 The Monterey Peninsula Toy Box |
Where should we stay on the |
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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.
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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 southern end of the Row, farthest from the
aquarium, is fairly calm, however. The recreation trail runs
past
most of these places giving you foot/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.
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 just a short drive 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 and a half of this
boundary. There are several top-of-the-line motels, some rustic
cottages, and a few small hotels in this area. Many have fireplaces.
The motels along Junipero are the largest. The small hotels are in
older, historic buildings. Choose downtown Carmel if you want to be
near lots of restaurants and shopping. The beach is an easy walk down
the hill, but a huff-puff walk back up.
Residential
Neighborhoods:
In the residential areas there are
several small motels and inns scattered throughout. There is one large
hotel (La Playa), and a rustic resort (Mission 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.
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
several luxurious (and expensive) 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
Tourist Attractions
vs.
Real Life
Monterey
Peninsula
Toy Box Store
Carmel Highlands:
Located a few miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, the Highlands has sort of a fairy-tale forest ambiance. The community feels isolated, but is just a quick drive to the rest of The Peninsula.
There are
two places here. The Highlands Inn is a top-quality luxurious resort
(with many of its rooms converted to time-share units). 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. 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:
This 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.
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's 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.
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, and a few in the downtown area. 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.
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). 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 and downtown Monterey is five minutes down the street.
Most of Seaside's motels are located along Fremont
Boulevard, which
is primarily a commercial area. Some neighborhoods, particularly
towards the north end of town, are of
somewhat questionable safety. 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. The closer you are to the Monterey border the better off
you'll be.
Seaside Map
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