Hotels near Carmel Valley, CA

“This is a cute and quaint little hotel in Carmel Valley. We stayed in the three bedroom cottage, which was lovely. The rooms are dated, but well taken care of and the staff is great. The breakfast was a highlight for everyone staying at the hotel.”

“Beautiful and peaceful property! We ate dinner one night at Lucia, which was lovely and watched the sun set each evening from the infinity jacuzzi. Our only complaint is that we booked nights under two reservations (using credit card points) and I called ahead to ensure we wouldn’t have to move rooms - was reassured they would connect the bookings and we’d have one room for the week. And then when we checked in we were told…we’d have to move rooms. Other than that, we really liked the resort and would definitely return!”

“We loved this hotel! Customer service was great!

It’s clean and animal friendly! You do have to pay $40 a night for your fur baby but that’s ok. They have 3 areas for your fur baby to play or use the bathroom. Not far from downtown Monterey and close to restaurants and Safeway.

The room is spacious! It has a Keurig with pods, microwave and refrigerator. It also comes with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion.

It is true you can hear your neighbors walking around etc but for this area you can’t beat the price. Also the parking lot is small but you don’t have to pay for parking. Sometimes people complain about the most littlest things. I guess I’m just easy to please! 😊”

“if I ever need to stay in LA again i don't if its a 2hr radius to my destination im definitely booking again i loved the room and the food the service was great mrs Michaela thank you very much for helping us in our horrible situation the hotel was very comfortable and beautiful very elegant staff was great chef was awesome and quick 10 star hotel im going back for sure”

“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!”

“This was a nice hotel they have a pool , soda machine, they told us the pool was heating but no it wasn't very cold , but that doesn't take away the good service the receptionist very nice ,I wish I could remember her name”

“Friendly staff and a spacious, clean room. Wifi was free and the room design felt modern. It is located close to Monterey Aquarium and the beach, with only a few minutes drive. The location is quiet but the room soundproofing is poor as I can hear kids running around from the hotel room above. The bathroom included cups and shower amenities which is nice. There was also a closet with clothes hangers and clothing iron. There is adjustable bedside lighting. Room service is good as they provided towels and changed the trash can. Overall felt like a good hotel at affordable price, as I did not get a 2-star or motel vibe with this hotel. Also the pool is a nice touch even if we did not use it.”

“Family owned motel. Great service and comfortable rooms! Filtered water station and clean towels. Great location! Close to Costco gas and local restaurants. Will stay again!!!”

“Renovated room, the beautiful bathroom floor is very slippery and the bed was a little hard.
Nice clean property. The A/C worked well. We will stay here again!”

“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.”

“Had a perfect stay with my daughter and grandsons. Just a quick one night stay. The receptionist was so nice and knowledgeable about the area. Rooms were ample size and the area had lots of places to eat too. Will definitely stay again!”

“The location and cleanliness is good. Dennys is across the street.

Just know that the rooms are a bit smaller and no microwave in the room. The air conditioner was working but was old and not heating unless we increased temp to very high. This wasn’t an issue as temperatures were not extreme in March but might be something to note for winter or summer.

It was a good value when we travelled just before spring break.
We liked the location as it was closed to Monterey main area and easy to go to south side of highway 1 for Big Sur.”

“The room was great—clean, comfortable, and it had a beautiful view. Since the hotel is located along the coast, the room didn't have air conditioning, but that wasn't a major issue. They provided a box fan, which helped keep the air circulating and made the room comfortable. Overall, we had a wonderful stay and would definitely consider staying here again.”

“Wonderful stay. I booked for 2 nights & the room was nice & clean. Unfortunately the TV, in my opinion, was too small & I couldn't turn it on. Other than that, I recommend staying here ??”

“no, these rooms are not brand new by any means. however, the attention to the smaller things make a difference. complimentary waters and granola bars, a small space heater to use if needed, and the nook area in the 2 queen room adds just enough extra space. the front desk was extremely friendly. i called the day before to confirm since i used a third part site, and the owner himself ensured everything was taken care of. we were part of a 5 family group, spread across 6 rooms and couldn't be happier with our stay. if we ever come back to the area, this is where we will stay.”

“Hotel was right across from the fair grounds which was so nice. All staff were so nice and the breakfast was good, just needed more protein such as bacon and sausage. Other than that waffles and boiled eggs were delicious.”

“We stayed at the Discovery Inn for one night while passing through and had a very pleasant experience. The room was spacious, clean, and equipped with modern amenities. Everything was well maintained and comfortable.

The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and we were able to park directly in front of our room, which made loading and unloading very convenient. The price was also reasonable and offered good value for money.

Overall, a great stay that met all our expectations. We would definitely recommend the Discovery Inn to other travelers looking for a comfortable and convenient place to stay.”

“We came during car week so it was $$ but this hotel is so cute. Everything in the room was brand new: furniture, floor, sink, mattresses, bedding. Teeny room but great and cozy. No dirty carpet. Shower old but 10,000% worth normal travel price, great location. Friendly fellow guests. Helpful kind lady in office. Cute pool for kids. I always bring my coffee pot when I travel. Outlets for 110 and usb everywhere!”

“Our stay at Red Roof inn at monterey before 2 weeks was excellent. The services provided to us was excellent and the rooms and coridor were clean and the property was looking good and clean too. We got nice services from the staff and the check out person or the front desk person was good. They treated us very well. The amount we spent for our stay was worthwhile.
I am going to and will suggest friends, families and the people to visit this place. The environment of this hotel good and excellent too. Compare to other hotels, i found Red roof inn as a best place to stay in.”

“Well, this review is an odd mix. There are lots of shabby &/or dirty areas at this facility, Stairwells and trash cans particularly. The rooms were very comfortable. Slept like a baby! There was a giant rip on the inner, sheer curtain. The TV remote was very wonky and failed to work all together!
But we still really liked it. We stayed 4 nights. The staff 2as great. They, at least, seem to be really trying. So, I upped my 3-star to a 4. Also, not the hotel’s fault, but this stretch of hotel’s are directly under the airports’ flight path. ??‍♀️ And, they had the best breakfast cafe! Cafe Del Rio!”

“Reasonable rates, friendly staff, great location, plenty of shopping, restaurants, groceries, gas stations with in walking distance, spacious rooms, comfortable beds, plenty of parking, awesome housekeeping staff... Rooms are very clean and maid service can be worked into your schedule, shouts out to Sally housekeeper at gateway motel for all her awesome work to ensure your guests are happy and rooms are clean!Thanks so much,The BrownsRm # 211”

“Had a comfortable stay here. Clean rooms, easy check-in, and solid location. I was in town handling a few things for business, The Cut Barbershop, and it was convenient to move around from here. Overall, no complaints — would stay again.”

“I was gonna be late to my check in, I called and front desk was nice enough to stay and wait until 3am so I can check in and sleep. Service was great, my room was great, the location was perfect so close to all the activities we had planned that day. Would stay again. Our stay couldn’t have been any better.”

“We had a great 2-night stay at the Monterey fairgrounds Inn. The value is unbeatable! I suggest that you ignore the 1 star reviews and just understand that you get what you pay for. We had clean linens, decently comfortable bed, and the room was overall pretty clean. We were happy to have a place to come back to after a long day of exploring the surrounding area. front desk staff was also very helpful and friendly

If you are expecting a luxury hotel experience, then book a luxury hotel.”

“Nice place to kick it ,when in town looking for my son Leonardo Kelley ,went missing 2 years ago from seaside ca ,the mother is sujey avandano ?!?

Rooms: Was nice and quiet ?

Nearby activities: Lots of stuff within walking and bus stops all over”

“The hotel staff is above and beyond accommodating. They rooms are quaint very clean. The property has 2 beautiful citrus trees that offer beautiful aesthetic.
Don’t miss this hidden gem”