The Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel resort overlooks the Pacific Ocean, standing across the street from the famed Santa Monica Pier and close to the quaint shops and eateries of the Third Street Promenade. This Southern California hotel is close to the Santa Monica Convention Center, eight miles from Beverly Hills and 15 miles from downtown L.A. and Universal Studios Hollywood. The hotel staff also can arrange for guests to get bicycles, skates or rollerblades to explore Palisades Park, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach. Families and kids can pile in their vehicles for 30 mile junkets to Disneyland.

"Ocean view" is the operative phrase at this Santa Monica hotel. The award winning Mediterranean restaurant, Lavande, features terrace dining and floor to ceiling windows that afford diners with views of the ocean. The hotel's Papillon Bar serves up live jazz on weekends and ocean views seven days a week. Some guestrooms feature balconies with partial views of the Pacific. Guests also can gaze out to sea from the outdoor pool.

In the lobby, soft sofas and chenille chairs in private nooks provide the perfect spots for guests to relax, read or meet up with family members and friends. Hotel accommodations include such amenities as 24 hour room service, beauty salon, jewelry shop, car rental desk, fitness center, and day spa complete with treatment rooms.

In addition to balconies with either partial ocean views or of the pool, the Santa Monica hotel's 342 guestrooms feature contemporary décor, high speed Internet access, data ports, down comforters, terrycloth bathrobes, minibars, CD player, twice daily maid service, executive desks and 60 channel TVs.

Nine miles from Los Angeles International Airport, the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel is a great choice for families, couples and other vacationers looking for those quintessential L.A. and Southern California experiences.