Venice Breeze Suites

The historic bricked Venice Breeze Suites was built in the 1800s, and renovated around 2008 resulting in its current charming design. More of a short-term apartment property than hotel, the vibe at the Venice Breeze Suites is more independent than a typical hotel. As the hotel doesn't provide many services -- even maid service is just once a week -- most guests are left to their own devices. While this may not be the kind of holiday everyone is looking for, it should definitely appeal to autonomous travelers. But this is an ideal place to stay for anyone wishing to not only soak up the sun but to experience the whole vibe of living in Venice. There may not be many common areas in the hotel (save the rooftop deck), but what the hotel lacks, the boardwalk and city of Venice provides.

Location, location, location: This is what this hotel is all about. With so few properties directly off the Venice Beach boardwalk, this hotel is in a coveted position. The boardwalk area immediately surrounding the hotel is teeming with stores, restaurants, bars, tattoo parlors, bike rentals, street performers, and surfboard/skateboard shops. Just off the boardwalk is the famous Venice Beach, five to 10 steps in front of the hotel. In the back of the hotel is a small car accessible alley, with parking lots and homes flanking its sides. The hotel's prime positioning makes it easy for guests without cars to have a fully immersive beach vacation, but the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, and Santa Ana Freeway within a 10-minute drive. It's also about a 20-minute drive, depending on traffic, to LAX airport.

The hotel's 31 apartment-style suites feature contemporary decor and furnishings with hardwood floors and exposed brick in some units. Designed with the beach-goer in mind, modern bathrooms have double-head tiled showers showers with windows that open and wood floors. Most of the decor is simple, functional, and stylish with a faint Americana vibe. The room and studio layouts are efficient and functional, making the space feel larger than it actually is -- it's easy to see why it won a CAA design award in 2008. Flat-screen TVs hang from the walls, kitchen areas are neatly tucked to the side and feel adequately separated while lounge space is breathable enough to exhale and unwind. Extras include coffeemakers; kitchenettes stocked with utensils, dishwashers, toaster ovens; and comfy cushioned couches. Beds range between full- and queen-size and feature restful memory foam mattresses.

The hotel's best feature is the beach and boardwalk, under a minute's walk from the hotel. While the boardwalk is almost constantly booming with street performers, live music, festivals, and hordes of tourists, the beach offers some respite (but not much) from the throngs of people swarming the boardwalk. The beach has small grass covered hills and plenty of space to plop down a towel and soak up the sun. There is also the famous Muscle Beach gym, although this is more for gawking than pumping iron, and there is a well-used skatepark as well.

Although there is no restaurant or official bar at the Venice Breeze Suites and guests have full kitchens in their rooms, there is a breezy rooftop deck with a view of the boardwalk. There's also a wet bar and barbecue set up for al fresco meals and sundowner cocktails. The hotel is also equipped with ADA accessibility, including an elevator, electronic ramps, and bathrooms. Free Wi-Fi is also available.