My pal and I decided one day to just head out for a weekend getaway. The hustle and bustle from city life - the relentless honk-honks of impatient drivers and the green-man crossings that impatiently count down the seconds - had taken a toll on our natural selves.

Coincidentally, the Loews Santa Monica was offering a cheapish weekend getaway package with full breakfast and spa treatments. As icing on the cake, we were promised - and offered - a room with an unbeatable view. I think that made us stay a lot up there because the room was lavishly decorated and it was obvious that no cent was spared in creating a welcoming ambience.

We spent some time at the spa and fitness centre for which we were given vouchers. It was indeed a short getaway but one that was definitely revitalising and not easily forgettable.

I have stayed at the Loews Santa Monica two times - once on business, once for pleasure. After my first visit, it's amazing I ever returned.

My first stay, a business trip, took place in the midst of massive construction both in the hotel and outside on Ocean Avenue. I had selected the hotel based on its location right on the beach in Santa Monica so when I arrived, I was disappointed that the staff had not alerted me to the mess and the noise.

The hotel lobby was a true disaster: the entire 4-5 story atrium covered industrial strength plastic and construction workers everywhere. Check-in took place at a make-shift registration desk with a line out the door.

Things got worse when I arrived in my room. Facing the noisy Ocean Ave. construction, not the beach, it had no view to speak of. Just plenty of hammering sounds, lots of dust. My room was odd in other ways too. It didn't have a tub, just a large shower, and furnishings seemed rather low to the ground in general. Later, I put two and two together and realized that the hotel had given me a handicapped accessible room. No idea why and they didn't acknowledge this fact at check in.

Why did I ever stay there again, you might wonder? After my brief first stay, I wrote a letter to the general manager filling them in on my negative impressions, top to bottom. In response, I was offered a complimentary return visit and I chose to take them up on it, making a fun weekend visit to LA with a friend.

My second stay was so very different from the first. I received a top-floor ocean view room that had recently been renovated. The vaulted ceilings and balcony overlooking the beach made this room so much better than the last! In my room, I found fresh flowers, a fruit plate and a bottle of wine waiting.

During this visit, I had the chance to check out other hotel amenities such as the pool (small, but with a fantastic view of the beach and ocean) and health club (much larger and nicer than most hotels' gyms).

Would I recommend this hotel? Yes, but with some hesitation. I still love the location - Santa Monica is my favorite part of town and the Loews is about a 10-15 minute walk from the Third Street Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier. However I need to stay at the hotel a few more times to ensure that the service level remains the same when I revert to just another "average guest." For the price, I'm not sure if it's worth it.