good sleep: Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

I love a good hotel. So much that, at one point, I lived in a hotel for a year. 

The Hollywood Roosevelt has all of the things that I love about a good hotel: a good bed with premium linens, a dark, mysterious hotel bar with experienced bartenders, interesting patrons, a beautiful pool with chair-side service, attention to aesthetics and, hopefully, a sense of history - and it's this one that The Hollywood Roosevelt has in spades.

Opened in Hollywood in 1927 at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of Hollywood, The Roosevelt was a glamorous destination for anyone who was "anyone".  And by anyone, I mean the likes of  Charlie Chaplin, Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, F.Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and Marilyn Monroe.  Founded by a group of Hollywood power players (including Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford) as a place to house East Coast talent, The Roosevelt was a true Hollywood hotspot in it's heyday. Today it is owned by theThompson Hotel group who have returned the hotel to it's original splendour. The Hollywood Roosevelt of today is popular with all of the young stars who are often photographed coming and going from the restaurants and sipping cocktails by it's very famous pool (that features a David Hockney mural on it's floor). Most famously - it was the site of the very first Academy Awards Ceremony. It was also a one-time home to Marilyn Monroe, whom, *it has been said*, haunts the hotel. Her particular room, now updated as a luxury suite, can be reserved for upwards of $800 / night. But don't let that nightly rate scare you. While this hotel is definitely not for those on a budget, it can be more affordable than you might think. Basic rooms start at around $250 US per night. Some of the larger rooms are even equipped with fridges and dining areas. And, since Hollywood is not the best of neighborhoods, there are plenty of inexpensive places to eat (hello In n Out Burger)!  within walking distance. And if you don't want to have a car at your disposal - you can walk to many attractions or take public transit.

I will be checking into the Hollywood Roosevelt once again when I visit for Oscar Weekend. With it's close proximity to the Kodak Theatre and being a key location for industry parties, it'll be a great place to chill, enjoy the warm weather, people watch and take some great photos. And based on my last visit, I'll no doubt have some excellent stories to share here...