Hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

“Very bad service from the receptionist, I wanted to play golf at the Pebble Beach course and she told me that they couldn't go outside, and if you can, I had to make the reservation myself, the breakfast was very bad, they took my raw omelette and he never came back, I went without breakfast.”

“This place is a gem in Carmel! We had the most romantic getaway. It was our first time staying here and can't say enough good things about it. We will stay here all the time as we come to Carmel a few times a year. When we arrived, Jim checked us in and even gave us a "room tour". We reserved a beautiful king room with fireplace and jet bath tub. Worth the splurge on the room! One of the best things is you get daily breakfast delivery which we enjoyed and a safe private parking space in the reserved lot. Our room was also on the 2nd floor which felt even more private. Look no further by staying here!! They even have daily complimentary wine and charcuterie in the lobby from 5-6pm”

“This was the ideal vacation for relaxation while traveling with a toddler (I know, hear me out.) First, the hilltop suite offered plenty of room for us all. 800 square feet with lots of space for our daughter to play with her toys and move around. The spacious king bed was extraordinarily comfortable (may be the most comfortable bed we have ever experienced) and we loved the large bathroom with a shallow but large tub for our toddler who loves a bath. My husband and I treated ourselves to outdoor baths daily with the large soaking tub on the patio. The views… It was perfect. At check in, they offered us a diaper genie and a microwave to be delivered to our room. This was a gamechanger and so very thoughtful. They also provided baby shampoo, lotion and wash as well as a thoughtful gift for our toddler. Above and beyond. Our room was serviced daily and we were very impressed with the room service. So much attention to detail. You never had to ask for more towels, more soap, etc. The best cup of coffee we had all week was at the lodge. Dont even bother venturing out into carmel for better coffee, you dont need to. We looked forward to our daily routine of walking the beautiful grounds to the lodge to get a great cup of coffee and breakfast. The pool area and hot tubs were beautiful and my husband and I enjoyed making smores by the fire pits in the evening. All of the little touches made this trip so memorable and worthwhile. We traveled often before having a child and now we are always seeking the perfect kind of vacation that works for us all. Here, we found it. Thank you, Carmel Valley Ranch for providing top notch service and accomodations. We relaxed, we adventured, and we truly felt the bliss of vacation during our stay. We will be back!”

“We stayed here 3 nights for our anniversary.April 2024- Highly recommend this property!Such an enchanting experience.. unlike the usual run of the mill places.The dining was exceptional! Halibut & scallops were amazingly prepared and the prices are reasonable. The Sunday brunch on the deck with the fatted sheep grazing in the sun was a wonderful treat.”

“My boyfriend and I can't rave enough about this boutique hotel, it reminds us of a European inn, with all the charm, comfort and service they can provide. It's so nice to be out in town and to come back to the hotel and the relaxing Zen decor, the soft sheets and bed and the languid palms and landscaping around the grounds. We love the conveniences and small things that end up from big like cookies upon check in and coffee and continental breakfast upon waking, that can be arranged at the desk. Overall, it's just a classy place with just the right amount of hands on service and right amount of privacy and independence. We've stayed at other places in town, including the Mission Ranch but we decided we prefer Tradewinds overall the others.”

“Played an amazing round of golf here on a Friday morning. The opening staff was very friendly, informative, and accommodating. The course was in incredible shape, you can tell they take pride in conditions. Overall great round, very scenic, and was not crowded. Looking forward to staying & playing here next visit to the area!”

“The furniture was a bit dated and well used, but all-in-all, we had a comfortable stay. The bed/beddings were comfortable and the morning basket with goodies was a real treat.The staff was very nice and helpful with dining recommendations, directions and activity suggestions.The Inn is ideally located - allowing us to walk to the shops, galleries and restaurants.”

“Our room offered a large bed, a living room space and furniture, a breakfast table (continental breakfast delivered to the door in the morning), and a decent sized bathroom. It also had an outdoor patio with two chairs. The location offers easy access to the beach, local shops, and restaurants. Only a short trip to 17 Mile Drive and Pebble Beach golf course and clubhouse.Rooms: Nice size, with a large bed, living area, and breakfast table. Nice bathroom.Nearby activities: The beach has stair access and a trail along the street. Many small shops offer gift items. Restaurants are also good.Safety: Extremely safe town, and the lodge provides guests a souvenir flashlight for walking after dark.Walkability: The location makes it possible to walk to the beach, shops, and restaurants.Noteworthy details: The continental breakfast delivered to the door was a nice touch. The owner/manager was very pleasant and offered great ideas for activities.”

“Absolutely LOVED our stay at CVR. We had the pleasure of staying for 4 nights and it gave us the opportunity to truly enjoy what the ranch had to offer. We were checked in by Jocelyn who did an amazing job at explaining everything to us about our stay and even gave us each a welcome glass of Prosecco. Our room was gorgeous, we had the suite with the tub on the deck. It is such a vibe. Highly recommend that suite. The room could have been cleaner as we did notice a lot of build up in the shower but overall it was fairly clean.I loved that there is SO much to do. You literally never have to leave the ranch. They have hikes, fitness classes, golf, so many animals to go look at in their stables, an amazing spa, pool/hot tub with a view and much more. They have shuttles to take you to and from wherever you want to go on the ranch. Oh and complimentary apples in the morning and s'mores every night to roast by the fire pits. I liked that there is an adults only pool and hot tub. The ranch is verrrry family and pet friendly but it was nice to have some peace and quiet in that area. 1000/10 for the SPA. My fiancé and I got a couples massage with a scalp massage and it was the best massage we've ever had. They gave us a complimentary cupcake and glass of champagne afterwards since it was my birthday. I would especially recommend this hotel for families and people that want to bring their fur babies with them. It was just me and my fiancé on this trip, but we still had a lot of fun exploring everything the ranch had to offer.”

“This place is nice, so nice that it made me want to get married. Why? Because my friend's wedding reception was at the Golf Club House. The place had a lot of room, plenty of tables, the food was great, and the service was really good. So why wouldn't I consider having a special occasion here? Outside of the Golf Club House, there's a great view of the hills, decent parking, plenty of grass, the lodge, houses, and there's a decent fountain. At night, there was even a fireplace to be used. My friend, his family, and everyone enjoyed their time at the Carmel Valley Golf Club House. So be my friend and invite me over for another occasion. You'll enjoy the place and I'll help finish the food that was ordered.”

“Nice small boutique Inn (12 rooms). The rooms are situated in a very non-uniform way, which makes it feel like you have much more privacy than the typical motel/hotel with rows of rooms with doors side-by-side and directly across. Everything is situated around a center patio with fireplace going all the time. Some of the bigger rooms have private balconies. It is only half a block off the main street (Ocean Ave), so it is very easy to walk around down town to eat, shop, whatever. In fact, when I arrived, I parked my car in their private parking garage and never drove the car again until the morning I left. It is 3 blocks off the beach access (maybe 5-6 block from the beach itself), and it is a bit over a half mile from the south entrance to Pebble Beach should you be going to an event there (so quite walkable instead of dealing with offsite parking and shuttles). They have other nice touches as well – coffee in the morning, brandy in the evening (I didn’t take advantage of either though). They provide bottled water on request as needed. They provide a $10 voucher for breakfast across the street at Il Fornio, but I didn’t use this because it didn’t open until 7:30am weekdays and 9am on weekends. Instead, I walked over to the Carmel Bakery only about 3 blocks away. My room I think is the smallest they have, but it was still plenty larger for 1 or 2 people. Two sitting chairs in addition to the bed, office style desk and chair next to the bed, large TV, small refrigerator, and a very nice bathroom. So very happy with the room overall. My only negative is there was no microwave in the room (even just a very small one would be nice).Walkability: It is only half a block off the main street (Ocean Ave), so it is very easy to walk around down town to eat, shop, whatever.”

“We like room 109. We also enjoyed the duplex cottage across the street five years ago. The room overlooking the pool had a bit more chatter, yet a nice view in the past. Really like room 109 with the fireplace and durafkame logs. Bright, roomy, two sinks, toilet/shower door for privacy. Two comfortable chairs, chaise-lounge chair and comfortable bed. Very close to Ocean ave., Carmel.... Just a few steps out of our door. Also, we are just a few steps away from the continental breakfast in the morning. My husband took a look at the breakfast and we were here on Monday and Tuesday. It was very simple and we decided to go out for breakfast instead. Coffee and tea are available inside the room along with the refrigerator. This is our favorite room so far at the Normandy Inn!”

“Rooms: Beautiful clean rooms are cleaned DAILY. Something we haven’t seen even at other high end places since the pandemic.Nearby activities: Less is more. Hiking, beach/coast walk, art galleries and fine dining.Safety: Safety isn’t even a thought while you’re here. Everything is well-maintained, and staff are attentive.Walkability: Easy walk to beach or village.Food & drinks: They are so generous! Champagne breakfast with cooked to order omelettes, afternoon, drinks, and an evening cookie.”

“Carmel Valley Ranch is part of the Hyatt Unbound Collection. This property has exceeded all our expectations for a family getaway with our two young toddlers! The warmth and hospitality of the staff continued all throughout our entire stay. The resort's 500 acre grounds, nestled in the serene Carmel Valley, provided the perfect backdrop for our family adventures. Full disclosure, I had originally booked the Hyatt Highland Inn but was moved to Carmel Valley Ranch at the request of Hyatt Global because the original hotel was under renovation during the time we planned to visit. So I did very little research prior to showing up to Carmel Valley Ranch. At the check-in lobby at the Lodge, I instantly noticed that this is a very kid-friendly resort. The staff took out a treasure chest of rubber duckies for our 2 kids to choose from. They loved it! The Lodge is also where they serve s'more kits in the evening and sample goat cheese (directly from the farm) and crackers during the random days. We enjoyed the s'more kits every night at our kids' request, and it truly felt like we were glamping in style. Our spacious 800ft Ranch Suite with King bed was beautifully designed, offering both comfort and luxury, and provided ample space for our family to relax and unwind. More than just having a big space, we really value any sort of suite where we can have a closed door between a sleeping/napping toddler. The amenities were top-notch. The bedding was plush. The bathroom was spacious, though the vent when on was a bit too buzzy for my liking. We enjoyed just hanging out in the room for a good part of the day. Both of our kids were able to fit in the bathtub - not to mention the hotel was very attentive and offered us an infant bath kit. My kids were mesmerized by the fireplace with its easy-to-set timer, which served more as a decoration anyways since the heater is more than sufficient. The resort's family-friendly atmosphere made us feel right at home. Our kids were too young for some of the hikes offered on the brochures - even then we saw deer prancing on the property. Our kids had a blast exploring the on-site petting zoos, although they seemed a bit shy compared to the more outgoing llamas. Overall, we really enjoyed removing our kids from the hustle and bustle of city life and letting them soak in all the nature. As a globalist, I was fortunate to have complimentary breakfast and we were very, very happy with the offerings. This is no Hyatt Place continental breakfast. Everything from the fruit platter to pancakes could easily rival many of the local 5-star diners. One negative, which is clearly stated on the website, is that the family pool and splash pad over at the River Ranch are still under construction. We visited during a chilly winter month, so we wouldn't have been able to take advantage of it anyways, but you may want to take note of when you're visiting to see if construction is complete. While we did check out the Kids' Club down by the River Ranch, it felt a tad too young for our 4-year-old. Perhaps it was because the children there were still in their diapers, so we opted not to send our kids. Nonetheless, it's reassuring to know that there's an option to take a break from the little ones (there is an hourly charge). While we went down to the River Ranch via the shuttle service from the Lodge, we checked out one of the many available stroller models. It was really cool that they even offer this service. Though I don't know if we would do it again just because how hilly the property is to use a stroller anyways. Despite the current condition of River Ranch, our overall experience at Carmel Valley Ranch was nothing short of magical. The resort's dedication to providing a special family experience, combined with its serene natural setting and glamping-style accommodations, made it the perfect destination for our family getaway. We can't wait to return to create more cherished memories at this exceptional resort!”

“Great location, value, and service. We stayed at the Best Western while attending a conference in Carmel and were very happy with our decision. The room had recently been remodeled with tasteful modern accents and even had ocean views. We really appreciated the included breakfast, especially when even a simple two egg dish seems to go for $20+ in Carmel. The host was very friendly and accommodating. We were always able to find parking in the hotel lot. Last, but most importantly of all, the location was so convenient. Some of our colleagues stayed at a fancier hotel outside of the main town and were quite envious of our easy walking access to the charms of town and beach. A great deal for what we got, would definitely stay here again.”

“Such a charming hotel with comfortable, clean rooms and a super friendly staff. It's also in a great location, right near so many shops and restaurants (and even a farmers market depending on time of year). Included is a pretty full breakfast bar, a clean pool, and plenty of parking as well.”

“This hotel was the best in our trip. Very comfortable bad, I slept so sweetly for the first time that I didn’t want to go anywhere else , all furniture is new. Many things so nice in room, everything is thought out to the smallest detail.”

“Hotel has a beautiful pool and outside area. Do not get a room on the first floor. Feels like a motel for a lot of $ . I would stay again, in another room. Great shopping behind the hotel. Driving distance from dowbtown Carmel.”

“As a Hyatt Member, all and all, my stay was enjoyable. Being located in one of the most beautiful places in the world, how can it not be great.We were offered sparkling wine upon check in, always appreciated :) I didn't appreciate that we were forced to chat with the timeshare vacation rep after checking in but after my expressing that I wasn't interested, he backed off and we ended up joking around the rest of the visit.The property itself is beautiful (I regret not taking any photos). Weirdly, there's no easy way to get your luggage to the room, as there's no way to use one of those luggage carts (lots of steps). We had a king ocean view with a balcony. The balcony was fantastic - had a premium view! However the room wasn't quite what I was expecting, primarily the bathroom. It was more like a motel bathroom. There's a small vanity area outside the small room with a old style bathtub/shower combo; very drab and not conducive to a nice relaxing bath.One huge upside is how close the property is to Point Lobos. This was by far one of the most scenic hikes I've experienced.Dining on the property was a bit of a mixed experience. Overall, I enjoyed the food and drinks that I had. The menu's a bit limited. I'd brought a special bottle of wine for the trip and after finding out that corkage was either $35 or $40, we decided that we'd just order in for one of our dinners. We were surprised to learn that you have to physically go to the restaurant to order, that they had no room service option. In addition, we paid a significant service charge for ordering to go. If they don't have a room service option and we are doing all the leg work to bring something back to our room, why are we paying a fee??Now that I've stayed here once, I'd definitely consider returning and incorporating what I learned on this trip to improve my experience next time. Even with the negatives, it's a special place.”

“There's plenty of room for improvement in the decor and just needed updates. However, there is historical value in the keeping of things as quaint as they are. We had champagne waiting for us in our room one night, which was very thoughtful since we were celebrating our wedding anniversary. Everything was tidy and in working order. Location, location, location! We had an ocean view and watched the sunset over the ocean from the comfort of our warm room in our pajamas with a glass of champagne. We could easily walk to the beach if we chose so the location is not easily matched. This alone would deserve 5 stars. However, the dated interior and the restaurant on site don't help. The restaurant on site is not the most unique. The red sauce on the pasta lacks depth, which is a shame because they make the pasta fresh. The least they could do is pair it with an incredible sauce. Wine selection is not bad, but the beer on tap was stale/flat. Still, service is timely, kind, attentive, and courteous. The seafood was fresh, the cauliflower flavorful, the chicken moist, and the gravy delish! The hotel and ambiance are right on par with the 3.5-4 star rating.”

“I was traveling from Atlanta and working remotely. I stayed two nights here and i ah e to say, the location is great! Easy access to ocean dr in Carmel and less than 10 minutes from Monterey. Jay came back to check us in since we got there a bit later in the night. Furthermore, after accidentally leaving my MACBOOK in the room after i and checked out, they called me and were very honest. People like this are hard to come by and i appreciate honesty above all else. You and your belongings are safe here.Safety: You and your belongings are safe here. I left my computer there and they called me to let me know I had left it.Walkability: Les than a 5 minute walk to everything in Carmel. 10 minute walk from the beach.Food & drinks: Food and drinks available at any time in the day at the nearby shops and restaurants.”