Hilton Hotel at Los Angeles Airport: Close & Convenient

The flight deal was too good to pass up, even though it meant an early morning flight out of LAX – not my home airport. I needed a comfortable room to work in, while my husband needed room to sprawl and watch sports. We wanted to be close to the airport so we didn’t have to get up any earlier than absolutely necessary and we didn’t want to spend more on a hotel than we’d saved on the flights. Sounds simple, but finding a reasonably priced business hotel at LAX is not always as easy at it sounds.

Our choice for this trip was the Hilton at Los Angeles Airport (LAX).

This is a large airport hotel, 1,234 rooms in two towers, and appeals equally to travelers as well as catering to meetings and conventions (there were a couple going on during our stay). This means that check-in lines can be long and often slow no matter how many staff are at the front desk. If you are an Honors member, take advantage of the dedicated line for status holders.

The lobby is large with lots of seating, most grouped into conversational placement. During our stay music spilled over from some of the meeting space and it was a little noisy in the lobby. At least for us. The costumed attendees of the conference also spilled out into the lobby and they were singing and dancing along.

We had a King premium room on the 15th floor (an upgrade based on our Hilton Honors status) that was spacious for our needs. Rooms feature Hilton Serenity Beds with a custom mattress and allergen-free down comforters and pillows. It lived up to its billing, providing us a comfortable – yes, serene – sleep.

Workspace was ample, I had stuff spread all over the place, and the plug-ins were conveniently located. Wifi is complimentary for Honors members, otherwise for a fee. I’ll insert my standard comment about wifi here: It’s become as basic of a utility as electricity and plumbing and should be free in all rooms.

The bathroom featured the signature Crabtree & Evelyn products, and although the faux marble counter is dark and dates, there was plenty of counter space and room to dress.

Our room had a view of a part of the airport (we looked longingly at the Air Tahiti Nui plane) and we noticed quite a bit of noise. It wasn’t enough to keep us awake at night, but it was noticeable.

The Executive Lounge is located on the 16th floor and is available to loyalty guest and those booked into premium rooms. The lounge is open 6 am-9 pm daily and features a complimentary continental breakfast, happy hour reception, evening desserts, and snacks and beverages throughout the day. The lounge is bright and cheery and is a pleasant place to work, meet up with friends, or watch a game or the news.

Depending on your needs, you may want to consider an upgrade to a premium room that includes Executive Lounge access. In addition to complimentary food and drinks, it’s a convenient place to hang out if you arrive early or depart late and want a comfortable place to work or hang out. This may offer good value for a rather modest increase in rate.

Dining options are all located off the lobby and include:

• The Bistro – Open 24 hours a day, The Bistro has grab-and-go options in addition to coffee and a selection breakfast items, sandwiches, pizzas, and other snacks. Limited seating area.
• The Cafe – Another casual dining spot, this one offering both a buffet and an a la carte menu for breakfast and lunch.
• Landings – The lobby bar has a nice selection of craft cocktails and also has a small, but diverse, food menu.
• Andiamo – Open for dinner featuring a Northern Italian menu.

The Hilton has a complimentary shuttle to LAX that runs every 20 minutes. It’s a little over a mile to the airport, but with traffic and construction, it can easily take 15 minutes. Plan accordingly. If you can’t wait for the shuttle, a cab will run you about $15.

The Hilton at Los Angeles Airport is a solid business choice, though not a terribly inspired one. Sometimes that’s exactly what we’re looking for – consistent and reliable business amenities, competitive rates, and practical value. That’s exactly what we were looking for.

The Hilton at LAX is located at 5711 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. Rates vary widely, and it seems like there’s always a promotion of some type going on, but generally, start around $140 per night. You can go to sites such as Hotels.com, or others to compare rates.

If you’re looking for another LAX hotel, you can read my review of the Residence Inn by Marriott here.