Sun, Elegance, and Style: The Perfect Weekend at the Incomparable Fairmont Century Plaza

United States, California, Hotel Ratings

Hello again, readers!! Dropping in again to clue y’all in on the worst kept secret! I’m sure it’s not just me—but every now and again, your body craves a weekend in Los Angeles! It’s the sun, the palm trees, the vibe, the lights, all of it. I think I make it out to LA a minimum of three times a year. And during the East Coast winter, the LA trips tend to be more frequent. Why, you ask? Well, I was born in the tropics. And while I love a nice snowy vacation, I can really only stomach one or two of those a season. The rest of the time, I’m tryna GET OUT, otherwise I end up in the sunken place. So what’s this secret, you’re wondering. Well, I found (read: I was clued in) on the most amazing hotel stay in LA: Fairmont Century Plaza!!! Whewwwwwww!! What a place!

Let’s start with aesthetics (because we all know we eschew an ugly looking hotel)! Fairmont Century Plaza is absolutely elegant! It gives modern chic — the lighting, color scheme, and interior design of the lobby area are all super slick and sleek! The aesthetics of the one-bedroom suites are also impressive. They maintain that classic Fairmont style, but embrace the modern look to perfection. I absolutely love that the suites have balconies. I love the warm air on my skin, ALWAYS!! I’m not a “I only sleep in the room” kind of hotel guest. I love to maximize my time in my hotel room/suite, and this was an absolutely perfect place to do so. If you are a business traveler, the suites offer a variety of places for you to set up — be it the desk, couch, or any of the outdoor tables. It really is perfect.

Second, let’s talk about Fairmont Gold! For all of y’all who don’t know, Fairmont Gold is a specific tier of guest (Gold if you will), which has included in its price point additional VIP perks. These are complimentary (although, of course, being a Gold guest comes at an additional cost). Included in this very worthwhile tier: access to the Gold lounge (breakfast and evening canapés included, as well as snacks all day), separate check in, access to the spa amenities, complimentary pressing of two garments, and more. If you’re wondering just how big the price differential is to be a Gold guest, it’s usually about $30 or so a night. In my view, it’s totally worth it!! It can transform your stay to an almost pseudo-all inclusive, if you’re into that sort of thing. I love that the big luxury hotel brands are leaning into these additional perks, and let’s just say that Fairmont Century Plaza absolutely nailed it here. (The only thing that I would change is the charging for alcohol; peer hotel lounges don’t, and Fairmont shouldn’t either).

Third, the location. This is probably my second favorite thing about this hotel. It’s located right in the heart of LA in Century City, a 5mins walk from Westfield, a short drive to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and if you’re craving the beach, probably just a 20mins drive to Santa Monica (assuming the LA traffic isn’t horrific)!! The neighboring buildings are largely office buildings, so on weekends, the area is quiet and peaceful. Fairmont hit the jackpot with this one. I would’ve loved to visit this hotel pretty much anywhere, but the fact that it’s in century city just makes it that much better.

Lastly, I just want to highlight some of the amenities. We’ve already discussed Fairmont Gold, but let’s address some of my other favorite things about this hotel. 1) The gym is spectacular — this might be the best hotel gym I’ve ever stepped foot in. It’s massive, modern, and has pretty much every piece of equipment you can think of. The most unique feature is the recovery room, which offers a theragun, and other cool recovery tools — most included, but some at an additional cost. This is what staying fit while traveling really looks like. 2) The spa amenities are awesome. If you’re a Fairmont Gold, these are included in your stay — and it includes access to a steam bath, sauna, relaxation lounge, and my personal favorite, the therapeutic rain showers. 3) The rooftop pool. This is exactly what you expect it to be — stunning views and great vibes. You can find me here as long as the sun is out!!