Pretty hotel, nicely situated in Santa Monica for access to the pier and promenade. Very small pool area but we preferred the beach. Over-priced breakfast buffet with average service at best in the restaurant. Slight problem with check-in time room availability but nothing outrageous. Room views vary by a large degree so I would strongly suggest understanding exactly the view you sign up for when you make your reservation if that is a concern to you. Rooms are very nicely appointed though not very large. ( I have never experienced such fantastic water pressure in the shower anywhere). Concierge, front desk and car valet service were all worry free.

Not a great experience. After coming from top hotels in San Francisco and Las Vegas, we were somewhat disappointed with our stay at Loews.

You are clearly paying for the location rather than the accomodation itself. The whole hotel was tired and needed a facelift and the staff were either excellent & very helpful or useless (no in-between!).

Our room was nice, although the bathroom was pretty horrible and felt like it didn't belong! It feels like they are trying - daily free papers, free treats around the pool, great HDTV in rooms, chocolates on pillows, etc, but it just wasn't quite right.

However there were two big pluses - one was the concierge desk, whom we found extremely helpful with nothing too much trouble - arguably the best concierge I have ever used. Secondly, was the restaurant which was bizarrely always empty (ok its a bit pricey) but the food was excellent. I would highly recommend the sea bass. It was almost a strange environment to come across such a gem and we were even more surprised to hear that Jean Christophe Novelli (the French celeb chef) was in and around the kitchen whilst we were there.

Overall, with the exception of the restaurant, we found ourselves walking past hotels thinking "we wish we'd stayed there". Overpriced and not worth the rating it gives itself. We would definitely not stay there again but we'd try the restaurant!!!!!!!

My son and I have just returned from a two week stay at this hotel and while we had a great holiday, I was slightly disappointed with the hotel. Last summer, we stayed at Loews in South Beach, Miami and it was an unbelievable, luxurious hotel that I could not fault in any way.

With this in mind and wanting to stay in LA this time, I went straight for Loews in Santa Monica so that we would be on the beach. However, from the beginning, the fact that this is 4 star whereas South Beach is 4 and 1/2 star, was very obvious. For a start, when we checked in with my friend and her son, we were told that they only had one room with a king size bed and one with two doubles. Although we had each decided to share a room with our sons to save money, we didn't really want to share a bed with them! When we made a fuss, they miraculously found what we wanted! However, although Expedia had requested ocean views for us, the hotel had no record of this and my son and I got a room overlooking the side of the hotel. We didn't really mind as we didn't spend much time looking out of the balcony and the room was very nice.

The difference between this and Miami were much more obvious around the pool area. Miami's pool is enormous - in fact, three round pools merged together with fountains and plenty of sunbed area with the attendants only too happy to move sunbeds around to cater for your every need. In Santa Monica however, the pool was ridiculously tiny - it was full when 10 children were in it and it was one level all along. There were a small number of sunbeds and when I asked an attendant to move one round for me on a couple of occasions, they refused, saying that they weren't allowed to do this, which annoyed me no end.

Also, in Miami, they had lovely little touches like putting sweets and flowers on your bed when they turned it down at night which they don't do here. And they don't change your sheets unless you ask them to in Santa Monica which was awful.

I had to use the internet a numer of times in the business centre for work and was appalled at how much they charged. It came to over £200 and luckily I can claim this back from work. It should be free for the amount they charge for everything else in this hotel!

The breakfasts are really expensive and they charge $25 per person for using the buffet and then have the cheek to expect a tip just for putting a glass of orange juice on the table.

Having said all that, we had a lovely, very comfortable stay, the shops and restaurants in Third Street Promenade were a 15 minute walk (although most Angelenos look at you as though you are mad if you suggest walking anywhere!) and we really enjoyed our holiday. Most of the concierges were very helpfu except one who gave us details of an LA Galaxy game that was on while we were there which my son was very excited about, but neglected to tell us until we happened (luckily!) to check on the day, that it was an away game, taking place in San Remo!!!

I really enjoyed staying at the hotel but I think it is very expensive for what you get. Thank goodness I never bothered to hire a car as valet parking costs a fortune there!

So, we have been staying here since they opened, always enjoy it, some more than others. We also stay at Shutters and Casa del Mar. Problem is, we want an ocean view room and the latter two have really jumped up in price the last few yrs. This year the Loews did too ( I stay in the same room type if available and am now paying double what I paid16 years ago). Oh well, that's pretty much all over the country for any ocean-view property in the summer. This was THE BEST ever at the Loews, starting with the warm, friendly check-in, great concierge help, and outstanding room. You SEE the beach, open your sliding glass door and HEAR the surf, the bed is more comfortable than ever, pure R&R for my tired self! I didn't want to leave or move. I don't usually utilize the pool but this too was a pleasure. Unlike the other properties, you can lay out very close to the water on the western edge of the pool area. At night, they have gas burning fireplaces there and that too is heaven, the surf sound just beyond. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say stay here IF you need a full ocean-view room. If not, the other two hotels are possibly more comfortable.