Steps away from the Sunset Strip, a collection of 14 bungalows sit at the edge of a stunning garden. Each bungalow has a name, and each name is backed up with oodles of history and legend.

The Charlie Residences (thecharliehotel.com) were built in 1924 on the the Charlie Chaplin estate, and each bungalow is the former home of famous stars from Marilyn Monroe to Clark Gable, and of course, the Tramp himself - Charlie Chaplin.

I’m sure there’s plenty of other historic Los Angeles hotels like the Roosevelt and the Beverly Hills which were as much a home to the stars as the Charlie Bungalows, but the the timeless lethargy and a sense of detachment from the bedlam outside the walls of the garden make the Charlie stand-apart. It’s a retreat for the stars - right slam-bang in the middle of tinseltown.

The Charlie bungalow inside the garden with 1 bed / 1 bath / den  / Patio costs $7500 per month. They also offer daily rates. Bob Dylan, apparently, isn’t as valued as Charlie Chaplin, so the Dylan bungalow costs only $5,500 per month. Marilyn Monroe’s bungalow, on the other hand, clocks in at a whopping $8,500 per month, with 2 bed / 2 bath / brkfst patio.

It’s not just about a place to stay - You can get the same amenities and facilities in West Hollywood motels and hotels for a whole lot less. It’s about the magic of the stars. The ordinary Joe won’t ever earn enough to be able to buy Marilyn Monroe’s house.

But you can stay in it for a couple of days - Consider the estate as part of the tourist attractions in Los Angeles, and the differnce between standard hotel rates in Los Angeles and the cost of a weekend at one of the bungalows in Charlie as the admission price for an inside look at the lifestyles of Hollywood’s most famous icons.

Info: The Charlie, 819 N Sweetzer Ave., West Hollywood; http://thecharliehotel.com/; Photo credit - Ginger Glass

Posted on June 3rd, 2009 by Thomas
Filed under: Hotels, Los Angeles, movies