A luxury vacation in the thick of Hollywood, California is best for the traveler who seeks a certain type of Los Angeles experience. Forget hiking around Griffith Observatory, forget the Getty Villa, and forget all the other fun things to do in Los Angeles; this traveler is hoping to see some famous people. While this leaves tourists with a stilted, unrealistic view of Los Angeles, there's no getting around the fact that many travelers come to LA with this goal in mind.
It's possible to have a luxury vacation at a great hotel in Hollywood, though, and still soak up some LA culture. The W Hollywood has formed a partnership with the illustrious Pantages Theatre, providing hotel-theater packages to guests who seek the excitement of great live theatrical performances as part of their Los Angeles vacation experience.
The W Hollywood
The W Hollywood fits its neighborhood well, with luxurious decor, a helpful staff, and plenty of "beautiful people" in the lobby. The W Hollywood doesn't manage the on-property rooftop nightclub, to which many young and attractive people are going. While guests might not see any actually famous actors heading to the nightclub, chances are that guests will see plenty of people who hope to become famous actors.
The aforementioned Griffith Park is a walkable distance from the W, though a car might be preferable to get up the windy hill to the Observatory.
Pantages Theatre
Pantages Theater is a Hollywood landmark and one of the few Hollywood theaters that perform legitimate Broadway style big theatrical productions – as compared to intimate dramas, stand up clubs and the like. Pantages first opened its doors in 1930, and has been a movie house with vaudeville acts, home to the Academy Awards presentations for a decade, and even hosted the Los Angeles Philharmonic for an entire season. This is a stately, large and glamorous theater that adds class to the area just a block from Hollywood and Vine, which has its own decidedly unglamorous reputation.
The W Hollywood and Pantages Theatre Partnership
The W Hollywood and Pantages Theatre are neighbors in the Hollywood & Vine area, and function independently. This partnership with the W Hollywood is the first such venture the theater has undertaken. Jim McPartlin, the GM of the W Hollywood, has said that there is "synergy between Broadway on one side of the Boulevard and Hollywood on the other. [Through] the creation of these exclusive packages, we hope to bridge the gap between the two while giving our guests an amazing experience."
The W Hollywood/Pantages travel package includes:
- Two tickets to a current Broadway musical show at the Pantages Theatre
- $100 dining credit at Delphine Brasserie, located in W Hollywood
- One-night stay at W Hollywood.
Now, the theatrical productions change during each season. The winter and spring 2011 season includes high-end performances of (in chronological order) West Side Story, Hair, Spring Awakening, Rock of Ages, Avenue Q, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and Burn the Floor. The season ends with a summertime production of Shrek the Musical. Check Pantages for current listings.
Add a touch of class to a luxury vacation in Los Angeles. The W Hollywood and Pantages Theatre partnership makes a night at the theater easy to integrate into most travel plans.
Jennifer W. Miner - Jennifer has years of travel writing experience, spoken at several national conferences, and more. See Jendeavor.com for more details.
