The Hilton at LAX often has some decent rates, especially at weekends. A haunt of business people with early flights, travellers sleeping during transfers and groups being assembled before travelling around California, it is a good reliable property.

I was there for a night, hopping between the Hilton and the Hyatt affiliated Concourse hotel over a weekend just before my birthday.

The queues have always been long at check-in I have found, even when they have a lot of staff working. In the old days they had two machines you could use. Long gone, the lines are back unless you are a Gold or Diamond Hilton HHonors member. If you are lucky enough to have one of these status’ you can go to the Executive Lounge to check-in. Nipping up in the lift, there was no queue at the lounge and I was processed quickly. My suite wasn’t ready and although a smaller suite was available I declined it as I had treated myself for my birthday.

Happy to sit in the lounge until it was ready, I helped myself to a soft drink and started to enjoy the view of the westerly runways at LAX.

All of a sudden black smoke started rising from one of the terminals, as far as I could see, near TBIT.

 

Sirens sounded in the road below the hotel and fire engines were visible.

After about fifteen minutes the smoke died down and my room was ready. Unfortunately it didn’t have a runway view, which I suppose was just bad luck, but it was very close to the lounge.

A two room suite, it had a large sitting and working area and a separate bedroom with the bathroom attached.

The glass dining table and chair was a nice touch but there was a lot of empty space.

 

The bathroom was about standard sized for ordinary rooms at the property, no real enhancement for being a suite.

 

The room had been recently decorated and felt fresh and modern.

I avoided the lounge in the evening as I was doing some work. However, I did enjoy room service. The winner for me was that they serve Chicken Pot Pie. It’s one of those American ‘specialities’ that I find it hard to resist. It is good to report that it lived up to my hopes – rich and creamy, full of meat with a crispy top. Wonderful.

The carrot cake came in a portion fit for a giant.

And yes, I ate all the vegetables.

I slept well, with little or no airport noise. As the room was on the back of the hotel it was closer to the end of the east runway.

Views downwards were of an internal courtyard.

I went for breakfast in the morning and the lounge was rammed full of people to the extent that I had to leave and then come back. Whilst it has a reasonable amount of seating, there are more sofas than tables and chairs which makes breakfast eating problematic.

 

The usual selection of cereal, fruit, break, pastries and muffins were available. Not very exciting but perfectly adequate for the start of a day.

 

The lobby is large and busy. The main restaurants are located off the lobby and provide the ability to have something to eat as and when your body clock requires it.

The shuttle operates about every 20 minutes from the lobby. There is a queue and it gets VERY busy. Even when I left (after a late check-out) at 3pm, there were people standing for the 10 minute journey to the airport.

Overall, it’s a pretty decent airport hotel in my view, and my second choice after the Concourse. Don’t forget you can use the Hilton app to check-in and select your room from about 24 hours before you stay.