Fodor's Expert Review Tradewinds Carmel

Editor's Note: This location is reported to be under new ownership and therefore this review may contain inaccuracies.

This converted motel with sleek decor inspired by the South Seas encircles a courtyard with waterfalls, a meditation garden, and a fire pit. Each room has a tabletop fountain and orchids that complement the antique and custom furniture from Bali and China. Some private balconies afford a view of the bay or the mountains. Treat yourself to an in-room shell massage; afterward, you'll feel as if you just spent a week unwinding on a tropical beach. The chic boutique hotel, owned by the same family since it opened in 1959, is on a quiet downtown side street.