Country
United States
City
Los Angeles (CA)
Hotel
Four Points by Sheraton
Notes
The Good
- Free shuttle to/from LAX
- Fast Internet and a pool to relax in
The Bad
- Rooms feel dated
- Cafe lacks good espresso coffee
X-Factor
- Great SPG elite recognition
Introduction
When that trip to Los Angeles involves a one-night stopover, ahead of an early flight the next day, a great airport hotel can be a godsend – one that's close to the terminal, has a decent bar and a good loyalty program to match, with the Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles Airport hotel ticking all those boxes.
But with competitive room rates drawn down by relatively dated rooms, is this LAX hotel worth the sticker price? Australian Business Traveller stopped by to find out.
Location & Impressions
Located close to LAX, guests can reach the hotel by free shuttle bus from designated and clearly-signed pick-up zones on the airport's lower arrivals road...
... and once inside the hotel proper are greeted by a lobby lounge area with plenty of natural light and views out to the pool area.
We'd booked a Deluxe King Room with a standard check-in time of 3pm, but actually arrived at 8am – a full seven hours early.
No rooms were immediately available, as you'd expect of a busy hotel, although in recognition of this author's Starwood Preferred Guest Gold membership the staff were able to ready a 'Deluxe Double Queen Room' within the hour.
Certainly, it meant a small downgrade within the same room category – rather than a space-available upgrade as outlined in the SPG perks – but after a long flight from Sydney we considered a no-charge early check-in a great welcome in itself.
Read: Fast-track to SPG Gold status with these five credit cards
Our room offered views of the streets towards LAX ...
... and for the aviation enthusiasts, what seemed a constant stream of Airbus A380s flying past – yet with minimal aircraft noise when the windows were closed.
Room
The rooms here at the Four Points LAX aren't as modern as you'd find at the Four Points by Sheraton Brisbane but still come well-equipped with 32-inch HDTVs and ample desk space...
... complemented by multiple desk-level power outlets, a USB port for charging smartphones and the like...
... and free wireless Internet with upload and download speeds both hovering around the 10mbps mark: great for getting things done or for sending important files, photos or large documents back home.
You'll also find a fridge, complimentary bottled water and tea- and coffee-making facilities awaiting your use...
... although bedside power is limited to a lone outlet on a power board: if you can reach far enough underneath the bed to yank it your way:
The bathroom is of ample size but with two of our pet peeves – a shower tub (or 'shub') rather than a walk-in shower, and pumped amenities affixed to the wall:
Even when the products are of a reasonable quality, which they were, shower dispensers always take the 'feel' of a hotel bathroom down a notch, and here was no exception.
Relax
Kicking off a relaxing stay, SPG Gold and Platinum members can choose a free US$10 drink voucher as their welcome gift which covered a nice glass of Pinot Gris at Brewster's – the hotel's "beererie", or what we'd call a bar – and went well with a spicy and tasty chipotle BBQ chicken pizza...
... with a chocolate lava cake also hitting the spot:
There's also a separate cafe bench in the lobby for an average-but-marginally-better-than-Starbucks espresso on the go, with other easy eats like a well-presented but relatively bland chicken Caesar salad, particularly so with the only "Caesar" dressing available being a balsamic vinaigrette:
The nearby outdoor pool also proved refreshing for a lap...
... while there's a 24-hour fitness centre for your morning workout with access included in the room rate:
All up, for a brief stopover on an affordable US$155 (A$208) room rate (including all local taxes), the hotel made for an enjoyable stay, and with SPG Gold delivering a 4pm late check-out to sweeten the deal further.
Certainly, the rooms are more dated than you'll find at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport hotel and the cafe isn't on-par with the usual Australian standards, but on price and perks, the Four Points still adds up.
Also read: Dream Hollywood hotel opening in Los Angeles
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1209
Most of the LAX airport hotels are dated. The best I have come across is the Westin which also has the best views of the airport. Unfortunately, it tends to be one of the dearer options.
VA
17 Dec 2013
Total posts 47
Pizza AND a chocolate dessert.
That's impressive
All in the name of research I guess
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 2441
In fairness, I watched the movie 'Chef' on the flight into LAX so when I saw the chocolate lava cake I wanted to see if the centre was indeed molten – and yes, it was. :P
(If you haven't seen it, great movie.)
14 Nov 2011
Total posts 21
Stayed at the Sheraton Gateway LAX twice last year. Stay there at least once a year. In April, the refurb was ongoing. In November it was done. And it was very good. Good room on the 15th floor with access to the club lounge. Although you had to pay for drinks while at the Sheraton Hong Kong you don't.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
That is a good hotel. However since the renovations, I find the prices seem to have increased.
I'm doing a TP run next month and stopping overnight twice at LAX. Anyone knows of a decent place for USD 100 or less?
I'm currently booked at the Ramada Hawthorn/LAX and hear it's a dump! But it's offering a good price with gym!
Thanks in advance!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Apr 2016
Total posts 7
As far as I know, the FP LAX is the only area hotel at LAX offering 24hr stay from check in. I regularly take advantage prior to late night flights to Oz; if I check-in around 7pm the evening prior, I can use the room right up until 7pm on day of departure, relax, shower etc after a day in LA, before taking the shuttle over. Or just chill out at the pool!
There's a process to book and minimum rate, but it's worth the effort. It would also work in reverse, after an early morning arrival into LAX.
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