Carmel Fireplace Inn

The hotel itself is cute, and we liked the breakfast and the attached restaurant and bar, Brophys. I'd still recommend staying here, but check carefully which room you're booking. We enjoyed the visit overall, yet paid more than $400 for room 114A, which had no real windows. A narrow strip beside the door was the only source of light. The hotel wasn't full, so I don't understand why we were put there. That room seems like it should only be an add-on to the one next door, and shouldn't cost as much as other rooms in its category. There's a connecting door, and sound carries so clearly that you can hear everything next door. Our neighbors were quiet, thankfully, but I felt uncomfortable even talking in our own room.

The staff kept the grounds looking immaculate throughout our stay, and we loved the breakfast each morning, including the champagne and mimosas. Brophy's, the bar and restaurant attached to the hotel, was great too. We checked in early and were upgraded to a King suite. It was clean and had lovely amenities, plenty of towels, and toiletries. When we mentioned it was our 10th wedding anniversary, staff left a bottle of champagne and a handwritten note on the patio for us to find later that evening. Hotel Carmel is perfectly placed for walking into downtown Carmel. My husband and I had a fantastic stay and can't wait to come back.

We had two rooms for three nights, and it was a horrible, expensive stay. The rugs were dirty, and the fake tree in the room was dirty too. The rooms had paper-thin walls, so you could hear everything, and parking was very limited, leaving you to park on the street. My room had fleas and spiders. When I found the fleas, there wasn't another room to move me to. The manager was nice about it and offered to spray the room. The front desk staff were nice, but I wouldn't stay here again.

We had a good stay and appreciated the special touches Hotel Carmel offers. Just be aware there are no elevators, so you'll need to carry your luggage if your room is upstairs. Our room, 206, needs an update, especially the bathroom. It felt outdated, and the shower was well below what I'd expect at this price.