Chill out at the quirky, loveable Andaz, a hotel that tickles, refreshes and amuses.

This is part of a series about getting out of the house for a night or two to recharge your holiday havoc-induced stress that aptly kicks off at a loveable, quirky West Hollywood hotel called Andaz.

You realize how different this hotel is as soon as you walk into the sociable lobby or Living Room, as the staff prefers to call it.  People are comfortably ensconced in cushy seats texting or working on laptops, sipping complimentary beverages (soft drinks until 5 PM, wine from 5 to 8 PM). There’s no check-in desk. You simply take a seat and wait your turn.

I was a bit befuddled at first, but easily got into the swing and sat down and connected to the Internet with the free Wi-Fi while I waited for Walter, who was my official greeter, check-in man and escort to my room.

Walter went through the preliminaries and took me up to my room on the 9th floor. He showed me how the special laser key worked in the elevator and at the door to my room. Went over the lighting and showed me the mini bar filled with complimentary soft drinks and snacks (it’s refilled daily). I liked this place right away. No nickel and diming here -- which Walter’s proud of. “We like to make our guests feel at home,” he smiled.

There are so many amenities, I asked if the hotel also did your laundry free. Walter responded that they thought about it.

The view from my room was amazing (check out the slide show), a panorama of LA in all its glory with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains and even Catalina Island in the distance.

The room had a comfy king-size bed, large flat-screen TV, desk, sitting area that looked out onto Sunset Boulevard and the city, a bathroom with shower and sink, robes, slippers, iron, ironing board, hair dryer and lots of pillows.

After unpacking I headed up to the rooftop pool, where more views of LA are evident. The heated pool is long enough for some good laps. There are lots of chaises and cabanas (also free with no reservations necessary) and plenty of towels.

Then I headed to the fitness room, which impressed me with the late-model equipment. I was torn between a workout or wine in the Living Room. Exercise won out.

Back to my room for a shower and change, I headed down to the Living Room for that promised glass of wine. It was a fine California Chardonnay (there are also reds) served with big, crispy bread sticks. Fellow guests -- most of them young and quite hip and happening looking -- were swilling the stuff like water, chatting, working on their netbooks or laptops, or using the complimentary computers set up around the “social area.”

I really liked this place. There’s a warm, cozy feeling to it that seems so rare today. Did I mention they also pour free espressos, cappuccinos or coffee all day long? That alone won this coffee-lover over.

Between the ultra-inviting pool deck with all its cushy lounges, the Living Room spread out with nooks, crannies and seats you can really sink into, the sweet staff and general  friendly tone of the Andaz, it doesn’t get much better than this.

And I haven’t even gotten to the restaurant. RH at the Andaz is a little 100-seat charmer helmed by Sebastien Archambault, a tall 32-year-old who trained in France and earned his toque at top establishments such as Alain Ducasse, Jean-Francois Roquette and Guy Savoy (three of my favorites).

RH is named in tribute to the hotel’s storied past when it was once nicknamed Riot House by the rock and rollers who frequented the joint back in the '70s. Let me digress: Andaz evolved from a series of hotels starting with the Gene Hotel Continental circa 1963, later called simply Continental Hyatt House.

In 1997 it was renamed Hyatt West Hollywood, when it played host to luminaries like David Bowie, Ray Charles and John Lennon.

Although it boasts a touch of W hotels, Andaz claims a style of its own: vibrant, attentive, relaxed, chimerical in a way, and very socially engaging.

OK, back to RH, where Chef Sebastien creates tasty dishes in an open kitchen and guests savor them in the open, airy room accentuated by whimsical curved metal lighting fixtures, metallic, marble, old columns and hourglass-design mosaic stone flooring.

His menu evolves regularly and ranges from braised Petaluma chicken breast to wild salmon, 12-hour cooked boneless suckling pig, charcuterie and cheese platters, hamburgers, sweetbreads and the fave rave, triple fried french fries. Prices are quite affordable, ranging from $12-$25 for lunch entrees and $18-$28 for dinner, with lots of cheaper choices in between.

Any Dislikes

Hard to have any, but if I need to pick one, I’d say the $28 charge for overnight parking. However it is forgivable, given that parking is at a premium in this town.

Rates range from $250 to $1,600 a night (the latter for the penthouse suite), but there are special packages offered regularly on the website.

The Andaz West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd., WeHo, 323-785-6060, www.andaz.westhollywood.com.

Fun Factoids:

Andaz means “personal style” in Hindi.

Employees wear real outfits with “off the rack” selections, the most popular from V elvet by Graham & Spencer and Vince.

The swimming pool is the highest hotel rooftop facility in LA.

Free snacks and beverages in the rooms include trail mix, potato chips, Nature Valley peanut butter candy bar, green tea, Bob’s Really Good Iced Tea with lemon, Coke, Sprite, ginger ale, two bottles of water. This would run you plenty at another hotel.

So if holiday shopping, preparations, work, kids and stuff seem to get the best of you, check into the Andaz and you’ll feel your spirits lifted and the stress melt away within a few minutes. At least I did.