Monterey Surf Inn

The staff were so courteous and flexible when our travel plans changed at the last minute, which made things stress-free. We stayed a couple of nights, and the recently renovated rooms were spotless and comfortable, just what we needed after a long flight. Downtown Monterey is only minutes away, and it’s an easy short drive to the 17-Mile Drive, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Del Monte Shopping Center. A clean, friendly, central place to explore the area. Highly recommend.

The beds were comfortable and the room looked newly remodeled, but it was very basic. There was an old-looking chip table, and the walls are thin, so noise from neighbors could be an issue. In the bathroom, there’s nowhere for clothes or personal shampoo items: no hook, shelf, or basket, and shampoo has to sit on the shower floor. For a quick stay when you just need a room, maybe it works for you. It wasn’t the right kind of stay for me.

This was my second time here, and I like the place. The manager is friendly and easy to approach, and the room was a good size. We had two queen beds, though the one by the wall left a tight squeeze to get to the sink. The room was clean, but I still do my own cleaning when I arrive. The shower room was roomy, and no tub was fine. The bathroom gets cold, so bring slippers. The heater was loud on auto and kept waking my sister the first night whenever it came back on. Even though the inn is right off the street, it’s quiet enough for peaceful sleep. I’m sure I’ll stay here again on my next visit.

Three stars feels fair for what this motel costs. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was okay, and the towels were nice. But the floors and surfaces were quite dirty, so bring wipes and slippers. The harsh white fluorescent lights made it hard to relax; warm LED bulbs would improve the feel a lot. The walls are extremely thin, so good luck sleeping if someone nearby is chatting or watching TV. The coffee machine was out my first morning, and the soda machine had no water. They sell water, but only take cash, so bring a bottle or three. If you’re thinking of spending $20 more for one of the other motels on this strip, do it. It’ll be worth it, and they might actually have water and coffee.