Monterey, California isn’t far from my house, so I’ve been to this beautiful seaside town a number of times. But usually I say in hotels near the city center, not the pricier ones on Cannery Row. But I recently was in Monterey to get my PADI scuba certification and decided to splurge. I looked around to find the best hotel in Monterey and discovered the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.
The Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa has been recognized in a number of ways as the best hotel in Monterey. It’s the only Forbes four-star hotel in Monterey, and it has had a Four Diamond AAA rating for 23 consecutive years. On TripAdvisor, pleased guests have ranked it the number-one Monterey hotel and have also rated it one of the site’s top 25 hotels in the US in 2011. On Hotels.com, it gets a 4.7 out of 5-star guest rating. No other hotel in Monterey can match these awards and ratings.
I think the secret to their success is not only a beautiful location, overlooking Monterey Bay from Cannery Row, but also in the way the staff treats guests. From the minute you call to make reservations, you’re treated like a valued guest rather than another reservation dollar. Employees who answered the phones when I called and who interacted with us at the hotel weren’t just polite – they were friendly.
Add that friendliness to a wonderful hotel with a great location and you’ve got a winner. The views alone are worth a night here. The hotel sits right over Monterey Bay, with the waves lapping right under the building. We had an ocean view room and used the binoculars in our guest room to watch sea otters playing in the water below. We spotted the otters just by looking out in the water from the balcony, but the binoculars were great for being able to get a close-up look at what they were doing.
If you base your hotel ratings on the food served by the on-site restaurant or the room service menu, you won’t be disappointed. The food here is wonderful. Schooner’s restaurant offers a great selection of sustainable seafood, which you can enjoy on the outdoor deck. If you prefer, they also offer room service. Be sure to try the omelets and sausage for breakfast.
If you’re looking for the best hotel in Monterey, there’s no doubt this is it. For luxury accommodations in Monterey, this is the place to stay.
(revised from Best Hotel in Monterey on Squidoo)
