My itinerary has me/family visiting Monterey area on August 13-15. This is when the Historic Car Races are in town and I cannot find any lodging in Monterey, Carmel, or Pacific Grove. Should we stay in Santa Cruz and do day trips? How far of a drive is it? Any other suggestions (besides changing my itinerary)? Thanks

What do you mean by rooms are ALL BOOKED? Have you looked on Orbitz or Yahoo or Priceline? I see many rooms on Yahoo.

Santa Cruz is about an hour drive away from Monterey.

Try calling the Green Gables Inn in Pacific Grove. It is a beautiful bed and breakfast that is part of the four sisters inns chain. Book the Chapel room that looks right out on the Ocean. You will not regret it. 1-800-722-1774

Any place you can find with a vacancy for that weekend be charging double or more the regular rate. Good luck!

Santa Cruz would be your next best bet. Try the West Coast Santa Cruz hotel which is right on the beach. otherwise i'd recommend staying in San Jose, preferably downtown since thee plenty to do there at night, and do daytrips to Monterey from the city. it's about a 1.5 hr. drive to Monterey from San Jose.

You might also try Carmel Valley -- it is a little more inland so it often gets better weather than the coast. A day trip from Santa Cruz or San Jose would be a long drive.

You might also try Marina...it's a 10 minute drive from Monterey... we stayed at the Marina Dunes...right on the ocean along a state nature preserve in bungalows... big enough to share with family although a bit pricey, it was one of the nicest properties I have stayed in. There are also chain hotels across the road from the ocean...Best Western i believe...

I would suspect that since Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove are already booked, Carmel Valley is most likely booked as well. Therefore your only other options would be either San Jose or Santa Cruz. I would probably go with San Jose since it is a big city and there is plenty of nightlife and restaurants, etc.. for after your daytrip from Monterey. Santa Cruz is more of place for young college and high school kids in the summer. If you stay in San Jose I would recommend finding a place in the downtown area. Often times you can get good deals on hotel rooms for the weekends (Friday and Saturday nights) in the city.

Surely there is something..I'd check out Asilomar and Bideawee Coattages both in Pacific Grove. Asilomar might be just the thing for you and your family.