Admittedly, this one falls on the far upper end of the "affordable" spectrum. But it's so beautiful and the room rates are so reasonable that I had to include it. There … are only four rooms (suites, really), each individually, gorgeously decorated. The owner and her staff are delightful people, too, so there's no reason not to stay here. [link]

The Laurel is such a bastion of hipster cool that it defies description. It's got the diner Swingers on the main floor, which is always full of awesome folk. And the … rooms are stuffed with photoshoots in action and Sofia Coppola doppelgangers scribbling away. But don't worry! Everyone's friendly. And there's good shopping nearby. [link]

It's nothing special on the inside, but the exterior of the hotel includes a huge neon sign that's an important part of Sunset Boulevard neon glitz. It's across the … street from Falcon if you want to go ogle pretty gay boys on dates, and it's pretty much walking distance to all the stuff you'd want to see on a Hollywood visit. [link]

The Standard believes its own hype to a painful degree, but it's still an excellent deal for what you get: great Downtown location, passes to a nice rooftop bar and … pool, and pared back, sexy rooms with see-though showers. [link]

Here's a slice of Hollywood history, well outside of Hollywood proper. Culver City's namesake hotel is a historic landmark. It was once owned by John Wayne, was a … popular spot for the Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz to get wild, and is still used as a set in movies and TV. [link]

For various reasons, this may be my favorite hotel in LA (certainly Downtown). It has a complete Moroccan theme, from the tapestries to the exposed beams. The best part … is the bar and pool out back -- a perfect place for a relaxed evening or perhaps an illicit dip beneath the fairy lights. Talk about setting the mood for a jaunt upstairs. [link]

At first glance, this hotel seems like a bastion of luxury and excess. It was certainly started as one, and certain decadent elements remain, but the room rates are crazy … cheap nowadays. [link]