suite for almost double the space (and sometimes two baths).
• Kid-friendly dining options at three on-site restaurants; room service from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.