Discover Self-Catering Vacation Rentals in Los Angeles

Three minutes by foot from Venice Beach, and within a 10-minute walk from Santa Monica Beach, these two-bedroom Los Angeles vacation apartments were made for sunseekers. Whip up a quick breakfast in the kitchen, lather on a thick layer of sunscreen and get out into that Californian sunshine. Not one for breakfast? Grab an espresso from Candle Café on your way and head to the boardwalk for the health-minded global menu at Fig Tree for lunch.

A three-minute walk to the Grand Central Market will ensure you get full use of the kitchen in these downtown Los Angeles vacation rentals. A one- or two-bedroom apartment will suffice – you’ll be spending the majority of your visit exploring the vibrant Arts District, rocking at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and bouncing around town on the Metro. When you’re not gulping down sushi in Little Tokyo or sipping craft beer at Bernadette’s, you’ll be taking care of those tan lines at the pool.

It doesn’t get more quintessentially California than these sun-splashed and surf-ready studios right on Venice Beach. Most suites sleep a maximum of two people, though the larger suites can accommodate two added guests on a sofa bed. From the doorstep, you can stroll down to the sand, peep at the physiques on Muscle Beach or cruise along Santa Monica Boulevard. Each airy apartment has a kitchen and a dining table, but if your budget allows, opt for a studio with an ocean view to wake up to the rolling breakers. Righteous.

Nature lovers should base themselves at these comfortable, self-catering suites in Thousand Oaks that cater to solo travelers, couples and families or groups of up to six people. You’ll be close to the scenic hiking and biking trails in the Santa Monica mountains and just half an hour from the rugged beaches of Malibu. Not that you’ll need to venture far – you’ll have access to an outdoor pool, a hot tub and a gym right here, as well as free daily breakfast.

Each of these design-forward suites has exposed brick walls, a memory-foam mattress and sleek hardwood floors, but the first thing to dazzle you will be the ocean views through the oversized windows. Most cater to solo travelers or couples, but the larger studios can sleep up to two additional guests on a double sofa bed. With these beachfront suites as your base, you can spend your days people-watching on the boardwalk, crisscrossing the picturesque canals to see how the neighborhood got its name or just soaking up the sun on the rooftop terrace.

There are three Ps that are paramount when deciding on a vacation rental in Los Angeles: is there convenient parking, is it pet-friendly and does it have views of the Pacific? Su Casa at Venice Beach has them all, plus a picturesque patio at beloved-by-locals cafe, Fig Tree, and a prime shopping location just a stone’s throw from retail haven Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Options range from studios to ocean-view rooms that can sleep an additional guest on a sofa bed. There’s also a two-bedroom cottage, which can sleep up to four people in two bedrooms.

You’ll sleep in comfort at Ayres Suites in the Diamond Bar suburb of eastern Los Angeles. Each suite can sleep up to four, is decorated in soothing sage tones and features an oversized armchair, a pillow-top mattress and a leather sofa. You’ll also get access to resort-style facilities: a heated swimming pool, a spa, a gym, and free daily breakfast with the lush Diamond Bar golf course just down the street.

For a slower pace of life, the SoCal enclave of Long Beach is less than a half-hour drive from LAX and has the retro charm of a much smaller town. In the heart of the walkable streets you’ll find the Historic Broadlind Hotel, a city landmark built in 1928 that’s now a boutique hotel with stay-longer suites (for groups of up to four), scenic views of downtown and a subterranean speakeasy called the Blind Donkey – which had a cameo in La La Land (2016).

Couples or solo travelers should look to these vacation rentals in Los Angeles set just off the Hollywood Strip. Each suite or studio has polished concrete floors, oversized windows and individual design features such as vintage rugs, framed prints and retro lamps. The building is just a block from the Metro B Line – connecting you with Downtown and North Hollywood – and best of all, there’s a furnished rooftop terrace with a ping-pong table, a barbecue and a clear view of the Hollywood Sign.