The Hotel Shangri La is a legendary gem nestled in the heart of Santa Monica California. While being a short walk from the pier and beach the hotel shares the most beautiful ocean front views and a front row seat for golden sunset hour. Just a step outside of the lobby and you find yourself surrounded by some of the best restaurants, shops, and nightlife the town has to offer; no car needed.
It’s no wonder why this boutique hotel is a hotspot for many celebrities to stay in Santa Monica; they take guest satisfaction to a whole new level. I was beyond impressed by the staff’s professionalism and ability to make us feel right at home, just a little over the top VIP.
Each day our room was completely sanitized and made up flawlessly, almost immediately after leaving. The bathrooms are stocked daily with high quality toiletries for our comfort, and of course spa slippers to go around. They even stocked bottles of water each morning, which was lovely. The hotel itself was was built in 1939, but has since renovated the property beautifully while keeping some of the quaint history throughout. There is a wide array of room types to stay in, but I highly recommend the 2 bedroom/2 bathroom suite if staying with 3+ people. It is rare to find these kind of rooms at hotels like this, but not only was it the perfect size, but the unique decor and marble made us feel like we were staying in a palace.
The premises was kept extremely clean inside and out. The pool/hot tub was immaculate and fresh towels were place on each chair and changed immediately after a guest would leave. Beach towels are also available complementary. Guests have full access to use of the pool chairs, cabanas, fire pit, corn hole, & ping pong. They have a large poolside bar, that was not being used when we stayed, in addition to the roof top lounge that was hoppin’ every night of the week.
If you rent a car, I highly recommend paying the additional cost to valet in the parking lot. When it came time to drive, our valet not only had our car ready to go, but went out of their way to treat us like royalty. It is a small lot with 24-hr security and come and go privileges. Street parking can be near impossible to find, don’t chance it.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this location for anyone visiting the Santa Monica Area- as a clean & safe hotel, perfect for families, couples, or friends.
*Know Before You Go*– While this is mainly a tourist spot, this area is highly populated with homeless. While this is commonly found throughout California, the park directly across from this street of hotels/restaurants is a huge population of them. The hotels, shops, and restaurants (especially Hotel Shangri La) do an amazing job of keeping them away from the properties, guests, and nourishing a safe environment for all.
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