Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX Review and Insights

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As I entered the elevator for the ride up to my room after a long day of travel, the poster hanging on the elevator wall made me smile. “You choose your perspective. Your perspective shapes your path forward.”

This motivational message – quirky, uplifting, and a little bit stylish – set the tone for my entire stay. And every one of the four elevators in the hotel had a similar poster with the same tagline.

The Sonesta Los Angeles Airport hotel is all about relaxation and taking a beat for yourself. From the spacious, comfortable rooms to the friendly service to the lobby and comfortable seating areas, everything about this hotel is a chance to recharge.

Editor’s Note: The writer was hosted.

Overall Impressions

Located less than a mile from the airport, Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX is an excellent choice for families. It balances modern design with practical conveniences – like a free airport shuttle and lots of places to eat.

The hotel recently completed a $42 million dollar renovation, and the results leave no doubt it was money well spent. The lobby and check-in area is upscale, with lots of comfortable seating. Outside the main entrance, there are more cozy areas to relax and even fire pits waiting to be enjoyed; perfect if you are waiting for the airport shuttle or valet to bring your car around.

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If you’re flying in or out of Los Angeles and want a comfortable hotel that works for both kids and adults, the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX is a great choice. This large, newly renovated property offers lots of upscale comforts and amenities for an incredibly reasonable room rate.

Seating area outside the hotel with upholstered couches, chairs and throw pillows against the hotel windows at night. A mural covers a large pillar. — Seating area outside the hotel. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

Pros

One of the closest hotels to LAX
Four on-site restaurants with a variety of cuisines
Spacious, soundproofed guest rooms (important since you’re so close to the airport)
24/7 free airport shuttle service
Family-friendly conveniences like in-room refrigerators and room service
Pet-friendly hotel ($150 fee per stay)

Cons

Parking fees can be pricey
Breakfast is not always included in room rates and is expensive if purchased separately
There is a heated outdoor pool, but it is very small
Busy property with lots of travelers coming and going, making check-in and airport shuttles crowded at peak times

SheBuysTravel Tip: Opt for a room facing the airport for some cool views of planes coming in for a landing. It is quite entertaining and the soundproof windows mean you can enjoy the sights without the sounds.

Accommodations

A Preferred King room, decorated in cream and gray. In the forefront is a bed with gray linens, with gray couch below a window behind it, plus a desk, chair, night table, side table and lamps. — Our Preferred King room at the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport Hotel. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

There are several types of rooms available at the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX, all recently remodeled with either two queen or one king bed. They also have suites available.

We stayed in a Preferred King room on a high floor with a great view of the airport. Our room had a long, horizontal window facing a runway, which we soon realized was for the international terminal, and it was fun seeing all the different airlines from around the world coming in for a landing.

This is also a great place to note that the rooms have excellent soundproofing. Before arriving, we thought it might be loud due to the hotel’s proximity to the airport. But quite the opposite was true; our room was completely quiet, despite the airplanes.

The rooms at Sonesta LAX are modern, clean, and well-designed with a desk and small sofa under the window. The bed was comfortable and had plush bedding. There was a big TV with access to streaming apps, a coffee maker, and a mini fridge – perfect for storing snacks and our restaurant leftovers.

Dining Options at Sonesta LAX

View of the Boulevard Cafe at the Sonesta Hotel LAX. A counter, menu screens, pastry display case and over to the side, a seating counter with tall stools. — Grab a quick bite at Boulevard Market Café or enjoy something a bit fancier at one of the hotel’s other three restaurants. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

One of the standout features of this property is its variety of on-site dining:

Century Taproom – California-inspired pub fare with craft beer, burgers, steaks, and pizza.
Yokoso Sushi Bar – Fresh sushi and sashimi in a sleek setting.
Boulevard Market Café – Quick bites like sandwiches, salads, rotisserie chicken, pasta, and pizza—easy options for kids.
The Landing Restaurant – Classic American breakfast buffet and à la carte items.
Room Service – Available 24/7 for ultimate convenience.

This range of dining options makes it easy to feed the whole family without leaving the hotel.

Our room came with breakfast, so we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the Landing Restaurant both mornings we were there. The buffet was a fairly standard spread with eggs, fruit, pastries, French toast, and the like. All the food was hot and fresh and we enjoyed it, but I don’t think it would have been worth the $38 per person if it was not included with our stay.

A man in a blue button-down shirt and gray shorts stands at a buffet with serving dishes on one side and sunken serving dishes on the other. Plates are stacked in a cut-out at the front. — Enjoying the buffet breakfast at The Landing Restaurant. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

You can also help yourself to grab and go items in the Market Café if you don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast.

For dinner, we enjoyed a great meal at Century Taproom. My husband and I shared a big salad and pizza, and it easily could have fed three or four of us. (The fridge in our room came in very handy for leftovers!)

Cobb Salad, with dressing in white ramekins behind it. — Our gorgeous and flavorful Cobb Salad from Century Taproom. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

Century Taproom also has a wide variety of steaks, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, and more. Since they make the pizza in a specialty oven right in front of you, that’s what we wanted to try. It was really good! The restaurant also features a full bar.

Hotel Amenities

Small white shuttle bus parked under the overhang at the Sonesta Hotel LAX. — The free airport shuttle runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

Whether you’re arriving by car or flying into LAX, the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX offers a variety of onsite amenities to make travel easier.

Here are some of the standout amenities:

24/7 Free Airport Shuttle : Runs every 20–30 minutes. Very handy for arrival or departures without worrying about rides.
24/7 Fitness Center : The fitness center got a complete upgrade during the hotel’s remodel and features state-of-the-art equipment including Peloton bikes.
24/7 Room Service : So you can have a bite no matter what time you arrive.
Business Center and Meeting Rooms: if you need a quiet space to work
Laundry / Dry Cleaning Services : Always a plus when traveling.

Though it’s relatively small, there is also an outdoor heated pool . Kids can splash off energy after a long flight, while parents relax in a lounge chair. The pool is located on a rooftop off the third floor, making for some nice views.

Things to Do Nearby

Image of the Santa Monica Pier, taken from the end of the pier looking toward the beach, with crowds and umbrellas on the pier and on the beach. — The Santa Monica Pier is one of many L.A. attractions a short drive away from the hotel. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

While Sonesta is primarily an airport hotel, it’s also a good jumping-off point for L.A. adventures.

Keep in mind however, that dreaded word that shapes everywhere you drive in Southern California: Traffic. Although something might look close on a map, L.A. traffic can make getting there pretty rough. For instance, the weekend we stayed at the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX, my husband and I thought it would be fun to check out the Santa Monica Pier. The 11-mile drive took us nearly 45 minutes.

Traffic concerns aside, the hotel’s central location puts you in close proximity to many of the city’s biggest attractions. Visit the iconic Venice Beach for a day in the sun. Enjoy a thrilling sporting event at SoFi Stadium or a live performance at The Kia Forum , both just a short drive away.

Hollywood and downtown L.A. are both around 30 minutes from the hotel. And you can reach the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim in less than an hour.

Parking at Sonesta LAX

The hotel offers both self-parking and valet parking. While convenient, fees are on the higher side (typical for LAX hotels). The self-parking garage is shared with long-term airport parking and is very secure.

Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX self-parking is $50 per night (including in-and-out access), while valet parking is available for $60 plus tax per night .

Final Thoughts

Gray exterior sign with white lettering that says, — The Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX. Photo credit: Gwen Kleist

The Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX is more than just an airport hotel. It’s a convenient, family-friendly spot that combines comfort, great amenities, and easy access to and from the airport and top L.A. attractions. Whether you’re overnighting before a flight or using it as a base to explore Los Angeles, Sonesta LAX is a smart choice for families.