Anaheim Hotel Guide

The city of Anaheim, some 30 miles from Los Angeles in Orange County, is one of Southern California’s top tourist draws. One of the main reasons, of course, is Disneyland.

Thirty-eight million visitors a year from all over the globe flock to Anaheim to enjoy a host of attractions, the biggest of which are Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm (which is technically located in adjoining Buena Park). Anaheim also has one of the largest convention centers in the state, theaters, championship golf courses and pro-sports arenas. Additionally, it is only a short drive on the freeway from Orange County’s beaches.

Over 146 Anaheim hotels, with 17,694 guestrooms, pretty much guarantee something for everyone. Almost all the national hotel chains, both upscale and budget, have a presence in Anaheim and there are myriad independents. Many of the chains have more than one location in the area. If you see the phrase “main gate” in the hotel’s name, it refers to a location close to Disneyland’s main gate. About half the hotels in Anaheim are clustered around the convention center and are within walking distance of Disneyland. The city is not rich in B&Bs: For those you would have to go a little further afield to areas such as Newport or Seal beaches.

Anaheim is a major destination for conventions, conferences, corporate meetings and trade shows. Its convention center recently expanded its size by 40 percent to a massive 1.6 million square feet of meeting space. Many of the large Anaheim hotels also have impressive convention and meeting facilities.

The neighborhood around Disneyland Park was recently consolidated into the “Anaheim Resort Area” with widened streets, landscaping, coordinated architecture and new freeway off-ramps.

You might want to consider an Anaheim hotel or motel close to the attraction at which you will be spending most of your time. Also, take advantage of hotel shuttles to the amusement parks, and save yourself a lot of driving headaches.

Since Southern California has a near ideal climate (high temperatures range from an average 65°F in winter to 79°F in summer), there is no true off-season in Anaheim. Summer and holidays when school is out tend to be the busiest times for U.S. tourists. But many attractions offer special promotional deals to residents in winter, so they can be thronged with day-tripping locals at that time of year. Additionally, visitors from overseas come at all times of the year. Booking ahead is advisable if you want to be assured of getting your first choice of lodging.

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