I stayed at this hotel despite less than positive reviews. Primary reason for choosing the stay was the cost compared to other hotels close to the beach. Very pleasent stay. Service was exceptional. I was required to work during my vacation and the business center went beyond the call of duty to assist me with all my needs. Was given an room ugrade upon arrival without request and a tour by staff. The pool, bar and rooms were very guest friendly. The only negative was the cost of parking ($26) per day. This may a common price in LA but not expected. Would recomend to any family due to the location and value.

My husband, I and teenage daughter stayed at the Loews for two nights as part of our Californian vacation. On check in we encountered problems with the payment of our room. This had been prepaid by our travel agent in advance and the hotel insisted that this had not been done and did not appear willing to investigate. This was finally settled on the morning of our second day but more due to my efforts in ringing the UK to sort out. Our queen twin bedded room was pleasant enough and faced the pool/ocean. I had registered as a Loews customer before-hand and a bottle of cold white wine and nuts were delivered to the room (thank to someone on Trip Advisor)however, Valet parking @ $26 per day is very steep and the most expensive we paid at a hotel during our trip!. We had breakfast one morning and the view on the terrace was spoilt by the building work going on, the service was slow and it was a bit on the pricy side. As other views have expressed this hotel is not directly on the beach but across a small road. However, the beach is very pleasant and we hired bikes from the rental place just near the hotel and enjoyed a few hours riding up and down the boardwalk. The pier is very commericalised and really did not appeal however we did enjoy a meal at a very good Italian - (take a left out of the hotel and walk a few blocks down and across the road on a right hand corner and opposite the entrance to the pier). Pool and hot tub ok but it does get very busy around the pool during the day. All in all a pleasant stay but not sure if we would stay again at the hotel again.

I and my family, including two teens spent a week here last June. Overall, we enjoyed the hotel very much.

Staff were discreet and efficient. Top notch really. The location is excellent and its close to many great spots in Santa Moncia.

The rooms were fine, very comfortable and we had two connecting rooms.

Pool area and lounge are also first rate.
Overall, we enjoyed it so much, we're planning to come back.

And we're Canadians! CNN tells me everyone is shooting each other in LA on the highways. Nuts. The city is world class Santa Monica is great and the Loews fits in perfectly.

My 2 teenagers and I stayed at the Loews for 3 nights in the beginning of August. Loved it! In fact, a friend from SD came to stay with us and booked one night. She was upgraded to an ocean-view suite without asking and was it fabulous. Our family stayed in a double room with pool view, enough room for the 3 of us. We received excellent service at the pool for food and drinks and ate at the inside lobby-bar one evening and the restaurant another evening. Outstanding food at the restaurant, bkfast buffet is also good, but a bit pricey. We only did the buffet one morning, others we ate fruit, muffins and bagels at the bar-coffee bar in the lobby.
Gym is very good with lots of availability and room to stretch. We did not use the spa but it looked clean and staff were pleasant.
During one of the nights a very loud family with 3 young kids decided to use the pool after midnight (pool closed at 10:00p) They were screaming and yelling and security came and politely told them the hours and asked them to leave. A band played in the lobby area one evening until around 11:00p but otherwise, it was quite at night and active during the day and evenings, just want you would expect for LA.
Did the SM pier one evening with the kids. It is a very short distance to the beach. Kids took surf lessons from Matt and Jerry at Malibu LongBoards and had the time of their lives, would recommend to all. Walked to Venice Beach, interesting evolution of what was once muscle beach and is now lack-of-muscle beach. We love LA and will return to Loews!!