Since “moving pictures” moved to town, Los Angeles has been known for its celebrity-driven style and opulence, and visitors to the city have enjoyed glimpsing a bit of the glamorous lives of the famous, rich, and talented individuals who bring us entertainment.

But, if you’re craving more than a peek at the luxurious lifestyles your favourite actors lead, there’s always also the option to book a stay in one of the city’s upscale hotels. The crème-de-la-crème of the Hollywood experience with these luxury Los Angeles hotels: The Beverly Wilshire, Peninsula Beverly Hills and the Casa del Mar are renowned for catering to your every whim and surrounding you with elegance. We book our holidays at these fabulous hotels in Los Angeles with Expedia.

The Beverly Wilshire

Guaranteed to make you feel like a celebrity, a stay at the Beverly Wilshire brings you all of the comforts and luxuries of its Four Seasons brand name and the convenience of its location on South Rodeo Drive.

Built in the 1920s, during the days of the golden age in Hollywood, the exterior of the Beverly Wilshire is finished in the Italian Renaissance style and was built with marble and other materials imported from Italy. Do you think it looks familiar? It has served as the setting for Julia Roberts’ film “Pretty Woman” and for the HBO series, “The Entourage.” The building has been a hotel since it was opened, but has expanded to meet the demands of modern guests, including the addition of an Olympic-sized swimming pool in the 1940s, and championship tennis courts.

Almost more impressive than the hotel’s sumptuous decorations are the list of famous former guests. Elvis Presley and John Lennon both lived here for a time, and President Obama, Japan’s Emperor Hirohito and the Dalai Lama have all stayed here overnight.

Even if you choose to stay at another luxury hotel in Los Angeles, it’s worth making a dinner reservation at one of the Beverly Wilshire’s top-ranked restaurants, which include THE Blvd and celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s CUT.

Peninsula Beverly Hills

If you prefer to feel more like a guest at someone’s private mansion than a customer in a hotel, perhaps a stay at the Peninsula Beverly Hills would match your style. It’s smaller than the Beverly Wilshire, and therefore more intimate while still being just as luxurious. Guests who stay here rave about the impeccable service and various amenities that make each detail of their visit a pleasure. One example of the hotel’s opulent comforts is the complementary car service in Beverly Hills.

The hotel is arranged around a central courtyard; there is a pool as well as refreshments area on the rooftop. If you enjoy a social atmosphere at your accommodation, you can ask for a room overlooking the courtyard, or get to know other guests while enjoying the view of Los Angeles from the poolside. However, if you prefer privacy, let the staff know when checking in so that you can have a room that is more secluded.

The Peninsula Beverly Hills is also located in the heart of Los Angeles: it’s on South Santa Monica Boulevard only a few minutes from Rodeo Drive. Famous guests at this hotel include Cher, Whitney Houston, Jason Biggs and Jessica Alba.

Casa Del Mar

If you’d rather look at sand and surf than film stars, the elegant Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica may be for you (although, movie-star sightings happen here too). It offers many of the same luxuries and conveniences of the other two hotels, but has one undeniable perk: the beach.

Located in a 1920s-era Italian Renaissance-style former beach club, this hotel has rooms overlooking the Pacific Ocean and direct access to Santa Monica’s beach.  Guests are free to swim in the sea and hire body boards and surfboards, or, if they prefer, they can take advantage of the hotel’s swimming pool. Nearby, guests will find venues for surf lessons, several parks, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, California Heritage Museum, and the Memorial Open Air Theatre. Santa Monica has been a popular resort destination since the 1920s, and so has many established and high-quality options for shopping, dining and entertainment.