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Where should I stay in Santa Monica?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on February 24, 2026

Where should I stay in Santa Monica?

Hotel Casa del Mar
  • Hotel Shangri-La. 301 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, California, United States, 90401.
  • Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows Santa Monica.
  • Shore Hotel.
  • The Georgian Hotel.
  • Wyndham Santa Monica at the Pier.
  • Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
  • Viceroy Santa Monica.
  • Shutters on the Beach.

Beside this, is Santa Monica a safe place to stay?

Crime and Muggings

Santa Monica is not a high-crime area, but as is the case in many tourist destinations, visitors to the city may be targets for muggings or robberies, especially if they appear particularly affluent or vulnerable. It's important to take common sense precautions.

One may also ask, is Santa Monica a good area? Santa Monica Neighborhoods

Santa Monica is one of the best suburbs of Los Angeles, an affluent and highly desirable city. Thus, living in Santa Monica is not cheap; home prices are well above the Los Angeles County average.

Likewise, people ask, what is the best area to stay in when visiting LA?

The 7 Best Neighborhoods in Los Angeles for Tourists

  1. Hollywood. Hollywood is a great place to stay for first-time visitors to Los Angeles – and especially good if you don't plan on renting a car as it's a hub for public transportation.
  2. West Hollywood.
  3. Beverly Hills.
  4. Downtown.
  5. Venice Beach.
  6. Santa Monica.
  7. Malibu.

Should I stay in Santa Monica or Hollywood?

Santa Monica is better for night life at a beach location and traffic gridlock, Its the place of bars, shopping, scenic ocean views, Getty Museum, Santa Monica Pier, etc. The drive between the two is easiest mid day. If you plan to stay at Santa Monica at night and drive to Hollywood for day, its not worth it.

What areas should I avoid in Los Angeles?

Safe Neighborhoods—and Areas to Avoid—in Los Angeles

In terms of bad neighborhoods in Los Angeles, that same research shows the highest rates of crime occurring in Chesterfield Square, Watts, Exposition Park, Chinatown, Crenshaw, Fairfax, and Hollywood.

Is Santa Monica expensive?

Cost of Living in Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica, California's cost of living is 106% higher than the national average. The cost of living in any area can vary based on factors such as your career, its average salary and the real estate market of that area.

Is it safe to walk in Santa Monica at night?

They're both safe. However, Santa Monica is its own city and has a constant police presence at the Promenade and The Pier. Venice is part of Los Angeles and so the budget is spread thin. Also, The Venice Boardwalk is empty and dark at night so doesn't feel safe like bustling and bright Santa Monica.

Is Santa Monica or Venice Beach better?

I would characterize Santa Monica as a bit more big-city meets the beach - generally IMHO its nicer and more upscale than Venice (though home prices in both places might make one's eyes water) which is also big-city meets the beach, but in a more urban grit sort of way.

Do you need a car in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica itself is fine without a car because you can walk everywhere, or take the shuttle. Visiting Hollywood and Universal from Santa Monica is easy with a tour. There are many that pick up from the SM hotels and take you to that side of town, and you can easily visit both Hollywood and Universal in the same day.

Is La dangerous at night?

But is Los Angeles dangerous at night? Nighttime comes with a spike of assault and robbery crimes which patrolling officers have longed to control. Visitors and tourists, especially solo female travelers, are therefore advised to boycott this neighborhood when past 9 pm.

What is Santa Monica pier known for?

Constructed in 1909, the storied Santa Monica Pier was the first concrete pier on the West Coast. It quickly gained a reputation among locals as the best fishing spot in Santa Monica. Santa Monica Pier fishing remains a popular activity to this day.

How far is Santa Monica from Malibu?

11 miles

Is Santa Monica Pier safe?

Santa Monica Pier is nothing great IMO. Pretty trashy rides and pretty trashy people. Its pretty safe and I wouldnt worry about the cold-its been very warm here recently.

Is it better to rent a car or Uber in LA?

If you're renting a car and plan to use it occasionally during your trip, Uber would likely be cheaper. If you plan on significant driving, the rental is likely to be cheaper. Uber is less than perfect, but so are taxi cab companies.

Is downtown LA Safe 2020?

Safety: Like many cities on the West Coast, LA struggles with homelessness. This is especially true in downtown LA, where areas like Skid Row are filled with tents. Still, DTLA is fairly safe, especially during the day. Keep in mind parking is a nightmare, however, and like most places in LA, traffic is torturous.

Where should a first time tourist stay in Los Angeles?

First-time visitors usually stay in hip and happening Hollywood, near attractions like the Walk of Fame and Universal Studios, or posh Beverly Hills, home to the designer shops of Rodeo Drive. Young couples and travelers love West Hollywood (WeHo) for its funky bohemian style and eclectic shops.

Is downtown LA safe at night?

Downtown LA is safe, especially during the day. It does get deserted at night, and I wouldn't go off and explore the areas at night. But as the previous post mentioned, the walk from the metro to your hotel is safe, even at night. Hope you enjoy your time here!

Which area of Los Angeles is the safest?

8 Safest Neighborhoods in Los Angeles
  • West Hollywood. WeHo, as it's nicknamed, is an affluent area situated between Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
  • Glendale. If safety is your main priority, check out Glendale.
  • Marina Del Rey.
  • Playa Vista.
  • Westwood.
  • Beverly Hills.
  • Manhattan Beach.

Is it safe to stay near LAX Airport?

It is generally recommended that you NOT stay near the airport because it is so unpleasant. Closest decent areas that I recommend are Manhattan Beach and Marina Del Rey.

How far is Venice Beach from Hollywood?

12 miles

How do I not look like a tourist in LA?

Wear jeans and a T-shirt if you must wear lighter clothing, but adding a vest or a scarf will bring the whole thing together. Don't: Overdress. The old adage about Angelenos dressing casually for everything—from work to fancy dinners—is true.

Is Santa Monica worth visiting?

The Santa Monica Pier is one of the best places in the city, the LA/beach culture is authentic and fun, and I always have a good time when I go. Also, it is very easy to visit Santa Monica and spend little to no money. It's easy to spend a lot of money, but it's easy to spend none as well.

Are there sharks in Santa Monica Beach?

White sharks congregate at hot spots including Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Monica Bay, the Long Beach-Huntington Beach area and the San Clemente-San Onofre area, said Patrick Rex, a graduate student at the Shark Lab. In addition, they use drone surveys to record sharks as they move among people in the water.

How much money do you need to live in Santa Monica?

The Table Below Displays All Two-Bedroom Median Asking Rents
NeighborhoodTwo-bedroom Median RentIncome Required
Downtown Los Angeles$4,012.00$160,480
Westside$4,000.00$160,000
Sand Section$3,999.50$159,980
Santa Monica$3,995.00$159,800

Is Santa Monica walkable?

According to Walk Score, Santa Monica has an overall walkability score of 82, meaning most errands can be accomplished on foot. Walk Score also includes a city's most walkable neighborhoods. In Santa Monica, the most walkable neighborhoods are Ocean Park, Mid-City and Downtown.

Is Santa Monica Beach free?

There is no fee to walk on the pier and beach access is also free! Hit the Amusement Park! Part of the Santa Monica Pier is known as Pacific Park–the west coast's only amusement park on a pier!

Is Hollywood safe at night?

Where most of the hotels are in the Hollywood area, the area is as safe as any big city in the US. And it "at night" means after dinner, a show, etc, yes it is safe. 3AM. there aren't a lot of places any place I want to be out at 3AM.

How far is Santa Monica from LA?

Distance from Los Angeles to Santa Monica is 23 kilometers. This air travel distance is equal to 14 miles. The air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Los Angeles and Santa Monica is 23 km= 14 miles.

What is the crime rate in Santa Monica CA?

The Santa Monica CA crime rate for 2018 was 860 per 100,000 population, a 13.37% increase from 2017. The Santa Monica CA crime rate for 2017 was 758.59 per 100,000 population, a 50% increase from 2016. The Santa Monica CA crime rate for 2016 was 505.74 per 100,000 population, a 6.6% increase from 2015.

Is Venice Beach safe at night?

Venice is not dangerous at all. There are people in the area that would be considered "undesirable" by the new faux-riche residents, but it's perfectly safe to be at during the night. EDIT: OFW to santa monica isnt too bad as its lit up and there are a few bars along the way. There are several cool bars over there too.

What was filmed at Santa Monica Pier?

It also appears prominently in Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914), Quicksand (1950), Elmer Gantry (1960), 1941 (1979 film), The Opposite of Sex (1998), They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), Night Tide (1961), Bean (1997), The Sting (1973), Farewell, My Lovely (1975) with Robert Mitchum, Her (2013), A Night at the

How far is Santa Monica from Los Angeles Downtown?

14 miles

How far is Santa Monica from Hollywood Walk of Fame?

11 miles

How far is Malibu Beach from Hollywood?

24 miles

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Where should I stay in Santa Monica?