Oyster's Top LA Beach Hotels
While LA can't provide the idyllic beach getaway you'll find in Hawaii or Jamaica, visitors can find plenty of sand and surf in the area. Plus, there is a colorful promenade in Venice, beautiful cliffs in Santa Barbara and a carnival-like pier in Santa Monica. Oyster.com and Travel Channel have the top picks if you want to stay near the shore in LA.
Bacara Resort & Spa
Santa Barbara
There is much to love about the Bacara, a destination resort located on a rocky stretch of coastline about 20 minutes west of Santa Barbara. It has a gorgeous spa, 2 respected golf courses, top-tier organic Spanish cuisine, a kid- and pet-friendly vibe, and gorgeous coastal scenery. It's expensive, even after you check in, but many guests find the splurge worthwhile.
Shutters on the Beach
Santa Monica
One of only 2 L.A. hotels right on the sand (along with Casa del Mar next door), Shutters on the Beach has an atmosphere of formal opulence, with expensive artwork in its lobby and restaurants and airy rooms that belong in a billionaire's beach house. Add in doting service and a top-notch spa, and it's no wonder Shutters is a magnet for celebrities who want to soak up the sand and sun in style.
Hotel Erwin
Venice Beach
This eccentric 119-room hotel for budget-conscious travelers is an easy 2-block walk from Venice Beach, where surfers flock to the waves and mimes, jugglers, musicians, fortune-tellers, and a man who walks on glass entertain tourists along Oceanfront Walk. The Erwin doesn't quite live up to the laid-back hippie image it projects -- the lobby is a zoo -- but it does have unexpectedly large rooms and remarkably comfortable beds in a neighborhood with very few hotels.
Hotel Casa Del Mar
Santa Monica
Right on the beach like Shutters, this historic grand hotel is world-class yet refreshingly unpretentious (unless you count the Hollywood crowd at the popular lobby bar). But there is nothing modest about its spacious, elegant rooms, rooftop pool, and commanding location. Casa exploits its prime beach views with 20-foot-high windows in the 2nd-floor Veranda dining room and lounge. It's one of the best luxury hotels in L.A.
Hotel Shangri La Santa Monica
Santa Monica
The Shangri-La overlooks Santa Monica beach from a perch atop the bluffs --- actually getting to the sand requires a 5-minute walk through a park and over a footbridge. But you might never want to leave this sleek boutique. Fresh off a $30 million renovation, the 71 rooms are exquisite. The hotel's exterior evokes an elegant ocean liner, and the dazzling pool and lounge area picks up on the maritime theme. For a luxurious oceanside getaway, the Shangri-La is mighty close to perfection.
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
Santa Monica
While not right on the beach, the Loews in Santa Monica is just a minute away. Head out the back door and across the street, and you're on a wide expanse of sand with a bike rental shop and jungle gym nearby. The Ferris wheel, arcade, and carnival-style amusements at the Santa Monica pier are a five-minute walk. With its ocean-view pool, kids' menu at the poolside grill, excellent gym, and ample meeting space, the hotel is a top choice for families and business travelers alike.