Trendy boutique hotels in Los Angeles can be pricey: Rooms at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica or The Beverly Hills Hotel, for example, go as high as $700 this fall. The good news is that more affordable, non-chain options exist just outside the city -- meaning you won’t spend your vacation days in traffic. Offering on-site amenities like a pool or restaurant in areas close to attractions, the beach, or neighborhoods brimming with eateries and boutiques, here are a few hotels that are high on design but not on cost in L.A. County.

Hotel Hermosa

One of L.A.'s Beach Cities, Hermosa is beloved for its “Strand,” a paved beachfront path popular for rollerblading and bicycling. Close to the thoroughfare and the Hermosa Beach Pier is Hotel Hermosa, which has 81 rooms decked out in calming shades of turquoise and beige; guests will also find Molton Brown toiletries and a microwave. Its crown jewel is The Yard, the property's expansive sundeck with pool tables, fire pits, a bar, bold patio furniture, and grassy areas. Other amenities include a mini yoga studio, a bistro, a heated outdoor pool, complimentary WiFi, and beach cruisers to rent.
Rates this fall start at $149 per night under the advance purchase rate.  

 

Farmer’s Daughter Hotel

Across the street from the Original Farmers Market and within walking distance to The Grove in the Mid-Wilshire part of L.A., this homey hotel has a lot of quirks. The 66 rooms have Midcentury Modern furnishings like recliners and Adirondack rocking chairs, hardwood floors, and denim duvets. Beyond the rooms, check out the pool, Tart Restaurant (which serves comfort foods like fried chicken and waffles or country fried steak, from $15), and a whiskey reception. Carve out some time to visit nearby sights, like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, La Brea Tar Pits, Craft and Folk Art Museum, and George C. Page Museum.
Nightly rates start at $170 this fall.

 

The Dixie Hollywood Hotel

The 70-room Dixie Hollywood Hotel is near the Walk of Fame and fits right into Tinseltown with its depictions of film and music legends like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Michael Jackson in splashy murals. Rooms are simple, complemented by pops of coral or aqua and an accent wall painted with the Hollywood sign and palm trees. You'll also get a microwave and fridge, and dogs are welcome, too. Bonus: Parking at the hotel is free, a rarity in the city.
Rooms are priced from $138 this fall.

 

Venice Beach Waldorf

Just across the street from the sand and famed Venice Beach Boardwalk, the 30-unit Venice Beach Waldorf feels like your cousin's stylish loft. Characterized by exposed brick walls and a minimalist design, accommodations come in several configurations -- including partial ocean-view studios, one-bedroom units, and penthouse apartments that all have four-burner stoves, refrigerators, microwaves, and other comforts of home. On the ground floor, slip into one of several eateries for coffee and other grab-and-go items like smoothies, juices, wraps, and sandwiches; don't forget a trip to the rooftop deck for some spectacular views.
This fall, studio rates are priced from $150 per night.