My husband and I will be going to Monterrey in late Feb. to see our son and his family who will be there on business. I am wondering about the following: Should we fly in San Francisco and drive to Monterrey? Any suggestions for places to say (please include price range if possible)? What should be see and what restaurants would you recommed.

Thanks for your help

Either San Francisco or San Jose airport would be the best to fly into for the purpose of visiting Monterey. If you rent a car and drive there, you should be able to fit in a little sightseeing in the area, depending on your schedule, though naturally the weather won't be ideal. There are many lodging options in Monterey. What is your budget for hotel rooms?

Caitlin,
Thanks for the response. I would like to spend around $200 a night for a room

Penny,

Hotel Pacific is a very nice property, and you should be able to get a room for $200. It is not lined up cheek-by-jowel with other hotels and so is in a bit quieter location, but is just a few blocks' walk from the water and attractions. It's a Spanish-style comlex with a pretty courtyard. All the rooms are suite style, with seating areas, fireplaces, table and chairs for eating, and driftwood four-posters with down featherbeds and comforters. A nice continental breakfast is included, and you can have it delivered to the room. Check www.hotelpacific.com for some pictures and details. For other ideas, do searches on this forum for "Monterey" and "California coast"; there have been a lot of posts.

As far as what to see, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must even for adults; it specializes in local sealife and has some very neat exhibits (the jellyfish are pretty spectacular). Nearby Cannery Row is good for a stroll. Fisherman's Wharf is rather tacky/touristy, in my opinion. You can drive a bit down Hwy 1 to Carmel and stroll the galleries and boutiques in a cute town setting (a bit touristy too, but not tacky), and go to Pebble Beach for the scenic Seventeen-Mile Drive (there is a fee; do a search for this, too, there have been a bunch of varying opinions about whether it is worth it). If you search for and read through older "California coast" posts, you'll get lots of ideas for sightseeing in the area.

With that budget, check out Seven Gables Inn. They have a web site. Right on the ocean, near Lovers Point. Rooms are classic, breakfasts are great.

Monterey is one of most romatic cities in the States.For lodging, you can pick up some discount coupon books in any Califorinia Tourist Center.

Monterey Bay Aquarium, founded by a co-founder of HP, is definitely the best acquarium in the US. Arrive there earlier to avoid a long queue.

Armstrong

You might want to consider staying at Embassy Suites Monterey Bay, which is really located in Seaside, CA. This hotel is located only two blocks from the ocean, and only a short drive to downtown Monterey. When I was out in Monterey this is the hotel that we stayed at, and we wouldn't have stayed anywhere else, especially since it was good overall for a family. Each morning they had a breakfast, and then in the evening a cocktail reception all of which was free. Embassy Suites also had an indoor pool and whirlpool, which was nice to have especially if it got cool in the evening.

Embassy Suites Monterey Bay is the hotel I would stay at again, the service was great, and almost all the rooms overlooked the ocean.

Embassy Suites Monterey Bay web site:

www.mbay.net/~embassy/index.htm

Hope this helps!

I fly into SJC often - it is so much easier than SFO and a whole bunch closer to your destination - rental cars also easier and quicker to get on the road.

Penny --

Don't know where you're flying in from, but if the fares are more or less the same to San Francisco or San Jose and you're not planning on going to SF anyway, definitely fly into San Jose---you'll save yourself plenty of time.

In case you hadn't noticed, we've just added a Miniguide to Monterey: http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgr...ur_section=ove


Matt Hayes
Editorial Assistant
Fodors.com