Hotels in Monterey, CA

Best time to visit Monterey

The spring months of April – May are a great time to visit Monterey when the average temperatures hover around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. During this time, there are fewer crowds than the peak tourist season of summer and Monterey also hosts a few food, arts, and music-related festivals. Summer temperatures range from 65 – 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of large tourist crowds, expect long queues at most of the major attractions. From October onward, temperatures steadily drop and stay around 45 – 50 degrees Fahrenheit through the rest of winter. Some film festivals and golf tournaments also happen during this time of the year. If you don’t mind the cooler temperatures, you’ll enjoy visiting Monterey in winter. Hotel rates may not be cheaper during any of the festival or event dates, but you may find some attractive deals during spring and winter.

Getting around Monterey

A delightfully compact town, Monterey can be easily explored on foot. If you visit between May – September, from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, there is a free trolley that operates in Downtown Monterey, with stops at popular locations such as Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium. You can also consider driving in Monterey as the traffic is light and you’ll find plenty of garage parking spaces. If you need to hire a car, it’s definitely worth checking for deals on car rentals with momondo.

Best places to stay in Monterey

A perfect blend of the laid back southern California lifestyle and the sophisticated pace of northern California, Monterey boasts beaches and sunshine, a rich heritage, and over 26 golf courses. The town offers a wide range of centrally-located modern hotels, seafront resorts and family-run guest houses, as well as traditional bed and breakfast accommodation. Choose a neighborhood and hotel that suits your itinerary and the activities you want to enjoy.

Downtown Monterey

Downtown is home to many of the popular attractions. In this neighborhood, you are sure to find a wide variety of accommodation types to suit all types of budgets. Near the Monterey Convention Center, you can stay at the nautical-themed rooms in the waterfront property of Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, a 5-minute walk from Fisherman’s Wharf. In the heart of Downtown Monterey, you also have the Monterey Marriott hotel which is located amid great shopping and dining, overlooking Monterey Bay.

Cannery Row

This romantic neighborhood is a top choice for couples celebrating a special occasion and boasts several spectacular seafront spa resorts. Overlooking Monterey Bay, you can stay at the luxurious property of Intercontinental The Clement Monterey, a 2-minute walk from Cannery Row. It features contemporary interiors, a tranquil lap pool and suites with private balconies. A block away from Cannery Row, you can stay in the elegant rooms of the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, perched dramatically at a beachfront location, featuring an award-winning rooftop luxury spa.

Munras Avenue

The main approach leading into Downtown Monterey, Munras Avenue is a convenient location to explore the town of Monterey. You’ll also be close to the Del Monte Shopping Center which is home to high-end fashion and luxury brands. Check out the Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa, set in a charming hacienda-style building, with traditional Spanish influenced décor and modern amenities. Opposite the Monterey State Historic Park, consider the Munras Inn hotel which offers spacious and charming rooms with a cozy home-like ambience.

Pacific Grove

Just a 5-minute drive from downtown, the Pacific Grove has an illustrious history and features Victorian architecture, a world-famous butterfly sanctuary and one of the oldest continually-operating lighthouses on the west coast of the U.S. Overlooking Monterey Bay, you have Martine Inn, a Victorian bed and breakfast dating back to the late 1800s, with antique-filled rooms, and located just within a 10-minute walk to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Or check out the refined 1866 hotel Seven Gables Inn spread over 7 elegant waterfront houses with splendid ocean view rooms. You can also look at the warmly-decorated rooms of the Lighthouse Lodge & Cottages, a beautiful boutique accommodation at the northern tip of Pacific Grove. Along the Spanish Bay, consider The Inn at Spanish Bay, an upscale golf resort with excellent ocean view rooms and world class amenities.

Del Monte Forest – Pebble Beach

Originally part of the resort complex of Hotel del Monte, the Del Monte Forest neighborhood now features several luxury golf resorts and boasts multi-million dollar homes of the Pebble Beach community. The area has 8 public and private 18-hole golf courses, making it the highlight for avid golfers or golf lovers who visit Monterey. Stay at the villa-style property of Casa Palmero at Pebble Beach, featuring plush rooms with wood-burning fireplaces, overlooking the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Or look at The Lodge at Pebble Beach, a luxurious oceanfront golf resort with upmarket rooms in a property that dates back to the early 1900s.

Cheap hotels in Monterey

Most of the cheap or low-cost accommodation options in Monterey are located around Munras Avenue. You have simple, no-frills rooms at the Arbor Inn Monterey opposite the Monterey State Historic Park, or at the Monterey Surf Inn Downtown hotel. Or stay at the Knights Inn Carmel Hill with the great location of Highway 1, near the Pebble Beach Golf Links. Just a 5-minute walk from Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, check out the HI Monterey Hostel. Or across the street from Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, you have the Monterey Oceanside Inn, a simple single-story motel with traditional rooms.

The small bayside town of Monterey features plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment, with one of the best aquariums in the world. People often choose to visit Monterey on a day trip or as a weekend getaway. Whether your plan is to enjoy the coastal roads and Pacific Ocean views, indulge in cultural and historical exploration, or seek a romantic getaway, Monterey has plenty to offer.

• Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and explore the world of stingrays, turtles, sharks, jellyfish and scores of other marine species, as well as interactive exhibits featuring reptiles, birds and invertebrates.
• Trace the rugged Pacific coastline as you drive along the 17-Mile Drive. Take in ocean views, marvel at the multi-million-dollar homes, and admire the lush green golf courses along the way, including the spectacular Pebble Beach Golf Links.
• See the dramatic rock formations and get up close with the pocket gophers and southern sea otters at the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. If you’re in the mood to hike, there are several trails ranging from easy to difficult levels of difficulty.
• Spend time at the humble seaside village of Carmel-by-the-Sea as you browse through the tiny shops and designer stores, or enjoy a gourmet meal at one of the upscale eateries.
• Wander around Cannery Row amid the boutiques and restaurants that line this seaside avenue. Do not miss a visit to the Cannery Row Antique Mall while you are in the area.
• Stroll along Fisherman’s Wharf to browse through rows of souvenir shops, and enjoy a meal or drink at one of the posh restaurants and bars in the area.
• Hop on to a Segway Tour and explore all the historic sites in Monterey.
• Admire the unique pieces of art in galleries and art exhibits along Carmel-by-the-Sea.
• Visit the oldest operating lighthouse on the west coast of USA, the Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, and take memorable pictures with the beautiful backdrop of Monterey Bay.
• Literary lovers may find it worthwhile making a trip to explore the word of Carmel’s poet, Robinson Jeffers at the Tor House, a pretty stone house complete with an English cottage garden.
• Visit the Lovers Point Beach at Pacific Grove to enjoy a swim or a picnic by the beach, or just enjoy the sea views and spend a romantic evening with your loved one.
• Go on a guided tour at the Monterey State Historic Park, a collection of significant historic houses and buildings in Old Monterey.