Hotel
- The standard downtown – Los Angeles – California – United States of
America
What is the hotel like?
Former headquarters of family oil company, the hotel
is filled with leftover corporate symbols such as imposing escalators
and world-time wall clocks, thrown together with vibrating water beds,
table football and flashing neon art. Though a magnet for teenage
fashion victims, there was an equal number of business suits as
tracksuits checking in on my visit. Waiting to be allocated a room took
a while as staff tend to show guests where hotel facilities are, rather
than just explain them. But when a hotel receptionist notices you have a
laptop and offers you a connection cable without being asked, you are
quick to forgive a little waiting time.
Where is this accommodation?
Downtown Los Angeles, between Bunker Hill and the Staples
Centre
Room facilities
A no fuss, minimalist look prevails throughout the
rooms, and room categories such as deluxe and superior are replaced with
names like Cheap, Gigantic, Humongous and Woh! Beds are banned; instead,
guests sleep on mattresses on the floor (prefect for those who like to
roll out of bed). My 710sq feet Woh! Room had a bathtub built for four
and an open-plan shower large enough to hose down the entire LA Lakers
basketball team. But it’s not just the wet space that’s impressive. All
rooms have 14ft desks, free internet access, two phones (one cordless),
cd player, dvd player, and interactive TV. With so much space, most
guests have breakfast in their rooms and the choice is endless, from
burgers and fries to croissants and coffee. The prices are reasonable
too. Doughnuts and coffee cost just $2,- while Eggs Benedict is $10. I
filled in my 8am breakfast slip before bed, stuck it on my door and the
food arrived promptly the next morning.
Restaurants and bars.
The restaurants, with an outdoor patio and art
deco-inspired furniture, offers snacks, meals and cocktails around the
clock, served by waitresses wearing five-mile smiles teamed with short
aprons and knee-high boots. On the roof, the hip factor is turned up a
notch or two – especially in the evenings. Guests at the open-air bar
spread out around the pool, sitting on low sofas or cosying down in one
of the intimate pods (beware of the vibrating water beds). When I
visited, a few brave businessmen were putting some moves together on the
Twister-themed dance floor but this is not compulsory. During the day,
the atmosphere is less intense and many guests go up with their laptops
to enjoy the sunshine and the suprisingly clean air.
Business centre? No, but one is planned along with a
large area of meeting space, lobby bar and spa – all next year (2005).
Until then, free internet access in the rooms and a wifi-enabled pool
area and lobby with enough seating for a small conference are more than
adequate.
Verdict and prices
Staying on business doesn’t have to be dull, and when
the rooms are large enough to hold a party in and the service is as
exceptional as the decor, stuffy corporate chains may have a bit of
catching up to do. Rate starts at $99 for a cheap room.
Contact this accommodation
550 South Flower Street, LA, 0071, tel 2138928080,
www.standardhotel.com
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hotels in California /
Resorts in the United States of America
Accommodations in Los Angeles
