[bcrdukes]

Somewhere closer to LAX - Check out the hotels in Venice and El Segundo. Choices are somewhat limited but they are very close to LAX without taking the 405. If you're willing to travel a little further and spend a bit more, check out the hotels in Santa Monica. You could stay at the hotels at LAX but uhh...the area is kind of dull and boring.

Areas to avoid: Bits and pieces of Long Beach, Compton, Inglewood, South central, East LA. DT LA is ok but don't walk around at night beyond the Arts District and the Bunker HIll area. The rule of thumb in DTLA (and only DTLA) is - if it looks and feels sketchy, it probably is. The Arts District and Japantown is fine at night. Lots of life in the neigbourhoods full of restaurants, bars, and pubs etc.

Sorry, no real suggestion for hotels in Anaheim. Good luck. Most of them are fine from what I understand.