Best Carmel-by-the-Sea inns
A stay at Wayside Inn places you in the heart of Carmel, within a 15-minute walk of Carmel Beach and 17-Mile Drive. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Free self parking is available onsite.
Overall 9.3 Excellent
Based on 394 reviews
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- Couples
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Excellent
9.6
Pros: Location plus parking
Good
7.9
Pros: Breakfast quiche is delicious! The first room was like being in a dungeon. Room 15 was delightful. Enjoyed sitting on our patio late afternoon.
Excellent
9.6
Pros: Room size, ease to park and fabulous location.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: It looks like a motel from the outside, but it’s actually a lovely inn with a delicious breakfast. We were upgraded to a luxurious suite because the room we had booked had a missing tile in the bathroom.
Good
7.5
Pros: Location and welcome.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Breakfast included in price was very delicious and fresh. Location was excellent for walking and exploring the town. Only caution is parking is a premium and availability. But the hotel is not to blame for that.
Good
6.7
Pros: Good location
Excellent
8.0
Pros: Location,
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Very comfortable, clean, light and airy. GREAT BREAKFAST delivered to your suite!
Excellent
9.6
Pros: Great breakfast. Great service.
Excellent
9.2
Pros: The property is darling, situated right in the middle of Carmel-By-The-Sea. The rooms are large. A lovely hot breakfast is brought straight to your room each morning of your stay. The lobby is charming and the staff very friendly and accommodating.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Very well appointed, big rooms, comfy bed, has a fireplace, table for eating and a big sofa and TV. Just great!
Details
Reviews
Overall 9.3 Excellent
Based on 394 reviews
Service
9.7
Food
9.5
Breakfast
9.2
Location
9.1
Comfort
8.4
Room
8.3
Cleanliness
5.6
Service
9.7
Breakfast
9.2
Location
8.7
Comfort
8.1
Room
7.6
Service
9.7
Breakfast
9.3
Location
8.9
Comfort
8.3
Room
7.8
9.6 Excellent
Pros: Location plus parking
Cons: Room was slightly gloomy.
7.9 Good
Pros: Breakfast quiche is delicious! The first room was like being in a dungeon. Room 15 was delightful. Enjoyed sitting on our patio late afternoon.
Cons:
9.6 Excellent
Pros: Room size, ease to park and fabulous location.
Cons: Nothing really
10.0 Excellent
Pros: It looks like a motel from the outside, but it’s actually a lovely inn with a delicious breakfast. We were upgraded to a luxurious suite because the room we had booked had a missing tile in the bathroom.
Cons:
7.5 Good
Pros: Location and welcome.
Cons: Nothing really.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Breakfast included in price was very delicious and fresh. Location was excellent for walking and exploring the town. Only caution is parking is a premium and availability. But the hotel is not to blame for that.
Cons:
6.7 Good
Pros: Good location
Cons: Hard to get up the stairs with our suitcases- no elevator. Had we known - would have requested a downstairs room . Room dark & stuffy - no air conditioner. Water pressure poor in shower. Staff didn’t get our breakfast order correct either morning.
8.0 Excellent
Pros: Location,
Cons: The layout was very odd. You have to go through the bathroom to get to the bedroom. Very noisy- walls are thin and ceiling is thin. Hard too sleep. Not worth $--- including taxes.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Very comfortable, clean, light and airy. GREAT BREAKFAST delivered to your suite!
Cons: There was a neighboring building’s air compressor next to our bedroom; but with the windows closed, the noise was minimal.
9.6 Excellent
Pros: Great breakfast. Great service.
Cons: Bed too soft (personal preference)
9.2 Excellent
Pros: The property is darling, situated right in the middle of Carmel-By-The-Sea. The rooms are large. A lovely hot breakfast is brought straight to your room each morning of your stay. The lobby is charming and the staff very friendly and accommodating.
Cons: Because of its location the property can be quite noisy. I believe there is a noise restriction implemented on the immediate property but I imagine there is little the hotel can do about the noise in the surrounding area. On the two mornings we stayed (during Labor Day weekend) there was a noisy garbage truck collecting garbage right beneath our bedroom window. We are early risers but this was quite an alarm clock! Also because of the location of the dumpster staff was bringing garbage to the dumpster late at night, again right beneath our bedroom window. Overall the hotel was lovely, but this was definitely a setback.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Very well appointed, big rooms, comfy bed, has a fireplace, table for eating and a big sofa and TV. Just great!
Cons: Cannot think of anything!
A stay at Wayside Inn places you in the heart of Carmel, within a 15-minute walk of Carmel Beach and 17-Mile Drive. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Free self parking is available onsite.
With a stay at Candle Light Inn, you'll be centrally located in Carmel, within a 5-minute drive of Carmel Beach and 17-Mile Drive. Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, multilingual staff, and coffee/tea in a common area. Limited parking is available onsite.
Overall 9.1 Excellent
Based on 632 reviews
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Excellent
10.0
Pros: Updated clean comfortable. Great staff
Excellent
8.8
Pros: The location was perfect! Perfect for walking through Carmel.
Excellent
9.6
Pros: The room was beautifully decorated. The bed was comfortable with lots of pillows, including long ones which I love! The bathroom is incredible and I love the hole in the glass to reach in and turn on the shower without getting wet. The food delivery service in the morning was perfect and provided a good selection of morning foods. I had to check in late so I sent a message and they responded right away with kindness. Water and tea in the lobby was also very nice, the fireplace in the evening was wonderful.
Excellent
9.6
Pros: Very cozy, thoughtful, clean and friendly
Excellent
9.2
Pros: Room, grounds, fireplace outside was fantastic!
Excellent
10.0
Pros: The place was very nice and staff was cordial. The free complimentary bkf was ok; hey, it was free!
Excellent
10.0
Pros: The person at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. The room was very comfortable and clean. Loved it!!
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Spacious and comfortable room! Very friendly check-in. Would definitely stay again
Excellent
10.0
Pros: great location ..nice breakfast delivered to door...I stay about 50 nites a year in hotels they have the best most helpful happy staff Ive ever met especially Monica
Good
7.5
Pros: The Room
Excellent
10.0
Pros: The room was very nice. The bathroom was huge!
Excellent
10.0
Pros: We loved the location of the hotel and the landscape and fire pit. The teens enjoyed being able to walk about the town and to the different restaurants. The front desk staff was very nice and provided water, coffee and cookies in the office.
Details
Reviews
Overall 9.1 Excellent
Based on 632 reviews
Cleanliness
9.9
Vibe
9.6
Service
9.6
Location
9.6
Wellness
9.4
Room
8.9
Amenities
8.1
Comfort
8.0
Breakfast
6.7
WiFi
6.7
Cleanliness
9.9
Service
9.7
Vibe
9.5
Location
9.5
Room
8.9
Amenities
8.3
Comfort
7.8
Food
7.7
Breakfast
6.8
Service
9.7
Location
9.5
Room
8.8
Comfort
8.4
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Updated clean comfortable. Great staff
Cons:
8.8 Excellent
Pros: The location was perfect! Perfect for walking through Carmel.
Cons: I wish the AC in the room worked, it got really hot at night,
9.6 Excellent
Pros: The room was beautifully decorated. The bed was comfortable with lots of pillows, including long ones which I love! The bathroom is incredible and I love the hole in the glass to reach in and turn on the shower without getting wet. The food delivery service in the morning was perfect and provided a good selection of morning foods. I had to check in late so I sent a message and they responded right away with kindness. Water and tea in the lobby was also very nice, the fireplace in the evening was wonderful.
Cons: I got confused finding it but I think at this more because of the instructions through maps. I should’ve asked for better directions from the inn.
9.6 Excellent
Pros: Very cozy, thoughtful, clean and friendly
Cons:
9.2 Excellent
Pros: Room, grounds, fireplace outside was fantastic!
Cons: Had jacuzzi tub with water draining in it from unit above that wasn't fixed til after we left.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: The place was very nice and staff was cordial. The free complimentary bkf was ok; hey, it was free!
Cons: No mini microwave. Hard butter in the complimentary bkf. If you get something room temp the butter should be soft; not hard as a rock!
10.0 Excellent
Pros: The person at the front desk was very friendly and helpful. The room was very comfortable and clean. Loved it!!
Cons:
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Spacious and comfortable room! Very friendly check-in. Would definitely stay again
Cons: We liked everything!
10.0 Excellent
Pros: great location ..nice breakfast delivered to door...I stay about 50 nites a year in hotels they have the best most helpful happy staff Ive ever met especially Monica
Cons: nothing
7.5 Good
Pros: The Room
Cons: Nothing
10.0 Excellent
Pros: The room was very nice. The bathroom was huge!
Cons:
10.0 Excellent
Pros: We loved the location of the hotel and the landscape and fire pit. The teens enjoyed being able to walk about the town and to the different restaurants. The front desk staff was very nice and provided water, coffee and cookies in the office.
Cons: No, everything was great.
With a stay at Candle Light Inn, you'll be centrally located in Carmel, within a 5-minute drive of Carmel Beach and 17-Mile Drive. Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, multilingual staff, and coffee/tea in a common area. Limited parking is available onsite.
Overall 9.2 Excellent
Based on 150 reviews
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Good
6.7
Pros: Location
Excellent
10.0
Pros: I love how pet welcoming they are. I also love sitting around the fire chatting with other guests while sipping wine.
Excellent
8.3
Pros: Wonderful setting and loved the outdoor area! Happy hour was a nice touch.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: What a beautiful quaint inn so close to the beach! Garden area and fire pits were perfect and cozy. Continental breakfast was perfect before a long walk on the beach.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Absolutely perfect place, it’s like you’re in a film in an enchanted hotel and town. We loved everything, the breakfast was superb, day shift receptionist was an angel, location is great. We’d definitely book again.
Good
7.1
Pros: Close to the town and beach, wine and cheese lady was great!
Excellent
10.0
Pros: We loved The Lamplighter Inn! The room was great and well stocked plus a fireplace with lots of firewood! Can't wait to stay here again!!
Excellent
9.6
Pros: We love this hotel. The staff is friendly, the rooms are very clean and comfortable, tastefully decorates. Love the atmosphere in the outside areas.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: I don’t know where to start! I was so pleasantly surprised by this property. Melissa was so helpful to my husband and I. We arrived in Carmel at 11pm-past the check in time of 9pm and Melissa text me a video of how to get my key. Not only that, we chatted by text message and she wished us a great stay. The room was extraordinary! So cute and quaint, we felt right at home. We woke up refreshed and enjoyed our complimentary breakfast of bagels and coffee, then couldn’t resist taking a little nap before heading out to see the rest of Carmel. That bed is sinfully comfortable, don’t let it get you! The shower was great! Everything was great! Thank you Melissa for making it the best stay we had on our California road trip, I’ve already recommended this place to friends, and my husband I will be back!
Good
7.9
Details
Reviews
Overall 9.2 Excellent
Based on 150 reviews
Bar
10.0
Food
10.0
Location
10.0
Beach
9.5
Service
9.1
Vibe
8.7
Room
8.5
Comfort
7.9
Breakfast
7.9
Amenities
7.8
6.7 Good
Pros: Location
Cons: Room
10.0 Excellent
Pros: I love how pet welcoming they are. I also love sitting around the fire chatting with other guests while sipping wine.
Cons:
8.3 Excellent
Pros: Wonderful setting and loved the outdoor area! Happy hour was a nice touch.
Cons: Nothing.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: What a beautiful quaint inn so close to the beach! Garden area and fire pits were perfect and cozy. Continental breakfast was perfect before a long walk on the beach.
Cons:
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Absolutely perfect place, it’s like you’re in a film in an enchanted hotel and town. We loved everything, the breakfast was superb, day shift receptionist was an angel, location is great. We’d definitely book again.
Cons: Nothing at all
7.1 Good
Pros: Close to the town and beach, wine and cheese lady was great!
Cons: A women in the staff at check in was really ignorant and did not make us feel welcome. Feel like it need a fix up, starts to get worn out.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: We loved The Lamplighter Inn! The room was great and well stocked plus a fireplace with lots of firewood! Can't wait to stay here again!!
Cons:
9.6 Excellent
Pros: We love this hotel. The staff is friendly, the rooms are very clean and comfortable, tastefully decorates. Love the atmosphere in the outside areas.
Cons: A little pricey.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: I don’t know where to start! I was so pleasantly surprised by this property. Melissa was so helpful to my husband and I. We arrived in Carmel at 11pm-past the check in time of 9pm and Melissa text me a video of how to get my key. Not only that, we chatted by text message and she wished us a great stay. The room was extraordinary! So cute and quaint, we felt right at home. We woke up refreshed and enjoyed our complimentary breakfast of bagels and coffee, then couldn’t resist taking a little nap before heading out to see the rest of Carmel. That bed is sinfully comfortable, don’t let it get you! The shower was great! Everything was great! Thank you Melissa for making it the best stay we had on our California road trip, I’ve already recommended this place to friends, and my husband I will be back!
Cons: The only thing was that the little cottages are so close that you can hear everything thought the walls. The people that were cleaning after breakfast...we could hear them clanking dishes around and washing clothes. Not their fault, but we were a bit disturbed by it.
7.9 Good
Pros:
Cons: Room furnishings could use updating.
Located in scenic Carmel, Lamp Lighter Inn and Sunset Suites offers free WiFi access and free guest parking. Carmel Beach is just 10 minutes’ walk away. Each room at this inn includes a flat-screen cable TV and a seating and dining area. Guest rooms include a private bathroom. A gift shop, a library and concierge services are available to guests of Carmel Lamp Lighter Inn and Sunset Suites. An array of activities can be enjoyed on site or in the surroundings, including golfing. This inn is 400 metres from Carmel Plaza and 1.4 km from Carmel Mission. Point Lobos State Reserve is 3.6 km away.
With a stay at Tradewinds Carmel in Carmel (Northwest Carmel), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Carmel Beach and 17-Mile Drive. Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, multilingual staff, and a water dispenser. Free self parking is available onsite.
Overall 9.1 Excellent
Based on 417 reviews
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- Couples
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Excellent
9.2
Pros: Very peaceful and zen place, I really liked it , very hospital and lots of free parking
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Clean, welcoming and so relaxing. Interconnecting rooms and amazing beds and sheets. Large bathrooms with separate bath and shower. Close to the beach, shops and restaurants.
Excellent
9.2
Pros: Very comfortable, spacious room, cozy bed and peaceful grounds. Nice fresh breakfast, w/quiche offered on weekends. Great staff, helpful, knowledgeable, responsive.
Good
6.3
Pros: The place is beautiful! Big rooms and bathrooms with everything you need. Easy parking. Nice breakfast, complimentary.
Excellent
8.3
Pros: Lovely far-east Asian feel and decor to the rooms. Choc-dipped strawberries and an orchid upon checking-in were a v nice touch. Also lovely fire pit and gardens. Good location for amenities.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Close to Carmel dining and shopping
Excellent
10.0
Pros: The Tradewinds was perfect for me and my lab. The room was spacious and I enjoyed having the balcony. I had my breakfast there each morning. It was a treat and my doggie enjoyed lounging there. I loved my room. Very spacious. The Tradewinds staff is fantastic. Every single person was helpful, friendly and responsive. I can't wait to visit again! Breakfasts were great!
Okay
4.2
Good
7.4
Good
7.9
Pros: N/a
Excellent
10.0
Pros: It was within walking distance from other shops and restaurants. The hotel feels like a luxury hotel. Professional staff. I would stay here again.
Excellent
10.0
Pros: Beautiful rooms! The bed and sheets were amazing and the room was immaculate. The soaps and shampoos were very high quality. This hotel is in a very peaceful street. I slept like a baby. The fireplace was lovely too. At night, the courtyard is lit up with little torches so it's quite pretty. Theresa, the manager, was incredibly kind and helpful.
Details
Reviews
Overall 9.1 Excellent
Based on 417 reviews
Vibe
9.5
Service
9.2
Location
9.2
Cleanliness
9.1
Amenities
8.9
Room
8.2
Breakfast
7.7
Comfort
7.3
Wellness
0.0
Service
9.5
Vibe
9.4
Location
9.3
Cleanliness
9.3
Amenities
9.1
Room
8.2
Breakfast
8.1
Comfort
7.5
Vibe
9.5
Location
9.2
Service
8.9
Room
7.9
Breakfast
7.3
Comfort
7.3
9.2 Excellent
Pros: Very peaceful and zen place, I really liked it , very hospital and lots of free parking
Cons: Carpet and baths a bit dated
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Clean, welcoming and so relaxing. Interconnecting rooms and amazing beds and sheets. Large bathrooms with separate bath and shower. Close to the beach, shops and restaurants.
Cons: Nothing!!
9.2 Excellent
Pros: Very comfortable, spacious room, cozy bed and peaceful grounds. Nice fresh breakfast, w/quiche offered on weekends. Great staff, helpful, knowledgeable, responsive.
Cons: A nit - room had a small fountain (great) but when you turn on the fountain a light comes on in the room, so can’t sleep w/fountain on providing a peaceful background environment
6.3 Good
Pros: The place is beautiful! Big rooms and bathrooms with everything you need. Easy parking. Nice breakfast, complimentary.
Cons: The isolation is pretty bad. We could hear everything that was happening upstairs, so resting was hard. The shower is super low, so it was hard to get my hair washed.
8.3 Excellent
Pros: Lovely far-east Asian feel and decor to the rooms. Choc-dipped strawberries and an orchid upon checking-in were a v nice touch. Also lovely fire pit and gardens. Good location for amenities.
Cons: Room was a bit stuffy. While breakfast was a good spread, the room was quite small and smoerines getting a table was tricky.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Close to Carmel dining and shopping
Cons: Nothing
10.0 Excellent
Pros: The Tradewinds was perfect for me and my lab. The room was spacious and I enjoyed having the balcony. I had my breakfast there each morning. It was a treat and my doggie enjoyed lounging there. I loved my room. Very spacious. The Tradewinds staff is fantastic. Every single person was helpful, friendly and responsive. I can't wait to visit again! Breakfasts were great!
Cons: Can't think of anything in particular.
4.2 Okay
Pros:
Cons: Outdated, requires remodeling. Too expensive for what you get !
7.4 Good
Pros:
Cons: While we thought we rec'd a decent deal at $360 for a single night for a deluxe king room, a day before our trip i noticed a similar king room for $100 less. Figuring i would just get a better room with a view, i was disappointed to learn that the room had no view and just a gas fireplace. I mentioned the discrepancy in the rates, but they only suggested that we should have booked directly instead and called in first to verify the rates and the available rooms.
7.9 Good
Pros: N/a
Cons: More sundries in bathroom. Upgrade breakfast.
10.0 Excellent
Pros: It was within walking distance from other shops and restaurants. The hotel feels like a luxury hotel. Professional staff. I would stay here again.
Cons: I wish there was a swimming pool or jacuzzi!
10.0 Excellent
Pros: Beautiful rooms! The bed and sheets were amazing and the room was immaculate. The soaps and shampoos were very high quality. This hotel is in a very peaceful street. I slept like a baby. The fireplace was lovely too. At night, the courtyard is lit up with little torches so it's quite pretty. Theresa, the manager, was incredibly kind and helpful.
Cons: The lobby was a little spartan, so I was afraid the rooms would be too. They were NOT.
With a stay at Tradewinds Carmel in Carmel (Northwest Carmel), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Carmel Beach and 17-Mile Drive. Featured amenities include complimentary newspapers in the lobby, multilingual staff, and a water dispenser. Free self parking is available onsite.
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