Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles LAX

A stream of LAX-bound travelers keeps this hotel constantly busy. Opened in 2015, this Residence Inn has a bright, spacious lobby -- designed to handle lots of foot traffic -- with several registration desks against a huge mural of the L.A. skyline. Cheery red walls and mid-century-style furniture gives a modish backdrop. Sitting areas include a communal table with 12 high-back chairs and media plug-ins for gadget-toting travelers. Floor-to-ceiling windows let in tons of Southern California sunshine. The breakfast room can get extremely busy at peak times, but a lovely outdoor patio provides overflow seating most of the year.

The Residence Inn is about a five-minute shuttle ride from LAX. It’s in a busy area surrounded by rental car agencies, parking lots, offices, and other hotels. Some of the nearby hotels have restaurants and bars, but it’s not an especially pleasant area to walk about in. Venice and Manhattan offer the nearest beaches, which are about 20 minutes away. The Los Angeles Convention Center, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium, and other attractions in and around downtown L.A. are about 30 minutes away by car, depending on traffic.

As with the public spaces, the residential-style suites are modern and fresh, with a hint of California mid-century flair. White surfaces, bedding, and drapes gives and airy backdrop that brightened by bold hits of aqua blue and marigold yellow. Wood cabinetry and work desks sport a dark finish, which is capped with gold trim in the headboards. Exterior walls are mostly large windows, which bring in lots of natural light and offer airport or city skyline views. Bathrooms are also light and streamlined, with white, ceramic topped vanities, walk-in showers, and rectangular tiles in a staccato pattern.

Suites are spacious and typically come with king or two queen beds, and sleeper sofas. Units range from Standard Studios (406 square feet) to Two-Bedrooms (980 square feet). All have full kitchens with dining tables, full-size refrigerators, stove tops, dishwashers, sinks, coffeemakers, microwaves, and utensils. Other standard amenities include free Wi-Fi and 47-inch flat screen TVs. While rooms are generally quiet, those facing the airport pick up some ambient noise. 

Catering to those passing in and out of LAX, features here aim to enhance travelers' convenience, starting with free 24/7 shuttle service to and from the airport, and adjacent parking. Park-and-fly packages are available for guests who choose to leave their cars in the hotel lot while traveling. On-site dining is also convenient: A full hot breakfast buffet is served daily, included in the rates, and to-go breakfast bags are there for guests dashing to make a flight. A Starbucks, sub shop, and pizzeria/microbrewery share the same building as the Residence Inn, and the Market in the lobby sells food, drinks, and sundries. The hotel also has a guest grocery-shopping service for those that prefer making their own meals. 

Business travelers can take advantage of the four meeting rooms offering up 1,800 square feet of space, and a  24/7 business center has multiple PCs. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. Another perk, especially for active travelers, is the spacious fitness center with a good selection of Life Fitness cardio and weight-training machines. On the down side, the outdoor heated pool is rather smallish, but it’s surrounded by towering palm trees and lots of tables and loungers. The pool area has attractive patio furniture clustered around a gas fire pit. Concierge services include valet dry cleaning and laundry, and a self-serve laundry room is on-site.