Embassy Suites LAX Offers Elegance for Less

by Courtney Caldwell

Atrium of Embassy suites LAX South In all my years of travel never have I stayed at a hotel that offered so much for so little. At a recent stay at the Los Angles Embassy Suites Hotel I found myself in what seemed more like the heart of New Orleans than Los Angeles. The 350-suite hotel offers décor equal in elegance to some the finest hotels in America. All suites face inward toward an enormous and colorful atrium, railed by wrought iron guards that allow you to peer upon the long and decorative lobby, an indoor swimming pool, and an exotic koi fish pond that shares its domain with colorful ducks and more than a dozen turtles.

Every corner of this five-story property was unique offering everything any traveler could want or need. In fact, for those who don't want to leave a hotel once you're there, unless it's necessary for a business meeting, this is the place to stay in LA. Where to start? There's just so much to say about this hotel.

Location. Location. Location. For those traveling to LA on business, the Embassy sits directly across from LAX and surprisingly, it's not very noisy. Travelers can request a suite on the side away from the airport where it is quieter. However, I found it to be pretty cool to look out my window and watch planes take off in plain view. The good news is that this hotel is only about 10 minutes from LAX and provides a convenient shuttle service back and forth.

NEW AT EMBASSY SUITES
LAX SOUTH

Embassy Suites Hotels® was awarded "Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains" by J.D. Power and Associates for the Second Consecutive Year! Embassy Suites hotels earned the J.D. Power and Associates ranking of "Highest in Guest Satisfaction in its segment four years in a row" -- the first two being in the "All Suites" category, and the latter two in the prestigious "Upscale" category.

For those who are in LA for business, the Embassy offers plenty of room inside your suite for business meetings, easily fitting 7-8, or you can request meeting rooms with conference tables of just about any size needed. Wherever you meet in this hotel, your colleagues will be impressed.

The suites are quite large, each with a galley kitchen that includes a microwave, coffee maker, wet bar, refrigerator, dishes, glasses and silverware. You could easily live at the Embassy Suites with relative ease and comfort if necessary. In fact, I found it to be so homey and travel-friendly that I intend to return for a two-week business trip coming up later this year.

The only thing I'll need to purchase is food, but even that won't be much since this property offers a full cook-to-order complimentary breakfast seven days a week. And for evenings when cooking is not convenient, there are two restaurants on the premises, both of which offer excellent menu choices.

The bathroom is situated nicely between the parlor and bedroom making it easily accessible from either room without having to intrude on the other. Each bedroom also contains its own vanity with sink and mirror. The only thing about the bathroom, which some may like and others won't, is that the fan turns on with the light leaving it too noisy to hear the television or any one speaking from the other room.

Embassy Suites LAX South The suite in which I stayed had a table instead of a desk, which was not easily accessible to plugs or phone cords for my laptop so I had to sit on the couch and use a chair for my laptop. Built in 1985, it would not have been designed at that time to offer Internet capability but management assured me that within the next two months every room would be outfitted with wireless Internet service to accommodate business travelers.

Hotel staff also mentioned that some rooms have desks while others have a dining table. With this being such a family friendly hotel, it made sense to have both. Be sure when you make your reservation to request a suite with a desk if you're there on business. If you're visiting LA with your family, a suite with a table may be more suitable.

Speaking of family, each suite offers a choice of two double beds or one king, and a sofa bed in the living room area making for plenty of room for a family of 6. Kids under the age of 18 stay for free as long as it's in the same suite with parents.

If keeping your kids, your guests or yourself occupied during down time is a concern, worry no more. This Embassy offers so much to do that you may never see outside the hotel during your stay. Recreational facilities include an indoor pool, whirlpool, sun deck and exercise room, not to mention two TV sets in each suite and a Game Boy. And, in addition to Capistrano's Restaurant and the breakfast area, there's an 80-seat contemporary lounge with pool table and big screen TV with satellite sports. If that's not enough, each evening, a two-hour Management Reception is held for guests featuring complementary drinks from a full bar.

The interior of this Embassy Hotel is so striking, especially at night, that time would also be well-spent just strolling around the property to enjoy its beauty and sense of old south ambiance. The tropical atrium is pure entertainment in itself in trying to find all the turtles and ducks, and count all the colorful fish. In fact, this environment is so critter-friendly that none have ever tried to escape. Some have even gone forth and multiplied.

The soft evening lighting from hanging chandeliers, the motion of the gold trimmed glass elevators gliding up and down, the colorful tiled walls and antique furniture leave you with a sense of awe. And wondering, how can they do all this for so little? Suites run, depending on season and day of week, from $99 - $249 per night.

Some other great services include a complimentary morning paper, discounts for senior citizens, laundry facilities, valet, underground parking, and one of the largest, most well-equipped gift shops I've ever seen at a hotel which included an ATM, stamps, and copy machine. There are also wheelchair accommodations for mobility-impaired travelers.

I found only one challenge with the LAX Embassy Suites Hotel and that was where it was located. Although it's only one mile from LAX, 2 miles from Manhattan Beach, 10 miles from Santa Monica, 5 miles from Hollywood Park Raceway and Marina del Rey, and very freeway accessible to just about all of Southern California, it's not in a location conveniently seen from the road. Instead, it's tucked away off the main artery of the 405 Freeway, adjacent to the I-105 Century Freeway. You have to know about this place in advance to know it's there.

Embassy suites LAX South We hate to see this Embassy Hotel overlooked because it's not along the main artery of a freeway where one might pass by and decide to pull in for a stay. It's just too good to pass up, so at the end of this article, we'll provide as much information as possible to help you make contact for your next visit to LA. It is well worth the stay.

Capistrano's Restaurant, located on the lobby level of the Embassy, is also well worth a visit, even if you're not going to stay at the hotel. In fact, this old-style upscale eatery was so good that it warranted it's own article. This place is a "must visit" while in LA no matter where you stay.

I have to say in all honesty that every time I'm in LA from now on, which is often, I plan to make this place my home away from home. It is one of the most comprehensive, comfortable and interesting suite hotels at which I've ever stayed.

For reservations at Embassy Suites Hotels in the U.S. or Canada, call 1-800-EMBASSY. The address of the LAX Embassy is 1440 E. Imperial Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245. Telephone is 310-640-3600. Website.