Carmel/PacificGrove/Monterey
 

Planning my last stop up the PC highway in April and we can't decide where to stay, Carmel,Pacific Grove or Monterey.
Reading other sites and Carmel has the valley and the highland? How far are they from each other.
Would like to be close to everything, maybe walking distance to restaurants and walking paths to the water.

Stay right in Carmel by the water and enjoy walking to restaurants, art galleries, shops, and the beach. It would be my choice.
cheers,
CC

Definately stay in carmel, not the valley, not the highlands, but the village area. Great window shopping, galleries, perfect beach, great restaurants, all within walking distance of each other. Check out tripadvisor for hotel choices and restaurants. Many B&B's don't know your budget and boutiqe hotels. on your drive in, don't miss a stop at point lobos, you can park outside gate on hwy 1 walk in get map for $1 this is very acceptable. Ask the ranger for a scenic ocean trail. To park inside gate it is around $8. If you don't want to walk much do this. Have fun.

When looking for places to stay how do you distingush just "Carmel"? Is that in the town of Carmel?
Is Point Lobos a part of Big Sur?
Reommendations for places to stay in Carmel by the water would be great.
Would like to spend no more then 200.00 a night.

Hi Donna, Kind of confusing isn't it. Big Sur is the coastline. Point Lobos is a State Park, pretty much at the north edge of Big Sur. Carmel is a town. The downtown area has little hotels and inns, mostly along Ocean Ave and it's offshoots. None of them have ocean views. Along Highway 1 there are a couple of bigger hotels; Highland's Inn and Tickle Pink Inn to name two. They are just south of the entrance to Point Lobos. Carmel Valley is inland and has more hotels, and inns.

Carmel Mission Ranch is a small "hotel" with cabins and rooms that is right on the bay. Looking out across the Bay is Point Lobos. It's owned by Carmel's famous former mayor. From there you can stroll over to Carmel Mission.

Personally, downtown Carmel doesn't do too much for me. But I'm a nature lover so I like the coastline.

No, Point Lobos is just south of Carmel, and about 20 minutes drive north of Big Sur. Point Lobos is about a five minute drive from Carmel, heading south on Highway 1.

Guidebooks generally differentiate between Carmel, Carmel Valley and Carmel Highlands. Carmel Highlands is about a 7 minute drive south of Carmel and is near nothing, other than fantastic scenery.

For those interested in staying at the Tickle Pink Inn, beware that there is currently work being done on its retaining wall along the highway, and stops are likely. Don't know how long it will last, but we were stopped at that point last weekend.

Haven't been here for many years, but we use to stay at the Wayside Inn. It's a block or two of the "famous Ocean Avenue". They had suites and fireplaces. The number was 800 422 4SEA. My brochure is so old that there isn't a web address on it! Remember those days???? Check it out though!!

Any reommendations on the best places to stay?

First of all, you should decide which place you would like stay. Have you ruled out the B&B's in PG where you originally were considering staying? :)

If so, that leaves Carmel/Monterey. We like to stay in the Highland's area, but it sounds like you want to be close to places so that would leave an inn in downtown Carmel for your option there. www.carmelinns.com might be of help to you. The Green Lantern Inn is close to the ocean and is in downtown Carmel both.

If you're still thinking of Monterey, I would consider the Monterey Plaza Hotel for the best place to stay in that area. It is close to everything and you could visit the aquarium if that interests you. Good luck, I would book soon for a visit in April. ***kim*** ((#))

Donna, for Carmel you may want to check out La Playa. www.laplayahotel.com It sounds wonderful, I am seriously considering staying here for an upcoming birthday trip in May. (Have to choose between Napa Valley or Carmel!) The property is only two blocks from the beach, some rooms have oceanviews and there is a restaurant The Terrace Grill sounds wonderful. The property is spacious with gardens and a pool. Also, the rooms start at aroun $195. :)

It is rated #6 on Tripadvisor. Someone compared it to the Biltmore in Santa Barbara which is gorgeous and it has been referred to as "the grand dame of Carmel." Sounds very nice! Any opinions from others on this property? ***kim*** ((#))

We have stayed at the Carriage House Inn and the Cobblestone Inn. Both nice, well located to Ocean. We had dinner at LaPlaya. Nothing to write home about, but they do have one of the very few, if only, places to dine with a water view from the terrace (not an unobstructed view - trees, etc). The hotel looks nice. It is a sister hotel to The Huntington Hotel in SF, which is one of our favorite hotels. LaPlaya has a spanish look - early California style.
On our next trip to Carmel we are considering the Vagabond Inn, which we looked at on last visit and found to be very charming. There is also the Pine Inn, which is on Ocean and near many of the shops. I really recommend looking at a website to narrow the field of what you want, then ask again for info.
By the way, I highly recommend Carmel over Monterey or Pacific Grove unless Carmel is already booked up or too expensive.

La Playa sounds like a nice, spacious property. So many of the inns in downtown Carmel are cramped and close together. (That's one of the reasons we prefer the Highlands area.) :)

How long ago did you dine at the Terrace Grill? Donna, there is also the Tradewinds Inn which is #1 on Tripadvisor. I think it is a bit further from the beach (about 1 block) than La Playa. And correction: Rooms at La Playa are going for $175/night for a residential view room. :) ***kim*** ((#))

Scratch the Tradewinds Inn, rooms start at $325 there! Sorry! ***kim*** ((f))

Last time we were in Carmel was May '03. The only reason that I even found it was due to info in our room at the Huntington, so we made a point of checking it out. It is really quite pretty. And the food may have just been a fluke. I mentioned it to the server and we got the cheerful free dessert to make-up for it. The place is very pretty, and close to the water.

If you stay in the heart of Carmel, you can walk to shops, galleries, restaurants, beach. Carmel is outrageously charming. A great, very quiet country inn B&B, very quiet, with rooms surrounding a courtyard with waterfall is Vagabond's House. Very highly rated for many years. For a wonderful and romantic restaurant, try Casanova.

Thanks everyone.
I was originally thinking of staying at the Seven Gables Inn in Pacific Grove, but after reading posts, it seems like Carmel has more to do within walking distance, am I correct?

Yes, maybe you should stay in Carmel, and then venture out to Monterey/PG. They are all very close to one another. I think every time we have visited the area (about four times a year) we go to all three places. :)

You have been given some wonderful suggestions for places in Carmel, maybe you should make your decision now and book your room. You won't be disappointed with Carmel as your place to stay. Is this your first time to the area? If so, trust me, you will return again and again! And I second the suggestion for Casanova! ***kim*** ((#))

Yes, its my first time in the area and to Calif. from the east coast, Long Island. Driving up from Dana Point on US one.
Kim, you seem to know so much and have been everywhere in Calif, is there anyway to contact you directly or are you always on the site?
Still not sure if we should stay in Cambria or San Simeon on the way up either... Decisions,Decisions...

Let's keep the info on the boards, so others can learn also! Trust me, I have NOT been everywhere in CA, there are still so many places I would love to see. Palm Springs, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Malibu and Mendocino are a few place I haven't been to. I honestly think my kids have been more places than I have, LOL! They travel a lot with their church group and friends.

I was envious of my son when he went to the Bahamas a couple of years ago and this spring DD is going to Mexico for a week to teach Bible stories to the children there and help build a church. Those lucky kids were able to spend many summers in Hawaii on two islands with my husband's family while we stayed home and worked, LOL! ***kim*** ((#)) BTW, stay in Cambria! You'll ((l)) it here!

yes.... it is amazing how much one can learn with a keyboard, an internet connection, and lots of time on one's hands.