USC Hotel

The front desk staff were always friendly and helpful. When we told them about the flute playing next door, they offered to move us, but we didn't want to pack everything up, so that part was partly on us. Our neighbor practiced for hours, sometimes in the early evening, though usually stopped by 8. It was charming for about ten minutes, then got irritating. We could hear neighboring rooms clearly, whether through the walls or the connecting door. We were there for a few days for a USC conference, and chose it as the conference's official hotel and for its location. I wouldn't choose it again, even in the same situation. The rooms looked like they were from the 90s, and the HVAC was so noisy that after a poor first night's sleep, we turned it off. Shower pressure was weak and sometimes dropped until water only dribbled out. The tub finish was peeling. Body wash ran out two nights before checkout and wasn't replaced. We used the soap bars, so it wasn't a big deal, just irritating.

Staff were excellent and accommodating, especially Christian. We were there for a music school audition, and they gave us a quiet place to practice. They also let us load and unload the instrument and use check-in parking while we waited. After the audition, they gave us an extra hour or two past checkout to change and freshen up. The hotel is just outside USC, within walking distance, right next to Starbucks and about four blocks from USC Village. It's right off the highway. There's on-site parking for $40 a day with in-and-out privileges, plus a secure area within the hotel and toward campus. I'm not sure how safe walking around is.

The staff were friendly, the location was great, and parking was convenient and felt safe, though expensive. Still, we wouldn't stay again. The rooms were dated, the A/C smelled moldy, and the showers were worn and high off the ground, with a rusty, loose grab bar. Worst of all, both mattresses were badly stained. It was disgusting, and the hotel had just flipped them over instead of replacing them.

It felt a lot like a fancier Hampton Inn, though it's an expensive downtown motel. The staff were very good, and Joshua in the restaurant was a pleasure. The executive rooms had no Peet’s coffee despite all the advertising for it. The robes were great after an afternoon in the rain at the USC football game, and the towels were good. Beds were comfortable, though the pillows didn't give much support. The shower pressure fluctuated a lot, but the temperature stayed warm. Food around the area is a problem, mostly glorified fast food, though the breakfast buffet was tasty.