The Vagabond's House

We loved this place! The courtyard is beautiful, with string lights and a fire pit, and town is easy to reach on foot. It’s super cute and very clean. They bring breakfast to your room in the morning, and there’s a wine and cheese reception in the evening. Just book it if you’re on the fence.

I’m giving five stars despite never having stayed here. The owner of the Vagabond's House Inn called ahead of time to let me know about flooding and power outages in the area from severe weather. As things developed, he offered my husband and me flexibility to cancel day by day, even though it must have been a difficult time for the business with cancellations during a busy season. We ultimately chose another place for our minimoon because it was less affected by the weather. That kind of care, craftsmanship, and decency puts The Vagabond House Inn at the top of our list.

The courtyard is such a lovely place to pause between outings, and the staff were warm, friendly, and full of good local suggestions. We stayed in room 8 with Larry, who was welcomed with treats and a nice pet blanket. The room was clean and well equipped, with blackout shades, heated bathroom floors, a fireplace, and a cozy bed. Two reusable bottles of filtered water each day were a nice touch. It’s quiet enough, being away from the main stretch of Ocean Ave, but still easy to walk around Carmel. The dedicated lot and Dolores both had convenient parking. Breakfast is the choice you make on day one for the whole stay, though you can change it at the office the day before. Service starts at 8:30. If you’re up earlier, Mad Dogs and Englishmen is an option for coffee, a treat, and a pup cup. Like other Carmel inns, this older property isn’t soundproof, so you’ll hear people above or outside. It wasn’t constant, and we were out exploring most of the time.

We loved our room, especially the heated bathroom floor, and the view from Room 11 was exceptional. Breakfasts were delicious and filling, and customer service was outstanding. The location made it easy to pop over to the shops and restaurants nearby. We’re already planning to stay here again on our next visit.