If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a rock star, this hotel is for you. Right from entering the lobby, the floor lighting and pumping bass let you know that you’ve “gone Hollywood.” There is little separation, in fact, from the lobby and the hotel’s sleek and sexy bar area, which bustles with activity at night — giving guests the feeling like they’ve walked right into the action. Rooms are similarly out-of-the-ordinary, with funky pillows on the beds and Hollywood-themed photo art on the walls and views of the Hollywood Hills out the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Ask for a room with a view of the iconic Hollywood sign or Capitol Records building to complete the experience.

Despite the “adult” feel of the hotel, there are many amenities that make this a great place to bring the family, including a fun rooftop pool area with a view down onto Hollywood Boulevard. The hotel’s entrance, however, is on Highland Avenue — importantly a half a block off Hollywood strip, which shelters it somewhat from the neighborhood “scene.” But it’s also close enough so that you can easily walk out onto the Walk of Fame anytime you need that fix of star power.

The hotel is attached to the Hollywood & Highland Shopping mall, a huge indoor complex that guests can access through a special key-card operated door on the third floor of the hotel. It offers plenty of shopping for independent teens, and direct access to the Chinese Theater with all of its movie star handprints in the concrete, without having to go outside, which can be an important factor at night. Hollywood has cleaned up its act somewhat in past years, but it is still a surprisingly seedy area, with homeless people and “ladies of the evening” conspicuously plying their trade. The Loews Hollywood Hotel offers access to all of the excitement and glamour of old Hollywood while still providing a safe and comfortable buffer for families.

The Loews Hollywood Hotel has 628 guestrooms and suites, spread amongst 20 floors -- obviously, the best views of the Hollywood Hills and Hollywood sign are from the upper floors, so be sure to request those when booking. All rooms have free and reliable Wi-Fi service. Cribs and rollaways are available for a fee, but maximum room occupancy is four, even in suites.

2 Double Beds
All of the rooms in the hotel are a spacious 400 square feet. These include two double beds, comfortable sitting chairs, and a desk. Even with an optional rollaway, they have a maximum occupancy of four. The rooms are sleek and stylish, with grey and white décor -- but include splashes of color from funky pillows and large, iridescent photos on the wall that turn images of the Hollywood streetscape into near abstract artworks. All rooms include ergonomically designed desk chairs, and some nice extra touches, like USB ports built into the nightstand and desk. They also include well-stocked mini-bars, with an additional refrigerator available upon request. Bathrooms include a bathtub/shower combo.

The room categories are divided not by amenities, but by view -- either Standard (with no special view); City View, which face south towards downtown LA; Hollywood Sign, which face north towards the Hollywood Hills; Capitol-View, which face west towards the famous Capitol Records Building; or Skyline, which are located on the higher floors and offer sweeping views of either the Hollywood Hills or the downtown skyline. Be sure to request the view you desire for a backdrop to your Hollywood lifestyle.

King
These rooms include a king bed in place of two doubles; with an optional rollaway, they can accommodate three people. They are also divided into categories by view: Standard, City-View, Hollywood Hills, Capitol-View, and Skyline.

Studio King Suite
These rooms are larger than standard guestrooms at 625 feet. In addition to the standard amenities, they include a sitting area with comfortable and colorful chairs in shades of port wine and burgundy, along with a long sleeper sofa. Bathrooms include standing glass-door showers. Maximum occupancy is three. They face south towards the city skyline or north towards the Hollywood sign.

Studio Two King Suite
With the same size and comforts of a Studio King Suite, these suites feature two king-sized beds. With a rollaway, they can sleep five. They face north towards the Hollywood sign.

Corner King Suite
Larger than standard suites at 1,020 square feet, these suites feature panoramic views of Hollywood, along with a king-size bed, a sitting area with full-size sleeper sofa and a small dining table. Bathrooms include stand-up showers. Maximum occupancy is three.

Director's Suite
The same size as a junior suite at 625 square feet, the Director's Suites have the added feature of a bedroom that separates the king bed sleeping area from the sitting room of comfy chairs and a full-size sleeper sofa. It also features a larger desk and chair, and stand-up shower in the bathroom. Maximum occupancy is three. They face north towards the Hollywood Hills or south towards downtown.

Highland Suite
These corner suites are enormous at 1,425 square feet, providing plenty of room to stretch out, along with panoramic views of Hollywood and downtown. They include a separate king bedroom, as well as a fold-out sleeper sofa in a large living room area complete with a large dining room table and wet bar. Maximum occupancy is four.

Producer's Suite
This enormous apartment will show you why it's the producer who accepts the Oscar -- with 1,600 square feet of space, it includes a panoramic view of the Hollywood Hills and the city's skyline, along with a master bedroom with king bed and a living room with sitting area and sleeper sofa. It also includes a wet bar and full-size refrigerator, as well as large dining room table that can seat six. The bathroom includes both a walk-in shower and a large tub, along with a double vanity. Maximum occupancy is four people. The suite also includes an outdoor balcony with a view of the Hollywood sign.

Panorama Suite
Here's where you can fulfill your fantasy of playing a baby grand piano while overlooking the Los Angeles skyline. This vast suite includes over 3,000 square feet of space, with cathedral ceilings and everything you need to entertain your fellow movie stars -- living room with sleeper sofa, wet bar, full-size refrigerator, dining table that can seat 10 people, and an extra half-bathroom. The bedroom has a king-size bed and its own master bath with a steam shower, large Jacuzzi tub, and double vanity. Maximum occupancy is four people. And of course, the suite lives up to its name with a view to die for -- all of downtown Los Angeles, the Capitol Records building, and the Hollywood Hills.

Rooftop Pool
The hotel has a large pool terrace with a big, irregularly shaped pool perched right above the Hollywood strip. Depths range from 3 to 6 feet, and plastic lounge chairs surround the area. At night, the lights come down and the dance music turns up to make this a bit of a scene, but one that's totally family-friendly, with kids cavorting in the water or peering through the glass panels down to the street below as grown-ups order rounds of drinks. The pool area includes a stairway that leads down to the shopping mall below, accessible with a room key card, so teens can throw on a cover-up and go shopping without having to head back to the room.

Loews Loves Kids
Like all Loews Hotels, Loews Hollywood goes all-out for kids, with a special closet full of toys, games, books and CDs. For parents, it also provides all those essentials that are too cumbersome to pack in your luggage -- including potty seats, nightlights, plug covers for babyproofing, and even portable DVD players. Teens aren't left out, either. In addition to an age-appropriate list of nearby attractions, the hotel offers teens music download cards so they can add some Hollywood jams to their playlists, as well as Gameboys, DVDs, board games, and more.

Dining isn't this hotel's strong suit -- which is fine considering the range of family-friendly restaurants in the adjoining mall (including a Dave & Busters and Hard Rock Café) and on the streets and boulevards all around. The hotel's main restaurant only serves breakfast and lunch, and the pool deck stops serving at 5 p.. Thankfully, the hotel does have a room service menu that serves food until 11 p.m.

Preston's
The hotel's main restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch only, serving creative American and California cuisine in a banquet hall setting. Breakfast items include veggie frittatas, lemon-ricotta corn cakes, and only-in-California health items such as an acai bowl with almond milk and gluten-free muesli. There is also a breakfast buffet with a made-to-order egg and omelet station, pancakes, deli meats and cheeses, and more. Lunch offers a good selection of well-cooked classic items, including burgers, grilled sandwiches, and soups. Breakfast is served 7 to 11 a.m. daily, with lunch served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SPECK
The hotel's pool deck serves up casual fare from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Sandwiches are creative and delicious, including a Vietnamese banh mi, an Italian meatball with pancetta, and the signature Speck sandwich with speck and basil aioli. There are also a limited number of other items, including chicken tenders, pizza and salads. For dessert, there is the obligatory ice cream and the eye-raising chocolate-covered bacon.

In-Room Dining
The room service menu is massive, with breakfast items from Preston's in the morning from 7 to 11 a.m., and an "all-day dining" menu of sandwiches, salads, burgers and flatbreads served from 11 to 11. The range of entrees is limited, consisting of several size steaks (including a molasses-marinated hanger steak), a honey-chipotle roasted half chicken, and a quinoa ragout for vegetarians. For family dining-in, the hotel offers a "dinner and a movie" special, in which checks that total over $100 include a free movie. That's not hard to do with a steak or two.

All About the Extras
Pets
The Loews Hollywood is pet friendly, with special rooms for four-legged friends, and even a special room service menu for dogs, which includes such canine indulgences as tenderloin filet of beef and shredded roast chicken. Felines get their won salmon filet entrée -- and even vegetarian pets have options here. Of course, there is no drinking from the toilet here either; all pet meals are accompanied by bottled water.

Babysitting
The concierge can recommend babysitters upon request.

The Art of Smart Timing
Los Angeles is sunny year-round, of course. Prime tourist season is in the summer, which is also when attractions can get crowded and the city's notorious smog is at its worst (even though it's been better in recent years.) The best times to visit are in fall and spring, when the weather is a pleasant 60 to 70 degrees, and the crowds fall off somewhat. Winter is a time to find deals. Despite the temperatures staying warm, it's also when it is most likely to rain; an umbrella is advised as you head out around town.

Getting There
Los Angeles's subway system has come a long way since it first opened in 1990. Now, there is a line that runs all the way from the LAX airport to Hollywood. The ride is efficient and safe -- at least during the day -- and takes about an hour. There is a metro stop right on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard outside the hotel. Driving is also an option, though with traffic (de rigeur for Los Angeles), the drive takes about an hour. Taxis run about $80 with tax and tip. If you do drive, the hotel has a parking garage for $42 a night with valet parking, or $15 a night with self-parking.

Getting Around
The Hollywood metro stop right on the corner makes it easy to travel downtown from the hotel. The metro is fast and efficient, and generally safe, though it can get a little bit dodgy at night, when a cab is preferable. While the metro has expanded its range, it still doesn't cover the whole city. If you are looking to go to the beach or to Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, you are going to have to drive or take a cab.

For Mom and Dad
Parents with a sitter don't have to go too far to find excitement -- the hotel's H2 Bar & Kitchen provides a high-energy hangout space right in the lobby. The two H's stand for "happy hour," an environment the bar strives to create all night long. Cocktails are strong and inventors named with groaning puns of classic movies (Dial D for Daiquiri, The Gin and I). They join a fun bar menu of apps and comfort food, including a signature wagyu beef burger, and honeyed chicken and duck-fat waffles.

While the kids are at the pool, mom and dad can also sneak into the Exhale spa and fitness club next door. In addition to a fitness center with all of the standard equipment, it offers classes including barre, cardio, and yoga. Spa treatments include facials, massages, manicures, and waxing.