Big Sur Lodge

The patio was a nice spot to sit out at night and look at the stars, and our double room had plenty of space, a fridge, and a couch. We had a good trip and would come again. The lodge's location worked well for the two of us, and the maps were handy since the WiFi is spotty, something the website mentions in advance. We visited the gorge, a small swimming pool, which was fun. We hadn't expected another $60 in taxes on top of our $486 room charge, plus a $50 hold on the card. We thought taxes were already included in the booking total, and we hadn't seen that extra charge on the page or heard about it when calling about our reservation. We budget carefully and would've been fine if we'd known beforehand. The staff saw we were concerned and gave us a beach parking pass, so we didn't have to pay the $15 fee. Access also covered three state parks, though the beach still has that extra charge for upkeep.

The staff were kind and professional throughout, and our kids had fun with the penny press in the lobby. Breakfast was solid, and the espresso bar lattes were a 5 out of 5. We'd come back for the nearby hiking and welcoming feel. We'd grabbed the last room at Big Sur Lodge during an unplanned stop. Samuel at the desk was especially friendly and accommodating, and the lobby fireplace gave the place a cozy Big Sur atmosphere. Our two-queen room was what you'd expect of a lodge cabin, modest, clean, and well kept. A few little things weren't ideal: the sliding door screen was missing, so we kept the door shut to avoid bugs; the beds felt firm to us; and the toilet refilled slowly. There was also a power outage, but staff brought us a flashlight and lantern. It made the stay feel a bit adventurous and memorable.

We had a living room with a double bed and sofa bed, plus a separate bedroom with another double bed. The deck was great for watching the stars, and we all enjoyed our time here. The room's Wi-Fi was poor, though the tech team was working on upgrading the equipment. The fee includes entry to three nearby parks: Andrew Molera, Pheiffer Big Sur, and Julia Pheiffer burns state parks. Pheiffer beach is excluded and costs an extra $15 per vehicle. If we return to Big Sur, we'd consider this lodge again, but we'd book well ahead instead of at the last minute.

Breakfast was a mess even though the restaurant was nearly empty. We waited a long time, paid, and then got food that wasn't edible. My eggs were almost hard and unseasoned, the bacon was hard and crunchy, the fruit was old and slimy, and I got one dry piece of toast. I ordered a hot mocha but was given an iced one. My wife's meal was no better, also unseasoned with just one dry slice of toast. We each managed about three bites before leaving. Do not eat here.