Lodgings Issue

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Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times

At the Resort at Pelican Hill everything appears larger than life – including its huge Coliseum Pool.

By Beverly Beyette

Even in troubled times, opulence and expert service are in demand. Enter Newport Coast's Resort at Pelican Hill and Beverly Hills' SLS and Montage.

Foreclosures are up, stocks are down and the workplace is awash in pink slips.

Photos: Montage Beverly Hotels

Photos: Resort at Pelican Hill

Photos: SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

Amid this economic gloom and doom, at a time when frugality is fashionable and opulence suspect, three Southern California luxury hotels have opened -- the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Coast, Montage Beverly Hills and the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills.

In the giddy days of rampant prosperity -- remember those? -- when planning for these properties began, no one foresaw that they were destined to make their debut in a worsening recession. One might assume that these hoteliers, faced with filling $400 and up guest rooms, high-end restaurants and luxury spas, might be in panic mode.

One would be incorrect.

"Hotels are generally one of the first markets that bounce back," said Sam Nazarian, chief executive of L.A.-based SBE, whose quirky and ultra-stylish SLS is its first luxury hotel brand. "People need to come to L.A. to do business, and we still have the entertainment industry, a solid core for our business. [Los Angeles] is notorious for not having the proper amount of rooms at this level. It's the safest and best hotel market in the country."

Think outside the boxy hotel room

By Catherine Hamm

Exchanging houses can mean affordable travel with a personal touch. Just be sure you're a homeowner who can handle it.

If you want your sheets changed daily, your breakfast delivered to your room or even the reassurance of knowing the toilet has been sanitized, you may be a candidate for an overnight stay in one of the 48,000 properties that populate the U.S. lodgings landscape.

But hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfasts aren't for everyone, especially in these economic times when a seven-day stay can cost four figures. >> Read more

By Susan Spano and Jason La

Alhambra for Rome, Rome for Alhambra. Thrifty-minded colleagues discover the ups and downs of trading spaces. Would they do it again? Read on.

Susan Spano: Though I live in Italy now, I sometimes need to return to Southern California. Paying for hotel accommodations and car rentals on previous trips had cost me dearly.

Jason La: Most of what I know about Susan, I know from colleagues or from reading her stories. But this I do know: We both have a thrifty side to our travel character. In fact, when it comes to traveling, I'm cheap.

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Discussion

Got a home swap story? Share it.

1. Given the nature of the bail out for Banks 2008, the U.S. may be forced into a barter economy of sorts in which home swaps may fit right in for obvious reasons, not the least of which is reduced credit that claims to reduce commerce of late. Is there an alternative but barter?
Submitted by: Cash Flow for Commoners
7:05 PM PST, Jan 4, 2009

2. My wife & I have been doing home exchanges for more than 5 years, & this has become our primary way to travel. We tend to use HomeLink International, but have also had success with Intervac. Apart from a rare personality conflict, we have never had a bad experience. We always leave drawer & closet space for our guests & have compiled a "House & Car Book" with maps + info on stores, restaurants as well as care of our house & dog. For people who are comfortable with "strangers" in their house, home exchange is a wonderful, money-saving way to travel.
Submitted by: Michael Sulman, M.D.
1:52 PM PST, Jan 4, 2009

3. I read the full article written by Beverly Beyette," So Cal,So Classy." It was a well written ,witty description of the top of the line hotel trade. I did wonder if the hotel managements knew that Ms. Beyette wrote for your newspaper. I found that out in a quick search of the internet.
Submitted by: mikecro57@gmail.com
10:03 AM PST, Jan 4, 2009

Read all 4 comments

Web-only

Jane Hotel a tight fit for budget travelers

By John Horn

The rooms are shipshape and even though you share a bathroom with strangers, you can't beat the price of $99 a night.

Enjoying the Jane Hotel in Manhattan's West Village completely depends on your point of view. If even a mini suite at Le Parker Meridien feels claustrophobic, the Jane would feel as dreadful as solitary confinement. Photos

For home swappers, the experience is a wonderful way to save money and fully experience life in another part of the world. Here's a sample of home swap stories from our readers. Photos

Southern California hotel reviews

Looking for a posh SoCal hotel to spend a romantic weekend or a decent place to park the in-laws? Check out these looks at lodgings by The Times.