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Custom Hotel
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Westchester / LAX
8639 Lincoln Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 645-0400
8639 Lincoln Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 645-0400
- Price Range:
-
$$
84 reviews for Custom Hotel
Exceptional value. Book online for lower rates than calling for reservations. Limited service.
"Design on a dime" would best describe their redecoration, and the result is aesthetically pleasing and functional.
Rooms are good sized and you can view the floorplans on their website. Hotel personnel are friendly and helpful. Bring your own wash cloths for reasons unknown.
I stayed here a few weeks ago even though I live in Santa Monica.
I helped plan a conference and we had our after party at Hopscotch, which is the pool bar at the Custom.
The employees at the Custom are friendly and were super helpful with getting rates for our out of town guests and drink specials for our party.
The decor is trying a little too hard to be modern.
Not so much in the down stairs lobby but very much so in the rooms. I am not quite sure what is going on with the dog themed rooms or the rooster tables but I found it all to be a little weird. The bathroom was decent size, the shower could stand to higher on the wall, and the bed was comfortable.
The breakfast food down stairs was yummy, perfect for my hangover.
Huge plus is they provide to-go cups for your coffee when requested.
I would stay here again and hold another party at the pool.
The out of towners found the sheep and rooster table amusing.
Wow. And to think I actually looked forward to staying at the Custom Hotel.
They Custom Hotel has fine tuned their experience to be hip, chic and utterly disgusting when it comes to the customer. It's the friend at the party who doesn't want to talk to anyone, because they believe everyone else is below them; sure they look nice, but they are an asshole.
Two things businesses should not do: treat your customers like criminals and mess up money transactions. Basics of a business, right?
Whatever you do, don't bring a car to the Custom. They will either charge you an arm and leg ($25/day) to park or they will treat you like a criminal. You see, the Custom shares a parking lot with Ralph's, a southern California grocery store, and a bowling alley. The Ralph's parking lot limits parking to two hours and for "Ralph's customers only." Understandable. That does not mean the Custom needs to have a brodude patrolling the parking lot at all hours of the day, hassling Custom Hotel customers who decided to park in the lot and risk it. We were just running something up to our room. Do not make me move my car or pay for valet. Fuck you.
The Custom also committed the second cardinal sin of hotel stays: botching the payment. My friend and I were splitting the room. My friend was going to put it on her card and I gave her $200 to cover my half. I woke up this morning and realized they charged the _entire stay_ to my credit card (the incidentals card). What. the. fuck. Now I'll have to coordinate a conference call between my friend, the manager, myself and God knows who else.
If you value your time and dignity, don't stay at the Custom Hotel.
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During the summer, the pool parties are hot...love the DJ's, and everyone working there was so nice. This is also a great place for drinks with friends or a party...wink-wink...make sure to invite me. I love their Happy Hour too!
~V~
I stayed there while in LA to look at grad schools in the area. The staff was very rude and the cost for parking is ridiculous. The hotel lobby is cute modern but the rooms are nothing special. There is a tiny workout room with new equipment. The pool is small but modern looking, honestly this place was not worth the price. I booked the room in advance, only to find out that I could have booked the room the same day and received a lower price and complimentary $25 to spend at Hopscotch. The room they gave me was smaller than what I booked.
Honestly, save your money and go to a different hotel or book it the day you are planning on checking in. The fact that I was able to book a room two days before arrival should have been a red flag.
I would only rec this hotel if you are planning on partying your brains out and need a hip place to crash--ie. you are not spending much time in your room.
Front desk staff acted like they could give two craps. Lobby is very cute, but doesnt seem terribly functional. Ate/drank at Hopscotch (the bar overlooking pool)--food was average and expensive for the quality, bar tender (blond girl) was nice. Rooms are abysmally laid out. Horrible.
My personal low light was after only a few hours of sleep (had HUGE work event the next day and was stressing) I woke up to my alarm at 5:45am, went into the bathroom to shower and found there was only ONE towel. I had a roommate/co-worker who also needed to get ready. I was livid and called down to the front desk, took the night shift guy by surprise I think... anyways, they brought them up promptly, but seriously? NOT what I want to be encountering before 6am. Not rad.
Dont think I'll be going out of my way to stay here again.
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The good: The male worker who checked us in was friendly and let us check in early.
The bad: The bed is on the floor, the one towel they gave us was old and frayed, the sheets didn't cover the entire bed, the walls were dirty, the hallways were painted black and smelled like smoke, the elevators had creepy pictures of gigantic heads, the tub was cracking, there was only one half of a roll of toilet paper, there was no closet, just a rack to hang clothes, no drawers, we had to call twice for more towels, and no coffee pot in the room.
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There's nothing custom about the Custom Hotel.
It's fine... small rooms, not too expensive. Pool area is so-so and there's a lack of food except during certain hours.
However, if you cross the street and can walk anywhere between 30 yards and a half mile, you've got some low-key bars, restaraunts, Taco Bell, a Subway and a bowling alley at your disposal.
Furniture is lacking. There's a desk/bench and one chair in my room, along with a flat panel TV mounted next to the bed. One coat rack, no dresser or anywhere to hide dirty clothes or gear you don't want to hang up.
Valet parking only. Freaky photos in the elevators.
Lack of any sort of vending machines is a total bummer too.
This hotel is very cute, kind of quirky. I love the decor, and the rooms are very functional. Valet is quick and easy, and it's very close to LAX and freeways to get around LA.
One drawback, the wifi is horrible. It's free, but I would rather pay for internet than wait several minutes for pages to load. It definitely is a drawback when traveling for business.
I stayed here twice this summer when visiting my boyfriend in LA. I chose it because it was one of the more moderately-priced options on Cheaptickets, it was close to the airport, and it looked to be a bit different than your standard hotel fare, which I found refreshing.
Parking is valet only and $22 a night, which was annoying but is apparently the norm in LA. At least the valet guys are really friendly. There's a grocery store and diner on the same block, which is super convenient.
The pool/bar area is perpetually busy and loud. I'd avoid getting a room facing that area if you can help it. If not, the room A/C is an okay noise buffer. The party crowd is really hit or miss. I didn't have any obnoxious drunk run-ins, although the one time I was in the hotel without my boyfriend some dude tried to pick me up in the elevator.
The rooms are comfortable and clean. Lighting was a bit weird (lamps only) and the TV was oriented so that it faced the side of the bed -- a little awkward for late night relaxation. Their "do not disturb" signs have two distinct sides, make sure you put the red side facing outwards or else housekeeping will try to bust in on you! Once you do leave the room they do a pretty good job.
In general, I just wanted a decent place to rest and recharge during my trips, and the Custom fulfilled that need nicely. If you're looking for something chic, sleek, and high maintenance, you might want to search elsewhere.
Not bad, not super great. Just right where it should be for the price paid. I stayed here on a weeknight on a business trip, and found an online deal for $69 a night. Had I paid any more, I would have been disappointed.
My room was tiny, but it was clean and quiet and the bed was incredibly comfortable. It was probably the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. In this way, the room completely met its purpose because all I was there to do was sleep. I enjoyed the modern feel of the decor throughout the hotel -- a nice change of pace from the drab floral comforters that I usually expect when traveling.
Several reviewers mention a party crowd, but it was dead quiet during my stay on a Monday night. I enjoyed the quirky vending machines on the 4th floor, but jeebus they were overpriced. I'm guessing the 80s sunglasses and 90-cent work gloves may appeal to the apparent "drunk crowd" that likes to hang out there. $8 for a condom? $3 for a candy bar? $7 for a beer? There's a Ralph's next door. Get your snackies and rubbers there instead.
The location was great for me -- not far from the airport or my work destination of Torrance, and not too terribly far from Santa Monica Blvd. and other such entertainment. There's also a bowling alley and diner next door. Skip the overpriced restaurant and get yourself some greasy grub. And by all means, don't pay $20 for the valet -- you can park a block away, next to the diner, for free. It's well lit and felt safe to me.
I'd go back, but only if I could get the same cheap rates. Anything higher is a rip off.
I am here now and just called down to get some more towels so I can wipe down the bathroom from the crap cleaning job. Something keeps biting me I swear.
Like a Days Inn that went bankrupt and then got bought by a slumlord.
Like the retarded cousin of the Standard. I should be at the cocaine infused reggae night by the pool bar, but I am not a Dushe Bag.
BLAH paint, BLAH bed, unfitted bottom sheet so your feet hit the nappy ass mattress cover... shall I continue. NO. Stay somewhere else. I would if my work would move me.
Oh well. Home Soon.
I stayed here after getting drunk at hopscotch. I spent $144/night after tax and valet parking. Valet was $22 per night. Pretty expensive right? This is hotel is pretty hip compare to other hotels. My hotel room was pretty stylish. Low height bed, stylish lamps, huge face picture on the elevator, and ipod dock. Pretty much other hotels offer the same thing that they can offer. I think you're better off staying on another hotel with that price. I just pick this one since I didnt want to get a DUI after the party.
Also, the front desk were pretty nice. I dont get why other people complained. Maybe that time they had a bad front desk.
Perfect for the budget hipster. This was my second stay, and I love this place. Yes, the self-consciously avant-garde decor is a little over-the-top, but that is absolutely the charm of this place. The elevators play techno music that seems to accelerate as they go up. The beds have bizarre duvets with pictures of dogs in military uniforms. There's a birdcage en route to the dining room with fake birds and bird sound effects. The weight room is Malibu Barbie pink. It's all weird, and I totally love it.
This may not be right for people who take themselves too seriously, but I work in entertainment. I live New York's east village. I like an esthetically stimulating environment, and this place has got it.
The location is a little bit south of most places you're likely to want to go in LA (which is probably why it isn't more expensive), but it is a lot closer to Venice Beach than any of the pricier boutique hotels in Hollywood or Downtown. I definitely will be back.
I really am quite shocked by the sheer amount of low-ratings here on Yelp. Because honestly, as a hotel to stay in, this place is a great-value in the Westerchester area by LAX. If you're flying into town, I would definitely recommend this place as the place to stay. Why? It's very nicely kept, the decor is modern chic with a twinge of eccentricity to keep things exciting, and it's ridiculously cheap!!!
If you book in advance online, you can find cheap rates. I found a great deal online for $60/night. You can't find that kind of price in L.A unless you want to stay in a motel. And this ain't no motel by ANY means.
This place has nice accommodations -- a pretty neat looking lounge, a quirky elevator, and a floor with the 'special' vending machines. The novelty of this place definitely amused me for awhile. The rooms are pretty nice, modern, and comfy. The setup is a bit different than what you might be used to such as the bed being in the middle of the room, but, it's kinda interesting!
I like that there's a Ralphs next door. You can pick up random snacks, liquor, etc. I like that there's a bowling place adjacent to Ralphs -- gives you something to do. I like that the Hopscotch lounge is right in back, a great place to lounge with drinks.
And I don't understand what the hell people are complaining about with the valet parking for hotel. First off, most hotels IN LOS ANGELES require payment for parking in their hotels. Heck, parking on the streets usually require payment in this town. So Stop complaining about that. Secondly, any idiot driving around the area can easily find FREE street parking. I did. You might have to walk a block.
It's no Ritz Carlton or anything, but at such cheap rates... it's an awesome deal for what you're getting! Loved it here, and would come back again!
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THE WORST EXPERIENCE. Thank you Yelpers for the honest truth! I booked the Custom after seeing positive reviews all over the web such as on http://Hotels.com. This hotel was a nightmare. It nearly ruined our trip.
We arrived at 1am after driving 6 hours from San Francisco. Although we had paperwork from http://Hotels.com, the Custom Hotel had no record we even had any reservations. It took -45- minutes to sort it out. Folks we had to stand there for 45 min!!! Believe me, at 1am after driving all day, it was absolute torture. Although the person was polite, he made it seem like it was just a fluke and http://Hotels.com made a mistake by not "faxing over the papers". From reading the reviews here, it seems they have a huge problem with getting reservations right.
When we finally get the room, we get in this creepy 1920's style elevator (you know the kind with the giant arrow above the elevator that rotates to tell you what floor the elevator is on) with strange giant heads in it and come out to dark BLACK hallways. For many of you out there like me, this was just a cardinal sin because culturally it was bad luck. (Black represents death and evil). That's an "F" for the architect on that one. Didn't they teach you that in architect school?
Walking down the hallways was so eerie. Don't know if it was the darkness or what but there seemed to be this fog, smoke-like air. When we get to our room, it was so SMALL. Bed was on the floor, just a mattress, no box spring or anything. One of those kinds of beds with the wooden slats for support under the mattress. Bed was in MIDDLE of the room so you had to walk all around it. The tv was not in front of bed, it was mounted to the side wall so it was painful to watch tv in bed. Our white sheets and comforter had cigarette burns in it. The bathroom was an old 1920's style bathroom. The door had this frosty glass window on it, old tub, old sink with metal legs and pipes exposed, old mirror. Now when I say old...I mean old refinished. I'm surprised that no one has noticed the Custom is not a new hotel, it's an old creepy hotel that was painted over and fixtures refinished to look like it used to in the old days.
For some odd reason, the entire right wall where our tv was mounted on was completely covered with a curtain. (Tv was mounted over the curtain so they poked a hole through the middle). No clue why and we looked underneath to see what it was hiding and it was just a white wall. The dogs shooting pool decor was very strange. And then I realized that their so called "modern" look with all the strange, random, abstract shaped colorful furniture, cheap bed, light fixtures, etc. was all from IKEA!!!! Imagine, IKEA furniture and 1920's decor.
Here's the kicker!!!! I was so upset and tired that my bf and I decided to just get some sleep, and figure it out in the morning. Our bed was facing the window (that's why tv was not mounted in front of bed). Our window was uncovered, untinted, no curtains, no shades. The whole world could see you in there. After tossing and turning all night because the mattress sank to the floor, 6:00 am comes rolling around and we are both BLINDED by the sun. That was the first time I woke up and the first word out of my mouth was a curse word. We packed our stuff, went downstairs to demand our money back and left somewhere else.
Don't even get me started about the parking situation there!!
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definitely NOT the hotel for those who are over 40 or younger than 21.
checked in and was hailed with the loud bump-n-grind noise emanating from the pool building next door [seems like there's a 24/7 dance party there, all night long, which totally appalled my mother] and half naked boys and girls in tiny swimsuits. now, i don't really mind this sort of thing, but my mother did. so... fyi.
it seems like this hotel was going for the ultra chic- modernist trend, but the problem is they really cut corners while doing so. for instance, i know some may consider it art, but when the elevator doors opened to reveal the GIANT closeup face of some random stranger, it could be a little disconcerting [i really don't need to see that much nostril or facial hair, kthx.] the hallways are painted in this flat matte shade of gray, and since the carpets are also gray, and the doors painted yet the same shade of gray- it's really dark.
the room ventilation sucks. though the room size was plenty okay and we were situated on the other side of the 24/7 dance party- it always feels really stuffy and muggy inside the room. service was lacking- most of the workers are either more intent on checking you [if you're a girl] out or ignoring you altogether. they also do not do a clean job while cleaning the rooms.
if you're young and just looking for a place to crash or party, this is definitely your scene. if you're traveling with family or other folks that are older, i would suggest finding a different place.
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Custom Hotel is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel. The unassuming building from the outside could be described as industrial modern with a quirky twist. If you have a sense of humor and are into modern design this would be a good place for you. It's definitely a party place, but you don't have to partake and I couldn't hear any partying from my room. There were film events, frat parties, etc. every night at the pool and bar next door to the hotel while were there.
A note about the location- it is close to LAX but not actually at the airport. You can't even see the airport. It's right next to Loyola Marymount University. There is a cute shopping center nearby and a grocery store literally on the same lot. If you are spending most of your time in Santa Monica, Venice Beach, or Marina del Rey this is a great option. However, if you plan to go to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Downtown, etc. it is about a 45 minute drive! It got to be a dreaded drive after the first few times!
A note about the parking- Valet appears to be complimentary. IT IS NOT! Read the fine print on the valet window. It is $22!!! Seems really high considering how far you are from the dense city. There is parking behind the hotel which is not for hotel guests but we took a chance and parked there every single day with no problems.
A note about the price- I got a bargain by booking the hotel and flight on expedia. I think the room ended up being around $60 a night with the special rate. I think the room would go for at least $200 a night if it were closer to downtown.
Since I managed to get a great rate at this hotel, I was expecting it to be sort of blah (as in "What's the catch?" The only catch may be the expensive valet parking. However, if you're a light packer and are in good enough health to walk a BLOCK then just park on Manchester and walk.
The decor is cute. Our room was on the 12th floor with a nice view. I've read complaints about the bed being in the middle of the room vs. against the wall. Uh, HELLOOOOO? Who wants to have the headboard of the guest next door banging against the wall (especially on Valentine's night)? Yeah. Thought so.
For the gym junkies there is a cardio room and a weight room. There is also a room on the 4th floor that has vending machines full of THE most random stuff imaginable.
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My overall evaluation of the Custom is 3.5 stars. The hotel is conveniently located near LAX (but not too close), as well as the seaside towns of Venice and Manhattan Beach. I decided to stay here because of its proximity to friends who live in Inglewood. The fact that it's a real bargain came as an added plus.
I've stayed here for as little as $75.00 a night. At that rate, you might expect things to be a bit dicey, but the rooms have been clean, the beds comfortable, and everything in the bathroom in working order. The only caveat I can think of is that the windows look as if they've never been cleaned from the outside. Too bad, because the views from some of the rooms on the upper floors might be grand if you could only see through the thick layer of grime that covers the windows.
The hotel has a good restaurant. I had a steak au poivre there one night, and it was superb. I ate at the bar and talked Lakers basketball with the friendly barkeep. There's also an outdoor pool and an adjacent nightclub that can get surprisingly lively on weekends.
Don't forget to add $22.00 a night for valet parking. If you're slightly adventurous, you can find on-street parking nearby. But at this hotel's reasonable rates, it's easy to justify the additional expense.
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I stayed at Custom 4 times during my relocation period from Boston to LA. I liked it there because it was fairly affordable and rather quirky. The last time I stayed here, people were passed out drunk in the hallway at midnight! I notified the staff and they did nothing! It was funny enough, I guess...but I would hope someone from the hotel would wake me up if I were drunk and passed out in the hall with my shoes off and my thong sticking out for the world to see. Someone played a prank on the other guy and put toilet paper all over him. That right there was an indication of their "customer service".
When I checked out of Custom the last time, they charged me for incidentals, saying it was from the bar next door. I was in fact at the bar the previous night but had already reconciled my tab...but the concierge said it was a system where you sign it and they charge it to your room. Ok--I believed them--Vegas does that, right?
I get my bank statement and they charged me at the bar and again at the hotel. When I called, they made me go on a goose chase to talk to the guy in accounting. In the end, someone ordered room service and charged it to my room. They have no record of the receipt (and I course, don't have it because I never ordered the service) and because of that, will not refund me my money. The guy was a total jerk about it too. How on earth can they justify keeping my money when they don't even have record of that reciept themselves??!?!
Any other hotel would have a better way to track their payments and would have apologized for the incovenience.
Custom is a boutique hotel that sucks in customer service and hospitality. For the same price, stay in the Raddisson or Sheraton.
Didn't use much of the hotel except for the shower, bed and bathroom, but all were clean and comfortable.
Nice location and right next to a Ralph's which can be convenient.
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I felt like I stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone.
This hotel tries its best to display a trendy, modern décor, yet there is so much randomness to it, like the randomly placed family of stuffed sheep in the lobby that disappear every evening. At night the place is glowing red with a mass of red lanterns hanging from the parking lot ceiling, as if it is advertising itself as the red light district. Either that, or Redrum Hotel. (Hmmmm..Custom..Motsuc?? Eh...nevermind.)
The elevators are pretty freaky. Usually when you step into an elevator the wall is either painted or mirrored. But not the case at Custom. When these doors slide open, you're startled by a huge head shot of some random person staring right at you. Very unexpected and kinda creepy. Makes you feel like someone's watching you. Then as soon as the door closes, the elevator begins to laugh, a soft, low spooky laugh...no joke.
I have to say the beds, surprisingly, are incredibly comfortable. The location was convenient for us too. It's close to LAX but far enough that you don't hear the planes.
But as soon as we checked out, I couldn't help feeling like this place would disappear into thin air, as if it never existed....
cue the twilight music... http://www.youtube.com...
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Clean, cool, close to the airport. Honestly, we didn't spend much time at the hotel (but why would you?). It's practical and has a decent continental breakfast (though the coffee was awful) and it's obviously superior to other budget hotels, especially if you appreciate modern decor.
We didn't use the pool or visit the bar while it was open, but when we got back at night the bar seemed pretty bangin'.
Some criticisms:
Mandatory valet parking was kind of a drag.
We could only get wifi in one corner of our room.
The business center charged way too much ($6!) to for us to get on the computer and print our boarding passes.
The water pressure in the shower was not great.
To end on a positive (and our experience, overall, was positive): It's close to a grocery store with some very interesting cashiers.
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from other reviews you would think that this is a party hotel, but really there are a lot of tourists, older people and business people staying at this hotel too. my parents came here for 2 weeks, and stayed in one room. this place is really minimalist and strange, the corridors are dark. but the room was pretty nice.
we had no problems with the front desk people, they were all nice and accomodated all our needs. we called down for towels a couple of time and they came within 15mins. the rooms are a little small, i guess you could say cozy but the beds were comfortable.
another amenity that was cool was the free wifi in the rooms, although it is true that sometimes it would work only on one side of the room. also theres a ralphs right next door, not even a street to cross, which was really useful when getting some snacks and stuff to eat, esp. if you dont want to eat at the hotel.
overall it was a nice experience and the prices were pretty reasonable for the area. it was easy to get to and from the airport and freeways. one let down tho was the parking, thank god i didnt have stay there so i just parked my car in the ralphs car park. but there was a lot of off street parking, which i would probably do to save $20 for valet parking each time!
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CUSTOM HOTEL
Discussed
After spending an enormous amount of money at the bar, I was tipsy. I drove two and a half hours to get there. Met a friend, drank to much, and wanted to stay in a room to sleep it off before getting back on the road. I did not have a credit card, but had plenty of cash. What came to mind is DRIVING DRUNK on the road. I did not want to do that. The front desk person was rude and not compassionate, the manager MARCOS was less compassionate. I left, not happy. Drove the two hours home, without incident. Did they do the right thing. NO. Were they suppose to YES. I ask for compassion, I am a responsible person , trying to do the right thing. Now , why spend money there. When is cash a bad thing. Times are hard. They have No idea what has happened here, but they will soon learn. Do the right thing ALL the time. Don't support a place, that will not support you when in need. PISSED is an understatement. I wants some answers from the the owners. Thinking out side of the rule box, when a person is telling you, what they need, and they can not empower themselves to do what is best. They are an awful place. Do not go there. They will not have your best interest a heart.......
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The hotel is nice, but we stay there a weekend and the 2 nights there was a private party at the pool with a $40 cover... and noisy drunk people everywhere. Room Service wasn't that good too, no one answer the phone we had to wait 30mn to get a couple of towels.
I think the Design team behind Custom Hotel took a field trip to The Standard and played a good game of copy cat,but did it in the form of a cheap priced boutique hotel.I have stayed at The Standard and at The Custom and I personally Enjoy the rooms at Custom over Standards.I'm totally into the whole Modern Design look,but for me The standards rooms felt a lil too much like a chic hip hospital,very sterile,(YIKES) and The room at Custom is Modern Chic and more relaxing,when the girlfriend and I hung out at our custom room it was cute,but when we hung out at our standard room it felt very kaiser permanente-ish.
Stay at The Custom and Save $200 bucks.
Didn't get 4 stars because no rooftop Pool and Location.
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Five stars for the Custom Hotel? He must be insane!
but check it...
The room rate was $139. This included free valet and a $25 gas card.
There is a great pool area out back with a hoppin' little bar. The lobby is straight out of David Lynch flick (don't miss the furniture masquerading as a trio of sheep). The rooms are admittedly small, but are well-appointed and creatively-decorated. Ours came with a minibar. A half-bottle of Napa Cab. was only $12. Try getting that deal at a five-star spot in Hollywood.
This is one of those times that I'm so glad that I ignored the reviews. Yes, I've never been to the Standard ($225 per night) or the W ($369) for that matter. I couldn't give a flying fuck about either, 'cause I have no interest in WeHo or Westwood or the pretentious snifflers who hit these spots up.
The Custom is easily the coolest hotel by the airport. And you don't have to take my word for it. I booked this room not for myself, but for my 55 year old mom, who was the one who urged me to write a five-star review.
ps - check out the vending machines on the 4 floor. Fantastic!
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I hate this place. Had to wait so long for a drink. Vodka Cranberry(Well brand) cost $9 and was incredibly weak and way too sweet. The bartender poured a little less than a shot into a 12oz plastic cup and filled the rest with cranberry juice. I didn't know that this was a juice bar. I will never go here again.
came back again this past Sunday for the Sunday Pool Party -
no no no. seriously. do not do it. I honestly cannot think of one good thing to write about it.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/24/2008
Review is for the pool bar only.
Went here for the Sunday pool party. There was a velvet rope and… Read more »
This review is just for the bar.
Custom has a chic pool side bar, but if you want to hang out with a younger crowd you should just make the trek to the Standard in LA or anywhere in Santa Monica. The only experience I had here was bittersweet. I got totally wasted and then my cousin left me there by accident (mmmhmm- he thought I went to the store next door to get something to eat. don't ask). Nonetheless, it was really fun. The fire pits are also nice to stand by on a chilly night.
The bartender was really nice. There is a fooseball table Bobby Boujee. My team didn't have a goalie, but I still lost. My drink was tasty. The chocolate dessert was delicious. Ahhh sweets.
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This hotel was awful save for its location. To say this is a 'party hotel' is an understatement- it is noise until 2 am from the pool party, a crowd of poseurs like no where else in L.A., and vomit in the hall in the morning. The noise was ridiculous- until 2 am the bass rocking the entire building (this perspective from floor 7 on the opposite side from the pool/club)- of course the desk staff didn't let us know, nor were we tipped off that sleeping before 2 would be impossible. Then you get to hear all the noise of people coming back to their rooms. And yes-- heading out in the morning, there was the vomit in the hallway.
Despite the "boutique hotel" pictures on the website, everything about the place is cheap junk. The lobby is full of garage sale cast-offs, the gray/black wall of the hallway is creepy, the elevators are just stupid- trying to be clever or hip, but failing. The beds are o.k., but the room is pathetic, including the stupid stuff for sale in the room (pink duct tape, a model airplane, and socks). The towels are cheap, the glasses are unwrapped plastic 12oz throwaways. The flat screen tv is even junky. To have something positive to say, the shower was good, as was an ipod hook-up on the clock radio.
July 4th 2009 was a horrible experience... stay tuned for the review.
Word on the street is Custom Hotel is a wanna-be Standard Hotel..
Am I a Los Angeles native or local?
NO...
Do I really care?
NO..
I don't even remember how I initially found out about this place, but I booked a room here for the BF's birthday weekend getaway earlier this year. Our room was randomly decorated in hounds tooth with foxhounds.. more masculine than feminine and borderline gay, but I still loved it! Our entire bathroom was hot pink and the room came with a neat assortment of goodies such as bottled water, beef jerky, a DIY cardboard airplane, condoms, chapstick, paddle ball.. you get the idea.
The pool area was pretty sweet.. equipped with multiple linen cabanas, lawn chairs on huge steps overlooking the pool, a neat outdoor bar above the pool area when you can point and laugh at fellow patrons, and the entire hotel became one huge ass party on the late night/weekend tip (imagine a DJ banging some electro/house in the middle of the lobby, pool area, etc). Price point is decent (around $170 average per night), but more importantly superb customer service!
Until I personally stay at the Standard or any other place with the same concept, I'm content on coming back to the Custom.. plus it's a minutes drive to LAX.. always a huge plus.
http://customhotel.com/
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This is a review for the Sunday pool party and Custom hotel restaurant (ate here previously, avoid the mahi sandwish and curry salad).
In Summary: Do not go here to eat. Do not go here to tan. Do not go here to pretty people watch. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
The Sunday crowd left much to be desired, the pool party came across as trying way too hard, the ketchup I wanted for my $7 hot dog took 30 minutes to arrive (and by arrive, I mean I finally got up to get it myself), and the people were douchy without having any right to be looks or personality-wise.
The westside has definitely failed to come up with an answer to The Standard, The Roosevelt, etc.'s Sunday pool parties.
One star for not being pretentious and not having a cover (I love the westside, I'm just sad there aren't any good pool parties closeby) and one invisible star for the cool stuffed sheep in the hotel lobby.
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I thought this place was rad for an under $100/night hotel. Talking elevators, hilarious weird stuff in the vending machines like costumes, sex toys, and ant candy, cool interior design, all the normal things you like at hotels like blowdryers (not that I use those), pool, gym, etc. It's adjacent to a grocery store so you can get any food/snacks/liquor you need there and ignore the minibar. Staff was friendly enough to me... seemed like half the hotel wanted to compliment my hair. I liked the ihome alarm clock to charge my ipod/iphone & play music via speakers.
My sole gripe was that our room faced the pool and there were no blinds. We were up late and by early morning the sun was streaming very brightly into the room and the thin sheet-curtains did nothing. I took the advice of previous yelpers and parked around back and ignored the existence of valet parking.
I rarely stay in hotels, preferring to hit up http://couchsurfing.com or the kindness of random internet friends. If I ever needed to stay in one near LA again, though, I'd go back to the Custom.
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I hadn't been the Custom Hotel in a long time and from what I can remember, it still is as blah now as it was before. I'm not impressed with the bar on the roof top, adjacent to the pool area, or with the drink mixing. I've defenitely experienced better.
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Well, everything in the earlier reviews is sort of true, mostly. Here's the current 411 about The Custom. (I have to say "411", which is hip jargon for "information," even though normal humans usually use "555-1212." But The Custom isn't about humans, it's about hip. Sheesh.)
My wife and I were looking for inexpensive and funky, which sometimes results in places like the Camel Motel, in Scottsburg, Indiana (please avoid unless you rent by the hour, but even then, go elsewhere, learn from our mistake) but also The Roosevelt, in Hollywood which, for $60 just after its renovation but before the ad campaign, so it was a find. And so my Internet skills led us to The Custom. Pretty reasonable in price - $117 from a hotel bot - and, it appeared, adequately quirky. It was both.
Check-in was in an oh-so-sterile lobby, with clerks whose sneers were friendly, which took the edge, and the fun, off. After a fast and efficient front desk experience, the maintenance man/bellman (dressed in a not-hip maintenance man outfit, which ruined some of the effect) helped us with our bags upstairs, to Room 819, and its wonderful view of LAX and the roof of the Ralph's and bowling alley below. Ummmm...
The elevator, with its automatic conversation, was novel, as were the dark grey (NOT black) hall doors, which made it mysterious and sensual, unless, perhaps, you were a single person worrying about who/what was hiding in the dark. Black carpet added to this delight.
The room is a phenomenal example of how you, too, can create a hotel room at IKEA, on a minimal budget. Bed. Trestle table. Bench seat. Small chair. Floor lamp. Desk lamp. Tiny bed table with iPod dock. Finito. You want furniture? Bring it yourself. Our bags sat on the floor. Our hanging items went on the rack obtained from the Camel in Scottsburg.
But ahhhh! The bed. Several thousand pillows, a frame virtually on the floor, wondrous bed linens, and a comforter of dogs looking at us made sleeping the good part. Well, being in bed. Whatever. See below. But if you're arthritic, old (like us) or achy, it was a bit of a climb to get out of bed. If you wanted to, that is. Again, see below. But the bed was a very good thing, even way down there on the floor.
The bathroom also was born in IKEA land: While the sink-with-sides was better than nothing, it wasn't the vanity you get at a Super 8, and if you're there with a chick (and I was), there isn't much room for your toothbrush. And since it's nice to close the door when you're using the toilet, it's good, I suppose, that you have to. This is not a huge room. For that, you want the Super 8.
I omitted to mention the minibar, which contained no minibar alcohol things except for a bottle of screw top wine and all the munchies usually found and the now-mythic "pink duct tape" and condoms. This is a playroom, people, not a room for sleeping. Those things (and more, including the airplane and the paddle) are why its all dark-and-stark. Mistress Vishnyov understands. She also understands why those items aren't free: The tape is 9 bucks. Playtime costs. A lot.
Which is why the club-at-the-pool is so popular, velvet rope and all. For you fools reading this to decide where to sleep near LAX some night, you're just the room-fodder to pay the mortgage. The clubbers will dance and frolic (the rooms are nicely soundproofed, although the doors aren't, which is why the guy with two women in his room helping him enjoy life could be heard all the way down the hall) are probably the best market for the condoms-tape-low-bed-dark-halls.
Best part? Hanging out the next morning at the "pool", which is really a large tub - maybe 10 x 20 - and watching all the other beautiful people sunning and hitting on each other. (Married couples - at least obviously married ones - seem to be at a minimum by this pool, day or night.) It's a great pool area, with alcohol nearby.
Did I like it? Of course. I was with a beautiful woman, we had a great meal at the Bowling Alley Diner next door, and that bed was fantastic and delightfully hard to get out of, forcing us to do things that many people do in bed, with or without duct tape. Was it worth $117 (and, yes, $20 for parking)? Yes, but not necessarily a second time.
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