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Charlie Chaplin liked to spend summers in this Art Deco landmark on Venice Boardwalk, whose funkiness can be a drawback after dark. Clean but basic rooms, including some four-bed dorms.

The flowery bedspreads and sofas may be stuck in the 1980s, but you get an entire apartment for less money than a standard double anywhere else. Units face a landscaped pool. Located in a quiet residential street, Cal Mar is close to Santa Monica hip zones. Free parking.

An imposing presence overlooking Santa Monica Beach, this 1926 beach club has been restored to its original grandeur. The grand, lavish lobby sets the tone for cosily decorated rooms.

This hotel next to Beverly Hills hosts major events, from political fundraisers to pharmaceutical conferences. An overhaul spruced up the pool area and the rooms and added an Asian-inspired spa.

Steps from Westwood’s shops and eateries, this well-run hotel has an old-fashioned feel and a multilingual staff. Days start with complimentary breakfast and could end with a relaxing dip in the pool with a kid-friendly shallow end.

A Neo-Colonial home built in 1915, it is clad in wooden shingles and sits on the northern edge of Santa Monica. Each room has different perks such as fireplaces, lovely four-poster beds, patios, soaking tubs, or a view.

The price tag is a bit steep at this 751-room resort designed in richly wooded Craftsman style, but standard rooms sleep up to two adults and four kids, and there’s even a private entrance to Disney’s California Adventure.

A unique getaway, this floating B&B has on offer a fully equipped sailboat, motor yacht, or even a Chinese junk. Boats are moored in Long Beach’s Rainbow Harbor; enjoy sunset views of the Queen Mary.