Rainbow Harbor Skyline 1

Long Beach, California is among the top destination choices for tourists. With miles of clean, sandy beaches, glorious sunshine and the soft breeze of the Pacific Ocean readily available, it's easy to see why. In addition to what Mother Nature has to offer, Long Beach also boasts some of the trendiest shops, nightclubs and restaurants around. Take the time to marvel at the rich culture and historical artifacts located in Long Beach. The majestic Queen Mary is just one of these major attractions. Whatever is on the vacation agenda, Long Beach, California is a good place to start.

Centrally located to all Southern California attractions, makes Long Beach the ideal hot spot for accommodations. Staying downtown in Long Beach situates visitors right in the middle of the highly energized, tourist oriented, heart of the city. Downtown showcases Long Beach as a first class city and keeps travelers within walking distance of all the major attractions and necessities, including free public transportation. The red Passport shuttle runs approximately every five to 10 minutes, and can transport travelers to all of the must-see Long Beach attractions.

THE HE SAYS, SHE SAYS

The Queen Mary AlongsideThe Scorpion 2

No guest should leave without experiencing the infamous Queen Mary. This triple threat features 365 impressive guest rooms still in their original ambiance, guided tours of The Scorpion, and the Ghosts & Legends walk-through show, which uses special effects to dramatize actual paranormal historic events. In addition to this, The Queen Mary Spa, business centers, a full workout facility and fine dining are also at guest's fingertips. Still moving with the flow of the tides, this monumental piece of history has been docked since it last sailed in 1967. In the area, Carnival Cruise Lines, sitting adjacent to the Queen Mary since 2002, offers guests a relaxing ocean tour of many far away California ports.

Long Beach knows how to keep guests entertained, from morning until night there's always something on the agenda. Whether guests are looking for a good time, a bite to eat or a tasty martini, Pine Avenue features some of the best Long Beach has to offer. Home to several of the most premium dining establishments in Southern California, including Alegria Cocina Latina, which offers a delicious array of classic Latin American cuisine. Keeping busy is a breeze with the number of boutiques, theaters, cigar bars, art galleries and night clubs such as Cave 49, conveniently located on one Avenue. After travelers are finished experiencing the livelier side of Long Beach, the purple Passport on Pine Avenue is available to offer guests a free ride to a few more of the city's perks.

	Sting Ray fun at the Aquarium Pacific 3

Even with the abundance of sights and activities to partake in, guests will have to sleep some time! Keep close to the action by staying in one of Long Beach's downtown accommodations. Upscale hotels as well as simple solutions such as Inns and Bed & Breakfasts, keep all forms of hostelry in a widely agreeable price range. Whether travelers are seeking the mere necessities of travel or a full-fledged, 5-star experience, Long Beach has the means to accommodate everyone.

DOWNTOWN LONG BEACH

Many of Long Beach's downtown hotels offer numerous amenities to guests including parking, onsite dining, fitness rooms and spa facilities, they are also located in very opportune areas. Not often is a city's downtown home to over 12,000 water animals and within walking distance of a hotel. The Aquarium Pacific is a phenomenal experience for anyone interested in viewing the magnificent creatures of the deep. Take in two full scale replicas of the blue whale or enjoy the sight and sounds of the very lively bat rays, seals, sharks, sea lions, bass and sea dragons. Also, Lorikeets who, if luck will have it, feed directly from guest's hands.

Some of the more upscale retreats are The Hyatt Regency, a popular hotel choice for travelers. Easily accessible from all three airports, this flush hotel features 528 elegant guest rooms with water views, work areas with Wireless access, outdoor whirlpools, a fitness center, outdoor heated pools, and a ballroom overlooking Queen Mary and the Long Beach Harbor. Equally spectacular is the Coast Long Beach Hotel. This luxury waterfront accommodation offers free parking, child care services, courtesy cars, tennis, golf, laundry and valet services, as well as onsite dining and outdoor heated pools.

The Downtown Holiday Inn is another popular choice for travelers, featuring many of the same deluxe amenities but without the cost. The Rodeway Inn is located right in the heart of the East Village, putting it within walking distance of many Long Beach attractions, including the Queen Mary, Aquarium Pacific and Pine Avenue. The picturesque East Village Arts District showcases many Long Beach designers with great ingenuity. This village of art galleries, supply stores, businesses and artist work spaces is a living atmosphere of color and beauty. Historic buildings, public art displays, monthly art walks, gallery openings, museums, antiques and special events— East Village is an artistic affair that cannot be experienced anywhere else. The Super 8 Motel is also a good downtown option, offering a continental breakfast and deluxe rooms with queen beds, refrigerators, microwaves and 24-hour front desk service. Conference rooms are also available, along with DVD movie rentals. The Super 8 is just a hop, skip and a jump away from the beach and various downtown shops.

Downtown Holiday Inn 4

When guests prefer accommodations with more of a personal touch, Bed & Breakfasts are most often the top choice. Family run and in private homes with 20 rooms or less, B&Bs truly are that home-away-from-home. The Turret House, located adjacent to downtown, features a continental breakfast and five rooms all with private baths, DirecTV and fireplaces. This fully restored Victorian home is a comfortable withdrawal from the buzz of the city.

Being situated within walking distance of several attractions, restaurants, bars and free transportation makes downtown accommodations easy on the wallet. The trip to and from the airport should be no exception. Cab fare from LA International Airport (LAX) to downtown is about $45.00 one way but a shuttle to downtown can cost as little as $15.00. To the Orange County/John Wayne Airport (SNA) cab fare averages around $50.00 one way, with shuttle buses costing about $35.00. To the Long Beach Airport (LGB) cab fare will be around $17.00 one way with the shuttle bus sitting at a set price of $15.00. Also, cab fare from downtown Long Beach to the always popular Disneyland is approximately $30.00. Travelers must also keep in mind that, if choosing to drive, all persons under the age of six or weighing less than 60 lbs (27.22 kg) will require a car seat.

NEARBY LONG BEACH & AREA

Travelers may also be drawn to Long Beach for its numerous annual events, including Music Festivals, Sports Competitions and Cultural Celebrations. During these exciting once-a-year exhibitions, downtown accommodations can get booked up fairly quickly. In this case, Long Beach guests also have many options available in nearby Long Beach and the Long Beach area. A few of these accommodations are The Long Beach Westin located on East Ocean Boulevard, which is pleasingly halfway between the LAX and the Orange County Airport. The majority of the luxurious 469 guest rooms and suites offer beautiful, panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. All rooms come with High Speed Internet access and mini bars. Guests are also free to enjoy an array of amenities including 24-hour room services, a heated outdoor pool and an impressive workout facility.

	Holiday Inn Outdoor Pool 5

Also available is the Colonial Motel located on the Pacific Coast Highway offering guests budget rates. Just 3 mi (4.83 km) away from the Pacific Ocean, minutes away from Carnival Cruise Lines, and 20 mi (32.19 km) from Disneyland. Colonial Motel offers guests 60 air-conditioned rooms, with free parking, continental breakfast and outdoor heated pools.

The Marriott is located nicely right in between Los Angeles and Orange County on Airport Plaza Drive. This provides travelers with easy access to both areas. All rooms come complete with air conditioning, cable television and high speed Internet access. An indoor and outdoor pool are also available.

ALL FINISHED

Finding a suitable accommodation should be just as effortless as rising late, indulging in a cocktail before happy hour and cheating on that annoying diet. With all Long Beach has to offer, finding the perfect accommodation shouldn't be hard. Holidays are exciting, memorable moments and if planned properly, can be the experience of a lifetime.