Highlights: The Beverly Hills Hotel

•Historic Hollywood hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills

•Hotel’s 21 bungalows are romantic and spacious, with storied histories

•Pool and private cabanas are the place to see and be seen

•Polo Lounge is a favorite watering hole of Hollywood’s elite

•Two other dining outlets, including the upscale diner-style Fountain Coffee Room

•Specialized dog services include plush beds, bowls, and freshly baked biscuits

•Mobil Travel Guide Four-Star La Prairie Spa available for top-notch pampering

Amenities: The Beverly Hills Hotel

• 204 rooms, 4 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 3 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Three restaurants, three bars. Fitness room, spa. Outdoor pool, whirlpool. Tennis. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel, affectionately known as the “Pink Palace,” is a legend in its own right. This hotel has been a Beverly Hills landmark since 1912 and has hosted some of Hollywood’s biggest names. Marilyn Monroe took up residence here while filming Let’s Make Love, and Elizabeth Taylor spent six of her eight honeymoons in the hotel’s bungalows. The Pink Palace’s legacy continues today, and the pool and its private cabanas as well as the Polo Lounge offer some of the best star sightings in town.

Hovering above Sunset Boulevard on 12 acres of fragrant gardens, this hotel, with its pools, spa, restaurants, and casually elegant rooms, suites, and bungalows, functions like a mini-resort within the city of Beverly Hills. Honeymooners in the know book the bungalows for superb privacy, while the guest rooms and suites are equally well-suited for romantic getaways. However, this hotel’s elegance appeals to single travelers and small groups as well.

The hotel’s knowledgeable and helpful staff attracts business travelers who want the right address while staying in Beverly Hills, and in-room amenities make doing business on the road a cinch. While the hotel’s ambience tends to be more sophisticated, it does offer concessions to guests traveling with young children. From teddy bear and chocolate chip cookie welcome amenities to children’s menus and baby-sitting services, youngsters will feel welcomed at this hotel. Older kids will appreciate the tennis facility and pools.

Word has is that Katharine Hepburn once dove fully clothed into the pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the pool remains the place to see and be seen. The private cabanas are the last word in luxury, and attendants are on hand to make sure that all guests are comfortable.

La Prairie Spa is a wonderful place to let your inner diva loose. Its beautifying products are sure to make you red carpet worthy. Even pets are pampered at the hotel. Guests staying in the bungalows are invited to bring their four-legged friends along, and the hotel provides beds, bowls, pink Beverly Hills Hotel tennis balls, and even homemade biscuits emblazoned with pooch’s name.

(+) Grand old Hollywood hotel with style and first-class amenities for all types of travelers

Guest Services: The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel prides itself on providing high levels of personalized service. Due to its reputation, I was surprised to find a few elements missing from several areas, though in general, I felt well taken care of while staying here. Check-in was efficient, if somewhat perfunctory. I didn’t have to wait long, though, and I appreciated that my room was ready upon arrival. When I checked out, the front desk clerk didn’t ask me if I needed a car, which I would have expected, but the valet was thoughtful enough to ask if I needed directions and wished me a nice farewell.

The concierge, though knowledgeable and well prepared, seemed to be always busy, and I found it was better dealing with them in person than on the phone. Housekeeping at the hotel was near perfect, and the turndown service has some nice elements, such as fresh cookies on a plate next to the bed. Laundry service also was impressive, delivering items in a nice presentation either before expected or right on time.

(+) Turndown service provides special touches above and beyond
(-) At times staff service seemed more routine than expected

Guest Rooms: The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel has 204 accommodations, including 38 suites and 21 unique bungalows. The rooms are spacious, with an elegant old California style. Classic wood furnishings, marble bathrooms, and even balconies in some rooms create a sophisticated ambience, while canopy beds and rich fabrics lend a romantic feel. The bungalows, which are individually designed and feature private entrances, are luxurious nests for celebrities hiding from the paparazzi or for discerning travelers celebrating special occasions. Bungalow guests are invited to bring Fido along, and pets are pampered with bowls, beds, toys, and treats.

My room was sophisticated yet comfortable. While it felt historic, there were many modern touches that were appreciated. Soft tones of beige, tan, and rose were used throughout the spacious room, and even the marble bathroom was especially large. The hotel went to extra lengths to ensure guest satisfaction with little touches such as the large-size toiletries and the daily replenishing of the fresh fruit display. The room was well maintained, and housekeeping’s excellent daily service made it feel even more luxuriously welcoming.

(+) Elegant and classic style suites and bungalows with modern updates

Facilities & Activities: The Beverly Hills Hotel

Green-and-white chaises and palm trees frame the shimmering pool that serves as the nerve center of the Beverly Hills Hotel. This pool is renowned for its sophisticated clientele, and the private cabanas are often filled with A-listers. Pool attendants are on hand to provide sundries, towels, and any other need, and dining service is also available, either directly to the chair or at a table in the poolside café.

Beverly Hills and Hollywood are synonymous with beauty, so it’s no surprise that the hotel often used as the symbol of this world-famous place offers a terrific spa and fitness center. While the fitness center is on the smaller side, it does offer guests the chance to fit in a good workout. There are no lockers or restrooms, and the center doesn’t offer classes or personal trainers, but guests will find cardio equipment and weights.

Those who like to stay in shape while competing on the court will be delighted with the hotel’s tennis facility. Players can even take a lesson from 1959 Wimbledon Champion Alex Olmedo, who offers lessons by the hour and half-hour.

The Mobil Four-Star La Prairie Spa offers a refreshing and beautifying break. La Prairie, a European company known for its age-defying products and treatments for the last 50 years, brings its expertise to Beverly Hills. Spa-goers can choose from 40 different treatments that can be experienced in the spa, in a poolside cabana, or in the privacy of their own room.

(+) Famous pool with thriving scene and world-renowned spa

Dining & Lounge: The Beverly Hills Hotel

While some might expect a hotel of this stature to have very formal dining choices, the Beverly Hills Hotel offers a choice of casually sophisticated options instead. The Polo Lounge has always been, and still is, the place to be seen. Celebrity spotters will want to come to this eatery, where all-day dining is as good as the people watching. During the summer months, the Polo Lounge entertains with live piano or light jazz, and Sunday brunch is livened up with jazz too.

Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are served at the Cabana Club Café, an outdoor café located poolside. Guests lounging by the pool never need to leave their chaises to dine, with service delivered straight to their chairs. For a taste of the 1950s, visit the Fountain Coffee Room. This restaurant’s retro feel reminds patrons of an upscale diner with its signature banana leaf wallpaper, curvy soda fountain counter (originally built in 1949), and pink leather stools.

During my stay, I was pleased to find quality food in a variety of appealing surroundings. I especially enjoyed breakfast one morning, and it would have been an absolutely perfect experience if the waiter had not disappeared toward the end, requiring me and my guest to wait an additional 20 minutes. The food was wonderful and the setting was lovely, however, so the extra wait didn’t ruin our experience.

In-room dining also is available 24 hours. I was slightly disappointed with the service during my stay. The order taker couldn’t answer my questions about the menu, like what kind of assorted vegetables are served with a particular dish. Despite this small hiccup, my food arrived earlier than anticipated, tasted quite good, and was presented in a lovely fashion.

(+) Legendary settings with good food and a retro-chic feel
(-) Breakfast service was not as attentive when compared to other meals

Business Services: The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel does not provide a true business center, but it does have an unstaffed computer room for travelers who left their laptops behind. The lack of a business center is really not a disadvantage when the concierge staff is helpful handling guests’ needs. In addition, guest rooms are equipped with high-speed Internet, private fax machines, and private phone lines with voice mail.

The hotel also is well accommodated to handle corporate meetings and banquets. There are three large ballrooms as well as numerous smaller spaces, gardens, and courtyards that can be used for spillover.

(+) Helpful staff members as well as in-room amenities make business travel a breeze
(-) No business center, however, there is an unstaffed computer room available to guests