The Inn at 1252

The room was clean and quiet, with a comfortable bed, nice sheets and a TV that had streaming options. For a 2-star motel, it mostly met our expectations. The big downside was paying $25 for early check-in when we arrived 1.5 h before the regular time. They offered us a room, but in hindsight we should have waited, even though we were tired. I’ve never had a motel or hotel charge for early check-in when the room is ready, especially less than 2h before check-in. It left a bad taste. Our ground floor room was tiny, barely bigger than a small bedroom, with just enough space for the bed and little room to open suitcases or move around. The bathroom was large, about half the bedroom’s size, but toiletries were sparse, with no conditioner or lotion.

Mala, the GM, was a lifesaver when our original hotel turned out to be disgusting. We checked out early and called around Monterey in a panic on the day we needed a room. She gave us a better rate for booking direct and reassured us about the inn, and she was right. The place helped turn what could have been a disastrous trip around. For a 2 star inn, it goes above and beyond: our room was very large for the price, with a king bed, and it and the modern shower and sink were clean and nice. We’ll be back and would absolutely recommend staying here.

I really appreciated how clean everything in the room was. The towels smelled strongly of bleach, though, and after I spilled water and wiped the floor, the cleaning products left a strong odor and lots of foam. I’d recommend vinegar for the towels and floors instead, since it would be gentler and healthier than harsh chemicals.

The lighting and atmosphere were pretty, and the room was very clean with good light. Everything was fine. The bathroom door looked nice, but when it was open it blocked access to the microwave area.