For guests traveling to the Los Angeles area, which includes Orange County about an hour to the South, there are an abundance of hotel options at every price point geared toward families with children. While this is a good thing, it can sometimes make the decision of where to stay in Los Angeles even more difficult.

You can find all of our resources on where to stay in Los Angeles below. Hop to them now or keep reading!

Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

If you’re visiting multiple attractions across the Los Angeles area, expect to do a lot of driving no matter where you are. Visitors may want to consider booking a couple of hotels nearest to their itinerary destinations. Guests planning a few days in Disneyland, for example, and then the rest of their vacation elsewhere might want to spend a few days in Anaheim and a few days in Los Angeles. If you are only planning to spend a day or two at Disneyland and the rest of your time among the other attractions, it may make sense to book a hotel in an area that offers an abundance of entertainment and dining options for the kids.

Where to Stay in Anaheim

Most of the Anaheim-area hotels where Disneyland is located are spread along Harbor Boulevard. A few of them are right across the street from the Disneyland Esplanade that connects Disneyland Park with Disney California Adventure Park, a 5 minute walk, making them as convenient or more convenient than some of the Disneyland Resort hotels. Some offer family-friendly pools with waterslides, perfect for cooling off in the middle of the day before heading back to the parks. Many others along Harbor Boulevard are still within walking distance, and many of those that are not offer shuttle service. Some hotels on Harbor Boulevard south of Katella are within walking distance of the free Toy Story parking lot shuttle bus, getting you as close as you can to the Esplanade. Of course, Disneyland also has three on-site hotels that range in price and accommodations.

Most guests will want a car for their vacation in the Los Angeles area. Should you decide not to rent a car, many of these hotels have shuttle service to and from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County via the Disneyland Resort Express.

Just Beachy

Visitors who are looking for the quintessential California beach experience for splashing in the waves and enjoying beautiful sunsets will find a number of options nestled along the beaches of Orange and Los Angeles Counties, most notably Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Long Beach and Manhattan Beach.

©Travis Conklin 2008 Courtesy of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

While it’s a little on the pricey side, we like Santa Monica for its proximity to the water and the Santa Monica Pier, which boasts an amusement park, arcade, aquarium and more. There is also a great shopping, dining and entertainment area along the Third Street Promenade. There are wide, paved sidewalks that run along the beach to the south towards Venice Beach, where you can take in the street performers, souvenir shops, graffiti walls and sports equipment. A little bit of paradise for the whole family!

The Long Beach harbor area places you between Orange County and the heart of Los Angeles. You can explore the coast by bike path, visit the Queen Mary, discover sea life at the Aquarium of the Pacific and enjoy shopping at the waterfront Shoreline Village.

Staying in the Heart of Tinseltown

Visitors wanting to be in the heart of Hollywood will find an abundance of places to stay along Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, many of which cater to children and families. The location is ideal for sightseeing many of the most famed locations in Los Angeles, including Melrose Boulevard and Rodeo Drive, and the nearby Hollywood Walk of Fame. West Hollywood is also convenient to Universal Studios Hollywood in nearby Universal City.

There are closer accommodations to Universal Studios, including two mid-priced hotels on property that offer shuttle service: the Hilton Universal City and the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Both are a short walk to the entrance of Universal Studios, although the Sheraton is further away and down a steep hill.

Getting Closer to the Thrills

Guests wishing to stay closer to Six Flags Magic Mountain will find picturesque views of the mountains and a handful of lodging choices in Valencia and neighboring Santa Clarita.

Here are more helpful resources on where to stay in Los Angeles:

• Reasons to Stay Off-Site When You Visit Disneyland
• Exploring the Benefits of Staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel

We hope you've found this overview of where to stay in Los Angeles helpful in planning a visit to Los Angeles and the surrounding area. You'll find more resources and tips inside our Los Angeles Planning Guide.

Hoppy planning!