I've recently read some less-than-glowing comments about the Lighthouse Inn (not the suites, the basic lodge rooms). We're booked there for 2 nights in Aug (2 parents, 2 teens). Does anyone have any experience with the Best Western Monarch in PG (good or bad)? Any other recommendations for moderately priced accomodations in that area. By moderate, I mean in the neighborhood of $150

Might want to check out Asilomar. The CA state conference center, located in Pacific Grove, rents out rooms when not fully booked with conference attendees. Go to www.visitasilomar.com and check it out. We stayed there for a couple of nights last September and quite enjoyed it.

Oh Mary I do hope you cahnge your reservations. We stayed there and it's just and old motor lodge with new paint. Very flimsy doors. Very much like a Motel 6 in room layout though they do have a gas log fireplace on one wall. It felt very dreary there. The afternoon bbq is hotdogs and burgers in the room by the pool.

I wish I had known about this site back then maybe I would have gotten some better recommendations. Have you done a search on here using "Pacific Grove"? Maybe by getting this back to the top some one can give you the name of a better place. Good luck.

Suzie--your experience is a big part of why I'm concerned. I know that in another post you said that you left after 1 night. Did you move to another place in PG? If so, would you mind telling me where, and whether you liked it? Thanks for your feedback!

Mary we went home after 1 night. Monterey was stop #4 on our vacation. We had already been to Tahoe, Mammoth and Yosemite so after all the mountains we thought a beach trip would be good. It might have been but the Lighthouse Lodge was not good. My kids still imitate me about this too. "I thought I was getting a view of the ocean and instead I got a view of the parking lot dumpster." They use this line whenever things don't go well and we roar with laughter. The dumpster is probably gone by now as they are completely finished with their renovations but we got a renovated room and it was not good enough.

Friends advised us to try Butterfly Inn and Wilkies. This was after we got back and compalined about our experience.

Sorry, Butterfly Grove Inn.

I live in Pacific Grove. This is one great little town. Friends of friends recently visited and stayed at the Monarch. They did not complain about the hotel at all. Go to www.pacificgrove.org for the city website. It will list hotels and B and Bs. The Gosby House is downtown B and B and nice. The Green Gable Inn is great and is on the ocean. Asilomar is also very well thought of in the area and has great beach access. I walk through there weekly to get to the beach.

Locals enjoy the Mexican food at Peppers.

Mary: My family and I stayed at the Best Western Monarch two years ago and friends of ours stayed there last year. The hotel is small, but the rooms were very nice, clean, in good condition and large enough for the three us to share a room without feeling cramped. They were offering a continental breakfast when we were there - they put out juice, coffee, bagels, danish. It was great not to have to go out and find someplace for breakfast.

Thanks to all who responded with suggestions. Suzie, we did change our reservations. We ended up deciding on the Hotel Pacific, which is in Monterey, but reasonably close to the recreation trail. The hotel sounded nice enough to push me to make the tough choice to give up staying in PG! I'm sure we'll spend time there though!

For future reference try www.innaccess.com or www.cabbi.com for accomodations in California. Our favorite "moderate" hotel in Monterey is the Otter Inn just a block from Cannery Row and near the Aquarium. It has its own parking which is a plus and is on the bike/walking path to Fisherman's Wharf. Minimal continental breakfast but there is a nice place right near the Aquarium. No A/C--you won't need it with the windows open, but you'll have to sleep over the barking of the seals. Monterey, PG, and Carmel are all different and all of interest. Be sure to visit all three. Yes, Peppers is great for Mexican and the Tinnery has beautiful views and is kid friendly.

Looks like a really nice choice Mary. Quite a difference from the Lighthouse Lodge that's for sure. Let us know how you liked it. I remember looking at the Pacific Hotel when I was planning our trip but the Lighthouse website at that time made thier place sound so good. The website now is very different.