Monterey: Where to Stay and what to do!
Monterey is one of my favorite places California! A trip to San Francisco is not complete without driving south towards Big Sur and spending at least one afternoon in this beautiful town. This time I wanted to show Ryu the best of Monterey, so I decided to stay for the night and we booked a room at the beautiful Portola Hotel & Spa, one of Monterey’s top-rated hotels – and home of the best pillows I’ve ever slept on!
Choosing a hotel in the area can be tough, but there are many things that make Portola a one of a kind experience. The location is definitely one of them, we were steps away from the famous Cannery Row, where everything happens in Monterey, and where you will find a great selection of local shops and restaurants. We also spent some time taking countless pictures of lovely seals who were hanging out in the water right next to the hotel!
There are many restaurants nearby, shops and art to explore. At Lover’s Point, you can get a beautiful view of the coast and climb some rocks. If you are ready for lunch, go to the Beach House, for a meal with a view or a delicious açaí bowl. If you have more time, add the Monterey Aquarium and the Fisherman’s Wharf to your trip and some water adventures (snorkeling is only one of them!).
It was such a fun experience, we were able to walk around and enjoy the beautiful views (like the first and the last pictures at the end of this post). Staying in the heart of it all saved me so much time and made the experience in Monterey one I will never forget. The Portola is also perfect for a romantic trip, the room was extremely comfortable and the service was great! Seriously, I didn’t want to leave, I live for great pillows and comfortable beds and theirs were the ones I will never forget!
Another great thing about staying at Portola were the amenities and the dining options available on location! Besides the breakfast buffet at The Club room, the Portola hotel also offers two other dining experiences: the Jacks Monterey or Peter B’s Brewpub, Monterey’s original craft brewery.
Other amenities & services include:
- Homemade chocolate chip cookies upon arrival
- Concierge services
- 24-hour business center & shipping
- Complimentary 24-hour fitness center
- On-site event technology & security
- Outdoor pool & Jacuzzi with cabanas
- On-site shops, wine lounges & galleries
- Full service salon & spa
- In-room dining
- Same day laundry & dry cleaning
- Valet & covered self-parking (fee applies)
- Bicycle rentals
- Check-in: 4:00pm, check-out: 12:00pm
- Pet-friendly hotel (fee applies)
Now, can we talk about how gorgeous the hotel lobby is?! The minute I walked in I knew I had made the right choice and that the experience was going to be a nice one. You don’t get that feeling everywhere. Also, the front desk was extremely welcoming and offered their famous fresh homemade chocolate chip cookies – I’m vegan so I can’t tell you how delicious they were by experience but Ryu ate them both the next day and was a happy kid!
I love sharing hotel experiences with you guys and I know how important it is to find a place that will add value and comfort to your dream trip and this was definitely the case! I had the best time in Monterey and I’m sure you will agree with me! For more tips, pictures and great stuff, follow the Portola Hotel on Instagram and if you are in the area make sure to check my favorite things to do in Monterey by clicking HERE! The Portola Hotel and Spa is located at Monterey Bay | Two Portola Plaza Monterey, CA 93940
Toll Free: (888) 222-5851 | Direct: (831) 649-4511 | Fax: (831) 372-0620. Email: info@portolahotel.com. Click HERE to check their website and book your fabulous room!
The breakfast buffet served in the Club Room was a perfect experience! Very convenient, great food and drink options. The buffet is all-you-can-eat and it was $19.95 per adult (and $6 per kid). There were plenty of fruits, pancakes, toasts, pastries, cereal, yogurts and you could also build your own omelete.
We didn’t have time to enjoy the swimming pool, but I made sure to at least explore the outdoor space of the hotel and this patio was perfect to sit and relax, grab a bite to eat, take photos and catch one of the trolley cars! A few steps from there you can get close to the water, where the seals were hanging out. Of course I took many maaaany pictures as you can see below, the day was so beautiful and this spot was steps from our hotel room.
