Carmel Mission Inn

The rooms were clean and comfortable, the beds felt good, and there were thoughtful amenities. I liked the sixties retro renovation, the lighting, the grounds, and the terraced poolside rooms with patio space. The staff were lovely, and the inn is charming and great value. I’d recommend it. The parking charge is $30, and yes, that stings. The inn says so on its website, but you can miss it when your third-party quote says “all in” with tax included. Booking direct may save about $30, which you then hand back for parking. Lovely Carmel Mission management, “everybody’s doing it” isn’t a great reason. Five out of five, but that extra $30 for parking gets a thumbs down.

David at the bar made the best espresso martini I’ve ever had. The whole hotel exceeded what I expected, too: it was clean, cozy, and welcoming. I was tempted to extend the trip just to enjoy it longer. Highly recommend, and we’ll be back whenever we can!

Hotel Tonight showed a tempting rate, but the extra charges changed the picture. I started making the reservation and luckily checked the reviews first. There’s a $30 parking fee plus tax each night, as well as a resort fee. Put these in the room price so people can make an informed choice. I’ll take my money elsewhere. There are plenty of options.

The bed and shower were fine, and the hotel was dated but did the job for our one night. Still, I wouldn’t stay here again if I returned to Carmel, mainly because of the location. We were in town for a nearby wedding. The room’s carpet was absolutely drenched when we checked in, not just damp. I was told ahead of time to call on the morning of arrival about early check-in. I called early and was told to come by and see if a room was open. A more guest-friendly hotel would have offered to hold a room if one became available before we arrived. The hotel sits beside a gas station and near a busy road, yet charges $30 a night for self-parking. Since visitors to Carmel will have a car, I see that as a hidden fee. It should be part of the room rate, or better yet, free. The lot isn’t close enough to downtown to attract other drivers. It feels like a cash grab. In short, steep parking charges, an unfriendly early check-in policy, and a soaking wet carpet. The place was okay, and I wouldn’t tell anyone to avoid it, but it could treat guests better.