I want to stay in town at a great place in Carmel, where we can walk around the town and neighborhoods. Less interested in a view and more with comfort and quality and the town location. Any good experiences anyone can share?

We stayed at Svengaard's last year and it was very nice--a huge jacuzzi tub in a separate room, large fireplace, comfortable sitting area, delicious goodies in a basket delivered to room each morning.

Cathy,

I know you said you are more interested in comfort and quality than a view but we have stayed at a place that offers all three. The Carmel Bay view Inn Offers spectacular views of Point Lobos and the coast--all from downtown. They have a wonderful continental breakfast and while people will try to tell you that no Inn has views of the coast from in town don't believe them! This place has a fourth and fifth floor set up on a hill in the back of town with wonderful balconies, large rooms, fireplaces and and the MOST COMFORTABLE HUGE BED WE HAVE EVER SLEPT IN!!!

All of this plus the convenience of a downtown location that you can walk EVERYWHERE from. Can't recommend it highly enough!

Have fun!

Davidcs

Hi, My husband and I stayed at the Highland Inn. It was incredible. The rooms are very private, we had a fireplace in ours. The Inn is up high, and looks out over the Pacific. The restaurant is one of the best! Great wine selection. Everything we experienced while there was positive. They have bike too, that you can take out for the day.

Cathy:

While I agree with ksl that the Highlands Inn is a wonderful place, it is not in town and, depending on when you're going, traffic into Carmel and parking once you're there could be a problem.

Nothing against ksl, I only mention this because your posting stated that you wanted a place where you could easily walk around town from.

Tom

Cathy:
A few weekends ago I spent the night in Carmel at the Normandy Inn. It's a medium sized place with a variety of suites and room configurations. I stayed in a standard double - it was spacious for my purposes, had a really nice bathroom/dressing room. Breakfast is served in the lobby each morning as well as cookies and sherry in the evenings. "Mr Taffy", the enormous house cat, is usually lounging on a couch somewhere in the lobby.
The area around the Normandy Inn has a number of attractive properties - some are like upscale motels, others more B&B like. I drove in on a Sunday afternoon during low season and just dropped in and got a room, but if you are coming anytime between June and September, you definitely are better off with reservations. Carmel's a very mellow, walkable town, but parking does get very tight on weekends. I agree with the previous poster and would pick someplace in Carmel proper rather than drive in.

I stayed last year at the Cypress Inn. Nice rooms, nice atmosphere, nice old building. One block off the main street, so everything was an easy walk. It's owned by Doris Day

THE PINE INN on Ocean in Carmel meets your requirements. We stayed there a few years ago and loved it. Now live in the area but still enjoy the restaurant there...Il Fornaio.