Adjust your mental picture of Santa Monica: the Ambrose is more than a mile inland, leaving the beach to the high rollers, who inflate their prices accordingly. Here you’ll find that it is possible to get an excellent room in Santa Monica, at a charming little boutique, for about the price one would expect from a dreary chain motel—as long as you don’t have to be right in the thick of the action.

Then again, stay here and you’ll find the thick of the action is a relative concept—the Ambrose is quite close enough to anything that matters, whether the Third Street promenade or various business destinations like MTV and Sony. And this is no bargain-basement hotel; Arts and Crafts decor is satisfying enough, and some of the services are in the same league as the big boys by the beach including 24-hour room service, and, best of all, plentiful parking. Remember that nobody walks, except on the Promenade or the boardwalk; the hotel rents Classic Beach Cruisers for stylish scooting and maintains its own London-style black cab (fueled by environmentally friendly bio-diesel) for short trips.

That’s not the only green touch — the Ambrose is full of them, from recycling and composting regimes to non-toxic cleaners and energy-efficient rooms. All in all, it’s an above-average hotel at a rate that’s well below average, at least for Santa Monica—you’ll save some money for the Third Street boutiques and still sleep in style.

How to get there: The Ambrose hotel, located in Santa Monica, is a 20-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport but the trip can take up to 1-hour depending on traffic. Guest parking is complimentary.

Style: Modern Design

Atmosphere: Quiet

77 Rooms - Rates start at US$ 157