🇺🇸｜ Budget-Friendly Stay in LA: Holiday Inn San Gabriel 🏨

So far, this has been my most affordable hotel experience in Los Angeles — the Holiday Inn in San Gabriel! At around 900 RMB per night, it’s a solid 3-star pick with some unique character. 💰 👨‍💼 The front desk staff were warm and welcoming. One tall, strong-looking guy — who gave off Māori vibes — even spoke a little Mandarin! 😊 🍜 Downstairs, there’s a popular Chinese restaurant that was packed around noon — always a good sign! 🏗️ Across the street? A fenced empty lot with banners about an immigration project — maybe a future hotel in the making. 🗣️ Local gossip says this hotel used to be part of a large immigration program before the organizer disappeared with the funds. The project was abandoned, and Holiday Inn took over. 📍 Location-wise, it’s pretty convenient. We drove back from Universal Studios around 10 PM with mild traffic — just 25 minutes! 🛏️ Our room was spacious (34㎡) and clean. But being a budget hotel, it attracted all kinds of people… 🚫 A Safety Moment: On our way up to the 2nd floor, an older white man with a red nose and a worn beanie got into the elevator with us. He asked: “Japanese?” Me: “Chinese.” Him, slightly annoyed: “Cantonese?” Me: “Mandarin.” He didn’t look pleased. We got off on the same floor. As my daughter and I were looking for our room, he walked a few steps, turned back, and asked: “Still looking? Which room are you in?” I stared at him for two seconds before he finally walked away. 👀 Later, I asked my daughter what she’d do if someone asked her room number when alone. She said, “I’d say ‘I don’t know.’” I told her: Don’t engage. Stay calm, avoid eye contact, return to the elevator, go downstairs, and tell the front desk a stranger made you uncomfortable. Ask staff to escort you back to your room. As a mom, I always rehearse these moments — better safe than sorry. ❤️👩‍👧 #LATravel #MotherAndDaughterTrip #BudgetHotel #SafetyFirst #HolidayInn #SanGabriel #AffordableLA #ParentingOnTheGo