Wilshire Crest Hotel: LA's Hidden Gem? (You HAVE to See This!)
Wilshire Crest Hotel: LA's Hidden Gem? (You HAVE to See This!)
Wilshire Crest Hotel: LA's Hidden Gem? (You HAVE to See This!) - A Review That's Actually Honest (And Probably Not SEO-Approved)
Alright, folks, buckle up. Because I’m about to spill the tea (or, you know, the free bottled water) on the Wilshire Crest Hotel. The title says "Hidden Gem," and honestly, yeah, it kinda is. But let's be real – "hidden" doesn't always mean easy to find. (More on that later, and on how bad my GPS is). And is it actually a gem? We'll see… we're diving deep here.
First Impressions (And My Existential Crisis in the Parking Lot)
Okay, so the accessibility situation? The website promises "Facilities for disabled guests," which is great! I didn't personally need them, but I did notice… well, let's just say I'm not the most graceful person in the world. I stubbed my toe so bad I almost fainted. (I feel like that can be filed under "Things that might happen to guests"). The elevator was a godsend after that, and navigating the lobby seemed pretty doable for someone needing assistance. Good on them!
Finding My Room (The Great Search for Wi-Fi)
My room, located on a high floor (which I always ask for), was clean and smelled… neutral. Which, in LA, is a win! The door opened with a satisfying click. And then… the hunt for Wi-Fi began. "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" the website shouts. Okay, cool. But… where's the password? I swear, I spent a solid ten minutes (including a little cry, I won't lie) trying to connect. Finally, a quick trip to the 24-hour front desk (praise be!) sorted it out. The Internet – wireless was finally working! And let me tell you, for a travel blogger dependent on internet access, that's everything. Internet access – LAN was also available, but let's be real, who uses Lan cables anymore?
The Room: A Sanctuary (Mostly)
Once the Wi-Fi was sorted, I could properly focus! The room itself was a decent size, with blackout curtains (essential for fighting jet lag), a comfy sofa, and a desk perfect for pretending to be a productive human being. A laptop workspace? Yes! The bed was comfy, the linens felt clean, and the bathroom (with a separate shower/bathtub) was well-appointed. Bonus points for the slippers and bathrobes. The air conditioning worked like a charm. The mini bar? Well, let's just say I'd probably have to sell a kidney to afford anything in there. But hey, free bottled water is a win! And the coffee/tea maker was a lifesaver. Good for a quick caffeine jolt and a feeling of normalcy.
I was really happy to have a window that opens, it was nice to breathe in the LA air. I loved the mirror and hair dryer and had everything I needed: towels, toiletries, and a mirror.
The alarm clock was easy to set.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Food Odyssey
Okay, so food. This is where things get… interesting. The restaurants on-site are, well, the kind of places where you might make some new friends, or maybe not. The poolside bar was tempting, but I didn't go out there. I had one meal at the restaurants; the food was alright, but not the reason you'd go to LA. I tried the coffee shop and the snack bar for convenience. They had some decent stuff, I guess. The breakfast (buffet) seemed a bit… standard. Breakfast takeaway service was mentioned, but I couldn't get it. The room service [24-hour]? Never tried it.
The Asian cuisine in restaurant was what I was looking for.
I was really excited about there being a Vegetarian restaurant.
I did not see any Happy hour, or I might have missed it.
Anyway… Moving on.
Relaxation Station: Spa, Pools, and the Elusive Gym
Swimming pool [outdoor]? Yes! And it looked very inviting. I didn't actually swim in it because, well, I was busy doing stuff. There might be a Pool with view…. I'll leave that up to you.
The Spa/sauna situation was a bit confusing. There was a sauna, but the spa itself… well, it wasn't quite what I expected. I didn't see a steamroom or any massage opportunities. Bummer. It’s a shame because a nice body scrub or body wrap would have been perfect. They did have a fitness center described in the website though, which would have been nice if I was into that. I tried to find the Gym/fitness, but it was mysteriously closed. I mean, I felt like an idiot, asking, "Where's the gym?" three times.
Cleanliness and Safety: Did They Actually Sanitize?
I’m a bit of germaphobe. Okay, a lot of a germaphobe. So, the cleanliness and safety were paramount for me. The website boasts Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas. I hoooope so! The rooms sanitized between stays is something I always worry about, so I really hope it's true. The sanitized kitchen and tableware items also matter. There's Hand sanitizer everywhere, literally. Staff trained in safety protocol? Hopefully. Professional-grade sanitizing services? Fingers crossed! The Safe dining setup seemed pretty legit, too. Room sanitization opt-out available… I didn't use the option but noted it. Hot water linen and laundry washing is the standard which I can't fault. Hygiene certification…not visible.
I noticed some CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property.
There were Smoke alarms and Fire extinguisher. I felt Safe/security feature, and it was good.
As far as physical distancing of at least 1 meter, the hotel did a decent job.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Weird
Daily housekeeping was great. The concierge was helpful, although I'm not sure he understood my request to find "the nearest dimension portal". (Just kidding… maybe). The doorman was friendly, and the elevator was efficient. Laundry service was available; I didn’t use it, but good to know. The luggage storage came in handy.
Okay, so… Cashless payment service? Check. Dry cleaning? Check. Car park [free of charge]? Hallelujah! They have a Car park [on-site]!
I’m not sure what to say about the Doctor/nurse on call.
The Family/child friendly and Kids facilities seemed legit!
I didn’t see a Shrine.
The Gift/souvenir shop was there.
They provided me an Invoice provided.
The Meeting/banquet facilities Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Seminars, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center, and Indoor venue for special events I found fascinating.
The Babysitting service was available.
The Verdict: Should You Stay?
Maybe.
Look, the Wilshire Crest Hotel isn't perfect. It has its quirks (and sometimes, it feels like it is the quirk). But it has a certain charm, a certain je ne sais quoi. It’s clean, generally convenient, and the staff are friendly. Is it a "hidden gem"? Perhaps. Is it the most luxurious hotel in LA? Absolutely not.
But if you're looking for a comfortable, reasonably priced place to crash with good access to the city, with a few perks and some personality, and you don’t mind a little hunt for the Wi-Fi password, give it a shot.
SEO-Adjacent Notes:
- Keywords: Okay, here's the deal. I've mentioned pretty much every keyword in the list provided (Accessibility, On-site accessible restaurants / lounges, Wheelchair accessible, Internet access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Things to do, ways to relax, Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is… my itinerary. And we all know how that's gonna pan out. We're talking Wilshire Crest Hotel, Los Angeles. My happy (and slightly chaotic) place for a few days. Here we go, ready or not!
The "Almost Definitely Gonna Screw Up Something" L.A. Adventure – Wilshire Crest Hotel Edition
Day 1: Arrival & False Hope (or, "Why Did I Think I Could Pack So Lightly?!")
11:00 AM: Arrival at LAX. HA! They say "arrive". What they mean is "arrive, circle the baggage claim approximately 17 times, curse under your breath about the sheer volume of luggage you thought necessary, and then finally locate the carousel that’s spitting out everyone else’s bags except yours." Seriously, I swear my backpack had a mind of its own. Eventually, it turned up, sporting a new luggage tag and a vaguely disapproving glare. Whatever, onwards to the hotel!
12:30 PM: Cab ride. Okay, this is L.A. and traffic is a beast. We're talking "staring forlornly at the freeway for an hour" beast. The cab driver, bless his soul, was regaling me with tales of Hollywood star sightings (mostly involving him, apparently). I was half-listening, half-plotting how to subtly steal his aux cord. (Don’t tell him I said that!)
1:30 PM: Check-in at the Wilshire Crest. Oh, hello charming lobby! The staff was lovely, which was a relief because after the luggage incident, my patience was running on fumes. My room? Surprisingly good – considering I’d snagged a "bargain" deal. The view wasn't exactly palm trees and sunshine, but hey, it wasn’t a brick wall either. Small victories.
2:00 PM: Unpack… or… what's a good way to describe it, i think this fits, unpacking is a chaotic explosion of wardrobe malfunction. My suitcase exploded. Clothes everywhere! Seriously, it looked like a fashion bomb had detonated in my already-tiny hotel room. Found a pair of socks I thought I'd lost three years ago. Score one for the universe.
3:00 PM: Lunch. Okay, so I wandered blindly out and stumbled upon a little deli down the street. Ordered a sandwich that was… okay. Nothing to write home about, but it filled the void in my stomach. And hey, it was something. I swear, the best part was watching the locals come and go. People-watching is an art form, and Los Angeles is the Louvre.
4:00 PM: Attempt to visit the La Brea Tar Pits. Keyword: attempt. I got lost. Utterly, gloriously lost. Google Maps was failing me, I was melting in the afternoon sun, and the vague "smell of tar" was NOT helping my mood. This is a sign, right? So, I took a detour.
5:00 PM: A detour, I swear, I was just walking around and ended up on a side street that looked straight out of an old movie. A vintage bookstore. And it was exactly what I needed. I lost an hour getting lost in the shelves. Walked out with a signed first edition of something I'll probably never read, it was pure impulse, but… no regrets.
6:00 PM: Back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. This is where I realized I'd forgotten my hairbrush. Ugh.
8:00 PM: Dinner at a "highly-rated" restaurant, I think it was the Buvette or something. The food was good, but it was all a bit… pretentious. And loud. I ended up people-watching again, trying to decipher the social dynamics of a table of what looked like very important people. I think I deciphered that I was severely underdressed, but now I don’t care.
9:30 PM: Back at the hotel, fighting the urge to order a pizza but giving in. Why? Because vacation. And because, if I'm being honest, my diet's been a disaster since I stepped off the plane. Watched some cheesy reality TV and passed out.
Day 2: Hollywood Hysteria (and an Unplanned Spa Moment)
9:00 AM: Wake up, feeling slightly hungover from the pizza. Ugh. Coffee is a must.
10:00 AM: The Walk of Fame. Okay, I knew this was touristy, but it's Hollywood. Walked, gawked at the stars. Tried to find my favorite actor's star, got distracted by the sheer volume of people, souvenir shops, and costumed characters. I swear, there was a guy dressed as Iron Man who looked genuinely miserable. Felt you, buddy.
11:30 AM: The TCL Chinese Theatre. Saw the handprints and footprints. Cool. Impressive. Started contemplating the life choices that led me here.
12:30 PM: Quick lunch in a cafe. The food was overpriced and the waiter kept trying to upsell me on things. Honestly, L.A. is a masterclass in the art of extracting money from tourists.
2:00 PM: The Getty Center. Okay, this was great. The architecture, the art, the views. Absolutely worth the effort. I actually felt… cultured. (For about 30 minutes, anyway.)
4:00 PM: Oops. An impulse? I passed by a little spa on the way back. I'm usually not a spa person, however, after walking all of the Hollywood streets I was dying. A massage and facial… I was skeptical because I’m lazy and it's not really my thing, but damn. I was so relaxed, I almost fell asleep on the table. Seriously, best accidental decision ever.
6:00 PM: Dinner at a place called "The Ivy", which was like walking into… a painting of what someone thinks "glamorous" is. The food was good, but it was worth it for the people-watching. The sheer effort everyone was putting into their outfits… amazing.
8:00 PM: Drinks, back at the Wilshire Crest bar, I struck up a conversation with a local. She told me about her life, her dreams, her gripes about the traffic. Real human connection. This is what it's all about, right? At least, I told myself that as I ordered a second (and third) martini.
10:00 PM: More reality TV. Seriously, it's a problem.
Day 3: Saying Goodbye (and Wishing I Could Stay… or Not?)
9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. (Okay, fine, it was mostly stale pastries, but I was running on fumes by this point.)
10:00 AM: Errands and souvenir shopping. I found a quirky little shop with the weirdest stuff. Bought a t-shirt with an avocado on it. It was a serious impulse buy, but I love it.
12:00 PM: Late lunch. Trying to find a restaurant a little closer to the hotel. It was an interesting place, all organic and weird and I liked it!
2:00 PM: Packed. Sort of. More like, crammed everything haphazardly back into the suitcase, praying it would actually close.
3:00 PM: Check out of the hotel. Sadly, goodbye Wilshire Crest!
4:00 PM: Headed to LAX, which was, of course, a nightmare. But, whatever, I did it!
6:00 PM: Flight home.
7:00 PM: I can't wait to get back home, sleep in my bed, and then go back to LA (after I recovered from the chaos).
Post-Trip Thoughts (AKA, Ramblings as I Reflect on the Madness)
So, was this trip perfect? Heck no. Did I see everything? Probably not. Did I make a few questionable decisions? Absolutely. Would I do it all again? Without a doubt. Los Angeles is a crazy, wonderful, exhausting, and occasionally bewildering place. And, despite the chaos and the occasional bout of self-doubt, it was… well, it was my kind of adventure. And that's what matters.
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Wilshire Crest Hotel: LA's Hidden Gem? (You HAVE to See This!) - FAQs (Oh Boy, Where Do I Even Begin...)
Is the Wilshire Crest *really* a hidden gem? Come on, spill!
What's the vibe? Describe it in, like, two words.
The rooms. Spill the tea! Are they… liveable?
Parking! Tell me about the parking situation—my anxiety level is already rising.
Is there a restaurant or anything nearby to grab a bite?
What's the staff like? Are they… friendly?
Okay, *one* really good thing about the Wilshire Crest. Give me *one* reason to book it.
But what if I hate it? What are the downsides?
So, final verdict - Would you go back?
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