The Shay Hotel in Culver City: What to Expect

I’ve stayed here a couple of times and I keep coming back because this hotel tucked into a safe and quiet part of Culver City is a great base for a Los Angeles stay.

As many Hyatt loyalists will tell you, the city of Los Angeles is almost a desert of quality Hyatt hotels (at least in terms of the standard of what you can get in other major cities). The airport Hyatt near LAX does the job, but if you want to be closer to the more active parts of the city, you have to choose pretty carefully to get the experience that you want, and it may not be the same as the Hyatt experience of some other cities. This is especially surprising as it is one of the biggest markets in the United States.

I’ve always opted to stay in Orange County (where I went to college and since it was my home base for a while it was comfortable to stay there) but usually never stayed in Los Angeles proper until giving The Shay in Culver City a try. It’s not become my go-to stay when I fly into LAX.

What’s great about The Shay Hotel

Boutique feel

The lobby of the hotel is lively, but intimate, with lots of little areas for people to meet and gather. It makes the most of its space and the fireplace in the center provides a focal point that is somehow very modern feeling while being a cozy space to read or have a conversation with someone. It is very art focused and even shines through it the overall theme of the property.

Feels safe and tucked away while still being close to points of interest

I cannot express how often people (Australians I know) who visit LA from other places underestimate how sketchy some of the most touristy parts of LA can be. This hotel is removed from the most touristy enclaves but that’s its strength. Public transport is close by to get you to places live Venice and Santa Monica. Avoid peak hour traffic and you’d have an easy time of getting to landmarks like the Getty via taxi or uber.

A few helpful tips before you stay at The Shay Hotel in Culver City

· If you’re arriving from LAX, there’s no taxi or rideshare outside of the doors of arrivals, rather you have to either follow the signs and walk, or use their shuttle service to take you to their “LAXit” location. It’s an outdoor area where taxis and rideshares assemble.

· The last taxi I took from LAX to this hotel was about $45.

· You’re walking distance from Erewhon, if you’re into the novelty of designer smoothies or just want to see what this iconic health food store is all about.

· The hotel offers a daily complimentary ride share drop-off within a 2-mile radius. I did use this once and thought it was a fun inclusion.

Is there room service at The Shay Hotel in Culver City?

Yes, there’s in-room dining at the hotel. You can order through the QR code on the leaflet that you get when you check in.

Is there a Globalist breakfast at The Shay Hotel in Culver City?

Globalists receive a breakfast voucher for up to 2 registered guests that can be used on the 6th floor at Butterfly. This can be redeemed for an entrée, a side and a non-alcoholic beverage. Breakfast is from 7am to 11am. I ordered the chilaquiles the last time I was here. It did the job.

What is the gym like at The Shay in Culver City?

The gym feels very new and has several Pelaton bikes, treadmills, a rowing machine, leg press, bench press, multi-use pulley machine as well as a selection of weights, kettlebells and other accessories. It’s quite a large space.

To get there you take the elevator to the second floor and follow the signs, cross into an outdoor area and then you’ll find the door for the fitness area.

Points or pay?

On my most recent visit I opted to do a mix of points plus pay. As a category 6 property, I would have had to use a Category 1-7 free night, which I didn’t want to do.

It’s not the cheapest place to stay but it’s the perfect spot of you want a very art-forward, LA vibe. The views from the room are rather iconic southern California views of palm trees and hills. Even the public transport/train looks so stylized from the vantage point of the penthouse that I stayed in (a nice Globalist upgrade).