We stayed at the Biltmore from July 12th to the 15th 2006. As a family (my husband, myself and three children aged 4, 11 and 16) travelling from Australia, we'd just had 3 days at Disneyland staying at a hotel in Anaheim. When we moved from Anaheim to the Biltmore I immediately felt we didn't fit in there. The ladies at reception were extremely unfriendly and when we asked them a question it was answered extremely reluctantly. My husband and I had a drink in the gallery bar (the children were in the room watching TV) and the barman was also not very friendly.

The concierge, a wonderful man called James, made up for the unfriendly staff with his charming and friendly manner and he gave us all sorts of helpful tips, such as the location of a market nearby where we could purchase fruit for the children (we bought 5 bananas for US 80 cents! wow! in Australia currently bananas cost about AU$2.50 each!!!) and advice on what sort of tour of LA we should go on.

Yes the Biltmore is a beautiful and impressive hotel with a colourful history. However it's the first hotel I've stayed at where there was no bar fridge in the room - this costs an extra $10 per night! The pool, which the children were desperate to try out was not available the whole time we were there (!!! in the middle of summer!!!! Grrr!!!) The room was spacious and comfortable but overall I would not stay there again.

If a dose of old fashioned gilt and glamour appeals, try the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown LA. The original home of the Oscars, the Biltmore was extensively refurbished a few years ago. The rooms varied in size and mine looked into the somewhat gloomy inner courtyard, but even though you could tell they were old-fashioned rooms done up, it all worked. The decor was fitting for the style/age of the hotel and that's what gave the Biltmore an edge in our minds - none of this admittedly pleasant but characterless browns, beige and white of modern hotels. The staff were most helpful, we loved the lobby bar and would definitely go back again.

I stayed here 2 nights for a meeting and am glad I didn't pay for it. The lobby and ballrooms are lovely, but it stops there. My room was small and dingy and the bathroom was gross. There was mold on the tiles and the bathtub didn't drain properly, so I ended up standing in a foot of water towards the end of my shower.

I have to say the staff was not very good in regards to meeting logistics. There were AV problems, the staff took forever to get there, and it took a long time to get things straightened out. They did not speak English very well and did not seem to fully understand what they were doing.

I would visit this hotel again to admire the lobby beauty but never pay to stay.

Was a little hard to find the Milennium Biltmore at night, but once we did, we found it to be lovely. Feels like an old distinguished hotel. The lobby and other rooms are gorgeous, really. Paid 150 per night (weekday rate), plus 30/night for parking (pretty much the standard for downtown).

Our room (called a King Deluxe, I believe) was quite spacious. The decoration was a little spartan perhaps, but still nice. Bathroom was fine, well-appointed, though a little on the small side. I think those that complain about the size, however, are maybe used to newer bigger hotels. We had more room than we needed overall. I guess it's possible that other four stars are nicer, but to us, it felt grand and stylish in an old school sort of way.

We loved being right downtown, three blocks from the MOMA, Disney Concert Hall, Music Center, Mark Taper, etc.

Would definitely stay there again.