Stayed here for a weekend getaway with family during July in Monterey. A fair experience for a fair…read moreprice. They are what they advertise, and at said price it's a great experience overall. Breakfast, non smoking rooms, clean, wifi & tv, with elevator and other amentities. I wish I had tried the sauna or hot tub looking back, but the weekend was too busy. Location is perfect. Not too far from all the action (less than 10 min drive for many of Monterey's attractions) but with enough distance to relax and not be too crazy at night I guess. Definitely would look to return here on a future trip to Monterey. Thanks guys!

I was stopped by a lady smoking on adjacent property. "What are you doing with a dog we don't allow…read moredogs" never saying who she was or what business it was of hers. I told her she is a service dog the hotel allows service dogs. it was obvious she hates dogs and she followed me asking questions. I said she is a service dog. she followed me all the way to my room demanding information about the dog never once saying who she was or what business it was of hers. She called the Sheriff to have us thrown out of the hotel. I told the Sheriff obviously she hates dogs and that she never told me who she was or why she was harassing me. they told us it would be better if we just leave in the morning. I said we have a service dog the hotel says they allow service animals but we still have to leave. He said it would be best.

This place was cool!!!! It was staying at a hotel in the 70's! Comfy Clean and literally a short…read morewalk to the wharf! Staying here again! Staff was sweet and attentive

I was extremely disappointed with my stay. From the moment I walked into my room, it had a strong…read moreodor of cigarette smoke that seemed to be masked with an overpowering chemical spray. The combination was overwhelming and actually caused me breathing issues, making it very uncomfortable to stay in the room. I contacted the front desk to explain the situation and asked if I could either be moved to another room or receive a refund so I could stay elsewhere. I was told the hotel was completely sold out, and despite the condition of the room, they refused to offer any refund or accommodation. Instead the manager instructed the front desk to "smell" the room herself and give me an air purifier. I understand that hotels can sell out, but guests should not be expected to stay in a room that smells like smoke and chemicals--especially when it impacts their health and comfort. The lack of customer service and unwillingness to make the situation right was incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, based on this experience, I would not stay here again or recommend this hotel to others.

Came here on a Wednesday and got the room with the jacuzzi. The room is large with king size bed…read more it comes with both a walk in shower and jacuzzi tub. It also has a mini refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker. The bed is firm without the dips that some beds have. The towels were ok but not super soft. One thing I wish it would have is bigger TV. Considering the size of the room, the TV is small. The person at checkin was nice enough to let me check out at 12:30 instead of 11:00

Our room was clean. The bed felt nice. Plenty of outlets. Mini fridge with a small freezer inside,…read moremicrowave, and coffee maker. Not sure where the ice machine was, forgot to look for one. They place some seating outside in the parking lot and I saw trash cans all around.

Briarwood Inn is a pretty basic property so don't stay here if you want a fancy place. However if…read moreyou are looking for a dog friendly $25 per night, free parking, and a inn smack dab in the middle of Carmel this is a great spot.

Briarwood Inn has super close proximity to main shopping area of Carmel by the Sea. Note that some…read morecottages / rooms include parking while others do not so make reservations accordingly. We booked with parking so our days in Carmel were great not having to look for parking. As far as the booking goes we had zero issues. Room is clean. Dog friendly. Large bathroom. Room was spacious and plenty of room to move around (appears to be an ADA accessible room). As far as the hotel itself... not many amenities other than the office lobby area with water cooler dispenser and microwave. Our room had a refrigerator. No pool or fire pit seating area so you have to go to main street for entertainment. Price was great considering the proximity to the main street and restaurants. We would stay here again

We would certainly stay here again, but we had conflicting feelings about this property. We loved…read morethe old world charm and the way it takes you back to the ways travel used to be. You truly feel like you could be back in the middle of the last century. However, that's also a bit of a problem. Things in our room felt like they had not been maintained very well. For example, there were no easy to access outlets or ports for our phones. With that said, it looked like some nearby rooms were being redone, so the improvements may be gradually rolling through the property. We loved the convenient location and the staff. BOTTOM LINE: I suspect this is one of the more enjoyable properties in town. It reflects life the Carmel way. Relax and enjoy the unique vibe.

I loved our stay here! I would say staying in this hotel was probably my favorite part of our visit…read moreto this town. We stayed in room 33 which I highly recommend requesting that room. It had a extra comfortable bed and a balcony that you can see out to the distant ocean on. Had a small separate kitchen are that was a bonus. And the doors... !!! The Dutch doors were perfect for us with our toddler but also wanting the sunshine and street views while we hung out. Walking distance to delicious restaurants and shops. We actually walked to Flahertys and back for dinner. The breakfast they have is nice and simple. Like I said we loved it and will be staying again in the future.

Had a nice weekend stay. There is a cute little parking lot that is. Not charged extra which is a…read moreplus. It is not far from the freeway or to get anywhere. The staff were nice and accommodating. The room is decent and clean. It is a decent size and we got the king size bed. There is an air conditioner but we just popped open the window and the breeze is nice and kept the room cool enough. If the neighbors are loud you can hear them but that is no fault of the lodge. The pillows are really hard and stiff and the bed is firm.

My sister and I stayed in Room 107 and became sick almost immediately. After the first night, we…read moreboth developed respiratory symptoms including an itchy throat, nasal drip, sneezing, and headaches. By the second night, our symptoms had worsened. On the third day, I discovered black mold behind the toilet, and upon closer inspection, found more mold on the walls near the shower. It was also clear the area had been painted over previously, as there were visible paint lines around the shower -- a sign this issue has existed for some time. The front desk attendant, Michael, was empathetic, professional, and genuinely helpful. He moved us to another room, which we inspected and found no visible mold. He also stated he emailed management about the situation, especially since the mold had made us sick. I am immunocompromised, so this is not a minor concern. Unfortunately, our interaction with management was extremely disappointing. We were told the "cleaning lady" would handle the mold. This is alarming because black mold cannot be properly remediated by wiping or painting over it. In most cases, the toilet must be removed and the affected drywall replaced. Simply cleaning the surface does not address the underlying moisture damage or the mold growth behind the wall. I tried explaining this to him but he literally laughed at me. When we requested a partial refund -- especially since we were charged $233.77 for a Saturday night in a mold contaminated room -- the manager became defensive. When I mentioned we had photos and would be reporting the improper handling of mold, he responded by accusing us of leaving "broken glass" and "syringes" in the room and said he had pictures as well. Deflection at its finest! These accusations were not only irrelevant but false. Since he wouldn't stop talking over us to allow an explanation regarding the "broken glass" and "syringes they apparently have pictures of, I will explain here: * The "glass" was from a ceramic coffee mug that accidentally broke when we moved rooms. As guests, we did not have cleaning supplies to sweep it up. * The "syringe" was actually a plastic saline flush used for my sister's contact lenses -- not a hypodermic needle. Instead of listening, the manager repeatedly talked over us and argued. His response was unprofessional, dismissive, and concerning, especially given the seriousness of mold exposure. Had management handled this situation with empathy, honesty, and proper remediation, we would not be leaving this review. What worries me most is knowing that future guests may be exposed to mold and mycotoxins if the hotel continues to paint over the problem instead of addressing the underlying water damage. Michael was the only bright spot in this entire experience -- truly a gem in a place that desperately needs more of him. As for the manager's imaginative claims about "syringes" and "broken glass," we would love to see those photos. Please, go ahead and post them for everyone. We could all use a little entertainment after discovering we'd been staying in a moldy bathroom. Meanwhile, we're home detoxing from mycotoxin exposure, and somehow we still didn't receive even a partial refund for being placed in unsafe conditions. The defensiveness, the false accusations, and the complete lack of accountability were... impressive, in the worst way. Bless your hearts. An absolute disgrace.

Beautiful location nestled nicely between the bay and park. Our thoughtully equipped room sat…read morefacing the pool with easy pool access. And we were so pleased that it's a dog friendly lodge! Monterey Bay Lodge is even considerate enough to include a nice sized refrigerator and microwave. The lantern lit courtyard is surrounded by beautiful flowering trees and bushes. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will be back!

My second time staying here. I love this lodge! I love…read morethat you can check in really late with no issue. The rooms are clean, staff is friendly. I love love love the location! It is affordable and there is plenty of parking. The area is safe. They are across the street from El Estero park and the beach. You can hear the waves at night. The bed was oh so comfortable! I will be back!

Love, love, love this beautiful boutique hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea!…read more Villa Mara is a gorgeous boutique hotel tucked away in a quiet seaside neighborhood. It blends so naturally into its surroundings that we actually drove right past it the first time. I imagine the town has strict design guidelines to preserve the charm of the area. We stayed here for the first night of our Big Sur vacation, and it was beautiful. When we arrived, we were greeted by a gentleman who escorted us to our room. He appeared to be handling everything himself that evening, yet every interaction was warm and welcoming. His hospitality made us feel genuinely cared for throughout our stay. Our room didn't have a microwave, which honestly suited the elegant aesthetic of the room. However, at night we needed to warm our 17-year-old Yorkie daughter's heating pad for about 30 seconds before bedtime, since she's a senior and warming her tummy helps her sleep comfortably. He happily heated it for us each night. We also needed to keep her food frozen, but the room refrigerator didn't have a freezer compartment. When we asked, he kindly offered to store it in their large commercial freezer in the kitchen. Because this is not a large, impersonal hotel, the warmth and personal touches made our stay especially comfortable and memorable. The service was so attentive that it felt less like staying at a hotel and more like being welcomed into a friend's home. In the evenings, guests were treated to complimentary slices of cake in the lobby along with a glass of wine. Our room had a lovely private terrace, and at night, when we opened the window, we could hear the rhythmic sound of the waves crashing as if the ocean were right next to us. It felt almost magical, and we fell asleep with the window slightly open, listening to the surf. The bed was very comfortable, and the TV was great--it had everything we needed. I especially appreciated the Japanese-made air conditioner, which made it easy to adjust the room to the perfect temperature. I was also impressed by the beautiful Waterworks shower in the bathroom--it was exquisite. Every corner of the hotel reflected impeccable taste and thoughtful attention to detail. Another thing that stood out to me was the scent of the hotel. When I first walked into the lobby, I noticed a beautiful fragrance that I believe came from L.A. Lab candles. It instantly created a luxurious atmosphere, and that same refined sense of style extended to the soaps and bathroom amenities as well. Honestly, we wished we could have stayed longer. On our second night we stayed at Alila Ventana, but next time we visit Big Sur, we'll spend both nights at Villa Mara instead. Finally, I accidentally left my white Japanese hair dryer in the room. When I called the next day, a staff member who hadn't been there during our stay immediately knew what I was talking about and kindly offered to ship it back to me. Less than a week later, it arrived safely at my home- thank you!

Villa Mara is pure California luxury, and easily one of the nicest boutique hotels I've ever stayed…read moreat. Opened in 2022, it feels brand new yet already timeless, with design that's both elegant and warm. The rooms? Incredible. Heated bathroom floors (yes, heated floors), a complimentary snack bar and fridge stocked with goodies, a sleek Dyson hairdryer, and even a fancy bidet -- every detail has been thought through. Our patio looked out toward the ocean, and at night you could hear the waves. But the real star of the show is breakfast. The coffee is excellent, the quiches are light and flavorful, and the almond croissants... wow. Hands down the best croissants I've ever had. I would come back just for those. Service was top-notch from start to finish. The staff made us feel so welcome -- kind, attentive, and genuinely happy to help. Add in the location (just steps from the beach), and this place checks every single box. If you're looking for a Carmel getaway that blends luxury with charm, Villa Mara is it.