Hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

“One of the few hotels worth the price. These photos were taken just before checkout so it’s a bit disheveled. But the room and outside areas are amazing. We live in Asia and appreciated the simple and beautiful Japanese style.”

“My wife and I started lodging here about 3-4 years ago and fell in love with the location. We've received exemplary service at every level and truly enjoy the amenities available to the guests.

We now feel like family and planned our stays for 2026 for celebration and relaxation.

It's no surprise that The Quail Lodge has been voted Number-1 in the industry.

I want to especially recognize Melissa, and the other young ladies that manage the front desk. I applaud all the hard working staff that take care of the property, restaurant, housekeeping, and overall maintenance.

We live in Penryn,CA and this has become our (in state) getaway location.

Truly pleased customer/family

Rev. Louis C. Starr III”

“This place is so magical. The hospitality is top tier, attentive and welcoming. The little touches that they have such as a wine hour, snacks, and in room breakfast for guests are the perfect way to care for guests. Parking availability was much appreciated. The room is clean, cozy, and the bed is just dreamy. We loved staying here. Definitely will be back!”

“Great hotel, great staff. This place give you a seriously different experience you won’t really find in typical US hotels.. felt like I was in old royal europe .”

“The staff was wonderful, and the grounds were beautiful. One complaint is that I like my coffee in the morning in my room, either through room service or delivery. This general service is missing to make a complete list of services; I don't need room service other than just coffee.

The room was very cluttered, and there was a randomly placed sofa that was not in line with the TV. The fireplace was very nice in the room and made for a great evening.”

“We had such a fantastic experience at this Inn! The beautiful decor immediately made us feel at home - very cozy, with thoughtful touches throughout. The location is perfect, just a short walk to town, which made exploring and dining out incredibly convenient. One of our favorite features was the lovely garden and back patio—peaceful, well-maintained, and the perfect place to relax together. It was also a great setup for our multi-generational family trip—comfortable for everyone, with plenty of space to gather or unwind. We loved it and can’t wait to come back! Highly recommend. ~ Jennifer”

“In General
Somebody on YouTube called Quail Lodge a “hidden gem” in Carmel Valley. I’ve played both, and there’s no contest: Carmel Valley Ranch is the clear champion and one of the most memorable resort courses I’ve ever played.

The “wow” moment hits you the second you step on the 10th tee. The front nine feels like classic American resort golf—beautiful, rolling, framed by oaks and million-dollar homes—but the back nine suddenly transports you to the Alps. Dramatic elevation changes, blind shots, and jaw-dropping views over the valley make it feel like two completely different courses stitched together into one unforgettable ride. Word of advice: take a cart. Walking the back nine is for masochists only.

At just 6,117 yards from the tips, it’s short by modern standards, but don’t let the scorecard fool you. Every shot demands respect—tight lines off the tee (houses lurk close on the front), water, bunkers, and trees placed exactly where your ball wants to go. If you’re not used to mountain golf, the sloping lies and wind will humble you fast. And that’s exactly why we keep coming back.

In Detail
- Condition: Pristine. Tee boxes are carpet-like, fairways are perfectly manicured, bunkers have that fluffy white sand you see in magazines, and the greens… oh the greens. Smallish, severely contoured, and lightning-quick in the breaks. Someone here truly cares—every blade of grass looks hand-trimmed.
- Greens: Not Poppy Hills fast, but sneaky fast and devilishly tricky. Miss in the wrong spot and three-putts come in bunches. Spend serious time on the practice green; it’s huge and rolls identical to the course.
- Clubhouse & vibe: Upscale yet relaxed Carmel style. Staff are warm, pro shop is well-stocked, and the patio overlooking the valley is the perfect 19th-hole spot.
- Practice facilities: Unlimited free range balls (yes, really—as many as you can hit). Only downside: mats only (probably seasonal). No dedicated short-game area that I found, but the massive putting green right in front of the 1st tee more than makes up for it.

Suggestions for Improvement
Range mats vs. grass – If it’s possible even a few months of the year, give us a few grass tees. Hitting 50 balls off mats before a round on this gem feels like warming up on carpet.
Cart-path to parking lot – After the round, build a short paved path from the cart return to the parking area. Dragging bags up that gravel hill after 18 holes on these hills is the only un-luxurious moment of the day.
Ball-mark police – The greens are too good to be pockmarked by afternoon. Station a friendly staffer on a par-3 with free divot tools and a 20-second demo. One Saturday of gentle reminders would fix the problem for the entire season.

Bottom line: Carmel Valley Ranch is a bucket-list must. Short? Yes. Easy? Absolutely not. Beautiful, strategic, perfectly conditioned, and unlike anything else in Monterey. Book it, take a cart, warm up your putting stroke, and prepare to have your mind blown on the back nine. Easily one of the top five resort courses in California.”

“Truly a first class resort! Our family used to come here every year with friends of ours. And then COVID hit. This year, we decided to come back. We discovered that they had just completed a multi-million dollar renovation to their family friendly River Ranch, so we couldn't wait to check it out (and it didn't disappoint). There is something for everyone! My husband and son golfed, our kids swam, we played bocce ball, and I went to the spa. We left relaxed, not like we needed a vacation from our vacation (like we sometimes do). We can't wait to come back!”

“A wonderful stay. The room was large and very comfortable. When I got home I realized I was missing my sandals. I called three times and each time was told they would ask housekeeping and get back to me. They never did. Then I called and got Ericka. She apologized the others didn’t get back to me and said she would check for my sandals. She called back within 5 minutes and said she found them. Ericka took my information and said the sandals would be shipped to me today or tomorrow. Ericka is a fabulous employee!! She was very kind and helpful. She is an employee I would have wanted when I had my own business. I am now retired. I will stay at Lobos Lodge again because of Ericka.”

“My main reasons for booking this hotel was the guaranteed parking in their parking deck under the hotel, the option to get room service from the restaurant next door and the location near downtown. But I found the hotel to be very cosey and I can't wait to go back!

When I checked in the attendant walked me to my room, which I though was a lovey thing to do. She then explained that they would have tea and coffee available in the lobby in the morning and brandy in the evening. I even found some fresh fruit in the lobby.

My room didn't have an ocean view, but I did have a nice little chair and table outside my room. There was a communal porch that overlooked the ocean and an outdoor fireplace. Such a lovely little hotel.”

“We spent a night here. It’s a cute town. Room is super clean. There is breakfast included, but nothing special about it. There is a lady greeting you at breakfast room but I just don’t feel comfortable someone watching every move you do. In a nice way, she’s trying to help but not good idea for me. Beside that everything perfect ?”

“Loved our stay here. Our room was cozy and clean, and we loved the breakfast baskets and happy hour. Easy walking distance to everything in Carmel. The hotel is on a quiet street and parking is super easy. Everyone at the front desk was helpful and kind! We would absolutely stay here again.”

“Lisa was very nice to us, she gave me a discount. And was very nice. And the room was awesome. You should go here if you need to stay somewhere in Carmel by the sea.”

“LOVED OUR STAY HERE! I completely forgot about leaving my review after leaving but I really enjoyed my stay here. My husband and I stayed here for our honeymoon, my aunt booked a stay for us here and they ended up upgrading us to a suite which was very very sweet! Wonderful service they were very nice and attentive would definitely stay here again :) and the complimentary breakfast was very yummy and convenient!”

“I booked the Fireplace Oceanview Suite for my parents 35th Anniversary and they had the best time! The location of the hotel was so convenient and they really enjoyed the breakfast! But their room was really the highlight. At the end of each day exploring Carmel, they were able to unwind in front of the fireplace or relax and watch the sunsets on the AMAZING balcony. Very spacious and the views were truly spectacular. The hotel was a perfect stay for them, easy check-in, great breakfast, beautiful, affordable, highly recommend.”

“We were very impressed with the clealiness and size of our room. The location was perfect and the basket for breakfast in the morning was delicious. We will stay there again very inexpensive and tidy, perfect.”

“This hotel blew my expectations out of the water. So clean, cozy and welcoming. I’ve never been so tempted to extend a trip just to enjoy more of the hotel. And David in the bar makes the best of espresso martini I’ve ever had in my life. Highly recommend. We will be back as often as possible!”

“We stay here for a week using a family member's timeshare. They have limited mobility, and the property has a lot of stairs, so it's not very suitable for them any more.

I'm reviewing because people should know they're locked out from streaming on the room's TVs. We're paying for a streaming service, paying for access to the room with large TVs. But Hyatt has the remotes locked down so you can't mirror, cast, or stream from a phone, tablet or laptop. The front desk says it's intentionally disabled so you buy content from their service instead. I'm sure this policy could be changed if enough people complain about it.

There are some things which are really nice - being able to borrow binoculars (or other small items) from the front desk if you forget your own. The proximity to Point Lobos is great - lots of wildlife and beautiful views there. The resort's gym, pool and hot tubs are clean and well-maintained. Wifi is mostly good enough that you can work remotely if needed.”

“Overall this is a wonderful cute boutique hotel with excellent customer service and complimentary guest parking. It's located in the heart of the shopping area and also a short walk to the beach. The rooms are very small, maybe 350sqft, but the beds are super comfy. The shower/tub is a bit outdated, but stronger water pressure and lots of hot water! The cafe next to the lobby actually has really good coffee! I would definitely stay here again, especially for a weekend getaway!”