the local police department office is right across the street so you can't expect much riff-raff, but still it seems to go on.
I wouldn't go out much at night with the jail so close by, but that's chinatown.
the best western dragon gate inn is a nice place to stay when you want to go by unnoticed.
my reservations were honored two out of two of the times that I stayed there.
they have coffee makers in each room and a decent view.
I wouldn't recommend it as a place for my mother to stay because of the part of town that it's in.
free continental breakfast tickets are good until ten AM which is a nice opportunity to get out at a decent hour, and downstairs.
there's lots of Chinese restaurants in Chinatown that are mere minutes walking, a supermarket and some artsy bars, and a piano lounge.
the hotel is just one of those places that you encounter in Chinatown, but don't think that staying there is a good enough reason to be out of trouble.
the same, I figure, could be said about staggering out of a local bar.
I recommend booking a reservation ahead of time because they have been filled when I walked-in before.
the building has got a courtyard of businesses, a pharmacy, a gifts store, a cafe, and is arranged in two terraces.
Chinatown is not that busy of a part of Los Angeles, as most of the traffic flows right past it on Sunset, which is about three blocks away. Downtown is just across Sunset from there.
You can walk to most major government buildings that are in downtown without renting a car.
also the bus station is walking distance.
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