Need toddler/baby friendly hotel near Santa Monica/Malibu

[swampnurse]

We have family getting married at Boccaccio's on the Lake in Westlake Village, CA in October. The couple claims that it is about 10-20 minutes from Santa Monica or Malibu.

At that time our son will be a little over 2years and our daughter will be about 3 months old. We will be driving, so we can bring our own PNP for the baby and hopefully our son will be sleeping in a bed by then.

Looking for a nice, but not really expensive place to stay.

[DebbieJ]

You would be just over the mountains from Malibu. 10-20 minutes is about right, barring any traffic. Staying in Santa Monica would be further and have worse traffic.

Honestly, you'd probably be better off staying in the Valley. If you aren't familiar with those roads, I doubt you want to be driving back over the mountain pass to Malibu at night after the wedding.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[dhano923]

I agree with the PP. The roads over the hill are pretty curvy and there aren't too many lights so if you aren't familiar with the area, it can be a little scary at night.

I'd stay in the Valley too (but I'm biased since I live here ;)) There are several nice hotels in the Woodland Hills area (Hilton, Marriott) and also smaller places like Best Western. If you don't mind driving a little more, there are Summerfield Suites in Chatsworth that are like little mini apartments with a kitchen, living room, etc. When my brother got married last July, we had several people with kids stay there because the kids had room to run around and it made mealtime a lot easier.

[DebbieJ]

>I'd stay in the Valley too (but I'm biased since I live here
>;))

And I'm biased because I used to live in the Valley. :) West Hills, to be exact.

There are also a few hotels in Calabasas--and some fun restaurants and shopping, too.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03
2 year check up: 25 lbs with clothes on and 35 inches!
BFARed for 20 months and 6 days
(Breastfeeding After Reduction is possible! www.bfar.org)

http://www.bfar.org/members/fora/style_avatars/Ribbons/18months-bfar.jpg

[chiqanita]

If you can find a La Quinta Inn or Residence Inn I've always had luck with them. When we drove to Illinois last summer we stopped at every La Quinta Inn for our bottle and diaper breaks...our twins were 9 months then. LQI managers were so great about letting us use their lounge area even though we weren't staying with them. They even offered us coffee as we fed and changed the boys. Locally we've stayed at both places. RI has King suites with a sofa bed, kitchenette and they loan out play yards if you need one.

[nfowife]

We stayed at the Westlake Village Inn for a wedding about 1.5 years ago and it was very nice. Probably a bit $$, but they had very nice suites, a beautiful pool area, and I was very pleased with the service.

[swampnurse]

Thanks so much! See, i knew my relatives weren't giving all the info. No one mentioned the roads! We live in the San Francisco area, so i'm used to curvy, hilly roads, but would prefer to avoid unfamiliar ones.

[swampnurse]

Just wanted to bump this up once more to see if anyone has more ideas. I'm leaning toward that Summerfield Suites in chatsworth but need to see exactly how far it is.

Is there anything else fun to do around there for my 2 yr old?

[dhano923]

Summerfield Suites is a whopping 2 minute drive from my house. :D

There are a couple play places in this area, there are 3 malls, two of which have play areas for toddlers. My son is also 2 and we like to go to one of the play places in Woodland Hills -- it's targeted towards younger children, which is nice. There are a couple nice parks too (Mason Park and Chatsworth Park).

If you have an afternoon free and don't mind driving a little (about a 25 minute drive from Chatsworth), there is a great farm in Moorpark called Underwood Farms. They have animals, and pick your own fruits and veggies. My son loves to go there -- admission is only $3/person, and you can buy tickets for the pony ride. My son loves to feed the animals and ride the ponies, and last week we picked some strawberries too. It's a nice way to spend the afternoon.

[Melanie]

Why not stay *in* Westlake? It's not a bad place to stay...very nice. Not "LA" more like 'burbs. Just watch out for the suburban assault vehicles and the people driving them. ;)

I'm not sure what you want to spend, but I like the Hyatt Westlake Plaza.

Or if you want beach then I'd go for malibu b/c you're just a curving mountain-road away and there are several roads to choose from to get from PCH to the 101.

What type of lodging are you looking for? I can help you find something closer to WLV if you like.

[Melanie]

I think that you can find something much closer than Chatsworth. I wouldn't want to be too far off of the 101 b/c Valley street traffic can be a headache during peak times and that would be stressful, to me, if I was trying to make it to a wedding.

Here's a good overall map to show you these cities and their relative locations:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/mp8shnt/sfv.jpg
The 101 pretty much runs along the bottom of the map at the edge of the labeled cities. To the left (north) of Calabasas is Agoura Hills, then Westlake Village.

Here's another one, not totally accurate but it gives you a general iidea, with the 101 running above the blue area labeled "LA/Westside," but keep in mind there's a bunch of mountains between that and the rest of the map. Also the 23 freeway runs along the left edge of the map.
http://idx123.realtytech.com/images/map.gif

HTH

[Dcclerk]

OK, I live in LA and ALWAYS get confused as to what cities are in what Valley. Those maps are so helpful, Melanie. Thanks! I know that you weren't posting them for my own geographic edification, but it sure did help :)

[spencersmommy]

Yes, stay in the area. Westlake Hyatt is nice. Also, check around Thousand Oaks. I can't think of any off the top of my head (i used to live there, too!), but there are several. The area is sooo nice. I miss it! Not too traffic-y. Lots of families, good mall, lots of parks and you can go over the hill to the beach. You will have a great time!

[Melanie]

>OK, I live in LA and ALWAYS get confused as to what cities
>are in what Valley. Those maps are so helpful, Melanie.
>Thanks! I know that you weren't posting them for my own
>geographic edification, but it sure did help :)

LOL, you're welcome. I'm the same way with the Beach cities. ;)

[swampnurse]

Thanks so much for all the advice. I'd like to stay in WLV, but i'm thinking a suite-type place would be best since i think i really need a separate room for my toddler. and a kitchenette would be nice too for warming bottles for the newborn and microwaving stuff.

i'm hoping by october that he will be sleeping in a bed 'cause i don't know how i'm going to get him to sleep in a PNP or hotel port-a-crib at his size! He's 22 months old and already 37" & 38lbs. He hasn't slept anywhere but his own crib in his own room since he was about 10 months old. Wish me luck.