With spacious, beautiful rooms, a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, and tasteful, contemporary decor, this hotel delivers the level of luxury you'd expect from a Ritz. Its downtown location in the L.A. Live entertainment complex means you're close to numerous restaurants, a movie theater and sports games in the adjacent Staples Center, but you'll have to drive to see L.A.'s most popular tourist sites.

This 453-room luxury hotel caters largely to business travelers and other adults, but is spacious standard rooms, heated lap pool, and proximity to attractions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art make it a fine choice for families, especially when its rates dip well below those at other luxury hotels.

The Hotel Wilshire, a Kimpton Boutique, is a chic, 74-room business-oriented hotel in sleepy downtown L.A. Rooms have a modern design and up-to-date technology, and bathrooms shine with contemporary fixtures and Lather bath products. The hotel may not have much as far features -- there's no fitness center or spa -- there is a rooftop pool area with restaurant and bar, ample lounge space, and panoramic views of downtown and the Hollywood Hills. Since its transition to a Kimpton property in 2012, the hotel has added a bevy of new extras, including a nightly wine reception, animal print robes, in-room wellness services, free Wi-Fi for Kimpton InTouch members (a program which is free to join), pet-friendly practices, and the Kimpton EarthCare program, which garnered the hotel a Silver LEED certification. But the nearby Marriott also has a great rooftop pool and stylish rooms, and also has a spa, gym, and Live Center location.

A clean, comfortable, and historic downtown L.A. boutique that caters primarily to business travelers. It has luxurious rooms and a rooftop pool and Jacuzzi with killer views. The tasteful, private atmosphere and modern appointments compensate for smallish rooms.

Built in early 2010, this 878-room hotel offers a beautiful pool, great views from the rooftop bar, tons of meeting space, and plenty of restaurants. Although the L.A. Live Center is a huge hub in downtown Los Angeles (home to the Staples Center and Nokia Theater), the neighborhood is far from most other tourist attractions.

It's grand (683 rooms, stately decor) and old (opened 1923), but this dame, which hasn't been fully renovated in more than 20 years, has seen better days. If you're not visiting L.A. on business, there's little reason to stay downtown; if you are, most of the Biltmore's neighbors -- notably the Hilton Checkers -- offer more for the money.

In summer 2012, this 434-room behemoth with a starchy personality and a somewhat undesirable downtown location officially became a DoubleTree property, completing a series of multi-million dollar renovations to upgrade the hotel (including renovating the fitness and business centers). This came on the heels of a 2010 renovation of all guestrooms, meaning the hotel is in tip-top condition. It's distinguished by its spacious rooms and tranquil, half-acre garden (a popular happy hour spot and wedding locale). But unlike some of its nearby competitors, it doesn't have a spa or a pool.

The 485-room Sheraton Downtown offers a great location for doing business downtown, getting to a Lakers game, visiting the nearby USC campus, or shopping at the attached Macy's Plaza mall, and the affordable rooms are clean and comfortable. Just don't expect much service or extras, or much in the way of atmosphere.

This once-hip, 207-room hotel may be the forgotten child of the Standard empire -- it's run-down and partied out -- but the poolside view is still hard to beat, the design is still striking, and the prices can dip way low. A fine deal for low-budget travelers who want a stellar downtown location and don't mind some grime.

Like downtown neighbor Wilshire Grand, this towering hotel offers many perks for the price: pool, shops, large fitness center -- only with better views. Plus, the hotel completed a much-needed room renovation in 2011. Just don't expect elegance outside the rooms -- the dated, cement lobby looks like a cross between a parking garage and a shopping-mall food court.