JoyT

4 adults travelling to Monteray, Sonoma & San Fransisco in September, staying 3 nights in each location. Looking for affordable ($ 300.00/4 per night) shared accommodations with separate bedrooms and bathrooms. We will have a vehicle but hope to walk to some local sites. Are we dreaming??
Thanks to Fodorites who have been amazing in helping us with our Itineray. Reading everything and getting great advise!! We have a great holiday planned, just finding difficulty finding affordable accommdation for this leg of our journey.

JoyT

We have found accommodation in San Fransisco and Sonoma thanks to Rastaguytoday! Carmel is being more challenging. Thanks

outdoor1

We stayed at the Martine Inn in Monterey Right on the ocean path. You can walk to the aquarium and Cannery row. We enjoyed the stay. Alternatively there is the Acobe Motor hotel in Big Sur which we absolutely loved,. Check them out see what you think.

outdoor1

Sorry the Martine Inn is actually in Pacific Grove but very near the aquarium in Monterey. We could see the ocean from our room.
And it's the Adobe Motor Lodge in Big Sur.

sunbum1944

We stayed at the Sunset Inn in Pacific Grove- very nice quiet area, short walk to the beach, no other amenities such as pool or restaurant but parking is included. It was a nice place to stay though and gets good reviews on TA.

http://www.gosunsetinn.com/html/paci...ve-lodging.asp

Rastaguytoday

I just got back from the area for a short holiday. Pacific Grove is a lovely, quiet town, and a nice place to stay.

Take the drive along the coast, up through Asilomar. It's just as pretty as the 17 mile drive, but not the $9.75 per car charge.

I had lunch at a nice, affordable cafe in Carmel Village. The village is located about 11 miles from Highway 1, and is called Cafe Rustica. There ample ample shaded tables outside. I paid $14.95 for delicious sand dabs.

1JAR

We stayed in a great 2 Bedroom VBRO in Pacific Grove right across the street from a Monterey bayside park & saw sea otters everyday from the bayside path to Monterey.

FYI, the $9.75 fee for 17 mile drive is refundable with Brunch at Pebble Beach, which I highly recommend. Bring some binoculars too as we saw several pods of whales breaching & seals incognito sunbathing on the rocks along the drive.

JoyT

Thanks for your advise we have checked out your recommendations and many are sold out
Has anyone stayed or heard of Rosedale Inn , Pacific Grove?

1JAR are you required to book a full week with VBRO?

Any other recommendations??? We would like ideally a room with refrigerator, close to sites, comfortable and clean.
Thanks everyone for your help.

Rasteguytoday would you recommend where you stayed?

Rastaguytoday

No, I would not. It was a cheapo vacation and I stayed in a cheapo Ramada.

1JAR

Here is where we stayed.

There are a set of stairs to enter either front & back if anyone would have a difficulty.

Some places require weekly and this one did not. Just look at the calendar on the page and then call. the Owner was very good to work with and some do give discounts.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p115295vbi

DebitNM

I think you are going to have a hard time finding anywhere in Carmel/Pacific Grove in Sept for $300 for 4 people. Is that for 2 rooms or one?

JoyT

Thank you, we are looking for 2 rooms and 2 baths and will pay $200 each. Looking at either a 2 bedroom 2 bathroom accommodation or separate rooms. Thanks for the tips. We will keep looking.

DebitNM

Have you tried using kayak.com? or Tripadvisor? They let you put in your dates, and then will show you availability. You can indicate your per night price. I would price out a room for 2 people, not try to do 2 rooms at once.

Pacific Grove "might" be a bit less money than Carmel. But try both and see what you come up with, then come back here with names of places that have rooms in your price range and ask for input.

JoyT

We have looked at;
Carmel Mission Inn
Mission Ranch- Farm House- Carmel
Rosedale Inn- Pacific Grove
Holiday Inn Express- Monteray Bay

Thanks 1JAR, checked out your VBRO which looked perfect but was booked!
We didn't reallize there was a Jazz Festival Sept 19-22!!
Thanks everyone for your input

sf7307

If you're willing to go the anonymous route, Hotwire has a few choices of 3* hotels in your price range for those dates.

1JAR

There are everal other VBRO, Homeaway options available...you can get a very nice place 2 Bdrm, 2 bath in the same area PAcific Grove.

An Inn with multiple rooms/rates to choose from, I can highly recommend any the Four Sisters properties, 1st choice Green Gable Inn in Pacific Grove (Gosby House Inn in Pacific Grove would also be possible and has a 20% discount for 1 night and 25% discount for 2 nights)

http://www.greengablesinnpg.com/about4sis.htm

Patty

The Holiday Inn Express you mention is actually in Seaside. Carmel Mission Inn is on the other side of Hwy 1 from Carmel by the Sea. I haven't stayed at any of the places you list (we always rent a house) but based on location, I would prefer Mission Ranch or Rosedale Inn. Have you tried plugging your dates into vrbo.com to see what comes up?

sunbum1944

There is a Holiday Inn Express in Monterey on Cannery Row- have not stayed there but know its a good location.

easytraveler

I realize that airbnb is rather controversial here on Fodors, but here's what I'm coming up with on airbnb for the dates, September 19-22:

http://tinyurl.com/omnnadd

#1 Sleeps only 3

#2 "Easy Stroll..." $180. Negative: Strict cancellation.

#3 "Feel at Home..." $225. Negative: has a resident cat (are you allergic?)

#4 "Adorable Monterey..." $215. Negative: Strict cancellation and no user reviews.

#5 "Our cozy Apt..." $43 - uh, what? Is this a typo? Otherwise, I would look into this, because it does have 2 bathrooms.

#6 "Seaside Sunshine..." $238. Negative: Strict cancellation.

#7 and #8 - seems more like advertising to me. Avoid.

#9 "Casa de Magilla" $250. This is real luxury and just what you are looking for. Negative: no reviews.


So, take a look and see what you think. Don't forget to look at everything. Cancellation policy, how many bedrooms, is it separate dwelling, what are the cleaning fees (they can charge you less on the rental and ding you on the cleaning fees which they count on you overlooking), airbnb fees, etc. Be sure to read the reviews as well.

Go over everything with a high power microscope. If you do, you're in for a wonderful stay!

Good luck!

5alive

Joy,

You gave the dates Sept. 19-22 and I went to Travelocity (a well-known search engine). I saw hotels within your budget (or slightly above) that it wanted to book for me right now. I could have pulled out my credit card and paid for one had I wished. I thought a couple of them looked pretty nice, but I do not know the specific hotels or if they are truly in Monterey proper.

It does not sound to me like you are at a desperation point but if you feel you are with the jazz festival, then book something that can be cancelled without penalty. Keep looking if you are not sure if your choice is ideal. Besides Travelocity.com and Kayak.com (mentioned by Debi) also check out expedia.com and orbitz.com.

I am not a fan of renting a stranger's spare bedroom(s), but that is the heart of the idea of Airb&b. I would much rather try a secret sale of hotwire.com 3* hotel or higher.

(Note the misleading spelling of Monterey, no "a" in the name due to it being Spanish pronunciation rules.)