THE BIG SLEEP

  TOP HOTELS

Bel Age Hotel

1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood Tel (310) 854 1111 Spacious and comfortable; Russian restaurant and rooftop pool with fabulous views.

Bel-Air Hotel

701 Stone Canyon Road, Bel Air Tel (310) 472 1211 Old fashioned Hollywood charm, featuring acclaimed restaurant and bar within a landscaped garden. High tea on the outdoor patio overlooking a pond.

Beverly Hills Hotel

9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills Tel (310) 276 2251 Luxurious splendour.

Chateau Marmont Hotel

8221 Sunset Blvd, Hollywood Tel (213) 656 1010 Old time rock 'n' roll reputation.

Four Seasons Hotel

300 S Doheny Dr, Beverly Hills Tel (310) 273 2222 Chic hotel providing personal attention.

Hotel Nikko

La Cienega at Burton Way Tel (310) 247 0400 Elegant and intimate.

Le Parc

733 W Knoll, West Hollywood Tel (310) 855 8888 Small, European-style hotel. Quiet, but exclusive, with rooftop pool. Favourite with movie industry executives. Long-term apartments available.

Mondrian Hotel

8440 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood Tel (213) 650 8999 Designed with the business traveller in mind.

Peninsula Hotel Beverly Hills

9882 Little Santa Monica, Beverly Hills Tel (310) 551 2888 New and highly recommended.

Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas

1200 N Alta Loma, West Hollywood Tel (310) 657 1333 Unique, even by Hollywood standards. Has one of the hottest bars in town and a laid-back rock 'n' roll atmosphere.

  ALSO RECOMMENDED

Georgian Hotel

1415 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA90401 Tel (310) 395 9945, or 1 800 588 8147 (Freefone) An ocean front landmark in restaurant row, 10 minutes from LAX. Mountain views too.

L'Ermitage

9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills Tel (310) 278 3344 Aspires to be the most elegant and comfortable spot on earth.

Loews

Santa Monica Beach Hotel, 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica Tel (310) 458 6700 / (800) 23-LOEWS 350-room hotel with ocean views and five-storey atrium lobby, which plays host to the AFM.

Oceana Suites Hotel

Ocean Ave, Santa Monica Tel (310) 393 0486 Santa Monica's best value hotel; spacious suites including full kitchens, overlooking the ocean.

Shutters Hotel

1 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica Tel (310) 458 0030 By the beach. Handy for AFM and the Venice Beach scene.

Western Bonaventure

404 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles Tel (213) 624 1000 Huge, modern but stylish downtown hotel.