We had stayed at the Carmel River Inn many moons ago. It's a favorite with people from our area of California, so we were eager to experience the new updated cabins! We booked online and chose an accessible room, so it would be easy to haul all the luggage in. The room was in the back of the property, and nice and quiet. One feature we really liked was the huge parking space. The cabins have their own dedicated parking, which makes loading and unloading easy. We were going up to Carmel for a family event and only needed to stay one night, but we wanted to make sure that it was relaxing, and the Carmel River Inn really delivered. The price was fairly reasonable when you consider a single room is $300 elsewhere in Carmel. We got the accessible cottage with two queen beds for 400. It was new and virtually unused. The decor was light and bright, and I appreciated the plank flooring, We also liked the lift up Venetian blind that allowed for privacy as well as viewing the landscape. Check-in was easy and there was a whole family arriving in three cars to stay in a couple of the cottages. It's a great place for a family reunion because you can get different sized cottages. There are some areas where there is a shared lawn for the kids in the dogs to run around. I did like that it was pet friendly, however I have severe pet allergies so it was very good that our room had never been used by pets! We loved the wet bar, which was more like a kitchen. The only thing it was lacking was a stove. There was a small refrigerator, a full-size sink, a microwave, dishes and silverware so you could easily eat three meals there. We wandered the grounds when we first got there, tired of being cooped up in the car and enjoyed the new landscape garden area with a fire pit, a wood swing and a trellis of wisteria. We would definitely stay here again. We loved the natural ambience and the updated cabin. The staff was friendly and helpful. It is a peaceful retreat near downtown Carmel! read more

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Carmel River Inn is great. We stayed in the motel part, upstairs, which has a balcony overlooking the creek. The bedroom has a sliding door with a screen to keep bugs out. The room/bathroom were honestly totally spotless, I was very appreciative of that. There is a mini fridge (but no freezer component), a coffeemaker, and a very comfortable bed. Fresh coffee is made downstairs in the lobby/check-in office, and the first morning brew is good. Don't expect 100% soundproof walls in the motel portion of the property, but honestly it was fine for us and we are decently sensitive to noise. Many people love the cabins, but in being on the property for a few days I felt like our bedroom might have been more spacious, so just check what amenities you require beforehand and see what will work best for you. Our room didn't have a microwave, which we were partially counting on. We made it work but that was honestly our only inconvenience. The shower is not as narrow/petite as a Euro shower, but it's close, so would probably be too confined for my octogenarian parents, who I would otherwise happily recommend this hotel to. Something to keep in mind if you prefer a spacious shower. We loved the fresh clean grouting and tilework done in the vintage style, and the staff were extremely accommodating. They don't automatically refresh your room every day, but if you ask they will do it. We were there for several nights, so we asked for extra towels at the beginning, and had our room refreshed once while we were there, no problem. The staff really want your stay to be great, they are extremely accommodating. It's REALLY nice to be on the 1 highway if you are visiting some other locations. Because parking in Carmel is a chore, we often used a cab service to get us into town so we didn't have to stress about parking. It was wonderful to have parking included in our rate. I saw that someone had an allergic reaction to their room or cabin. My partner and I both have fairly severe allergies, and we did not have any issues in room 26 at Carmel River Inn. Thank you Carmel River Inn! read more

This place is incredible. All of the guys that work in the office are so kind and helpful. I called and spoke to each of them multiple times. I upgraded my cabin to a standalone cabin with gas fireplace and soaking tub. There's also a parking spot right in front, small private patio in the back and side, and a public gas fireplace pit next door to cabin 38. Not cheap at all but I figured what the heck read more

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Love! Will stay here again and again. Great for our two dogs and so walkable to key areas we enjoy.

We were unable to stay more than a couple of hours due to severe dander and allergen exposure in the room. Within three hours, my lungs began tightening and I experienced breathing issues, forcing us to leave immediately for health and safety reasons. We did not stay overnight. The space was uninhabitable for anyone with allergies or respiratory sensitivities. I am still experiencing lingering symptoms days later. This was not a matter of preference, but a serious health issue. read more

booked a cottage for 3 nights at carmel river inn recently and so glad i did i did book through booking.com no issues when arriving and checking in/out the staff at carmel river inn responded in just a quick manner with all my questions beforehand check in/out was easy we did not get the stay at one of the newer cottages, not sure if those are pet friendly or not.. the cottage we stayed in was very charming. although the bathroom was really tiny, esp the shower :( we had our ESA furbaby with us. they are very pet friendly here i really loved staying here. the location was great parking was easy the grounds was very maintained and quaint lots of grassy areas for pet relief room/bed was clean cant wait to visit carmel again and book our stay here! read more

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I stayed at the Inn, not one of the cabins (although, I have stayed in those twice). It was very modern, clean and quiet. I was glad that a small refrigerator was included (to keep a gallon of Fred's chioppino). My room like most of the Inn rooms had a nice deck with chairs and view of the river running in back. I would definitely stay in the Inn again. read more

Excellent place to stay! We stay here when we visit our parents and it's just perfect! We usually stay in the hotel part and we love it, you sit out on your patio with the beautiful river passing by. The grounds are beautiful! The rooms are very clean and very comfortable! Now that we have retired we are going to get a bungalow!! The price is right too, and very nice staff. We will be back soon! read more

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My favorite and most memorable pet-friendly lodge to rest up after pulling a 9 hour drive from San Diego. I've stayed here almost a decade ago and made sure to return. I haven't stayed in the motel complex so I can't comment on those; however, you should opt for one of the cottages. The one I stayed in had a fireplace, fully stocked dishes and cookware, and two bedrooms. I love how cozy and modest it is while providing "like home" amenities. What's also convenient is its proximity to Starbucks, a 24/7 Safeway, and a gas station. It's the perfect place to rest up off the beaten path of the highway 1 because it gives you that feeling of being removed but still near big city creature comforts. When we settled in for the night it was pretty late, so we grabbed some local brew from Safeway along with dinner to cook. We kept it simple and made Annie's mac and cheese but it was nice to get full use of what the place had to offer. My most recent stay was with my husband, my sister, and our dog. A charming cat also appeared while we were socializing outside and it made the experience more whimsical and magical. The cat looked well taken care of and I got the impression that it was a regular to the area. The morning walk around the landscape was charming too. Don't pass this place up! read more

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This place is incredible! A true hidden gem in the Carmel & Big Sur area. It exceeded my expectations. Comfy bed, clean cabin, large shower and the coolest scenery outside my "tent"! Highlight recommend for anyone who visits Carmel or Big Sur and wants a little glamping in their life. read more

Carmel River Inn - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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Beautiful cabin 10/10. Right of the highway, 4 minutes to the beach. Get lost by the sea at Carmel river inn. read more

Carmel River Inn - Cozy, private, cute cottage - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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We stayed in the motel portion of the inn on the weekend for a wedding. Cons: Rooms are dated and could use a major overhaul. Shower door was starting to fall off and shower head is very low (had to do squats to wash my hair). Bathroom is small and does not have very good lighting for my wife to be putting on makeup for a wedding. For $300 a night I think it was a little over priced. Had some inconsistent people smoking on the balcony below us and had to close the slider (annoying). Pros: Nice view of the river from the balcony. Loved listening to the frogs at night. Room was clean and bed was comfortable. Some of the wedding party stayed in the new cabins and they were very nice inside. Refrigerator was bigger than average and things got very cold quickly. They have some older cabins but I didn't get a look inside. If I were to stay again I would ask for one of the new cabins read more

Carmel River Inn - The Carmel River from our balcony - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

I was so excited to go to Carmel River Inn. It's hard to find places that accept pets, have areas for pets to hang out (courtyards, balconies) that are spaced apart and have areas to walk your dog. This place has all of that. I stayed in one of the duplex cottages with a small courtyard. I was given Room 55, arriving late on Thursday night. The front desk person told me he turned on the fireplace for me, which was a nice gesture. I arrived at the room and was overwhelmed by a musty stench. It smelled like a room where there had been a water leak and it hadn't been cleaned up properly and promptly. It was so bad I opened every window and turned on the ceiling fan to get the smell out until I finally had to shut them all to sleep. And it was 50 something degrees outside at the time. Friday morning I woke up at 6:30 - also low 50's - and opened all the windows again hoping to air out the room. Leaving all the windows open,I decided to go to the beach and was gone for several hours. When I returned, the stench was still there. I took a shower and realized that all my bathroom towels were permeated with the stench. I was drying my clean body with smelly rotten towels. Blech!! So gross. I checked on hotels.com and saw that several other rooms were available for that night, so I called the front desk. They were accommodating and offered to let me look at a couple of other rooms, one being the duplex next door - Room 56. I tried it and there was a faint smell, but not too bad. It was mostly in the bathroom.This room had obviously sat empty for awhile - there were several dead bugs on the bathroom floor. I got up this morning (Saturday), threw all my stuff in my car and was gone by 7:30 am. I just got home and the stench is all over everything, even the clothes in my suitcase that were not worn. The weird thing is when I arrived Thursday night I was one of the only cottage guests on the property. The front desk person had gone to the room before me. There is no way he didn't smell the awful stench. Why put me in that room when others were available? I paid $560 for 2 nights - $100 of this being the pet fee. I really, really thought this place was going to be great but here I am having to wash and Febreze everything I brought, so I feel very, very disappointed. read more

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This place is magic. A heated pool, beautiful gardens, community fire pit, exceptional friendly staff, short paths along mature landscape and flowers, and a fairly easy bike ride to shopping, beaches and downtown Carmel. The historic cottages look absolutely retro-awesome - I thought I'd booked one of them, but we were in a modern cottage toward the (still beautiful!) back of the property. The room is large, modern, and has everything we need to eat at the cabin, and we are local to so many great restaurants if we want to go out. What I love is that this truly is a getaway. We felt wrapped in a lovely world and were genuinely able to relax and block everything out (tough for me!) The one con for me is that without the discounts I got through an oft-used booking site, I don't think we could have afforded it. I like this place so much, I'm happy to support them. But I just hope (and I wish this were true at all accommodations) that they offer bigger discounts during off-season. ones that any family can afford. Isn't it reasonable that more people be able to experience lovely accommodations like these? read more

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Me n my new husband stayed for a week, n the staff was outstanding! The accommodations were amazing, and Helena, and Alejandrina, and I think Jacob? went over and beyond for us. We will be coming back! read more

Stayed here for 2 nights and had a very good experience. Employees were nice and accommodating. Area was not super loud at all, it's right next to a neighborhood. Area around the cabins was super pretty and appealing. Cabin was nice and clean when we arrived. Interior was up to date, AC unit was nice to keep us warm on the cooler nights. read more

This place was awesome! My girlfriend and I stayed here last Friday night, and left Saturday morning, and although it was a short stay, we really enjoyed it. The hotel staff was super nice, and really took care of us. Would definitely recommend this place! read more

This place is a gem. I can't wait to go back. Very clean property. I'm seriously in love with the cottages. Never stayed in anything like it before, it's so new in the year 2022. Close to downtown Carmel and the Mission. Enjoy your stay, you won't regret it. Waking up to the sound of birds and our happy lady neighbors chatting on their porch. That would be the only minus, you can hear people if they are outside, but I'll take it. read more

This place is an absolute gem! We wanted to escape the insane fireworks of the Bay Area for our senior dog and this location was perfect. From the cute cottage, the wonderful quiet area and excellent customer service - we couldn't ask for a better retreat. The cottage is roomy and has everything you need. The downtown Carmel area is nearby and we also ate a lovely Italian restaurant called Enzo's. Overall a memorable stay. Thank you Carmel River Inn- we will return. read more

Firstly, my review is for a room in the Inn, not the individual bungalows. Words I'd use to describe it: Super cute, super affordable, quaint, comfortable, convenient. 100% would stay here again. Went to Carmel for our 4 year anniversary and my fiance loved it. We're not super fancy ppl but we like quality & good service and we got that here at a reasonable price point and in good proximity to downtown Carmel shopping & dining. A true hidden gem. The bed was super comfy and the room had a vintage-y lodge/cabin vibe to it. The bathroom and shower were pretty small, but worked well. I hear the bungalows are even nicer. We'll be back. follow me on IG @freshdotdaily read more

Would definitely go back. Dogs loved the studio bungalow. Fenced in little yard in the back, lots of sunlight and windows, own parking spot. There seems to be an ant issue though. read more

Carmel River Inn - Loved this spot! - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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This is a lovely place. For me a great bed can overcome a lot of downsides. Our bed was arguably the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. The mattress is perfection. The sheets are soft and the pillows were just like I prefer soft but some firmness. My girlfriend who is remarkably in tune with energy feels it has surprisingly clean energy. The rooms are clean and of decent size. There is a balcony overlooking a beautiful stream and majestic tree. At night in the quiet the frogs sing and make a beautiful sound. The only downside's are the shower is about 5.5 feet high and the bathroom could use some updating or modernization. The products could be better as well. In the day you can hear the highway when the sliding glass door is open and the walls between rooms are not really well insulated. For the price points and the ambiance, comfort of the bed I think this is a very nice option. read more

Carmel River Inn - Balcony view - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

(Note: This review applies only to the cabins, not the motel). If you're looking for an alternative to the lodging in downtown Carmel or Monterey, this is worth checking out. The owners have done a great job updating the cabins which are spread out across the property, and have managed to keep the charm of the original 1930's cottages, while updating them with current amenities. There are cabins which are designated as pet friendly, which was was great for my daughter, who was able to bring her two small dogs along. The cabins are a combination of both renovated existing units, along with new prefab cabins (equipped with both heat and A/C), which have been customized to some degree to fit the theme of the property. The cabin we stayed in was located at the east side of the property, and had a great private outdoor patio. There are individual parking spaces for each of the cabins. The cabin was equipped with only a fireplace for heat, but was more than sufficient to take the chill off in the morning and evening, and provided a nice touch. The bathroom was completely updated and clean. Options vary for different units. Our cabin had a wet bar and refrigerator, a coffeemaker, along with dishes and silverware, which was perfect for our needs. Despite doing a significant renovation, the owners have managed to keep many of the old trees intact, and are in process of doing landscape upgrades. While there was a little bit of traffic noise from Hwy 1 during the day, at night it was dead quiet, and in the morning we enjoyed the birds that congregated around the trees adjacent to our patio. There is a fire pit located at the east side of the property, which is a nice touch. A pool is located next to the motel office at the front of the property. You can also walk down a pathway to the Carmel River from there. Did not check the channel lineup for the TV service, but it seemed to be fairly complete. Also didn't have a chance to check the internet speed, but didn't have any issues downloading files. Like many other motels nowadays, linens and towels are provided as needed, and rooms are only made up every three days by request. A great place for families, with easy access to Hwy 1 and the Crossroads shopping center. (The only thing to note is that there is currently a bit of ongoing construction (mostly landscape work) taking place during the day, but none of it detracted from our stay). read more

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Super cute! We stayed in a new cottage with 2 queen beds and a wet bar. There was a good size mini fridge, toaster, coffee maker, and microwave. There were real dishes in the cabinet, cutlery, mugs, wine glasses. There was a small dishwasher, as well as soap, sponges, etc. The beds were comfy, bathroom was a good size, shower was hot with good pressure. There was a little porch with a table and chairs. Two of my girlfriends and I stayed here for a girls getaway weekend and will definitely be back. The staff was very friendly. They include wine tasting passes, and they met all of our needs. Minus one star because we did have some ants in the room, but just a few here and there. read more

We try to stay here at least once a year and have never been disappointed. The property is gorgeous, with welcoming little trails and the cottages are perfect for a romantic stay. The staff is always so wonderful and accommodating. I hesitate to share this intimate location but Carmel River Inn deserves the recognition! read more

Had a wonderful time! Will return for my 5th visit! Staff is amazing! So close to a plethora of destinations. Beach, restaurants, nature walks, etc. Planing a trip back for my birthday now. read more

just my cup of tea! quiet beautiful landscaping attentive staff a cottage under the cypress a hidden gem shhhh don't tell anyone read more

Carmel River Inn - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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5 stars for the Pet Friendly Everything here! The staff is welcoming and the accommodations are suitable for a pet loving family. We stayed in the inn and yeah,it needs updating but rooms are clean and the river in your back patio is great! With an awesome dog run. My family and are are very pleased with our stay here. They give you a catalog of pet friendly places and a pet welcome package. It's cute and quaint. Close to Carmel by the Sea. A yes to anyone traveling with their k9 kids. read more

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We stayed a week with two large dogs in a small cottage and had a comfortable restful time. The groomed paths in a forest setting allowed our pets plenty to explore. The grounds are landscaped to create a little world away from it all but we were very close to the ocean and quaint Carmel by the Sea. The staff was nearly invisible but took care of everything efficiently. Old fashioned service and price like this are hard to find. It's a gem! read more

Very rustic and charming, but could use some updating Front just very considerate of my needs read more

Love!! This place is so cute and the landscaping is beautifully done. We stayed in cabin by the pool. It was clean and spacious. Comfortable bed and quiet location. Near food,drinks and shopping. Would definitely recommend and will stay again. read more

Do NOT stay here. The "cottages" are old mobile home vibe sheds that one can only assume we're used for local farm helpers 100 years ago. These rooms are so small it's hard to move around. The bathroom is laughable. The shower is a coffin that you have to open the door to turn around in. Nothing is new, and the old is not vintage. it's just old and feels dirty. ZERO windows have screens on them, which renders them utterly useless, and there is NO AC in the room. So, while it might be a lovely cool evening outside, it's a musty 75 in the room with no chance of cooling it down unless you'd like th spend the night with skeeter eaters and flies. On top of everything else, the place STINKS. Think old lady with a water leak. Musty, mildew with floral overtones. If you're looking for a place that personifies lipstick on a pig, then this is the place for you. As for me, I'll be trying to get out of paying for tomorrow night and find someplace else. Update: Jacob was very accommodating and moved us to a better room with no smell, a window that has a screen and a bathroom one can do a full 360 in. While I won't stay here again, I do appreciate Jacob's understanding and willingness to do all he could to make us feel more comfortable. read more

Honestly was ready to give a 5 star review and book a cottage for our honeymoon, but we got a hidden pet fee charged after we checked out. We booked last minute through booking.com and it said pet friendly, and it was a bit of a splurge for us but we decided to go for it, and then we got a $100 pet fee a few hours after we checked out. For a very basic hotel, $250 is a lot of money to then charge a $100 pet fee on top of that. For $350 we could have stayed somewhere much nicer. Also there was no communication by staff about the fee when we checked in or out, it was just added later which is really not ok. They saw our dog, it's not like we were sneaking him in because we chose it because it said pet friendly. You shouldn't have to read the fine print to avoid hidden fees. Looking back on booking.com's website (not even our confirmation email) it says "extra charges may apply," but my assumption would be that would be a typical $25-30 pet fee. $100 for one night is obscene. I'm so upset, this ruined a much needed night away for us before our wedding. (Looking at past reviews too it says pet fee of $40. How is $100 ok???) read more

I am so in love with these little cabins. I had such a fantastic time. The rooms are clean and comfortable and I can't wait until I stay here again. This is a definite for me if I'm staying in Carmel. read more

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Great experience every time we've stayed. Nice clean "glamping" vibe. Good location to food, beach, shopping. Also great access to Carmel Valley too. Highly recommend. read more

I called a few months in advance to reserve a cottage. I wasn't sure if we would get to actually go on our trip since COVID restrictions kept changing. I spoke with Michael in the front office and he was so accommodating with our reservation; it actually felt like I was staying with an old friend. We did get to go on our trip and our cabin was just darling. It was one of the newly renovated ones and it was so spacious and felt very private. The interesting thing about the cabins is you are right off the main highway, where you'd assume your stay would be noisy and unpleasant. But actually, the cabins are set far back from the road, nestled in the trees and you feel like you are a million miles from civilization. It's so quiet and peaceful. But once we put our points of interest into maps, we couldn't believe that everything in town was just 7 minutes away!! There is no air conditioning, but at night, we felt safe enough to crack the windows and the cool breeze was just perfect. And for everything I just mentioned, the price is phenomenal! This is definitely our new go-to place for Carmel. It looked like they were building more cabins when we were there. I hope they are able to maintain the bargain price for all that you get! Thank you, Michael! read more

Yelp Discount SCORE! So I took a road trip along the coast this last weekend, checking out the beaches and stopping at little towns along the way - we found ourselves past sunset without a place to stay. Although we could have found any little Motel 6 by the side of the road, I wanted to see the beaches of Carmel and the Pacific Coast Highway. I pulled out my iPhone and used the Yelp app to find nearby locations. That's when I saw "Yelp in-week Special - $49.00 a night". OMG, really?! So I dont know what to think, but take it. The room was nice, clean and had a refrigerator, cable TV and was very homey. I was very supervised to find that this place was better than most places I paid three times as much to stay in. The funniest part was the sign over the bed that said "Happiness grows here", ummm.... okay. LOL! read more

Carmel River Inn - Room - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

First impression, umm, wow what campground have I run into? Not very attractive looking at first, but looks aren't everything. Once you check in, you'll find this place to be somewhat "peaceful and secluded". Downtown Carmel is usually more pricey and less private. This place isn't perfect and needs a lot of work, but it serves it purpose. Try to book yourself a "renovated" room! Typically, you'll find downtown prices upwards of $200+, ($30+ pet fee). Here, you'll find prices between $85-200, ($20 pet fee). Even lower if they're offering specials. A bit of history about this place, it was built in 1934 and has gone through a few ownership changes. I wish I owned this place as I see numerous potential. Cons: ~ The street and it's pot holes. It's always been the same. They still haven't been repaved. Not a huge deal, it's just ugly. ~ Ants. Both occasions (once in the spring, once in the winter), we ran into ants invading the bathroom. ~ The outside trail is cool, but A LOT of grounds keeping work needs to be done. This place can look ten times better. ~ Old rooms get the old crappy t.v.'s Pros (mostly regarding a renovated room): ~ The cottages have a personal feel. ~ The bed was always comfortable. Sheets were ok. ~ The fireplace or heaters worked. ~ Bathroom was clean. Towels are getting old, but not too bad. ~ Shampoo/conditioner/shower gel dispenser. ~ Personal patio to relax and stare at the trees. ~ Or you can relax on the outdoor wooden swing or hammocks. ~ Fridge, coffee maker, and wine bottle opener. ~ New flat-screen t.v.'s ~ Cool fountains. ~ Free Wi-Fi ~ The Staff were all nice and helpful. I've stayed here twice: Once in 2009 in a RENOVATED room #30 (Fanny Osborne), and just recently in a NON-renovated room #33 (John Fremont). Although the John Fremont seemed a bit out-dated, it simply suited our needs. But if you really want a full relaxing experience, choose a room like the Fanny Osborne. 3.5 stars, but I'll be generous with a 4th. Like I said, this places isn't perfect, but it's suitable. My pup enjoyed it, and we'll be back again someday. read more

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Definitely don't recommend this place during the rain. My wife and I went with a couple of friends and room ended up getting flooded! I was debating on leaving a review but after speaking to them, I had to. All I asked for was a discount but instead they insulted me with $25 discount. We had over $500 in damaged shoes because the water raised about 4 inches into the room. I stayed there before but never again. read more

The front of this hotel looks like a regular motel but the real treasure is the two acres of gardens and cottages laying behind it. I booked this online and they usually have deals going on if you book in advance. It's easy enough to get to and everyone we talked to at the front desk was so friendly. There is parking out front and at every cottage. Our cottage had a fireplace, a whirlpool tub (huge but the jets sadly did not work), and a backyard. The bed was also very comfortable. In the little yard there is a table which would have been great for enjoying breakfast outside but sadly we woke up too late (checkout at 11) to enjoy it before heading out. However, the fireplace and tub were amazing and the whole area was so relaxing. Next time we would like to walk around the gardens more and enjoy the outdoor space. We will definitely be back as we loved our short stay here! There is also a bunch of restaurants and stores nearby if you need to grab snacks or want to head out to dinner. I recommend The Barnyard area which is so cute! read more

Carmel River Inn - Front of our cottage - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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