When planning a road trip to Monterey County, travelers can be easily overwhelmed by the number of great hotel options in the area. Since this area is expansive and covers major destinations like Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pebble Beach, Monterey Bay and more, the choices of best hotels in Monterey County are best considered according to travel style. Some like to book hotels first and then decide on sightseeing destinations. Others prefer to lock in top attractions, and then find hotels nearby.
Kayaking in Monterey Bay with Cannery Row in the background.Some folks like me are hotel junkies, and we find choosing hotels in Monterey County is a great way to start planning. The next thing to consider is whether to plan on staying in one hotel for the duration, or hopping around to try out a few hotels during the same trip. The beauty of Monterey County is that travelers can easily approach it either way.
Since this part of California is one of our family’s favorite areas to explore, we’ve stayed in all of the following recommended best hotels in Monterey County. Each of them has our endorsement for their own reasons.
The vistas driving south on Highway 1 in Monterey County are breathtaking.Best Hotels in Monterey County
Choosing the best hotels in Monterey County can be hard simply because there are so many great places. Each of the following recommendations have been vetted by us, and we can attest to the reasons why these hotels are on our list.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is among the best in the world.Hotel Pacific
Nestled among native landscaping, Hotel Pacific is a coastal California hideaway. With all-suite accommodations, the recently renovated hotel offers plenty of room for guests to enjoy both leisure and business travel. The famous Monterey Bay is just a few short blocks away. Visitors enjoy sightings of sea otters, shore birds and the occasional whale spout.
Hotel Pacific offers all suites, including some with patios, fireplaces and other comfortable furnishings.Guests can appreciate the hotel’s ideal location in downtown Monterey, ideal for strolling the historic sites and collection of excellent restaurants. On a recent visit, we were obsessed with the baked goods at Alta Bakery and visited at least once per day. If you go, sit outside in the historic gardens of the Coopers-Molera Adobe. Nearby, dinner at the Stokes Adobe restaurant is a delicious choice as you dine inside a beautiful home built in 1883. On the short walk from the hotel, check out Alvarado Street for its quirky shops, galleries and breweries that lead to the Monterey Conference Center.
The garden patio outside Alta Bakery in downtown Monterey.Rooms at Hotel Pacific normally start at around $150/night.
Spindrift Inn
A landmark on famous Cannery Row, the Spindrift Inn is a charming oceanfront boutique hotel built in 1927. It rose to prominence during the years made famous by author John Steinbeck, whose novel “Cannery Row” featured the sardine fisherman and factories that lined the waterfront in the 1920s and 1930s. Now fully renovated, the hotel has kept its historic charm. Rooms are furnished with elegant design and comfortable materials, along with unsurpassed ocean views. Many have fireplaces and seating areas. In fact, the Spindrift Inn is one of the only hotels in the area that can boast it offers rooms over the water.
The Sprindrift Inn offers oceanfront rooms overlooking Monterey Bay.Rooms at Hotel Pacific are typically priced starting at around $150/night.
Monterey Marriott
Located in downtown Monterey in the historic zone and just blocks from the ocean, the Monterey Marriott is a good choice for both leisure and business travel. Close to everything and full of amenities, the hotel is ideally situated for exploring all the historic destinations in the downtown area. Suites here are incredibly spacious, with an enormous living and dining room, kitchen, master bedroom and bath, and a second bedroom for families or friends.
Our suite at the Monterey Marriott Hotel was enormous, and the bay views are spectacular.
Amazing Views
Monterey County is famous for some of the most gorgeous views in the world, and this Monterey Marriott does not scrimp in this area. The tallest building downtown, rooms on the upper floors have sweeping views of the famous Monterey Bay marina, wharves and Cannery Row. Some suites include an outdoor balcony patio larger than most hotel rooms. Guests can enjoy sunrises from this patio, sipping morning coffee and watching the world wake up across the waterfront. Sometimes there are even seagull visitors to keep guests company.
These two new friends hung out on the Marriott balcony while we enjoyed sunrise over Monterey Bay together.
Rooms at the Monterey Marriott normally start at around $180/night.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
The luxurious Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is right on the waterfront and smack dab in the middle of Cannery Row. Guests here love walking just a couple of blocks down to the center of activity, restaurants, shops and the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. The restaurants in the hotel are very good, and we also loved having treatments at the spa. As a bonus, Vista Blue Spa has several cozy rooftop hot tubs that overlook the crashing surf below.
See our review of the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa here.
The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa strikes an impressive portrait at the entrance to Cannery Row.Rooms at the Monterey Plaza Hotel typically start at around $300/night.
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa
Golfers will love the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa. The hotel wraps the Del Monte Golf Course with several buildings containing rooms facing the course or the woods. With 560 rooms and several large gathering areas, there is plenty of space for guests to find peace and quiet here. Large outdoor seating areas and fire pits sit just outside the lobby bar, and this hotel has all the amenities, bells and whistles. There are two pools, a fantastic-looking spa (we did not have the chance to visit) and fitness facilities, along with the gorgeous 25-acre golf course.
Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel start at around $200/night.
Most rooms at the Hyatt Regency Monterey overlook the golf course and wooded hillsides behind.The Cypress Inn
Located in the village of Carmel-By-The-Sea since 1929, the legendary Cypress Inn was owned by Hollywood icon Doris Day until she passed in 2019 at age 97. Its location could not be better for exploring artsy Carmel. Stroll to the village galleries, shops and restaurants, or down to the white sand beach at the bottom of Ocean Avenue. Rooms surround an interior courtyard, and are well appointed and pet-friendly. The bar and restaurant on the ground floor are especially lively with a mix of visitors and locals, along with their dogs. Some pets and owners were even dressed alike.
Rooms at the Cypress Inn can start at around $375/night.
Located in the heart of Carmel village, the Cypress Inn is a lovely escape.The Lodge at Pebble Beach
Arguably one of the most famous golf courses in the world, Pebble Beach has been home to the US Open and so many other world-class events over more than 100 years of golfing history. The Lodge at Pebble Beach overlooks the green fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Stillwater Cove and gorgeous beaches of Carmel-by-the-Sea are also clearly in view. Stately and full of casual grandeur since 1919, the Lodge is a landmark resort hotel that many aspire to visit. Rooms are enormous, comfortable and tailored to a luxury lifestyle. Each comes complete with easy access to the golf courses, restaurants and of course the famous 18th Hole. During our visit, the weather could not have been more perfect. Sunset over the famous fairways is something truly special to behold.
Rooms at the Lodge at Pebble Beach start at around $1,100/night. There may also be a two-night minimum for bookings here.
Stately and grand, the Lodge at Pebble Beach welcomes guests to unwind and relax.Ventana Big Sur
For those wanting a truly lux experience, Ventana Big Sur is one of the best hotels in Monterey County. So exclusive that no children are allowed, this hotel is meant for secluded getaways. It’s set among the giant redwoods and craggy oceanfront cliffs of Big Sur. The hotel itself sits grandly at the crest of a hill, and blends serenely into its wooded surroundings. Natural elements serve as simple and stunning decor, with accents unique to this setting. The one thing that strikes most guests here is the quiet, and those seeking calm and privacy will welcome the vibe here.
Note: The Sur House restaurant here is renowned, and meals are now included in the hotel stay. Dining is open to the public based on availability only.
Rooms at Ventana Big Sur start at around $2,300 and glamping tents start at around $300. Regular campsites can also be reserved for around $80 (bring your own tent and equipment).
The glamping tents at Ventana Big Sur are both glamorous and spacious.Things to Do in Monterey County
For more information on the Monterey Bay area, review this list of top family activities in Monterey County.
Also the tourism bureau supplies a complete collection of detailed information and visitor guides at seemonterey.com.
