iMy husband and I will be arriving in San Francisco on September 11 and driving down to Monterey. We are staying at Pebble Beach Sept. 13-16 to play golf and then driving up to Sonoma Fairmont for 3 nights and ending with a stay at a Marriott for 2 nights in San Francisco. I am looking for a B&B or motel/hotel with some character in Monterey/Carmel. I was last there in 2008 for the Big Sur half marathon and we stayed in something like an Embassy Suites. It will be for 2 nights and we plan to hike, see the redwoods, dine and visit wineries/breweries. Also, planning the to do the 17 mile drive.

You should decide whether you want to stay in Carmel or Monterey. They're very different.

And you may be a bit late in booking many of the popular properties in Carmel.

We've stayed several times at the Cypress Inn which is close to Ocean Avenue in Carmel. They allow pets (it was owned by the late Doris Day), if that matters to you one way or the other. We've also stayed at the Sea View Inn on Camino Real near 11th. The SVI is a true B&B in a converted Victorian house. It's charming and well run, but some rooms are too small for us. See photos on booking.com. It's closer to the beach than the Cypress Inn but a longer walk to Ocean Avenue. No TVs in the rooms.

Friends rave about La Playa, but it's a bit too spendy for us.

My guess (just a guess) is that budget is not a huge consideration - what with golf at Pebble, the Fairmont in Sonoma, etc.

If so, then the La Playa wouldn't be a stretch - and could be a bargain . It is a really lovely property but may be larger than you are looking for -- 75 rooms. Its certainly not a B&B .

Yep, golf and the Fairmont. But then I saw "motel/hotel" and Embassy Suites, so I wasn't sure.

Yeah -- that confused me too. The Sonoma Mission Fairmont is definitely above my pay grade but maybe spres242 is using points or something???

I stayed at the Highlands Inn some years ago and it is lovely and is now a Grand Hyatt so probably twice as spendy. We were there in May midweek and talked them into a substantial discount since it was not busy.

L'Auberge, Cypress Inn or Mission Ranch in Carmel. Seven Gables Inn, Green Gables Inn or Martine Inn in Pacific Grove. Tickle Pink Inn in Carmel Highlands. Are you specifically wanting to move instead of staying in Pebble Beach the entire time?

Patty's a local -- listen to her.

LOL!. The Fairmont was an auction that I bid on but didn't think I'd win. Oops I won. Pebble Beach is my husband's bucket list and to make tee times more than 24 hours in advance you have to stay there. This time of year the minimum is 3 nights. I'm off setting some of that by using Marriott points for the San Francisco portion. My thought with all this luxury and spending was to be more low key. I was going to use more Marriott points but something less generic was what I had in mind. I appreciate all of your suggestions and I'm going to look at each one. I did look at The Homestead in Carmel yesterday, they have openings but no recommendations so far.

Pebble Beach is very expensive. We're only staying 3 nights because that is the minimum this time of year. I just booked the Tickled Pink Inn. Ocean View. Thank you again for all your help!!

Check out the Four Sisters Inns and Quail Lodge (good specials lately) also.

I like La Playa in Carmel. For us the location closer to the beach is preferable to anything in commercial Monterey or nearer the commercial areas of Carmel. You can't beat sunsets from the dining room terrace with a glass of wine & small bites.