The Monterey Hotel

This review is based on my 2nd stay here at the end of our vacation. We chose it for the prime location of the back entrance being opposite the airport shuttle bus. Great location you can literally step right onto Alvarado street also using the discreet front entrance. I tend to base my hotel reviews based on the quality of my sleep. We were allocated a room on the 4th floor. When you get out of the elevator there are no signs to point to the direction of the rooms so we found ourselves wandering around a bit. A small sign outside the elevator to say which rooms are on the left corridor or turn right for rooms numbered xyz or straight on for xyz etc would have been helpful. My husband has mobility issues so wandering around with luggage unnecessarily was irritating after a very tiring long haul flight. We discovered our room was in the historical part of the building which then meant going through a door to the outside and up a few steps. The door had a sign with a wheelchair on it. It would be impossible for a guest in a wheelchair to go through that door and up some steps. On first impressions the room looked nice but the bed was so uncomfortable I wonder if those in charge actually have tried sleeping on these beds. The mattress was so old we found ourselves almost both rolling involuntarily towards the middle of the bed This put a lot of strain on our backs. We tried bolstering ourselves with pillows to stop the pull and even sleeping across the bed but at 2am we both gave up and called reception to see if we could move rooms and were offered a newer room in the newer part of the hotel. The staff member was very apologetic and said the mattresses in the historical building were very old. Not acceptable, just because the room is historical doesn't mean the mattress has to be! I didnt like the carved headboard or carved mirror, both dusty inside all the carvings. The new room and bed were better but when I turned on the bedside light I saw 3 long hairs hanging off the fabric lightshade. The bathroom had no fan. We could hear some lunatic in his car revving up his engine somewhere in the neighborhood and the seagulls screeched and squawked throughout the night which meant I actually got zero sleep.

Loved hotel..room a slight small..but very clean

Good location, nice staff, large room.

No big deal, but would have been nice to have chairs and a table in the room(?)

Our room did not have a proper outlet for my CPAP machine. We tried to upgrade but nothing was available. WE stayed one night and found another hotel. The hotel said to contact Booking for a refund for the last two nights. Awaiting your response Thank- you Dan Underwood

not much. The hotel was old and tired

Both the wash hand basin and bath taps didn't work properly. The window provided very little noise insulation from the street below and the hotel was very tired and dated

The trouble is that this is billed as a 4 star property. It is a 2-3 star at best and if was sold as that, I could review it higher than poor. Few things to know... there is no AC, and despite it not being that hot out, and the hotel providing a fan, the room was quite warm and stuff in early May. The mattress was old and uncomfortable (lumpy) and everything was well worn. The showerhead could be improved so that there is better water pressure during a shower. They don't provide housekeeping during your stay. Other things, such as the telephone didn't work. I reported it the first day, they said someone would come look at it - it was never fixed and no follow up. The toilet clogged, they brought us a plunger at our request. The internet was abysmal. I have no idea what the parking situation was - I thought they advertised valet but I saw none. We parked a block or so away on the street, where you can park for free from 6pm - 9 am so that was sufficient. All that said, it seemed safe, the other people staying there seemed like regular travelers (nothing sketchy), and the price was low. I wouldn't necessarily come back, but if I had to stay again, I would.

Checked in, got to the room took one look and went elsewhere. Dirty and old fashioned. Desk staff also pretty rude on arrival. Nice on departure 30 minutes later (different staff member) Booked by our travel agent and got a better standard at the local Travel Lodge.

The location is fantastic and the room value is very good comparing nearby hotels. The room was clean and comfortable, and the staff was very helpful and friendly. Highly recommended stay for the Big Sur marathon weekend.