Not sure why you wouldn't just drive to Monterey straight away from airport, as it isn't all that far a drive.

But, if you want a place to do so, Half Moon Bay would fit the bill. Cute town, some nice B&B's and very good restaurants.

Monterey is about 1 3/4 hrs from SFO - in non-commute hours. I would stop in Half Moon Bay - like Deb recommended. The next area south on the coast with hotels is probably Santa Cruz - but you'll practically be in Monterey if you travel that far south.

I would not stay overnight at the airport.

Stu Dudley

Plus Half Moon Bay is a very neat place.

Thanks to you both! I think we stopped for lunch at Half Moon Bay last time we drove to Monterey; I'll definitely look into it!

There are a couple of reasons we'd rather delay our trip a day - one is strictly financial. Our 3 nights in Monterey are already booked and the hotel is on the pricey side, so if we can save some money on the first night, it'd be good. The second reason is that even though the trip down from the airport isn't long, we'll be adding it to 4 hours of prior flight time, one hour of delay en route, and the hour+ we'll need for our initial check-in and boarding. So 1 3/4 to 2 hours suddenly turns into nearly 8. Wears me out just thinking about it!

For dinner right on the water, you can't beat Sam's Chowder House. In the actual town of HMB, Centrella and Pasta Moon are good choices.

Susan - I think you are smart to take into consideration how you will feel upon arrival. For some, 8 hours of travel wouldn't matter, but for others it can be very tiring. It is important to plan based on how you react to travel personally.

HMB is a great choice for the first night, but I don't know if you will find lodging any cheaper than Monterey. From a strictly financial perspective, staying near the airport will be the cheapest option.

november - You're right about taking into consideration how we'll feel on arrival. My husband just turned 70 and I'm not far behind, so even though we're more spry than many people our age, traveling does take a toll (especially on me because flying drives me nuts!)

As for the cost of lodging, we've always stayed at the Monterey Plaza, but this year have made reservations at the Intercontinental Clement. It's not as expensive as the MP, but with a waterfront room and options for upgrades, it's hardly economizing either. It's a splurge for us!

I think we'll be fine at Half Moon Bay. I've already found one place that sounds good...if it doesn't work out, I'll be back!

I hope it's not Mill Rose Inn....

DebitNM - It's Beach House at Half Moon Bay...supposedly next door to Sam's Chowder House. It had good reviews on tripadvisor, with the exception of a rather loud fog horn that apparently goes off every few seconds. That might be a problem.

Neither Sams nor the Beach House Inn are actually in the village of HMB - they are a bit north. Nice views & beach to walk on, however.

Stu Dudley

MRI has glowing reviews too, and let's just say, we beg to differ.

DebitNM - any advice? The view looks nice, but the fog horn might not be great for a couple of weary travelers.

I don't unfortunately as we only spent the one night at Mill Rose Inn on our way from Pacific Grove back to SFO.

Okay, I'll forge ahead.

visit Santa Cruz, I like it. There's a nice restaurant there called "The Buttery" that serves up gourmet breakfasts. There are also many nice restaurants along the pier, and the classic iconic boardwalk is filled with rides next to the waves of the ocean.be sure to pick up some garlic fries on the boardwalk. Many movies were filmed there, notably "The Lost Boys".

If you're planning a leisurely drive from HMB to Monterey, I would also recommend a stop in Santa Cruz. The wharf has a lovely view of Monterey Bay and good places for lunch. If you are into wine, stop by the Bonny Doon Tasting Room on the westside for a tasting. You could also take a leisurely drive up the hill and see the picturesque campus of UC Santa Cruz.

I agree that a lunch stop in Santa Cruz on the way to Monterey is a great choice - or a late breakfast if you are early risers.

The Boardwalk is open seasonally, so depending on when your trip is, it may or may not be open. You can check their web site for hours of operation. But, there is a lot more to Santa Cruz than the Boardwalk, so it makes a great stop any time of year.

If you are interested in redwoods, Henry Cowell state park is about 5-10 miles up Hwy 9 from Santa Cruz. They have a nice interperative trail by the visitors center.

I live in the area you are going to visit.

When in HMB you may want to visit the Ritz Carlton there. Beautiful setting and looks like it should be in New England instead of California. Nice place to stop for a meal before heading south to Monterey.

Driving to HMB: The traffic gets heavy here around 3 pm. The commute lane opens at 3, you qualify with 2 people, but it is still crowded. Your map will probably tell you to drive south on Hwy 101 from SFO to HWY 92 west to HMB. I would recommend you go slightly north on 101 from SFO to HWY 380 west. This will connect you to HWY 280 south to Hwy 92 and west to HMB. I do this drive daily into SF. I never use Hwy 101 for my evening commute. Never. Plus, the drive on 280 is beautiful. No buildings, all trees. The traffic is lighter also as there is virtually no commercial business. Just a thought from a local. The mileage will be about the same either way. Look at it on the map.

The Clement in Monterey is very nice and pretty new...about 4 years old. The Pebble Beach shop next door is an outlet for PB. If you want PB gifts or stuff, do it here. There is a small French restaurant very close called the BISTRO MOULIN. The owners both work it. My wife and I enjoy it. Ask at the hotel. You can probably walk.

I don't think there is a commute lane between SFO and 92. I also don't take 92 from 280 - I take the exit before, which says Half Moon Bay or something like that. More scenic.

Stu Dudley

I take 101 home every single night, but I'd agree that as a tourist you should spend less time on 101 and more on 280.

Where is the a commute lane? (the closest one I know of on 101 starts around Belmont, and the closest one on 280 doesn't start until El Monte Ave)

So...unless things change again, we've decided to head on to Monterey from the airport. I know we'll be exhausted - it'll be around 9 o'clock our time by the time we get there, but more importantly we WILL be there and will have all the traveling out of the way for a few days. I'm thrilled to have an additional night in Monterey and appreciate all the good advice all of you have given.

So here's the question of the hour. We'll be traveling on a Saturday in the late afternoon...perhaps starting around 5. For this trip we'll be looking for the speediest, not the most scenic route. What would that be?

Speediest way to Monterey - Hwy 380 to 280 south, then 85/101/156/1. It seems a little complicated, but it really isn't bad when you see it on a map. As an alternative, you could take Hwy 101/156/1. The problem with Hwy 101 between SFO and San Jose though is that it is a really bad road - pot holes, constant construction, etc. Hwy 280 parallels 101, but is a MUCH nicer road and doesn't take any more time.

Smart decision.

>>Hwy 280 parallels 101, but is a MUCH nicer road<

and MUCH more scenic.

Stu Dudley