Before you start, Mr. Toy has some suggestions to help you narrow your search. First, ask yourself what type of lodgings you prefer and what can you afford. Basic motel? Bed & Breakfast? Full service hotel? Next, read the sections below and decide which part of the peninsula best suits your interests. Once you've done that you can tackle the guidebooks and web listings much more quickly. Then, if you  have questions about a specific property, or just need a recommendation, you can ask Mr. Toy. He might actually know something.

With money being tight for everyone these days Mr. Toy wants to make sure you are aware of some discounts that are available from our advertisers. Follow these links to learn more. 

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One caution: Make your reservations as early as possible. During holidays things get pretty full. Even during off-season times everything can fill up if there is a big event in the area, such as the AT&T Pro-Am Golf Tournament, the Monterey Jazz Festival, or a race at Laguna Seca.

More cautions: Be careful not to confuse properties with similar names. There's a Mission Inn and Mission Ranch which have absolutely nothing in common. Likewise there's a Monterey Bay Lodge and a Monterey Bay Inn. One is a motel (the Lodge), the other is a small hotel. Only one is actually along the bay (the inn), while the other is a couple of blocks inland. Which brings us to another caution. Some advertising can be deceptive. Mr. Toy doesn't want to give any names here to protect himself from the guilty, but a small number of lodgings have names or advertising descriptions which imply proximity to the ocean and other attractions, but they really aren't very close. You can verify such claims by viewing the map links in their listings. 

Monterey:

Monterey is the center of everything. It is a small and busy city with a rich history.

Downtown: 
Some of the biggest hotels on the peninsula are in downtown Monterey. There are also a few smaller ones. Select a place downtown if you want to be in an urban environment. Most downtown accommodations are within walking distance of the waterfront, the wharf, and countless historic sites. Some hotels, particularly the 10-story Marriott, have bay views. There is considerable nightlife in downtown Monterey. This could be an asset if you like to stay out late at restaurants or nightclubs, but a drawback if you prefer tranquility after dark. 
Downtown Map

Cannery Row:
There are two large, full service hotels here, and a couple of smaller ones, all of which are right on the water and have spectacular bay views. Go one block inland and you'll find a few above average motels. Like downtown, there is a lot of night life so the streets can be a bit noisy at night. The northern end of Cannery Row near the Spindrift and Clement hotels is very touristy. The southern end, farthest from the aquarium, is pretty calm. The Monterey Plaza and Monterey Bay Inn are located there. The Shoreline Recreation Trail runs past most of these properties giving you foot and bicycle access to downtown Monterey and Pacific Grove. The aquarium is just a short walk down the street. Cannery Row is a great area if you want to be close to the bay. And just so you know, Cannery Row's shoreline faces east, not west, so you'll see the sun and moon rise over the bay, while they set over the top of Monterey's hills.
Cannery Row Map

Motel Row:
This area is along Munras Avenue between Highway 1 and Fremont Street near downtown Monterey. There are gobs of clean basic motels here. The advantage is that they are right in the middle of everything. The disadvantage is they are close to nothing, at least not close enough to walk. However, downtown Monterey and the waterfront are just a short drive down the hill, and Carmel is about five minutes away just over the hill. If all you want is a room that is relatively cheap, pick a place on Motel Row. Any one will do. Most of the places are AAA approved, and many are affiliated with popular chains such as Best Western.
Motel Row Map

North Fremont Boulevard:
Like Motel Row, there are several clean and basic motels here, including a Motel 6. Some of them date back to the earliest days of motel construction, which is sort of quaint. Quality is not as consistent as on Motel Row, the neighborhood is less refined, and things are a little farther away. North Fremont is within walking distance of the Monterey Fairgrounds, home of many special events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, Blues Festival, and a bunch of other things. If you are attending one of these events staying on North Fremont lets you avoid the hassles of parking. 
North Fremont Map

By the Freeway:
There are a few "resort" style hotels sprinkled alongside the freeway. At the Canyon Del Rey (Highway 218) interchange you'll find the Best Western Monterey Beach Resort, which is technically in Monterey, but is really more like Seaside. It is one of the very few local properties outside of Cannery Row that are directly on the beach. Near Aguajito Road there's a Hyatt (which is within walking distance of the fairgrounds), a Hilton, and a few motels. None of these places are exceptionally luxurious, but they're not bad, either. Sometimes prices at these properties are pretty good, but bear in mind that some of their rooms overlook and overhear the freeway.
Monterey Freeway Map

Carmel:

For peace and tranquility stay in Carmel. It's a small town full of interesting shops, art galleries, and excellent restaurants, all in a fairy-tale forested setting. The business district can be pretty bustling during the day, but most everything, except the restaurants closes up around 6:00pm. If you stay here, carry a flashlight if you go out walking at night because there are very few streetlights.
Carmel Map

Downtown:
The downtown area is roughly bounded by 4th street on the north, Junipero on the east, 8th on the south and Monte Verde on the west. Nearly all of the downtown lodgings are within a block of this boundary. There are several top-of-the-line motels, some cozy cottages, and a few small hotels in this area. Many have fireplaces. Most of the motels are in the eastern and northern sides of town. The small hotels and inns are in older, historic buildings and with a few minor exceptions, tend to be located more towards the western side of the village. Choose downtown Carmel if you want to be near lots of restaurants, shopping or the town's excellent performing arts venues. The beach is also an easy walk down the hill, but a huff-puff walk back up.

Residential Neighborhoods:
In Carmel's forested residential areas there are several small motels and inns scattered throughout. There is one large hotel, La Playa, which sits midway between the business district and the beach. At the south end of town is a famous rustic resort called Mission Ranch, which still utilizes the original structures of a 19th Century dairy ranch. A couple of the smaller places are located along Carpenter Street at the northeast corner of town with easy access to the highway. Others are located between the beach and downtown which are good choices if you want to be able to walk to most things. And there are one or two within a block or two of the beach. The nicest part of these lodgings is that you get to experience the Carmel residential lifestyle without having to buy a multi-million dollar house!

WARNING! Speaking of residential neighborhoods, you may be thinking of renting a house for a week or so instead of checking into a hotel. That's often a good way to do it, but not in Carmel. House rentals of less than 30 days are illegal within the city limits of Carmel. But that doesn't seem to stop some property owners from trying - and we have seen a few improper listings on popular rental websites. If the law catches up with them after you've made your reservation you'll be outta luck. If a house is outside the city limits of Carmel, you're fine. Inside the city limits, avoid the property to avoid disappointment.

Carmel Valley:

Carmel Valley epitomizes California rural life, with an upscale twist. The valley covers a substantially larger area than The Peninsula itself. There are a few luxurious resort properties plus a handful of more humble lodgings. If you want sunshine and don't mind being a bit isolated from the main attractions, this is the place for you.
Carmel Valley Map

There are also a couple of properties near the mouth of Carmel Valley along Highway 1. The most prominent is the Carmel Mission Inn. They lack the charm of Carmel or the rural style of Carmel Valley, but they have the advantage of having easy access to shopping, Carmel, Big Sur and the highway.
Mouth Of The Valley Map

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Carmel Highlands:

Located a few miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, the Highlands has sort of a fairy-tale forest ambiance with some of the most dramatic ocean views on the planet. The community was the home of pioneering photographers Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. The community feels isolated, but is just a quick drive to the rest of The Peninsula.

There are two very nice properties here. The Highlands Inn is a full-service resort hotel, with two restaurants, swimming pool, and a dramatic lounge area with two large stone fireplaces. Next door is the Tickle Pink Inn, one of the most luxurious motels anywhere. Both are perched on the side of a steep hill above Highway 1 with spectacular panoramic views of the ocean (though some rooms may not have ocean views). Some folks have complained about the highway noise, but Mr. Toy finds it well within acceptable limits. It is much louder in Monterey. Besides, with a view like this who cares?
Carmel Highlands Map

Pacific Grove:

P..G., as the locals call it, is located on the northwest corner of The Peninsula. The community has a quaint Small Town America feel and is ideal if you want something not too urban, but not too rustic either. This town is very un-touristy, and they hope to keep it that way. The sidewalks roll up early, so things are pretty quiet at night. Due to its location, Pacific Grove tends to see more fog during the summer months than do other Peninsula cities. That's not a bad thing, it's just part of P.G. life.
Pacific Grove Map

Motels:
There are fewer of these in Pacific Grove than elsewhere. Many are within walking distance of the shoreline. They vary from ordinary motels to small cabins with fireplaces. Most are on the west side of town on Lighthouse Avenue or Asilomar Drive. There are a couple by the water near Lovers Point, which may have the least expensive bay views on the peninsula. Overall you may find prices in Pacific Grove are a bit lower than in Carmel while providing a similar forested village setting.

Bed & Breakfast:
Most of the best B&Bs on The Peninsula seem to be in Pacific Grove. Probably because all of the great old Victorian houses are there. There are a few along the Ocean View Boulevard between the aquarium and Lovers Point with great bay views. Several more are in the downtown area which are ideal to enjoy the small town atmosphere. Mr. Toy has heard great things about most of them. 

Find your Ideal Pacific Grove Bed and Breakfast Inn on BedandBreakfast.com

Pebble Beach:

There are two very expensive resort hotels in Pebble Beach. The Lodge at Pebble Beach is closer to Carmel, and the Inn at Spanish Bay is closer to Pacific Grove. The latter has access to Asilomar State Beach. If you like golf or ocean views these are the places to go. But unless you are fairly wealthy you probably can't afford to stay there. Like Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach generally gets a more summer fog than Carmel or Monterey - but it wouldn't be Pebble Beach without it. That fog keeps the rare and distinctive Monterey Pine forest alive between rainy seasons.
Pebble Beach Map

Seaside:

Seaside is at the opposite end of the economic spectrum from Pebble Beach. On Del Monte Boulevard at the corner of Canyon Del Rey (Highway 218) there is one big ten-story hotel, the Embassy Suites, which is quite appealing (on the inside, anyway, the outside looks like a giant shipping box). A more modest Holiday Inn Express can be found next door. You'll enjoy great views from the upper floors of both buildings. Behind them is a pleasant lake called Laguna Grande, which attracts a variety of waterfowl. Although neither of these properties are very close to anything a tourist would want to be near, they do have easy highway access. Monterey's waterfront attractions are just five to seven minutes down the street and Carmel is about ten minutes away via the Freeway.

Most of Seaside's motels are located along Fremont Boulevard, a rather unattractive commercial area. Don't bother with them unless you are either dirt poor or if everything else is full and you must be here on a specific date. Some neighborhoods, especially towards the north end of Fremont, are not the best places to be out at night. The closer you are to the Monterey border the better off you'll be.
Seaside Map

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