Dan Ahwa stays at the iconic Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California.
Getting there: When in LA it's a pre-booked transfer, of course, with Beverly Hills Car Rental's fleet of luxury vehicles. The service is one of the most trusted in California, and if you want peace of mind in a comfortable BMW SUV, it's worth it. Director of international marketing Kevin Sanli is used to driving celebrities, Saudi royalty and Chinese millionaires so knows his audience, and after 12 hours of flying, the conversation is interesting but not overbearing. We weave through traffic, which takes about 40 minutes, with smoky Californian fires in the distance.
Check-in experience: I arrive at 3.30pm on an unusually steaming hot October day, perfect as check-in begins from 3pm. Walking through the Italian Renaissance-style entrance immortalised in the 1990 film Pretty Woman, smartly dressed staff are welcoming, taking my bags straight to my room. Concierge also offers me a fully recyclable branded water carton, which is a nice touch. Be prepared with a few dollar bills for tipping.
First Impressions: Completed in 1928, the front building has retained most of its original fixtures. The elevators have red-leather seats, and the Tuscan stone and Carrara marble add old-school glamour. A black Maserati parked in the centre of the lobby is available for guests to drive during their stay as part of a promotion, adding to the alluring glitz. My room is across the central driveway in the second building, added in 1971, and I marvel at its unapologetic glamour - patterned carpet, grand chandeliers and fresh flowers. This is part of the Four Seasons franchise, so there's a level of luxury maintained throughout.
What's so good about this place: There's never a dull moment. There's always some celebrity wafting past or an event happening, and restaurant Cut is always humming. On the night I arrive a riotous, ritzy bat mitzvah is taking place. The hotel is perfect for people-watching and since it's located at the epicentre of Beverly Hills, you can pretty much walk anywhere and on return, the hotel is an easy enough landmark to find.