Downtown

If you want to stay overnight in Downtown L.A., plan to pay for the privilege. As expected, most hostelries here run to high-rise towers catering more to the business than the leisure set. Still, if you need a room near the heart of L.A. for less than a month’s mortgage, you can find one if you look hard enough.

But be aware that once you get into the Jewelry Districts [1] and farther towards the Flower Market, the neighborhood goes from high-end to sketchy to downright terrifying. If you need a truly cheap room, avoid these areas and head instead for Pasadena [2] or The Valley.