When choosing a hotel in a city like Los Angeles, the options can really feel overwhelming. There are so many different neighborhoods and sights to explore!
Having lived here for 10+ years, I wanted to share my favorite affordable hotels in Los Angeles with a gym / fitness center; one of my favorite perks when I go to book a hotel.
I see so many people visit Los Angeles and end up feeling disappointed because they didn’t realize how much their location really matters. For purposes of this blog post, “affordable hotels” means a budget of $300/night, or less.
If you’re on a tighter budget than that, I would recommend visiting LA with a friend to split costs. However, I’ve also included a number of hostels in good areas that will be a more budget-friendly option.
I’ve organized the hotels by neighborhood, and from there you can decide which neighborhood makes the most sense for your trip!
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Where to stay in Los Angeles really depends on 3 major factors: what you want to see, whether or not you’ll be renting a car, and how much time you’re willing to spend waiting in traffic.
Before deciding where to stay in Los Angeles, map out the top places you want to see. I would suggest choosing the neighborhood that’s closest to the majority of them to save yourself a ton of time and frustration.
Traffic can make getting around Los Angeles pretty tough, and unfortunately, our public transportation is not yet at the level of other cities like Paris, New York City, Chicago, etc. Planning your stay around the attractions you want to see most is essential to actually enjoying your time here!
I’ll go through the top 8 neighborhoods to visit, and share my opinion and my favorite affordable hotels in Los Angeles.
Miracle Mile / Beverly Grove
My overall pick without knowing exactly where you want to go or what you want to do is Miracle Mile / Beverly Grove. It’s centrally located so assuming the things you want to do are all spread out, this is a great spot to be.
I actually lived here for 3 years after graduating college and absolutely loved it. There’s lots of museums, attractions and fun things to do in this area!
If you want to take one of the most popular tours in LA:
Short Stories Hotel
Right across from The Grove, Short Stories is a super cute boutique hotel with a modern, laid-back vibe. The rooms are stylish and cozy, and there’s a beautiful little courtyard with a pool.
While they do not have a fitness center on site, they have a partnership with a neighborhood gym you can take advantage of to workout on vacation.
It’s a great spot if you want to be walking distance to shopping, food, and museums without staying in a huge chain hotel.
Palihouse West Hollywood
This Palihouse is a charming boutique hotel – think European-inspired design and rooms that feel more like apartments. It’s located on 3rd street – which is the cutest little street lined with great shops, bakeries and restaurants!
This is the perfect spot if you want something stylish and a little different from your typical hotel stay. Plus the social pool-bar is such a fun bonus.
SLS Hotel
If you’re looking for something more luxe and upscale, SLS is a vibe. The rooms are modern and moody, there’s a rooftop pool with city views, and it’s close to great shopping at the Beverly Center and the Grove, and lots of restaurants.
This one is definitely on the higher end, but perfect if you’re able to spend a bit more.
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown LA is not my top choice for your stay; it is far from the beach (an hour+ drive in traffic) and unfortunately not the safest neighborhood. However, you can also find some of the most affordable hotels in Los Angeles downtown.
If you’re planning to go to sporting events or a concert at Crypto.com Arena, this is the spot to be! Check out the upcoming events at Crypto.com Arena:
Freehand Los Angeles
The Freehand is a super stylish, budget-friendly option with both private rooms and shared dorms. The rooftop pool and bar (Broken Shaker) has amazing city views, and they even offer free breakfast in the shared rooms.
It’s a great pick if you want something fun, social, and well-designed without breaking the bank.
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza
Located on Bunker Hill, the Omni will give you that luxury hotel feel without the price tag. They have a two-story art-filled atrium lobby, heated lap pool, 24/7 gym, spa, and two on-site restaurants – Grand Café and Noé Restaurant & Bar
It’s a solid pick if you’re looking for easy access to The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Grand Central Market, and other iconic downtown spots.
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Right in the heart of DTLA, this historic hotel doubles as a full-fledged fitness and social club. It’s got an 88,000 sq ft athletic club (think lap pool, basketball, racquetball, spa, sauna, steam room, and more), it’s way more than just a place to crash.
It’s perfect for fitness lovers, business travelers, and anyone into old‑school charm with modern comforts.
Santa Monica
If you want to be close to the beach and iconic spots like the Santa Monica Pier, you’re probably thinking of staying in Santa Monica. Location-wise, I think it’s really well positioned, and is also really close to Malibu which is great for day trips!
However, to be totally transparent, in the last few years I’ve noticed myself feeling a little more sketched out when I’m alone in Santa Monica. I don’t think it’s necessarily unsafe, but something to be aware of, especially if you’re a female solo traveler.
You may see un-homed individuals around – they are usually harmless but because of this I would also recommend staying in a nicer hotel that has a front desk / security.
Therefore, you may have less options on a budget in Santa Monica.
If you are staying in Santa Monica, and want to explore Hollywood without a car, I recommend doing this LA Tour – it’s a great way to see all the sights without having to worry about finding parking or figuring out where to go.
Ocean View Hotel
Right across from the beach and Santa Monica Pier, this is a clean, modern spot with some rooms having an ocean view balcony. It’s walkable to everything and they even give you a free day pass to a nearby gym.
No pool, but the location totally makes up for it.
Shore Hotel
Right on Ocean Ave, just steps from the beach, pier, and Third‑Street Promenade, this eco‑friendly, boutique hotel is a really good option.
They’ve got a heated, solar‑powered pool with cabanas, a 24‑hour gym included, plus complimentary gym passes to Anytime Fitness/John Reed. Most rooms have private balconies/patios, and you can also splurge to get an ocean view.
This is great if you want to be steps from the sand with pool, gym, and ocean views.
Venice Beach / Marina del Rey
If you’re feeling iffy about Santa Monica but want your beach vacation and to be able to walk to the beach in literally 5 minutes – I would highly recommend Venice Beach / Marina del Rey area.
This is right below Santa Monica and you’ll find a lot more local spots on Pacific Ave and Abbott Kinney, plus must-see spots like the Venice Canals. If you’re a big foodie, I recommend checking out this Venice walking food tour:
Please keep in mind that it is still common to see a lot of un-homed individuals here as well, but with all of the pedestrian foot traffic I personally don’t feel unsafe here.
Hotel Erwin
Right on Pacific Ave just steps from the Venice boardwalk, Hotel Erwin nails that Venice vibe. Rooms have ocean-view balconies and retro ’70s flair, and you get free Gold’s Gym passes and beach cruiser bikes.
This is a great pick – especially for that perfect rooftop sunset IG photo at their High Rooftop Lounge! I actually stayed here a few years ago for New Years Eve and loved it.
Marina del Rey Marriott
The Marina del Rey Marriott is a laid-back, coastal hotel – just a few blocks from Venice Beach and right on the marina. You’ll get a heated pool, 24/7 gym, waterfront cabanas, and an on-site restaurant, Sinder Lounge.
Rooms are modern with marina or ocean views, and the location’s perfect if you want beach time but also want to be close by LAX.
In short: comfy, convenient, and great for mixing beach chill with easy access to Venice, the airport, and dining by the water.
The Kinney Venice Beach
The Kinney is a fun, artsy hotel about a mile from the beach and right next to Abbott Kinney, a street lined with boutique shops, restaurants, coffee shops and more. There are beach cruisers you can rent onsite or public transit and bike-share options nearby, making the beach just a quick ride away.
The hotel has a playful courtyard with ping-pong, a small pool and hot tub, plus a chill breakfast lounge serving acai bowls and coffee. Definitely pick an interior room if you want it a bit quieter.
Hollywood
Hollywood is a another great option if you want to be centrally located! There are so many iconic sights located right around here like the Griffith Observatory, Hollyhock House, Walk of Fame and more.
However, it is probably not going to look like how you picture it looking from the movies. I remember the first time I visited being so caught off guard because I imagined celebrities everywhere and it was definitely not like that haha.
Some of my favorite tour options to optimize your time around Hollywood:
The Hollywood Roosevelt
This iconic hotel is right on Hollywood Blvd and packed with old-school charm – Marilyn Monroe even lived here! The pool is gorgeous, the vibe is classic-meets-cool, and you’re walking distance to the Walk of Fame and theaters.
Great if you want a historic stay with a fun, lively atmosphere.
Loews Hollywood Hotel
The Loews Hollywood Hotel is smack dab in the middle of Hollywood. It’s super convenient if you want to be right by the Walk of Fame, theaters, and public transit.
Rooms are modern and some even have views of the Hollywood Sign. It’s great if you’re looking for an easy, polished stay in the middle of all the action!
LAX/Airport
If you’re only spending a day or two in Los Angeles, or if you’re coming specifically for an event at SoFi Stadium then staying right by the LAX airport is a great idea. There are a ton of affordable hotels in Los Angeles located right around the airport.
Most airport hotels have free shuttles to and from LAX (make sure to confirm on their website before booking though).
However, there is not a ton to do in this area so you will probably find yourself spending extra time driving around, if you’re planning to explore more of Los Angeles.
Hotel June
Hotel June is a cool, modern hotel that’s super close to LAX, Venice, and the beach. The vibe is chill and design-y, with a cute pool area, a solid gym, and a fun restaurant right by the water.
It’s ideal if you want that boutique-hotel vibe with solid amenities, a killer location, and no airport feels, even though you’re right next to LAX.
AC Hotel Los Angeles South Bay
The AC Hotel is modern, clean, and super close to LAX and SoFi Stadium. The rooms are sleek and simple, there’s a rooftop bar with great views, and it’s an easy drive to the beach.
Great spot if you want something stylish near the airport without feeling like you’re staying at the airport.
westdrift Manhattan Beach
Okay so this one is a little more south, but it’s a stylish coastal hotel that is really great for relaxing. It’s about a mile from the sand but right on a golf course (you can rent clubs), and they’ve got bikers covered too with on-site racks.
The pool scene is great (cabanas included), there’s pickleball, a solid gym, and a cool indoor-outdoor restaurant (JUTE) for local eats and cocktails. I actually did a staycation here and really loved it – the room views are great and you’re walking distance from a ton of restaurants and shops!
Los Feliz / Silver Lake
Los Feliz, Echo Park and Silver Lake is one of the most underrated, trendiest pockets in Los Angeles. I unfortunately don’t get there as much as I’d like to since I live on the Westside, but have an amazing time every time I’m out there!
There’s a lot of great attractions close by like Echo Park Lake, Dodger Stadium, the Hollyhock House and Griffith Observatory. Make sure to go on a Swan Boat in Echo Park Lake when you’re out here:
Unfortunately, there are not many options when it comes to a nice, highly rated hotel that also has a gym. I’ve included my favorite option which does not have a gym, but it does have a rooftop pool and is a great option if you want to stay in Los Feliz.
Cara Hotel
Tucked near Griffith Park, Cara is calm, stylish, and full of charm. The rooms open onto a dreamy courtyard with a pool, and the restaurant is so good, even locals go.
It’s perfect if you want something peaceful, design-forward, and a little more hidden-gem than scene. But please remember – this is the only hotel on this list that does not have a gym 🙁
Culver City
Culver City is a neighborhood that’s also in the middle (ish) of Los Angeles, but has easier access to the beach than Hollywood or Beverly Hills does.
There’s a lot of great restaurants, cafes, and shops in this area, as well as the Culver City Stairs – a workout that’s sure to get your heart pumping.
The Shay
Trendy and super well-located, The Shay has a rooftop pool, great vibes, and easy access to the Metro if you don’t want to drive. The rooms are modern and comfy, and the whole place feels social without being too busy.
This is a great spot for exploring the Westside or bouncing between DTLA and the beach.
The Culver Hotel
This historic hotel in downtown Culver City is full of charm and feels like a step back in time, but with modern touches. It’s definitely a little pricier, but the location is amazing, the vibe is super cool, and they even have live jazz in the lobby.
It’s a great pick if you’re down to splurge a bit for something special.
Let me know if you have any questions about finding affordable hotels in Los Angeles in the comments below! And be sure to follow me on Instagram for more Los Angeles travel recommendations.
mariss