Arrival/Check-In: Flying out of a cold New York City, I landed at LAX at 5:40 p.m. It was tricky to find my Uber, and a lot of other travelers that Tuesday evening found themselves in the same predicament. The drive to the hotel took roughly one hour and 45 minutes, which many have told me was pretty good timing considering the distance and time of day in Los Angeles. I arrived at The Garland for my check-in, and the friendly and attentive front desk staff had me off to my room within six minutes.

Guest Quarters: I rushed to my room to drop off my bags and head back down to The Front Yard to meet my colleague for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious meal and called it an early night in order to rest before our busy day of meetings. My “retro-cool” room proved convenient for my short business trip. It featured a king-sized bed, rustic white-brick walls and a bright lamp that almost rested on top of the desk. The desk was big enough for me to work on and also to enjoy the delicious spread that waited for me the next morning. The pops of bright orange, the neat and bright bathroom shelf and mirror and the patterns of the curtains really made me feel like I was transported to a different era. The room included a minibar, a big-enough closet and a small balcony that overlooked the pool.

Services/Amenities: Husband and wife Beverly Garland and Fillmore Crank designed the hotel to reflect Hollywood’s glamour. Later on, their son James redesigned The Garland to reflect the modern yet 1960s retro décor his parents envisioned. The hotel features cool patterns, a nice pool and hot tubs and entertainment for all. The impressive Ballroom was recently renovated by design team Forchielli Glyn; the $1 million project welcomes guests with innovative technology at the forefront of design. The hotel offers its guests the opportunity to host meetings and events in its private and spacious conference room. The Front Yard, the hotel’s main restaurant, also serves as room service; it’s open to the public and seems to be popular. The staff was extremely helpful and paid close attention to detail; I was surprised with delicious spreads each time I returned to my room from meetings.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

◆ The fitness center is well-equipped and always available.
◆ Guests can actually do their own laundry at their own pace and convenience in a laundry room.
◆ In late May the hotel launched two new wellness suites that include Peloton bikes and an interactive home gym for guests. Beginning this summer, The Garland offers meditation programming for its guests.

THE GARLAND

4222 Vineland Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91602
tel 818 980 8000
thegarland.com