Located in a prime position in very hip Venice Beach, Hotel Erwin has been one of LA’s most incredible places to stay, eat, and drink since its opening 50 years ago in its previous incarnation as Marina Pacific Hotel & Suites.  It is easy to understand why.  The rooms and suites of this family-owned property are fashionable in an unfussy way that pleases a younger generation of travellers who seek high quality and good value.  The warm welcome by the front desk staff makes that clear from the moment of arrival, personifying a perfect combination of LA friendliness and polished professionalism.  Given the recent increase in room rates in Los Angeles, Hotel Erwin is a comparative bargain for what guests receive; the spacious suites are beautiful in both roominess and price and give the sense of being at home rather than in a hotel.  The chic Dogtown Suite, named after Venice Beach’s nickname, is a clean black and white palette complemented by Southern California’s vibrant colours out the windows.  The Dogtown Suite on the beach side of the hotel has its private patio, looking over the action on the boardwalk, the sand, and the ocean just beyond.

Hotel Erwin is the only hotel (almost) directly on the Venice Beach boardwalk, which is somewhat surprising given the area’s global fame.  Not that there needs to be more than one hotel when this one is so appealing.  In addition to the Dogtown Suite, other rooms and suites with views of the vast sandy beach, the skateboard park, the boardwalk, and the Pacific Ocean are highly coveted; local touches such as photos of bodybuilders so closely associated with Venice Beach evoke the spirit of the place, one of LA’s biggest tourist draws, add to the atmosphere of pleasant relaxation and positive energy.  Guests staying in city-view rooms can take in the beautiful panorama from High, Hotel Erwin’s open-air rooftop lounge, where the coastline of the entire LA basin is seen uninterrupted. At the same time, patrons sip their creative cocktails as they watch the sunset over the Pacific.  The cleverly named High, designed to emulate a casually elegant beachside deck, is a favourite venue for special events and other occasions of note.  For the best tables, it is wise to reserve in advance.  In keeping at the forefront of trendiness as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, Hotel Erwin’s food options are just as appealing as its stylish accommodation and chic High lounge.  Barlo Kitchen, just off the lobby on the ground floor, is an intimate space where signature cocktails match perfection in light meals.  For an indulgence in the foodie obsession with delicious pizza, Hotel Erwin’s Pizza Girl delivers.

One aspect of Venice Beach that travellers often leave unconsidered is its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport.  As famous as the Venice Beach boardwalk, LA’s traffic can be a real headache at the wrong time of day.  Avoiding the congested freeways from the hotel to the airport is a significant advantage of staying in Hotel Erwin, which is less than half an hour from LAX.  The hotel, therefore, makes a perfect choice for travellers in transit or stopping over for a few days between continents.  The boardwalk, beach, and sunshine provide endless entertainment just out the door; within easy walking distance of Hotel Erwin are the trendy boutiques along Abbot Kinney Boulevard and the vestiges of the canal neighbourhood for which Venice was initially named.

Written by: Robert La Bua – Global Travel Connoisseur

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