Every grande dame can use a little touch-up, and the iconic Millenium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles is no exception. Over its 85 years, this Beaux-Arts wonderland has enjoyed many an overhaul, emerging each time as the showplace it is (listed as an Historical Cultural Landmark). The glam lobby is a great place to start. Formerly the hotel’s Music Room, this massive space — with its ornate marble fountain and intricate inlaid carpet — was the scene for fashionable tea dances in the 1930s. Fifty years later it served as the backdrop for the Ghostbusters movies. And today, this is still a great place for a good night’s rest.

506 S. Grand Ave.
213-624-1011
www.millenniumhotels.com

Just add water, and play. Once a favorite desert hideaway for the likes of Bob Hope, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the luxurious Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa has, after a more than 60-year history, added a pair of 100-ft. waterslides, pool and sandy beach, a lazy river, and tot-sized fountains and sprinklers – and calls those two acres Splashtopia. Still available to the adults while the kids get wet: the spa, as well as golf and tennis.
41-000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage
866-423-1195
www.rancholaspalmas.com

With most of its 18 stories serving up views of Santa Monica harbor, The Huntley has it all: location, luxury lodging, spa and restaurant, to say nothing of a recent $18-million renovation, which also included the Presidential Suite (available for $1,800 a night). The New York Times calls this “a destination hot spot.” Rooms with a Pacific vista go for under $300, which includes spa access. (Among those who’ve accessed it: Sarah Jessica Parker.) Zingy cocktails are available in the Penthouse restaurant, which also offers four-star stargazing. The secret is to arrive early (say, 6-ish), when you won’t need a dinner reservation.
1111 2nd St., Santa Monica
310-394-5454
www.thehuntleyhotel.com

Little Bo Peep would feel right at home. Those facing layovers at LAX can get that cozy feeling at the nearby and new Custom Hotel, where the lobby offers sheep-shaped stools to rest yourself after a long flight. Equally out of the ordinary are the tube socks, neon-pink tape and model airplanes in the mini-bar. In addition to its hip quirks, this boutique hotel offers a good night’s sleep at affordable rates (starting at a $149-a-night Park & Fly special) with a sweet view of the L.A. skyline. Best of all, you and your flock baa-rely have to leave the airport. And it’s pet-friendly.

8639 Lincoln Blvd., Los Angeles
310-645-0400
www.customhotel.com