Carmel Country Inn

We’d stayed at Carmel Country Inn many times before and always thought it was lovely, so we were excited to return. Then my dad had a heart attack the Friday before our Monday arrival and couldn’t travel. I offered to provide a note from his doctor, but management said I’d owe the entire week unless they managed to rebook the room. They rebooked every night except one, but still charged me for that night and kept my deposit, which I consider a significant amount. During a very stressful time, they showed no compassion and simply told me I should have bought trip insurance. It was really disappointing. I’ll find somewhere else for our summer trip.

The walls are shared, and we could hear ordinary conversations from next door through the bedroom wall. That’s why I took off a star. The spot is otherwise great, in a quiet residential area near downtown, and the staff are professional and friendly. It’s dog friendly, and our room had a spa tub and fireplace. Tesla owners can charge from a 50 amp plug, but you’ll need to bring your own plug and portable charger or cable. If you don’t have the right plug, don’t try to jury rig it.

We’re in town for a wedding, so having our stay cancelled without my confirmation was incredibly inconvenient. I’d only emailed to ask about the cancellation policy and said we were considering cancelling because we hadn’t decided yet and wanted to compare our options. The hotel went ahead and cancelled the booking and resold it without asking me. They didn’t even offer a full refund for the two nights they resold without our approval. They made the mistake, but aren’t offering anything for the trouble. This kind of service is unacceptable. The hotel may be nice, but we’ll never know. I wouldn’t feel confident that they’d be helpful or understanding if something went wrong.

We loved the fireplace and the cute, clean rooms, and the complimentary breakfast was a nice bonus. You can eat inside or outside, or bring it back to your room. The neighborhood is fantastic, within walking distance of downtown Carmel and a beautiful beach overlooking the famous Pebble Beach. The price was reasonable too. This was the most dog friendly hotel we’ve ever stayed at, yet we didn’t smell dogs or hear them. They insisted on giving our two large dogs lots of gourmet treats when we arrived. There were tasty snacks for people as well. Absolutely perfect.