I needed an LAX airport hotel, and decided that instead of going back to the Hyatt Place in El Segundo (which I much like, though shuttle reservations are needed) or the full service Sheraton LAX (generally the best LAX airport hotel, ‘in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king’), I’d check out the Concourse Hotel.
This used to be the Radisson, but Hyatt has taken over and is in the process of renovating.
The rate was $109, which I thought was reasonable, and it would give me a chance to try something new.
Previous installments:
An airport hotel needs to be able to reliably get you to the airport, and this was reputed to have the best, most frequent shuttle.
LAX is a nightmare to drive around and through, that slows down shuttles, although I still lay fault with hotels and other shuttle providers over frequency and capacity. They often don’t run enough shuttles, and shuttles that aren’t big enough will tend to skip the rest of their runs if they fill up.
They claim the shuttle will pick you up every 10 minutes. That’s much better than competitors. Indeed, I waited less than 5 minutes for one to arrive.
The hotel shares the shuttle with the parking structure next door. We rode the shuttle to the parking garage, it let out everyone else who was heading to pick up their cars. I waited for the ‘next stop’ (the hotel) but the driver told us to get out and walk. The entrance to the hotel is directly across from the parking garage, it wasn’t a 2 minute walk so this was more than fine. When I mentioned it to the hotel though they were aghast, the shuttle is supposed to drop you off directly in front of the hotel.
Here’s the garage exit:
And the hotel’s entrance.
So we walked straight into the hotel.
Check-in was a breeze. There’s no lounge at the property, so I was told about Diamond breakfast in the restaurant. I didn’t receive an upgrade of any kind, but was happy to have a room facing airport operations.
Some of the hallways are drab, others are (a little bit) nicer, even on the same floor.
Although they could certainly be better-maintained.
The room itself was fairly non-descript.
There was a single bottle of complimentary water, and a coffee maker.
That sat on top of an empty refrigerator.
It has a basic bathroom, which was fine.
However, the condition of the room isn’t up to advertised standards. I’d say it’s poor even for a US Radisson (which is inherently inconsistent).
The carpet in the room was fraying and bubbling up.
The wallpaper was bubbling and peeling.
The paint around the windows was in pretty poor shape.
The toilet seat wasn’t on straight.
Here’s the room service menu, reasonably priced for what it is. (Click to enlarge)
When we arrived the room was quite hot, though it cooled down.
Time to head back to the airport, the shuttle arrived quickly — though it was yellow rather than the signature purple.
During this stay the Sheraton was $10 more expensive. At that price point, I’d pick the Sheraton in a heartbeat (as lackluster a property as that is).
I didn’t check out the rest of the hotel’s facilities, and didn’t avail myself of the complimentary breakfast. I was anxious to be on my way!
Once the Concourse Hotel completes renovations, though, I’ll check it out again — because a decent room coupled with the hotel’s proximity and prompt shuttle would make it easily the choice at LAX.
Stayed there last October and had the worst hotel experience ever.
Dirty room, no diamond recognition, noisy neighbors, etc.
Staff were willing to help but not able. Bunch of misinformation about hotel.
The only shining spot was the breakfast, which you missed out on. Oh, did I mention that they charged me $50 after I checked out for my complimentary diamond breakfast??
Had my senior prom here in 1978. Maybe it’s the same carpet. BTW, it was a Hyatt House then…
This hotel will not accept Hyatt gift cards for payment, which I find to be not only annoying but probably in violation of Hyatt’s rules.
I agree that the rooms are worn and tired-looking and badly in need of updating.
You didn’t miss anything in skipping breakfast. It is one of the world’s worst hotel breakfasts.
The only redeeming features of the hotel are that it counts as a Hyatt stay credit and that it is within walking distance of the terminal. It needs a lot of work to get up the standard of Hyatt.
How did Radisson get to be the brand of the faded and crumbling? What is the story there? Same for Ramada? Do these brands charge lower fees to owners? Do they expect less? This still looks like a crappy Radisson. Wonder if the same ownership group owns the hotel in downtown LA that tried to convert to Hyatt only to be booted from the brand.
You think Sheraton LAX > Rennaisance LAX?
As to the Radisson question, it seems clear that they do not enforce a very high brand standard, at least in USA.
It seems like this property has not made any capital investments in a long, long time, which is probably why Hyatt is not yet willing to brand it. I’m surprised, however, that Hyatt is even willing to let them use the “Hyatt affiliate” tag, given the deplorable condition of the property. It’s been at least 6 months, now, and there are still no visible signs of new capital investment. Hyatt needs to kick them out if they don’t get started on improving the rooms and restaurant.
Your room looks like the presidential suite compared to the one I had. I won’t stay there again until they complete renovations (I stayed there back in February).
Back in the 80s, this was a Hyatt property that I stayed at a couple of times. It was tired then…
Just stayed at Sheraton LaX, the other day half the hotel was shut down for renovation, so that should be a good tipping point to come back to Sheraton
I got the same poor condition room as you, Gary, but the breakfast was superb: fresh OJ, a three egg white omelet made perfectly (soft) and in fast time!
The general manager is very proactive and will do all he can, but he can’t turn chicken sh*t into chicken salad, so until the renovation is done, it’s not the greatest property, although the rates are very reasonable…
Its an airport hotel jeez – as long as you get a bed, a shower, internet and a reliable shuttle, anything else to complain about is just being a precious sunflower.
Each of my stays the breakfast was not very good. Only cheap fruit. No lox. In the omelet, they used American cheese. Not tasty at all.
Given that LAX hotels aren’t very expensive, I’m not sure the room rates are low enough compared to the Hilton or Westin for the lower quality of the rooms and beds and bathrooms.
We actually found the breakfast at The Concourse LAX to be pretty good: http://www.milesdownunder.com/2015/03/review-the-concourse-hotel-at-los-angeles-international-airport/
The key feature of this hotel is that it has a great location.
I think we all understand the Concourse wont be mistaken for the Grand Hyatt DFW anytime soon
On the other hand it is rate appropriate for what you get the beds are brand spanking new and anytime I have asked their front office manager for a different room he and the team jumped to get me a great upgraded larger room or suite as a Diamond member. Its clearly getting the best of the well worn assortment 🙂
Sure its worn like most Radisson Hotels.
However a year from now when they finish the remake they should be the only or main game in town
I don’t think the Sheraton would have renovated if it wasn’t about to get bumped off by Hyatt down the road by the transformed Hyatt.
The breakfast at the Concourse is pretty crappy at present (poor produce as reported earlier) as is most of the thread bare service with they only thing they can pull off is a just fair enough omelet.
The Sheraton club lounge serves Walmart trash known as a Club Lounge continental breakfast with horrendous thoughtless opereating hours for global travelers .
One of the top ten reasons I left or reduced severely my business with Starwood.
I m staying at Marriott’s after years of avoidance because the good ones know how to a least run a decent club lounge. Manhattan Beach lounge is impressive and so is the Renaissance restaurant off the main lobby free for elites on weekends when the prices are lower and the club is thankfully closed
I’m there next week at the Concourse and will likely go down to the Renaissance to dine
But they also charge 170 and up per night and during the week one is forced to dine in the club lounge if elite
The Westin and its nine lives expired along with Starwood’s success of running a great value program and great recognition at hotels
I’d argue that the dated rooms @ the Renaissance the Sheraton LAX and eventually completed Hyatt at LAX will be the go to hotels at LAX
Hoping Hyatt can improve the concourse offerings and quality.
Hands down The Renaissance in their restaurant serves the best breakfast at LAX
Concourse gets a thumbs up for a faster shuttle than most LAX hotels
It’s really shameful that the largest gateway airports to the USA on the East and West coasts have such poor airport hotels. (and are such poor airports in general.) SFO is no picnic either, hotel-wise. In fact, I’d argue none of the major int’l gateways on the West Coast or East Coast have great airport hotels, except for Boston.
I’ve stayed three times since Hyatt took over the property. Otherwise, one stay over the years it was a Radisson (that was plenty, it had turned into a discount hotel by that time and attracted a crowd of package tour operators and their clients), but it was a reasonably nice hotel through the 80s with Hyatt in charge then.
It looked like no one had done much except change the carpet —once— when Radisson was in charge, and there’s a lot of catching up to do. The breakfast is indeed Hampton Inn-minus-quality, maybe, and the catering department better catch up to 2000 soon, if not 2015. I’m not sure how they can pretend the generic 1960s room layout of the hotel will ever turn into an impressive hotel, but remember that Hyatt is the same outfit that thinks the Andaz West Hollywood is deserving of $300+ rates, and that sorry example of similar architecture is roughly the same age (although if I recall correctly, Hyatt has been on charge, if not owned it, all these years.)
It’s a work in progress, and should be considered as such. Don’t plan a romantic evening, don’t bore your kids with a stay, don’t plan on a pampering and sleep between international flights; just accept that it’s a low cost business hotel to pull into late at night before a flight.
@SST
Agree with your spot on thoughts on Andaz West Hollywood and the Concourse
I though the Andaz WH hotel failed its design mission by 30 % and the soundproofing laughable at premium pricing
The service and the valet parking typically poor. Added to that their elite treatment poor
I did think the new plans on display in the lobby showed promise for the new Hyatt at LAX however if they think they are going to get a big premium for the old refreshed bunker I’ll stay elsewhere unless quality goes through the roof.
Hyatt In LA is nothing to write home about each and most competing hotels in the same quality range are generally better than Hyatt for the same or less
@ Adam
I would say JFK airport hotels have the unique distinction of defining one of the greatest cities in the world similar to a 3rd world country in lodging quality
with the Hilton Garden Inn and the sad recently renovated Sheraton 4 Points masquerading as a Full service Sheraton property leading the embarrassment of awful overpriced subpar properties
Its an insult to New York and America to have these properties there
At least Los Angeles hits an acceptable average quality standard
What do you expect for $109.00? The shuttle alone is worth $10.00. I am sure once and if they renovate the hotel the rooms will be double the cost and people will be complaining about how expensive the rooms are. As long as they got rid of the Radisson bed bugs and gave you a decent breakfast I wouldn’t be complaining.
the Radisson LAX had bed bugs? 🙁
The Sheraton LAX is my usual go-to spot, but this year I was thinking I’d change it up to Hyatt since I have the visa card plus the sapphire preferred to transfer points (and banked some good points during the first quarter promotion). I usually stay near the airport because I do business nearby, and I always have a rental so I don’t care about the shuttle. But it looks like this hotel is a pretty bad option, and the Hyatt Place won’t accept my group rate. I generally don’t have enough stays to earn status or a lot of free nights so I might just go based on best amenities and rooms…the Renaissance, Hilton, and Sheraton will probably be the main contenders. Any other ideas?
Stayed here last week, and had the same underwhelming experience as Gary. Drab room, sparsely decorated. Not keen that the only parking is valet, and you can only get 15 minutes free to check in. I was hoping to shower after a long day before returning my rental car, but that was out of the question. Decided on a Rocketmiles booking instead of Hyatt points that I won’t use.
Also, $14 for muesli is “reasonably priced”? Fortunately, I visited the local In N Out for dinner and didn’t eat here for breakfast, with a 620a departure the next morning.
The shuttle was convenient and fast, I will say.