Arrival/Check-In: The 2014 GT Tested Awards gala took place in sunny Los Angeles, and I had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Montage Beverly Hills during the trip. I arrived at the Montage on Sunday afternoon, and several members of the hotel staff greeted me as I stepped out of a taxi. The lobby was decorated for the holidays, and I admired an elaborate gingerbread house during the brief wait to check in. A staff member showed me to my room, and I settled in to the elegant space.

Guest Quarters: My room at the Montage was among the best I have stayed in and provided ample space to both work and relax. The marble bathroom featured a separate glass shower and bathtub and an intricately detailed vanity with two sinks. The large, walk-in closet provided an easy place to hang all my clothes as well as room to keep my bag out of sight. A cloud-like bed featured monogrammed pillows, and a panel next to the bed allowed me to control the window curtains. An ornate desk that doubled as a TV cabinet sat across from a comfortable L-shaped couch. A large, double-stemmed orchid adorned the full minibar.

Services/Amenities: The Montage offers all the amenities one expects at a posh Beverly Hills hotel. Dining options include a lobby-level bar with a great cocktail selection, a rooftop grill and the Italian restaurant Scarpetta from celebrity chef Scott Conant. The property also features a full-service hair salon as well as 24-hour concierge, laundry and dry cleaning, fitness facility and room service. Spa Montage is ready to pamper those who want to relax.

My favorite amenity was the courtesy car service, a Rolls-Royce Ghost — convenient for getting around Beverly Hills and driven by some of the friendliest folks I have met on the West Coast. Sean, the Monday morning driver, and I had a long conversation about football after we discovered we grew up not far from each other in Philadelphia.

The Experience: My experience at Montage Beverly Hills was second to none. The comfort of the room, amenities, overall aesthetics of the hotel and friendliness of the staff made for a fantastic stay. I would be happy to return and recommend it to anyone planning to travel to Los Angeles.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist]
[item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item]
[item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item]
[item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item]
[item check=yes]Large vanity[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality towels[/item]
[item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item]
[item check=yes]High-quality bed linens[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item]
[item check=yes]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item]
[item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item]
[item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item]
[item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item]
[item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item]
[item]In-room coffeemaker[/item]
[item]Iron and ironing board[/item]
[item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item]
[item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item]
[item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item]
[/checklist]

Montage Beverly Hills

225 N. Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
tel 888 860 0788
montagehotels.com