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Accommodations in the Monterey area range from no-frills motels to luxurious hotels. Pacific Grove, amply endowed with ornate Victorian houses, is the region’s bed-and-breakfast capital; Carmel also has charming inns. Lavish resorts cluster in exclusive Pebble Beach and pastoral Carmel Valley.
High season runs from May through October. Rates in winter, especially at the larger hotels, may drop by 50% or more, and smaller inns often offer midweek specials. Whatever the month, some properties require a two-night stay on weekends. Many of the fancier accommodations aren’t suitable for children; if you’re traveling with kids, ask before you book.
Stained-glass windows, ornate interior details, and sophisticated modern amenities (the inn completed a top-to-bottom remodel in early 2023) compete with spectacular ocean views at this Queen Anne–style mansion. Rooms in a carriage house perched on a hill out back are larger and afford more privacy.
Stepping through the doors of this elegant inn is like being transported to a little European village. The rooms are luxurious yet understated, with Italian sheets and huge, classic soaking tubs; sitting in the sun-soaked brick courtyard makes you feel like a movie star. The inn's intimate, nine-table restaurant, Aubergine, epitomizes farm-to-table gourmet dining.
This luxe collection of seven buildings and flower-filled gardens on a bluff overlooking Monterey Bay includes the main mansion, built in 1886, a carriage house, guesthouse, and beach house. Every room has ocean and garden views, sumptuous yet comfortable furnishings, and a full bath. Some have stained-glass windows and gas or electric fireplaces.
On bluffs across from Cowell Beach, this three-story, Italianate property, built in 1877, exudes classic California beach style. Color schemes hint at sun, sea, and sky, and all the rooms have a comfortable king bed, a fireplace, and a fancy marble-tile bathroom; some also have a private patio with a spa tub.
Though it's in the middle of Santa Cruz, this inn has lush gardens, a running stream, and tall trees that make you feel as if you're in a secluded wood. All rooms have fireplaces (a few are electric) and featherbeds; most have private patios. Complimentary wine, cheese, and freshly baked cookies are available in the afternoon.
Commune with nature and pamper yourself with upscale creature comforts at this green-certified complex in the heart of town. The historic, authentically restored Pacific Coast Steamship building has a parlor and four traditional B&B-style rooms with private baths. The Boathouse, built from scratch in 2003, overlooks a tidal channel filled with birds, seals, otters, and other wildlife. The building's six rooms have fireplaces, and the bed sets are crafted from retired boats. For the best views (binoculars are provided), ask to stay on the second floor.
This luxurious inn has a fresh, Mediterranean ambience with Moroccan touches. Rooms have wrought-iron bed frames and rattan armchairs; some rooms have fireplaces, some spa tubs, and four have a sunny veranda with an ocean view. The in-town location makes walking to area attractions easy, and pet owners will be pleased that animal companions are always welcome, a legacy of dog lover and former co-owner, the late actress Doris Day.
This turreted Queen Anne Victorian was completely remodeled and updated in early 2023, and although rooms still have things like vintage armoires and headboards, they now also have a swanky, contemporary vibe and modern amenities. The two most private rooms, which have fireplaces, balconies, and whirlpool tubs, are in the rear carriage house. Homemade cookies, sodas, and evening wine and hors d'oeuvres are complimentary. A buffet breakfast is served in the parlor or garden.
This inventively designed B&B in a former rail depot views itself as a link to the era of luxury train travel, and each double room or suite, complete with fireplace and featherbeds, is inspired by a different destination—Italy's Portofino, France's Côte d'Azur, Japan's Kyoto. One suite is decorated like a railroad baron's Pullman car. Some accommodations have private patios with hot tubs. This is a great place for an adults-only weekend.
The glassed-in parlor and many guest rooms at this 1899 Mediterranean-style villa have stunning ocean views. Thoughtful details such as robes and rocking chairs create an ambience of luxury and comfort. The inn is furnished with exquisite antiques, and the owner's collection of classic race cars is on display in the patio area. Lavish breakfasts—and winemaker dinners of up to 12 courses—are served on lace-clad tables set with china, crystal, and silver.
This inn is nearly all suites, many of which have fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that open onto ocean-view patios. The motif is reproduction old world, but all rooms have spa tubs and marble bathrooms. On weekends, evening aperitifs are served in the English garden courtyard, where a fire blazes on chilly nights.
Atop a towering cliff, this inn has views of the Big Sur coastline, which you can contemplate from your private balcony. After falling asleep to the sound of surf crashing below, you'll wake to a continental breakfast and the morning paper in bed. If you prefer the company of fellow travelers, breakfast is also served buffet-style in the lounge, as are complimentary wine and cheese in the afternoon. Many rooms have wood-burning fireplaces, and there are six luxurious spa suites and a private two-bedroom cottage.
