Carmel Lodging HELP
 

HELP
I am torn between 3 inns for my anniversary (1st year). It is over Memorial day weekend so most inns are requiring a three night minimum, but we are only looking for a two night stay.

These are the three inns that can do a 2 night stay:
Cobblestone Inn queen room with a fireplace: $170
Vagabond Inn: Upstairs queen room. $175
Normandy Inn: Fireplace room $220 or King room $200 or queen room $190.

I appreciate all comments, pro's con's...
Thank you very much.

(I did jut put up a posting asking about the pine inn and colonial terrace, but those are the 3 night min.)

Vagabond's House is in the best location, the quietest, and has had a reputation as on of the top west coast B&Bs for a long time. Rooms surround a central courtyard with a little waterfall. We just stayed there a few months ago.

My husband and I stayed at The Normandy Inn two years ago. We did not have a fireplace room. Our stay was fine and I liked the location (although it is uphill to the shops). The flowers all about the property are lovely (if you like that kind of thing).

If you go to Tripadvisor.com and type in The Normandy Inn you will see quite a few reviews - some good some bad. It is all about you and what you expect.

We love Carmel and felt happy to have our small room at The Normandy (our rate in June was $119). We didn't spend a lot of time in our room ... we were more about walking the town and eating (we love La Boheme (sp.?)).

Vagabond is very charming - we toured it but have not stayed there. Cobblestone is probably a little more deluxe - have stayed there and liked it (like all Four Sisters Inns that I have stayed in). It's location is further from beach, closer to some of the shops. Haven't stayed at the Normandy, so I can't help with that.

Thank you for the feedback!!

I think we are going to do the Normandy Inn with the fireplace room. It looks very romantic and this is our one year anniversary. It is hard to choose, Cobblestone seems wonderful too but I'm afraid the queen room will be kind of small? The Vagabond room does not have a fireplace or tub so for this stay we opted for romantic amenities!

Any wonderfully romantic restaurant suggestions? I've read many great posts about Casanova, La Bohem looks great too.

thank you!!

We stayed in a fireplace suite at The Normandy Inn and loved the room. We booked it on the advice of regular Fodor's Naples, FL poster, Patrick. He had also stayed there recommend the place to us. We were not dissapointed. We felt the fireplace room was worth the extra $$$. We also preferred the upstairs corner fireplace suite. Free breakfast in the morning was nothing special at all. But it was nice to take a muffin, banana and coffee back to your room.

I looked at The Green Lantern (I hope that was the name of the place) across the street and that also looked quite nice. Wouldn't have minded staying there, although the place was larger and possibly had more of a hotel feel to it. Nice casual breakfast restaurant inside that place too. Looked through a few other places, and liked Normandy the best.

I wish someone might be able to compare The Green Lantern to The Normandy Inn for me, as to what their preferences might be. I'd love to start planning my return trip to the area.

I loved the location of both of the mentioned inns. Being in town was great for us at that point on our CA coast tour. Sorry that I do not know anything of The Cobblestone or The Vagabond.

Just slightly out of town, The Tickle Pink Inn and The Highlands Inn are both extrememly nice. Do a Google and at least check these places out. Quiet, secluded, and elegant. You would love these small, posh resorts. But you could not leave your room and wander the streets through the many shops and restaurants like you can while staying right in town.

Have a terrific trip. I LOVE Carmel.

Hi Paul, we are staying in the Green Lantern Inn for 4 days....thanks for the feedback about it. It is more reasonably priced then the others..that is one of the reason we are staying there,

Oh Judyrem, I am so envious! Have a wonderful stay - and I know you will! I look forward to hearing your impression of The Green Lantern - which is right across the street from The Normandy.
When you hit the beach, look left (South) and admire the lovely Frank Lloyd Wright cottage that sits so perfectly along the shoreline.

I am excited for you!

How far is the Normandy Inn or Green Lantern from the town? Is the Vegabond in town? Going to Carmel in 2 weeks, still haven't booked a room.

o.k., I just booked the Normandy Inn fireplace room.

Donna, the normandy inn is downtown. Another two that look really nice that are downtown are the Pine Inn and the Cypress Inn.

Have a great time. Post a review of where you stay.

CORRECTION

In my original post, I referred to The Green Lantern. I meant to say that the Pine Inn is across the street from The Normandy. It was indeed the Pine Inn I was actually referring to.

I'm sorry, but I have only read good things about The Green Lantern. When I was originally researching my own trip to Carmel, The Green Lanter was recommended. x travelbug x refreshed my memory with the correct name of the hotel that I actually explored - The Pine Inn.

xtravelbugx, Casanova restaurant combines a romantic ambiance with outstanding food. We have been going there, every 2-3 years for over 25 years and never had other than a perfect meal in lovely surroundings.

Is a jacket and tie needed for Casanova?

Paul: had to tell you...a couple of years ago we were in Carmel on the same weekend as the annual House and Garden tour, as well are the plein (sp?) art fair. The Frank Lloyd Wright home happened to be on the tour (for the first time ever), so I jumped at the chance to go while my husband hit the golf course. What a superb house that is. Naturally, it is small and a bit dated, but what an exquisite setting!

Judyrem--
I love the Green Lantern. The Holly is my favorite room, with the quaint stairway and the bath downstairs. It is smaller than some of the other rooms, but I just adore it. At night you can open the windows and hear the surf. The grounds are lovely, the staff very warm and they serve a lovely glass of wine in the afternoon.

Very neat, babs001. We only had the opportunity to 'explore' from a distance. {There was no one staying in the cottage when we went to Carmel.}

We went to Carmel on a Wednesday. How do I remember this? Because The Marin County Civic Buildings only have tours on Wednesdays - and we did the full tour the day we left San Francisco, and it was the morning before we headed later that day to Carmel. The Civic buildings were all designed by FLW.

Glad you were able to tour the cottage!

Tickle Pink Inn is the only one I've stayed at in the area--loved it. Had a fireplace and deck with a breathtaking view, continental breakfast delivered to our door. Don't miss the 17 Mile Drive at Pebble Beach.

The Tickle Pink and the Highland's Inn are both very nice. I would recommend Roys in Pebble Beach for a meal. Casanova is also very nice. If you want to splurge, try the Paciic's Edge located at the Highland's Inn. :)

Next trip I would love a stay at La Playa and I want to get to Bouchee for dinner. The Flying Fish Grill is also very good, located on the plaza. ***kim*** ((f))

Kim - Have you seen LaPlaya's rooms? I have and I was not impressed. I did however appreciate their lovely gardens and grounds.

No, I haven't seen the rooms or the property. It would be nice to be a couple of blocks from the ocean, tho. (I'm closer than that to the ocean right now, LOL!) Are some of the rooms nicer than others? I loved the Biltmore @ the Four Seasons and have heard La Playa as being described to as "the grand dame of Carmel."

It is kind of an El Encanto (SB) type place? ***kim*** ((*))

Hi Kim and Paul:
I started another post asking about the best dining in Carmel. You two seem to have a lot of great insight so I'd love to get your opinions. So far what I am finding out is that Casanova is great, but maybe more so for lunch. The reasons I have found are that it is big and some people have felt rushed which can take away from the romantic atmosphere.

Do you guys have any suggestions for romantic Italian dining? Italian restaurants I have found online are:
Tutto Mundo
Da Giovanni
The Covey
Portabella
Flying Gish Grill
The Gem restaurant
Rocky point
Little Napoli

I'm actually not sure if these are all Italian. Do you have any favorites that you would recommend?

Thank you.

Little Napoli is a great Italian resturaunt. Food is great and very
European atmosphere.

We had a very nice lunch at Portabella. I prefer Casanova tho, for the food is wonderful there. We were there during a very busy lunch rush with the enitre patio being full and our service was still very personable and friendly. :) ***kim*** ((#))

x travelbug a, from the replies you received, I think you made a good choice with the Normandy Inn over the Cobblestone. The Cobblestone is a well run inn, with great service and staff. The rooms were fine but it is an older property with paper thin walls. We could hear the normal volume conversation of our next door neighbors as well as their tv.

Ohh, good to know. :-]

I think one day while we are there we will look around at the other B&B's just to see what they are like.

Paul, could you tell me a bit about the rooms at La Playa? I'm trying to decide between this place, the Tradewinds or Vagabond's House for an upcoming stay in Carmel. :)

I really like La Playa's website, it looks beautiful and I like that they have a pool (avid swimmer here) and restaurant on site. Thanks! ***kim*** ((f))

kimamom, my wife and I stayed at the La Playa a few years ago in a standard room. Very tiny room with not much atmosphere to it.

The hotel grounds are indeed beautiful and well maintained as is the hotel itself, but I would guess a deluxe double would be the very least you would want to stay in. It's in a quiet location, several blocks to the village itself so close enough to walk, but a bit difficult at night walking the incline in the dark as there are no street lights. Parking is also an issue as it is with most places in Carmel. Its an easy walk to Carmel Beach during the day.

Just got back from up north in CA....stayed at the Cobblestone Inn, the queen sized bed isn't an issue, how much room does on really need anyway? The fireplace is gas....which I actually liked, less hassle! My husband and I had a great time there!!

We ate at the Flying Fish Grill....we made reservations the day we got there (and it was a Saturday night). One thing I will say, is that my husband and I are fairly young--26 and 30 and the treatment we received at the Flying Fish was like we couldn't afford anything....it was very obnoxious....we were well dressed and my husband is a physician and just returned from Iraq and we were looking for a nice quaint meal, not to be greeted "hi kids, how are ya?"....ugh....so patronizing, however, the food was excellent!

Have fun, we loved Carmel!!

Thanks for the info on La Playa. I am considering a King Oceanview room, so maybe it's larger than the standard room. :)

We recently stayed at the Sonoma Mission Inn and had a very small room in the Heritage section. Didn't really bother us, it was beautifully decorated with a wall of windows that over-looked the mineral water pool.

I love the Flying Fish Grill. It's one of the first places we went when we were dating way back when, LOL! ***kim*** ((*))