Review: Hilton Los Angeles Airport

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The last hotel I got to try out on my rather manic trip was the Hilton Los Angeles Airport. Unless I’m doing quick, overnight layover I generally don’t book airport hotels if I can possibly avoid it – I find them to be pretty soulless and full of people who’d rather be anywhere but there – but here I was in a second airport hotel in two nights (I’d spent the previous night at the Marriott LAX).

I’d just returned from my mileage run to Dallas on an American Airlines 787 Dreamliner and, when I was booking my hotels, I was very aware that my next flight left LAX at 7:00am…that’s why I found myself in yet another LAX airport hotel.

Cost

I had taken advantage of Marriott’s “Look no further” best rate guarantee on my last hotel stay and I managed to repeat the trick with Hilton…although not quite in the way I had imagined.

As I was keen to take advantage of my Hilton Gold status my first port of call was to the Hilton website to see how much they were asking for a room. Considering I generally find the Hilton Los Angeles Airport to be one of the more reasonably priced LAX hotels I was surprised to see the rate at over $200:

A quick look on Kayak.com turned up a vastly better rate of $137.20 including all taxes.

I booked the expensive rate on Hilton.com and immediately sent in a “best price guarantee” claim to Hilton.

Normally Hilton get back to you within 24 hours with a decision – either they agree that you have a valid claim or they turn you down (and give you a reason) – but this time something else happened.

Apparently Hilton have a policy whereby, if they don’t respond to a guarantee claim within 24 hours, they proceed as if you had a valid claim anyway (I never knew this). Here’s the email I got….

…and here’s the Amex Gift Card I received shortly after my stay:

So that was a $206.85 room reduced to $137.20…and a $50 gift card on top! Not bad 🙂

Location

The Hilton Los Angeles Airport is located on the main road into LAX itself so it’s no more than a 5-7 minute shuttle bus ride to/from Terminal 1 at LAX and around 10-15 minutes from Terminal 4 (American Airlines)….when the roads around LAX are not being dug up!

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Location

It’s a hotel whose parking facility I used on numerous occasions when I lived in LA so that should give you an idea of how convenient it is for access to LAX.

First Impressions & Check-in

Despite having parked at the hotel on numerous occasions in the past I’d never really paid much attention to it….but it’s not too bad on the inside.

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Lobby Area

There’s a lot of neutral colors and, although not modern in the way that an Andaz or a W Hotel may be, it didn’t feel dated or in any way beyond its prime. It felt up-to-date.

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Lobby Area

The hotel has a dedicated check-in area for Hilton HHonors Gold and Diamond members and, if the front desk is busy, the same members can check-in at a desk on the 16th floor of the hotel (next to the lounge).

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Check-in

There was only one person in line ahead of me so I chose to check-in at the front desk and it took all of 10 minutes before I was heading to the elevators on the way to my room on the top floor (that’s a room upgrade with just Hilton Gold status).

The Room

The hallways to the room were on the dark side (like most hotels) and the carpets didn’t do much to help the overall feel…..

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Hallways

…but then that’s a hotel being practical…they’re hardly going to put light-colored carpets in a public hallway!

Things were different once I got to the room where suddenly everything was light and bright….

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Room

…and the up-to-date feel that I had in the lobby was back.

The King Size bed was very comfortable….

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Room

…there was plenty of space for a desk, storage and a 42″ TV:

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Room

The desk was a good size, although the glass top isn’t the best if you plan on using an optical mouse when working.

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Room

The refreshments were pretty basic….

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Room

…but were no worse than you’d find at any other mid-tier airport hotel.

The bathroom was a reasonable size although I wish hotels wouldn’t bother with small bathtubs and, instead, simply provide a good-sized shower cubicle.

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Bathroom

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Bathroom

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Bathroom

View

Being on the top floor gave the room a good view towards the hills and Downtown:

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – View

And, as this particular room pointed East, you get a good view of the aircraft coming into land at LAX:

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – View

Connectivity

As a Hilton HHonors Gold member I was given access to complimentary WiFi…which was a surprisingly good speed. I had to download a couple of large files and the transfer was a lot quicker than I was expecting.

WiFi aside, the biggest gripe I normally have with hotel rooms it the lack of power outlets…especially either side of the bed. Luckily the Hilton Los Angeles Airport scores quite well on this count.

The lamps on wither side of the bed come with two power outlets (one either side of the base):

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Connectivity

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Connectivity

And the desk came with two power outlets on one side…..

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Connectivity

….and a further two power outlets on the lamp:

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Connectivity

This is what all hotel rooms should be like and it’s really not that much to ask.

In my review of the Hilton Copenhagen Airport I pointed out that it isn’t necessary to rewire a room just to add more power ports and the lamps in this Hilton prove that point…..so why don’t all hotels have these?!

The Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge (or whatever name Hilton chooses to call its lounges) is located on the 16th floor of the hotel and, as hotel lounges go, is a pretty decent size.

The lounge is set out in the shape of the letter “L” with one side furnished primarily with armchairs and sofas….

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

…while the other side is where you’ll find tables and chairs and whatever drink/food items have been put out for guests:

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

I arrived a bit too late to see all of the food options that had been provided (the lounge looked like locusts had been through it!) but I did see a menu which claimed the following:

• Selection of mini-sandwiches
• Soup
• Garlic flatbread
• Pasties
• Cookies
• Fruit platter (which was mostly melon)

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

Drinks-wise, there were complimentary sodas/soft-drinks, coffee and a good selection of teas…

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

…and for anyone looking for something a little stronger there was a cash bar:

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Executive Lounge

Dining

I didn’t eat at the hotel as I left too early for breakfast and I’d had more than enough to eat before I arrived…but I did take a quick look at the menus in the cafe and restaurant I saw as I walked around the lobby level (click the thumbnails to enlarge):

Hilton Los Angeles Airport – Cafe

Cafe Menu

Restaurant Menu

Other Hotel Amenities

For the sort period of time I was in the hotel I didn’t get a chance to try out/see the other amenities on offer, but they include:

• Business Center
• Meeting Rooms
• Baggage Storage
• Car Rental Desk
• Laundry/Valet Service
• Fitness Room
• Pool

Bottom Line

Having stayed at the Marriott Los Angeles Airport the night before it was interesting to compare the two properties. I think I’d readily stay at the Hilton again while, as I said in my review, I’m not sure I’ll be hurrying to stay at the Marriott any time soon.

While the staff at the properties were equally friendly and helpful, the Hilton felt a lot more up-to-date, the room didn’t feel like it was stuck in the 1980’s and there were plenty of the all important power sockets to go around.

I noticed more noise from the airport at the Hilton but that was probably more to do with the direction my room was facing (east and looking at the approach for two runways) so that’s not necessarily going to be any better at the Marriott.

All in all this is a solid airport hotel and one that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good mid-tier property at LAX.