The design and decor of Le Merigot Beach Hotel & Spa resemble that of a luxury south France resort, with high quality European furnishings, attentive staff and a refined, elegant atmosphere. This top of the range Marriott property is situated along Ocean Avenue near downtown Santa Monica, just 200 feet from the beach, and half a mile from the many shopping & dining outlets at Third Street Promenade. The hotel's restaurant is the California-style Cezanne, open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service and private dining; dinner is also available in a less formal setting at the Le Troquet Patio Bar. Leisure amenities are headed by the full service Spa Le Merigot, and include a fitness center & outdoor pool, while for meetings/events the Marriott offers 11 rooms catering for up to 200 guests.

As well as the pier, Holiday Inn Santa Monica is just a couple of minutes walk from the beach, Santa Monica Place and the Third Street Promenade shopping district. The old but popular hotel has 6 floors and 132 bright, clean rooms, many with partial views of the beach and the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 feet away; others overlook the Pacific Coast Highway (CA 1, also the very end of 2,460 mile interstate 10), which runs past at one side. Full service amenities at the Holiday Inn include a California-style restaurant (open for breakfast, dinner & room service to 9 pm), a lobby lounge/bar, a large outdoor pool, 24 hour fitness center, and two meeting rooms.

Partly because it lies a short distance (1.5 miles) from the beach and the pier, rates at the Best Western hotel in Santa Monica are a little lower than for comparable properties on the seafront, but not at the expense of facilities or good customer service. The Gateway Hotel sits along famous Santa Monica Boulevard (formerly Route 66), a short walk from a fair selection of restaurants, though for fast food there is an IHOP right on the premises. Wireless internet access, a local area shuttle and parking (underground) are all free - this latter not common for Santa Monica hotels. Other amenities are an exercise room, sun deck, business center, room service and a refrigerator in each of the 123 guest rooms.

Comfort Inn Santa Monica is another affordable, well regarded hotel along palm tree-lined Santa Monica Blvd, 2.2 miles east of the Pacific Ocean beaches. Accommodation comprises 108 large, clean, well maintained rooms, all equipped with a refrigerator; some look out over the busy street though most have a quieter aspect. The hotel has an outdoor pool at the rear, positioned to catch the afternoon and evening sun, and other facilities of free parking, free deluxe continental breakfast and free internet access. In the other direction, Santa Monica Blvd reaches Beverly Hills after 5 miles then Hollywood 4 miles further.