What to Know About Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills’ Suite Ride Package

Southern California has long been one of the world’s epicenters for glitz, glamour, and the trappings intrinsic to the glitterati. Nowhere is this more on display than in Beverly Hills, and what better way to see and be seen there than in an exotic automobile. For visitors who want a fast introduction to the stateside version of la dolce vita, the Suite Ride package from the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills sets it all in motion.

Participating guests of the tony hotel, located in what’s known as the “Golden Triangle”—outlined by Santa Monica Blvd., Wilshire Blvd., and Cañon Drive—will have the use of various dream machines during their stay, all based on the particular suite they’re residing in. Complementing the accommodations and A-list automobiles are the property’s elegant Espelette restaurant and bar, the 5,000-square-foot La Prairie Spa, a pool with panoramic city views, and the rarefied Rooftop culinary experience.

In collaboration with Beverly Hills Car Rental, the Waldorf Astoria offers tiered automotive selections that start with a choice of either a Mercedes S 580, a G 550, or a Porsche 911 for the Superior, Deluxe, or Beverly Hills guest rooms. Deluxe Corner Junior Suites feature the option for Bentley’s Bentayga or Flying Spur, or the Ferrari Portofino, while the Beverly Hills and Hollywood Suites come with the Bentley Continental GTC, the Ferrari Roma, or the Lamborghini Urus. Reserved for stays in the Governor, Presidential, and Villa Suites are the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and Ghost, as well as the Ferrari 296 GTS.

Yet when the package, which starts at $1,470 per night, was introduced this past November, no marketing department could have foreseen the need to revitalize tourism in support of the neighboring regions that would be devastated by wildfires several weeks later, namely Pacific Palisades and the eastern portion of Malibu.

For months after, the oceanfront connector and motoring magnet that is Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), was closed to all but residents of the burn areas. Now, though, the vital artery has been reopened and local business are on the rebound. As the Waldorf Astoria’s general manager Tod Chambers notes, it’s “a time when travel feels especially meaningful . . . Los Angeles is a city that thrives on creativity, culture, and movement—and we’re proud to offer an immersive way for visitors to rediscover what we call the very best of the ‘California good life.’”

My wife and I recently experienced the Waldorf Astoria’s take on that “good life” with a Suite Ride weekend that began with a Saturday evening dinner at the Rooftop, perched, as the name infers, on the property’s crowning 12th floor. The alfresco hot spot features executive chef Peleg Miron’s pairing of  international fare with a local twist, such as shrimp tempura tacos and French fries paired with caviar. For a dining adventure that celebrates and elevates comfort food and artisanal cocktails, there’s the ground floor’s Espelette, where a bourbon-based Wilshire Boulevardier could pair brilliantly with the ribeye cap steak or Wagyu beef burger.

Our overnight oasis, the Beverly Hills Suite is a 1,093-square-foot residence—duplicated on floors four through 11—that opens to a 445-square-foot curved terrace with expansive views of the exclusive community. Defined by Italian marble, polished woodwork, and an aesthetic that lies at the crossroads of old Hollywood and contemporary European elegance, the baronial expanse also features a vast living room and dining area, and a walk-in closet—connecting the master bedroom and bath—that likely rivals some cruise-ship staterooms in size.

As the Suite Ride package was part of a belated anniversary staycation that we were enjoying, we end up being chauffeured rather than pilot the surrounds ourselves. The next morning starts in the 789 hp Lamborghini Urus SE, the new hybrid version of Sant’Agata Bolognese’s benchmark SUV. Its 194 mph top speed and ability to cover zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds are irrelevant on congested Cañon Drive, but the soundtrack of the model’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 adds gravitas to the arrival at our breakfast destination. Upon exiting the vehicle, I look up to see comedy icon Adam Sandler, who happens to be standing out front, and can’t help but be impressed at how convincingly he pretends not to notice us—but then, he is a talented actor.

As the morning’s overcast demeanor eventually brightens, it’s time to trade the Raging Bull for a Rolls-Royce Dawn Landspeed. The limited-edition droptop, of which only 25 examples were made, pays tribute to Captain George E.T. Eyston and his record runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Rolling near Rodeo Drive with the roof down, it’s hard not to feel like larger-than-life characters in our own cinematic love story.

The Suite Ride package does have some requirements and restrictions, namely that you must have your own comprehensive auto insurance and that 50 miles is your maximum without having to pay extra. That limitation on round-trip distance precludes such famed roads as Angeles Crest Highway, and makes even many of Malibu’s canyons a challenge. As for accessing the latter, the speed limit on most of that stretch of PCH is currently 25 mph due to the work of rebuilding and repairing what was destroyed, which rightfully takes priority. Yet there’s still plenty of memorable motoring closer to the Waldorf, and ethereal memories to make in the City of Angels.

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“Our Suite Ride experience allows guests to explore the city in effortless style, with exclusive access to luxury vehicles and thoughtfully curated driving itineraries tailored to their personal interests—whether it’s coastal vistas, iconic landmarks, or culinary gems,” says Chambers.

Of greater importance, Waldorf Astoria’s package encourages travel to a region that, despite having parts of it impacted this year by both natural disasters and sociopolitical unrest, has not lost its luster. The opportunity to see it by supercar only makes this coveted point on the world map even more compelling.  

Click here for more photos of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Suite Ride Package.