By Kayte Deioma, About.com
The Bottom Line
The Holiday Inn Express Hollywood is a clean, comfortable, moderately priced hotel in the heart of Hollywood with a lot of conveniences like free breakfast and WiFi. It’s more stylish than other Holiday Inn Express hotels I’ve stayed in. The hotel is near the Hollywood Bowl, within walking distance of the Kodak Theatre, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, El Capitan, The Kress, and Hollywood museums,. It’s just down the block from the Metro station at Hollywood & Highland giving easy access to Downtown LA and Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk.
Pros
- Convenient to Hollywood attractions
- Comfortable, stylish rooms, good workspace
- Nice hot breakfast bar included
- Free WiFi
- Windows open enough to let in some air
Cons
- Windows only open 6 inches
- Noisy – walls are thin, the courtyard echoes and lots of street noise
- Expensive parking
- Loud old-fashioned AC units don’t keep a steady temperature
Description
- Address: 1921 North Highland Ave, Hollywood, CA 90068
Phone: (323) 850-8151 - Neighborhood: Hollywood
- Room Rates:$$ (search for the best rates at kayak.com)
- Website: www.hollywoodholidayinnexpress.com
- Property Amenities: Pool, fitness center, business center, breakfast room, executive suites
- Room Amenities: Fridge, coffee maker, Free WiFi, desk with multiple outlets, safe, iron/board, flat screen TV
- Extras: Executive floors available, meeting room available for guests,
- Parking: Self-parking and valet for the same rate
- Discounts: AAA/CAA, German Auto Club, Entertainment Card, check for website specials and search for low rates at kayak.com
- Other: no pets (service animals ok), smoke-free hotel, accessible rooms available. Back rooms are less noisy.
Guide Review – Holiday Inn Express Hollywood
The Holiday Inn Express Hollywood is a small hotel with 94 rooms located just north of the Hollywood & Highland shopping and entertainment center, next to the old Holiday Inn Hollywood, which is now the Hollywood Heights Hotel. This can be confusing for people who stayed in the old Holiday Inn.
The rooms are arranged around a courtyard pool, and on my visit, I could clearly hear a singer rehearsing opera arias in another room across the courtyard in preparation for the nearby Feast of San Gennaro Italian Festival.
The room was stylish and comfortable, with a nice work desk and lounge area. There is also a mini-fridge and coffee maker in the room. I appreciated that the windows open, even if only six inches, since I prefer to sleep with fresh air, rather than air conditioning when it’s nice out. This is especially true when it’s an under-the-window AC unit like they have here. They’re always too cold when they’re on and too hot when they’re off.
The parking is pricey, but gives you in and out privileges. There is no concierge, but the front desk staff is very helpful and friendly. There’s a newsstand in the lobby with a few sundries in case you forget anything.
The pool is outdoors, but it’s really cramped and doesn’t have a lot of seating, so if you’re looking for a nice hotel to lounge around the pool, this probably isn’t it, but for a comfortable place to stay convenient to Hollywood attractions and nightlife, it’s a pretty good deal, especially if you take advantage of the Entertainment Card discount.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodation for the purpose of this review. While it has not influenced the review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
Holiday Inn Express Hollywood – Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Hollywood Walk of Fame