Lesbian Exclusive Exchange

 There are quite a few great hotels in West Hollywood, so when Anna and I were planning for LA Pride 2010 we wanted a great hotel that was also right smack dab in the middle of everything.  We have friends that have stayed at the Ramada West Hollywood. So, of course it came to mind.  Since neither of us had stayed there we decided to check it out online.  Now, as I am an extremely visual person, I went to Ramada’s website looking for pics of their West Hollywood location. I almost didn’t book a room! The website simply has no pictures of any of the rooms and only a couple, very small, hard to view pictures of what looks like the pool and bar area.  Truthfully, I was a bit turned off by this. Thankfully a very good friend of mine swore up and down the hotel was great and that I would adore it.  We went ahead and booked on Carey's high recommendations... hoping for the best. 

Only valet parking was available when we pulled up. But it may have just been the fact that everyone and their wife was there so they were out of self-parking.  The hotel was absolutely packed with members of the LGBT family so I didn’t mind it a bit.  Valet me please!  ;)  When we walked in, I instantly noticed the front lobby area decorated with these cool indoor palm trees. They lead around the corner to the lobby bar/lounge area which was a nice touch.   If you are as visual as I am, you'll enjoy all the pics I took of this place:)

It gets pretty warm in WeHo, so you're probably wondering if the Ramada West Hollywood has a pool.  Yes, they definitely do!  Hotties were enjoying themselves in the cool water. To avoid looking liking a creepy peeper, I instead snapped a picture of the poolside lounge chairs and seating area.  As you can see this area is very comfy, clean & well maintained, as was the pool.

 The Ramada West Hollywood’s Loft Suites ROCK!  Seriously amazing.  I couldn’t believe how nice it was when we walked in.  Since I don’t like to be disappointed and there were no room photos on their site, I literally was expecting a small, bland room. You know, probably a combo of beige and pastel pink paint and bedspreads, with paisley carpet, push dial tv and possibly a coffee maker.  WRONG!!!  Totally modern, sleek, and well, bad ass!  Anna and I opened the door to the room, and our jaws dropped! We immediately checked out the rest of the room and ran up and down the loft stairs.  The dark hard wood floor throughout the 1st floor was one of my favorite design touches.  So sexy.  Downstairs included the amply sized bathroom, closet, a full wet bar with sink, mini-fridge, microwave and coffee maker, as well as a small living room type sitting area with desk, love seat, area rug and a 42 inch flat screen. 

 Our particular room did not have a balcony overlooking Santa Monica Blvd, but they do have those rooms available too if you are interested.

The bed was super cush and the loft area decor very contemporary.  Shades of gray, white, and black with another wall-mounted 42 inch flat screen tv, mirrors artistically placed along the bedside wall, and a very industrial looking ceiling fan stretched down from the high vaulted ceiling.

The view from the window in the living area depends of course on what room you are in, but as you can see from the photo on your left, our window faced Santa Monica Blvd.  It was perfect for people watching and viewing of the LA Pride Parade which takes place right in front of the Ramada.  The picture on the right gives a better idea of how incredibly perfect the Ramada West Hollywood's location is in relation to all the LA Pride festivities and the entire West Hollywood strip.  The Abbey, GirlBar, Here, Haute, East West, Eleven and more lesbian hot spots are all about 0.5 miles from the Ramada or less, that's walking distance ladies!  Even in your pumps;) Not to mention it's directly across the street from The Palms Bar, a West Hollywood staple for nearly 40 years, which has seen the likes of celesbians such as Melissa Etheridge and Ellen Degeneres. 

So come stay at the Ramada WeHo next time you are visiting the West Hollywood area.  Not only is it in the perfect location for just about any LGBT event, it's also a sweet, unassuming hotel. 

Ramada West Hollywood Loft Suite is officially LesbianLush Approved!!  

Anna and I recently moved about 30-40 miles from the West Hollywood/Hollywood area, so “traveling” back up to WeHo or Hollywood to attend lesbian events has become quite the chore, especially since we don’t drink and drive (neither should you).  With the traffic in LA and the countless reckless drivers with horrendous entitlement issues, you’re lucky to drive 20 miles without it ending in a wreck. But there are so many amazing events and venues to choose from that you have to do it!  So when my girlfriend and I planned to attend the PYTea Party and Mad Hatter event at the H. Wood last Friday, we decided to book a room at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa to avoid the before and after club commute.  I am so glad we did because let me tell you ladies, this place ROCKS! 

The first thing I noticed when entering the hotel after valet parking my truck (self-parking available), was the Café Fama that serves both Starbucks Coffee and Stella on tap.  My two favorite drinks, coffee and beer!  I couldn’t help but giggle a little as I already had a great feeling about this hotel.  At check in, they had a gorgeous display of yummy fruit water decorated with floating orchids that was a nice touch.   

Our spacious Executive Suite was located on the 18th floor with an outstanding view of the Hollywood Hills and the famous Hollywood sign. The fabulous Spa Luce (Hotel Spa) mural was a decidely LA touch.

The room was great!  I especially appreciated the super comfy king size bed, the iPod player/alarm clock, convenient plugs on nightstand lamps for phone chargers (I hate it when hotels don’t have enough outlets for my electronics!), huge flat screen TV, pc doc for the laptop enthusiasts, and the cool contemporary desk that could be easily moved anywhere in the room (on wheels) to accommodate any tech geek.  The bathroom had its own changing room with full vanity area with two sinks separate from the shower. The green toilet (not the color, the environmentally friendly kind) was a bonus. The layout was ideal for anyone who's getting prepped for a night out on the town. 

For me, the best hotel amenity would be a tossup between the delicious breakfast we enjoyed at Twist – the hotel restaurant and bar, and the rooftop pool with cabanas, pool bar, and plenty of privacy provided by bamboo borders.

   I'm a total foodie, so I was in heaven with the cinnamon roll French toast, Spanish omelet, and mixed berry Belgian waffles. No, I did not eat all of that! We shared between the two of us ;)

But you have to love the rooftop poolside bar with servers bringing you Cadillac Margaritas and Poolside Lemonades as you relax sitting under the shade of a cabana, and feel the slight breeze high above the bustle of Hollywood Blvd…can you say relaxing!!  We didn’t want to leave.

The hotel also has a Hertz rental car office in the hotel, a club lounge exclusively for hotel guests only, tons of conference/meeting rooms, fitness area, and of course the ultra luxe Spa Luce.

Location is ideal!  The Renaissance actually has a direct enclosed pathway from the hotel’s Mezzanine level to the Hollywood & Highland Center that houses endless dining, shopping and entertainment opportunities and the world-famous Kodak Theatre.  Most importantly to us lesbians, H. Wood- the current venue for the hot PYT Friday night events, is right there too.  It literally took us under 5 minutes to get from our hotel room on the 18th floor to the front door of H. Wood.  You can’t beat that, especially at the end of a long night.  It’s also only a short cab ride away from the West Hollywood strip (perfect for LA Pride), Universal Studios, the Hollywood Bowl, Downtown LA and much more! 

 I’m guessing a number of you still have not booked a room for LA Pride 2010 this weekend, or are possibly planning a trip to West Hollywood, Hollywood, or LA this summer.  If so, you really need to check out the Renaissance Hollywood.  I highly recommend it and will stay again!  Do it ladies, you'll love it! ;)

My girlfriend and I met in West Hollywood, CA, so when we were deciding what to do for our 2 year anniversary, a weekend of tom-foolery in WeHo was a must!  We had such a fabulous time everywhere we went that I have to tell everyone about it!  I figure with LA Pride 2010 coming up in June that I would start by highly recommending the hotel we stayed in on our little lesbian getaway.   Seriously if you are coming to WeHo for Pride or any other occasion and need to stay overnight, Petit Ermitage is the perfect place!  The roof top pool and cabana area is amazing, with views of the Hollywood Hills, downtown LA, and of course West Hollywood.  Location is ideal as it's literally a block away from the Santa Monica Blvd WeHo strip, tucked away in a completely residential area of West Hollywood.  

 This French boutique hotel has an almost artistic bohemian circus feel throughout, with eclectic paintings and suggestive artwork on every wall.  My favorite was the art design painted on the upright piano found in the sitting room just inside the roof deck. 

The rooms have super comfy beds with down comforters and pillows, Flatscreen TV’s, iPod docking stations, free Wi-Fi, In-Suite Spa Services, Fireplaces, Kitchenettes with sinks and fully stocked mini bars (literally patron, grey goose, corona, red bull, juice, the works), and complimentary Petit Ermitage slippers that I LOVE!  

Every morning we ate like royalty at the hotel restaurant tucked away in the northeast corner of the roof deck.  The  garden atmosphere was calm and peaceful with little water fountains and gazebo seating.  

Our favorites dishes were the Lemon Chiffon Pancakes and the Chile-a-quiles.  SO good!  We are both avid coffee drinkers so were in heaven when they served each of us fresh coffee in individual French presses.  

 The staff were incredibly accommodating and their outfits were superb.  I felt like I was in the movie Moulin Rouge surrounded by little bohemian performers waiting on me hand and foot.  I highly recommend the Petit Ermitage if you’re ever vacationing in West Hollywood.  We will be back very soon!  Hope to see you there ;) 

www.PetitErmitage.com