This time, we stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.
Two members of our group, in their 60s and 70s, stayed here and experienced the hotel firsthand.
In this review, we share what we liked, what we found inconvenient,
and what the surrounding area felt like in terms of safety.
If you are considering staying in Downtown Los Angeles, we hope this guide helps you plan your trip.
🏨 Check rates & availability at Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE on Expedia
A Convenient Location Next to L.A. LIVE
The Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE is located in Downtown Los Angeles,
right next to the L.A. LIVE entertainment complex.
It is about a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport,
and the location is convenient for visiting Dodger Stadium and Little Tokyo.
When we entered the lobby,
we found a spacious, open area with high ceilings.
A large floral artwork immediately caught our attention.
The lobby also has a convenience shop and café-bar area that is open 24 hours.
There is also a television,
and according to the staff, Dodgers games are sometimes shown there.
Room Review: Spacious and Comfortable, But Check What Is Missing
We stayed in a corner room with two queen beds.
The room felt spacious,
and the beds had comfortable cushioning that made it easy to sleep.
The gray, artistic wallpaper also gave the room a stylish atmosphere.
However,
there were several differences from what we are used to at hotels in Japan,
so it is worth checking the room amenities before your trip.
No Electric Kettle in the Room
There was a drip-style coffee maker in the room,
but there was no electric kettle for boiling water.
This is something to keep in mind if you like instant soup, tea, or other hot drinks.
We brought a foldable electric kettle with us from Japan,
and it turned out to be very useful.
We bought a one-gallon bottle of water, approximately 3.8 liters,
at a nearby supermarket
and used it to make hojicha tea and instant milk tea that we had brought with us.
There were drinking glasses in the room,
but only two paper cups for hot drinks.
We had also brought extra paper cups from a discount store,
which came in handy.
A reusable mug would have been even more convenient,
since disposable paper cups cannot be used many times.
I recommend checking the hotel's room amenities before you travel.
We had read that hot water might be available from the hotel restaurant,
but personally,
I prefer having access to hot water whenever I want it.
This is the foldable electric kettle we brought with us.
No Complimentary Bottled Water: Buy Drinks at a Nearby Supermarket
There was no complimentary bottled water in the room.
You can buy water from the shop in the hotel lobby,
but one bottle was priced at around $10 during our stay.
Drinks and snacks in the hotel can be quite expensive.
Fortunately,
there are several supermarkets within about a 10-minute walk of the hotel.
We strongly recommend buying drinks and snacks on the day you arrive.
At the nearby Smart & Final Extra!,
which sells many grocery items in large sizes,
we bought a one-gallon bottle of First Street water for $1.39.
We also bought a poke bowl from the deli section at Ralphs
and ate it in our hotel room.
It tasted surprisingly authentic,
and the portion was generous.
Since dining out can be expensive in Los Angeles,
using supermarket deli meals can be a very good way to save money.
We also visited the two supermarkets closest to the Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
to buy water and other essentials.
You can read more in our separate supermarket guide.
Other Room Amenities
There is a coffee maker in the room,
but we did not find any tea bags.
An ice machine is available in the hallway.
For bathroom amenities,
we found bar soap,
but no toothbrush or toothpaste,
so we were glad we brought our own.
Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were provided in fixed dispensers.
The room also had a work desk and an office-style chair.
However,
there was only one chair and no separate dining table.
For two or more guests,
this may feel a little inconvenient.
Some rooms even have a view of the Hollywood Sign.
Seeing the Hollywood Sign from our room definitely made the stay feel more exciting.
🏨 Check rates & availability at Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE on Expedia
Our Experience with the Destination Fee
During our stay,
the hotel charged a $35 plus tax destination fee per night.
The fee included several benefits:
- $17.50 daily food and beverage credit
- Two tickets to the GRAMMY Museum for one visit, or two Grammy-related souvenir items
- A daily 45-minute yoga class for up to two guests, scheduled between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m.
- Daily high-speed internet access
However,
we found the food and beverage credit slightly confusing to use.
Before our trip,
the information we received from Marriott did not clearly explain how the credit was divided.
When we tried to use it in the lobby shop,
the staff told us that up to $10 could be used in the shop and about $7 could be used at the café-bar next door.
Anything above the shop allowance was charged separately.
Because this was not clear to us beforehand,
we found the system a little confusing.
For the GRAMMY Museum,
we were able to enter by simply showing our room key.
Be aware that the museum is closed on Tuesdays.
We skipped the yoga class because it started early in the morning,
but it may be a nice benefit for travelers who enjoy wellness activities.
If English is not your first language,
hotel staff may speak quickly,
so having a translation app on your phone can be useful.
Safety Around L.A. LIVE: What We Experienced
L.A. LIVE is a major entertainment and tourist area,
but the atmosphere can feel very different from what travelers from Japan may be used to.
At some times of day,
there were relatively few pedestrians.
We also saw people experiencing homelessness
and some people whose behavior appeared unpredictable.
There were also occasions when people remained inside parked cars along the street,
and once a driver honked as we walked past.
When walking in the area,
we felt more comfortable keeping some distance from parked cars and traveling together rather than alone.
You Do Not Need to Be Overly Afraid, But Basic Precautions Are Important
That said,
our experience does not mean that the area around L.A. LIVE is too dangerous to stay in.
We felt that following basic precautions helped us enjoy the area comfortably:
travel with others when possible, avoid walking alone late at night, and stay aware of your surroundings.
You do not necessarily need to stay at an expensive hotel in Beverly Hills to enjoy Los Angeles.
If your main plans include Dodgers games, Downtown Los Angeles, or Little Tokyo,
the location of this hotel can be very convenient.
Who We Recommend Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE For
- Travelers visiting Los Angeles for a Dodgers game or an event at L.A. LIVE
- Travelers who want convenient access to Little Tokyo and Downtown Los Angeles
- Travelers who are comfortable preparing a few essentials in advance, such as a kettle, toothbrush, or favorite tea
If you understand the destination fee and the surrounding environment before booking,
the location can be very convenient.
It also provides good access to the airport and Citadel Outlets.
For older travelers who prefer staying in an area with many Japanese restaurants and businesses,
Miyako Hotel Los Angeles in Little Tokyo may also be worth considering.
🏨 Check Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE rates on Expedia
🏨 Check Miyako Hotel Los Angeles rates on Expedia
Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. LIVE is also within easy reach of Little Tokyo.
You can get there quickly using public transportation.
Read our full Little Tokyo report here.
