Inexpensive Monterey Area Lodging
 

Thanks to those who answered my request for info on San Francisco. Now we're planning the next part of the trip. <BR>We want to stay in the Monterey Area and do Big Sur, Carmel, and the aquarium. We'd like to find something in the 2 or 3-star range (we're looking at $125-150). What are your best suggestions? <BR>Any ideas about the best way to see the most in the two days we have there? <BR>And then the nicest route to Lake Tahoe after that? About how long a ride is it? <BR>

I can tell you where NOT to stay - at the Best Western in Monterey. Normally, we love BW's but this one was awful. While the standard room was spacious enough, it wasn't very clean. Continental breakfast was a joke - very little offered, and for that we payed over $160. Plus, the manager was really wacko, into some real strange stuff...BEWARE. There are many other lovely properties, mom and pop types, that we saw when we drove around. Check the AAA.

Monterey is touristy and overpriced in terms of what you pay vs what you get for your money, accommodations and food-wise. Fortunately there is a town right next door, a stone's throw away, that is wonderful and more reasonably-priced: Pacific Grove. This is where we stayed the night before we visited Monterey Aquarium (which was great, by the way -- make sure you catch the jellyfish exhibit upstairs, which was our favorite). Pacific Grove has a website which you can check for accommodations: http://www.pacificgrove.com/clients/index.html <BR>We used the Frommer's California guidebook which also had good recommendations for Pacific Grove. Also had a good, reasonably-priced dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Pacific Grove which I believe was called Pepper's Mexicali if I remember correctly. <BR>Also check www.pacificgrove.org and <BR>http://monterey-carmel.com/

Try the DeAnza Inn. Its a great middle of the road hotel. You might be able to get into a hotel in New Monterey for that price, like the Victorian Inn. Just stay away from mid range in Pacific Grove, they are dumps even if they overlook the Ocean. For 2 days I recommend: Breakfast at Great Awakenings in Pacific Grove. Then the aquarium but call ahead for tickets, the lines to get tickets are awful if you don't. After the aquarium check out Cannery Row (you will already be there). And then fishermans wharf, they have the best clam chowder. For the sunset go around 17 mile Drive and end up in Pacific Grove. Eat at the Fishwife, a locals favorite if you can get in! Day 2 Get up early and go to Big Sur. If you go in the afternoon you will get stuck in traffic coming back. Hike around (BRING WATER) and eat lunch at Nepenthe's (great view). Double back to Carmel. Parking is limited so wear comfortable shoes and park wherever you can. To pay for parking at the Carmel Plaza lot is worth it. Eat at Cassanova's if you like mediterranian food. It has the most wonderful courtyard and is off the beaten path. The art galleries are a must see, but are not on the main road, Ocean Ave. You should go 1 block North to 6th and look around there. Don't spend a lot of time in Carmel Plaza, explore the side streets, they have the most interesting stores. Don't go to Clint Eastwoods restaurant the Hog's Breath Inn, he is never there and the food's average. Be at the beach at sunset, if its not foggy. Carmel traffic is awful so buy/bring a map. There are lots of ways to get out if you have a map to show other ways out besides Ocean Ave to get to Hwy 1. Best time of year: September or October which is our Indian Summer. Last but not least bring a coat, it can come down to 50 degrees at night even in the middle of summer. Hope this helps!

Best Western Carmel Mission Inn is really nice. Great pool area.

Hi Karen, <BR>Don't know if this is too late, but we stayed 3 nights over Christmas last year at the Doubletree in Monterey and were very pleased. Spacious comfy rooms, fitness/pool, good buffet, but best of all is the locale. We had reservations at the Best Western Victorian Inn but were sorely disappointed considering the high price of the awful room, lack of view and distance from Fisherman's Wharf. They were kind enough to let us cancel though and we ended up at the Doubletree for 1/2 the price-$79.00. You can park your car and walk everywhere - 2 minutes to wharf, shops, and restaurants. Good service and value all around. <BR>Avoid driving to Big Sur on the weekends and do try and have breakfast/lunch at Pebble Beach as a nice break to the 17 mile drive. Carmel and it's <BR>Mission are must sees. Enjoy

The little Otter Inn is walking distance to the Aquarium and Fisherman's Wharf but it doesn't have A/C and the seals and birds get noisy at night and during the early hours. It does have the advantage of reserved parking which is hard to come by in this area. There are also lots of smaller motel type places in Carmel, but the prices tend to be higher for what you get. Check the Wayside Inn or the old Pine Inn on Ocean Ave. which also offers reserved parking.