Beverly Hills Hotel: 60 Unforgettable Reasons to Stay (and You Won't Believe #5!)
Beverly Hills Hotel: 60 Unforgettable Reasons to Stay (and You Won't Believe #5!) – A Chaotic Love Letter
Okay, let's be real. Beverly Hills Hotel. The Pink Palace. It's iconic. And writing a review about it feels… well, like trying to describe the Sistine Chapel after one too many espressos. But, you know, I'm going to try. Because dammit, I love this place. And maybe, just maybe, I can help you figure out if you will too. Prepare for a bumpy ride, because this isn't your average perfectly polished travel blog post. This is… me, on the edge of my seat, reliving the whole thing.
First things first: Accessibility? Yes, mostly. But… (and this is important!)
They say they have facilities for disabled guests. (Okay, I'm copying and pasting to save time on each one.) And they do. Elevator for the win (important!). But the devil's in the details, right? I’m not in a wheelchair, but I did see a couple struggling a bit at the entrance. The ramp was a bit…well, let’s just say it wasn't exactly smooth sailing for a very happy elderly couple. But they are trying, I saw it. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside the property is there. And they do have a big selection for things to do around the hotel.
Okay, deep breath. Let's dive into the "Reasons to Stay" – starting with food, because, duh.
The Dining Scene: A feast for the senses (and the wallet, let's be honest). Oh my GOD, the food. Where do I even begin?
- Restaurants: I’m a sucker for a good buffet in the restaurant – and the one here is legendary. But even better? Room service. 24/7. Yes, you read that right. 24/7. And when I say "room service," I mean the full shebang. Steak at 3 AM? Done. Salad at sunrise? Absolutely.
- Cafe & Snacks: Coffee/tea in the restaurant, Coffee shop and a snack bar. All there, all tempting. The coffee shop is my go-to for a quick caffeine hit. Desserts in restaurant are a must. Don't skip it.
- Specialty: They have Asian cuisine in the restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant. Something for everyone really!
- Booze Time: Bar, Happy hour, Poolside bar. Need I say more? Cocktails here are not just drinks; they’re experiences. Seriously. Try the classic margarita. Thank me later.
- More Food: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Breakfast takeaway service, Bottle of water, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Food delivery, Kids meal, Poolside bar, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant. (And if you're feeling a bit rough the next morning, they even do Breakfast in room.)
Cleanliness and Safety: The New Reality
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment. Basically, they're taking this seriously. Which, frankly, is a massive relief. I saw staff diligently cleaning everything.
Next Level Relaxation: Spa & Gym & Bliss
- Ways to Relax (Prepare to fall in love):
- Body scrub: Never had one, but sounds divine.
- Body wrap: Again, intriguing.
- Fitness center: Totally legit, and surprisingly not packed with aggressively toned people.
- Gym/fitness: More space to work out, great!
- Massage: This is non-negotiable. Get one. Seriously. Especially if you're jet-lagged.
- Pool with view: The view is the classic Beverly Hills and it's everything.
- Sauna: Yes, all the yes.
- Steamroom: Ahhh, yes.
- Spa: Seriously, get the spa.
- Spa/sauna: The ultimate relaxation combo.
- Swimming pool: The outdoor one is the iconic one, naturally.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: And trust me, it's everything you've dreamed of.
- Foot bath: Something I will be sure to try next time!
The Nitty Gritty: Services and Conveniences
- The Help:
- Air conditioning in public area: Essential.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: If you're planning a wedding…
- Business facilities: Xerox/fax in business center, meetings, seminars, etc.
- Cash withdrawal: Convenient.
- Concierge: They can get you anything. Anything.
- Contactless check-in/out: Good for the times we live in.
- Currency exchange: Nice to have.
- Daily housekeeping: Your room will always be a perfect haven.
- Doorman: They know your name by the second day.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: Practical and invaluable.
- Elevator: Always appreciated.
- Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests: Things you expect.
- Food delivery: The ultimate indulgence.
- Gift/souvenir shop: To take a piece of that magic home.
- Indoor venue for special events: If you're planning a party.
- Invoice provided, Luggage storage: Practical!
- Meeting/banquet facilities, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display: Serious business options.
- Safe deposit boxes: For peace of mind.
- Seminars: If you're inclined.
- Smoking area: Yep.
- Terrace: Perfect for a sunset cocktail.
- Wi-Fi for special events: Essential!
- Xerox/fax in business center: If you're working, this is useful.
- For the Kids:
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: They've thought of everything.
- The Tech Stuff:
- Internet Access: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (hallelujah!), Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas. All essentials.
The Room: Your Private Oasis (Details, Details!)
- Available in all rooms:
- Additional toilet: Always a plus.
- Air conditioning: Thank god.
- Alarm clock: To wake up for your life.
- Bathrobes, Bathroom phone: Luxurious!
- Bathtub: A total treat.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for those late-night movie binges.
- Carpeting, Closet: Standard.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Love it.
- Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water: The works!
- Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box: Safety and security at your fingertips.
- Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: All the things.
- Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace: Productivity if you must!
- Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking: Crucial.
- On-demand movies: Perfect for a chill night in.
- Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator: Convenience!
- Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area: Comfort!
- Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector: All the things.
- Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries: You won't lack anything.
- Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: The essentials!
The Unforgettable Moments (and #5 That You Won't Believe!)
Let me tell you about #5. (Drumroll, please…) The banana leaf wallpaper! Yes, that iconic, instantly recognizable, oh-so-Instagrammable wallpaper.
Indonesian Paradise: Your Luxe 2BR Pool Villa Awaits (V221)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups. This is NOT your sanitized, perfectly-scheduled, "blah blah blah sunrise yoga" itinerary. This is a raw, unfiltered (and probably slightly caffeinated) journey through… well, Sixty Beverly Hills. Pray for me.
The Disaster-Prone Diary of a Slightly-Unhinged Traveler (Sixty Beverly Hills Edition)
Day 1: Arrival and The Great Pool Fiasco (Or, My First Brush with LA Glamour…and Chlorine)
- 10:00 AM (ish): Arrive at LAX, looking like a rumpled travel brochure reject. Seriously, how do people in LA always look perfect? I'm pretty sure I have a permanent crease in my jeans from sitting on a cross-country flight. The airport? A sprawling, air-conditioned purgatory. Finding a ride to Sixty Beverly Hills felt like navigating a minefield of screaming tourists and overpriced coffee.
- 11:30 AM: Check-in (finally!). The lobby… well, it smells money. And not in a sleazy, "used-car salesman" kind of way. It's more like… clean, crisp dollar bills. I'm already intimidated. The room? Gorgeous. Modern, minimal, but with a certain something. You know, the kind of something that makes you instantly regret all your luggage.
- 1:00 PM: Pool time! (This is where things start to unravel.) I'd envisioned myself, languidly sipping a cocktail, sun-drenched and sophisticated. The reality? Me, fumbling with my sunscreen, tripping over a pool chair, and nearly swallowing a mouthful of chlorinated water. Twice. I swear, a small child laughed at me. The "sophisticated" went right out the window. Also, the cocktails? Overpriced. And they tasted suspiciously of… more chlorine.
- 3:00 PM: Sulking in my room. Contemplating ordering a pizza and hiding under the comforter. However, I can't let one embarrassing pool incident derail my entire trip. I should probably shower.
- 6:00 PM: Attempt at dinner at the hotel's restaurant. It's called… oh, the name escapes me right now. Let's just call it "Fancy Pants Place." The food was…okay. Overly fussy plating, tiny portions, a waiter who seemed to despise me, and an insane bill that made my bank account weep. I'm pretty sure I'm going to live on room service crackers for the rest of the trip.
- 8:00 PM: Fell asleep reading a trashy celebrity biography. Woke up at 2 AM with a pounding headache. Is that jet lag, the overpriced cocktails, or the lingering shame of the pool incident? Who knows?
Day 2: Hollywood Highs (and Lows) & Burger Bliss
- 9:00 AM (ish): Breakfast. Attempt to find something edible at the hotel buffet. Managed to get a decent coffee, at least. This is a victory.
- 10:30 AM: Hollywood! Yes, the actual Hollywood. The Walk of Fame? Crowded, chaotic, and honestly, a little bit sad. Seeing the stars in person is… underwhelming. Seeing the tourists elbowing each other to get a picture of a star they don't even know? Entertaining. I spent far too long trying to find my favourite actor, who sadly wasn't there.
- 12:30 PM: Exploring the shops nearby. All the tourist traps, the tacky souvenirs… but I purchased a classic Hollywood-themed T-shirt. No regrets.
- 2:00 PM: The Griffith Observatory. Stunning views of the city. Also: giant crowds. Managed to snag some photos, dodged selfie sticks (a sport in itself), and felt a genuine sense of wonder. It actually reminded me of what I came here for in the first place. The view was breathtaking.
- 4:00 PM: BURGERS. I needed a burger. A big, greasy, perfect burger to cleanse the Hollywood palate. Found an amazing little place called "Burger Heaven" (or something equally unpretentious). The burgers were glorious. The fries were crispy. I ate until I felt vaguely nauseous. Worth it.
- 6:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Feeling slightly shell-shocked by the city. The noise, the glamour, the sheer volume of people… it's exhausting.
- 7:00 PM: Attempt at ordering room service. Failed. They wouldn't take my preferred order. I will be hungry.
- 10:00 PM: Bed. Hopefully, sleep this time.
Day 3: The Art of Doing Nothing (And Maybe Failing Miserably At It)
- Morning: Okay, no pressure. I decided this morning, I would be as relaxed as humanly possible. In the morning, I had a coffee and croissant, and watched the news. I've decided to spend the day… doing as little as possible. A radical concept, I know.
- 12:00 PM: I managed to laze by the pool for about an hour, and I did not fall in any water. Still no cocktails. Instead I spent the time people watching, and observing the pool.
- 2:00 PM: I ventured into the hotel's spa. I went in for the massage, but I needed a nap.
- 5:00 PM: I attempted to write in my journal. The blank page mocks me. The pressure to say something profound about my "journey" is overwhelming. Fine. I'll just write about how I almost got my toe caught in a revolving door. (True story).
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at… you know what? I'm going back to Burger Heaven. Comfort food. Simple pleasures. No judgment.
Day 4: Departure (with a side of existential dread)
- Morning: My flight is today. I feel oddly melancholic. This trip was far from perfect. The pool fiasco, the overpriced cocktails, the general sense of awkwardness… But I saw things. I ate things. I survived. And I learned, despite myself, to appreciate the messy, chaotic beauty of it all.
- 10:00 AM (ish): Final breakfast. Another decent coffee. They got that right, at least.
- 11:00 AM: Check-out. The staff is surprisingly friendly, and I kind of like them.
- 12:00 AM: Driving to LAX. My head is back in the state it was in the first time, and I hate this city.
- Rest of the day: Flight home. Thinking about that burger. And maybe planning a trip to somewhere quiet.
P.S. Don't ever, ever wear a light-colored bathing suit to a chlorinated pool. Just trust me on this one.
Indonesian Paradise: Your Private Pool Villa Awaits! (#V297)
Beverly Hills Hotel: 60 Unforgettable Reasons (and You Won't Believe #5!) - My Unfiltered Take
1. Okay, Seriously, Why *Beverly Hills Hotel*? Isn't It… Overhyped?
Overhyped? Honey, yes and no. It's like, you *know* it's a cliché, a total fantasy land. But then you walk through those iconic banana leaf wallpapers, and BAM! You're transported. It's a feeling. Okay, I felt like I was entering a time warp. It's a vibe. It's a whole damn *thing*. Honestly, the hype is largely deserved. It's the history, the glamour, the… well, you'll see.
2. The Iconic Banana Leaf Wallpaper: Is it Really That Instagrammable? (And Does it Get Old?)
Instagrammable? Oh. My. God. Yes. It's mandatory. You *have* to. I swear, I saw three different proposals happening *right* there in front of it. And does it get old? Never! I mean, maybe if you *lived* there. But for a visitor? It's magic. Every. Single. Time. I actually found myself just standing and staring, just taking it all in. Seriously, the detail... I was mesmerised.
3. The Bungalows: Are They Worth the Astronomical Price Tag?
Worth it? Okay, let's be real – unless you're a trust fund baby, probably not. Unless you’re sharing the bill with a group of friends like I did. But... if you *can* swing it? Ugh. Yes. The privacy! The space! The feeling of being a Hollywood starlet escaping the paparazzi (even though I'm definitely not). Seriously, I spent an hour just wandering around mine, touching everything. Theyre so big. You could lose a small child in there. Okay, maybe not, but they’re dreamy.
Warning: you *will* feel like you're important. It's a dangerous game, my friends, a dangerous game.
4. The Polo Lounge: Is the Food Actually Good, Or Just a Place to Be Seen?
Okay, the Polo Lounge. This is where it gets complicated. The food? It's…fine. Honestly, nothing to *write* home about, Michelin-star-wise. But the experience? It's pure Hollywood theater! I mean, I saw a producer yelling into his phone, a couple shamelessly flirting across their table, and a starlet (I think) in a giant pair of sunglasses, inside! The people-watching is *unreal*. You *absolutely* need to order a McCarthy Salad, but do it for the sake of tradition, not necessarily because it blows your mind.
5. Wait For It... What's the "Unbelievable" Part?
Okay. This is the thing I'm obsessed with. Number 5: The damn *pool*. And not just any pool. It's this shimmering, perfect, turquoise dream. I'm not even a "pool person," usually. I'm more of a "beach person". But, oh. My. God. I spent an entire afternoon there, reading a book, pretending I wasn't eavesdropping on various conversations (mostly about deals and divorces, obviously). It’s the most gorgeous thing you can see.
But here’s the real kicker, I saw a dog. A tiny, perfectly groomed, probably designer-dog, wearing a little life vest. Okay, I lost it. I started laughing hysterically. The pool boy, who was *gorgeous*, just smiled. He probably sees it all the time. That’s Beverly Hills in a nutshell, folks.
Seriously, the dog in the life vest has me hooked, I'm not even kidding. I would go back just for that.
6. Beyond the Pool, What Else Stands Out? Service?
The service is pretty damn good. Not, like, perfect. I had to ask for an extra towel *twice*. But! The staff are *genuinely* friendly. They don't act like they're better than you (which, let's be honest, they probably are). It feels like they’re part of an actual team, they all seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs. They're not just robots following a script. That's important. And they're always, and I mean *always*, smiling.
7. The Spa: Is It a Relaxing Oasis, or a Pricey Letdown?
The spa is pure decadence. Okay, it’s expensive. But if you can swing it, do it. The massage was divine. I basically melted into a puddle of pure relaxation, and the eucalyptus steam room... heavenly. There was this weird moment where I thought I saw a celebrity peaking out of the steam room, but I was so relaxed I wasn't sure. Anyway, worth it.
8. The History: Does it Feel Like Living in the Past?
Absolutely! It's steeped in it and they lean into it. It's not some dusty museum, though. They’ve managed to keep the old-school charm without feeling old-fashioned. There’s a beautiful balance, if that makes sense. The black and white photos, the stories... you can almost feel the ghosts of old Hollywood wandering the halls. It's the story I love. I googled the heck out of this hotel.
9. The Boutique: Is It Full of Overpriced Junk?
Yes and no! The main store is a bit of a tourist trap. But they have some exclusive items, like the famous pink hotel logo scarves. I bought one. I know, I know... cliché. But… it’s a nice scarf! I did have second thoughts, but I was already in the door. Honestly, it’s good for a browse, but be prepared to shell out some serious cash if you find something you love. I did a lot of window shopping, and bought a cheap postcard.
10. Overall - Is the Beverly Hills Hotel Worth the Hype (and the Pricey Bill)?
