If you have to stay in the Valley, cuz your family is nearby, then The Garland Hotel in North Hollywood is the only resort to holiday in. Great sunny afternoons at the pool. Great workouts out at the lovely gym. Fabulous help from Michael or Lester at the pool bar...and great food at the Front Yard restaurant. Don't forget the lovely checkin staff, wonderful nocturnal vocal music in the hotel garden. However, obviously avoid staying at the Garland Hotel if the plan is just to go to Universal City; you can do that from anywhere in the better parts of LA, like Bev Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, et al. But if ya wanna have a relaxing week with nearby family and/or friends, stay at the Garland. Avoid the gift shop--unless you forgot to bring decent hand lotion--cuz there's nothin' more then a a small handful of minimal dessert plates as a guest gift for a friend's Tuesday evening dinner. For anything else to buy, there are so much better stores nearby, like the Greenwood Shop on Ventura Place. And, for nighttime snack food, don't forget the 2 or 3 7/11's around the block for your Diet Dr. Pepper and your Almond Joy bar to swallow while you're watching "Nobody Wants This" on Netflix on your large TV in that beautiful room while you're on that comfy bed. You know, the one that someone like Norma will clean to a tee each day!