My boyfriend and I can't rave enough about this boutique hotel, it reminds us of a European inn, with all the charm, comfort and service they can provide. It's so nice to be out in town and to come back to the hotel and the relaxing Zen decor, the soft sheets and bed and the languid palms and landscaping around the grounds. We love the conveniences and small things that end up from big like cookies upon check in and coffee and continental breakfast upon waking, that can be arranged at the desk. Overall, it's just a classy place with just the right amount of hands on service and right amount of privacy and independence. We've stayed at other places in town, including the Mission Ranch but we decided we prefer Tradewinds overall the others. read more

Unfortunately what could have been a truly memorable visit to Carmel, ended in disappointment. The hotel itself is lovely, albeit hot (at least during the second week of August). There is no air-conditioning, and while I'm sure the weather is pleasant enough during most of the year, this particular stay was uncomfortable. That said, the location, amenities, and décor were very nice. They also provide a nice organic breakfast which is included. Unfortunately, we needed to checkout one day ahead of schedule do a situation at home with one of our kids, and required us to fly home sooner than we had planned. I'm sure most can relate to this situation. We asked if we could check out early, and without penalty. At first the desk service person said she didn't think so, but would ask. We then received a call to our room telling us that they understood and would issue a credit. She explained that she herself could not, but as soon as the next shift came in, it would be done. The afternoon office attendant knew how to process the credit. Also, we were asked to vacate the room before 9:00am so that they could place another guest in the room. Apparently rom number 1, is popular, as it does have one of the best views. The credit was never issued, and after weeks of being told they would look into it, we finally communicated with a corporate representative who stated that there would not be a credit issued, and that the front desk person/office attendant, did not have the authority to give anyone a credit. While we can most certainly appreciate a hotel cancellation policy, were were promised a credit as a kind gesture by a representative of the hotel, then asked to vacate immediately. This is poor customer service and not good for repeat business. read more

We stayed here in early May for the first time during the Covid 19 epidemic. We really needed a night off from the teenagers at home so we booked a night. W hen we arrived we were welcomed so warmly by Lisa. She is so very pleasant and gave us great hospitality during our stay. In addition, she also gave us a great incentive to stay one more evening while we were there. Needless to say, the room, the grounds, and the pet policy are fabulous as her. We would highly recommend this as a great stay while in Carmel. read more

You can hear EVERYTHING at this "luxury" hotel. Every. Single. Thing. Especially if the unit above yours is occupied. You'll hear when folks are showering, flushing the toilet, their bedside chats, when they're making love. Everything. Having the tv on helps a little, but won't overpower the noise of folks walking around (inside and outside)/the beds creaking. This isn't an issue of noisy tenants. I honestly think that folks were just living, as they should, in their space. It feels like a structural issue that makes me concerned that the building isn't up to code. It's way worse than having the first floor unit in your first apartment. We called to see if we could move rooms, and nothing was available. They couldn't accommodate late check out (would've been a compromise given how poorly we slept). The worse is that the folks running the place are completely aware that this is an issue (see other reviews - I regret not checking comments before booking) and do absolutely nothing to help improve it/compensate for it. So if you're looking for a place to rest/enjoy yourself, this is DEFINITELY not it. There are so many other places worth the money. Here, it just feels like a scam. It's a nicely branded motel. I truly hope they have plans to improve the structural/sound issue. If it wasn't for the noise, my rating would've been much higher. (Keep in mind that this establishment is not modernized in any way - the thermostat is from the 70s and there's no AC. Adds to the charm. At least the outdoor spaces are beautiful.) Good luck! read more

The Tradewinds has a wonderful writer who apologizes for the inadequacies of the hotel, but nothing seems to change! We had a reservation for 3 nites at the Tradewinds last week for my husband who has a horrible unbendable knee....We reserved what they called a handicap room and "it has a handcapped parking space right in front of the room". That sounded great except in the room there was zero in the room for an ADA room. The toilet did not meet ADA standards, the height of the bed could not have been rated as appropriate for one with disabilities. And the SHOWER was a tub with a ledge that they expected a person with disabilities to crawl over. As much public awareness that has been brought to the public, you would thing that someone in the hospitality industry would know right from wrong. This was just wrong. They moved us for two nites to another room; however,but it was going to be occupied the 3rd nite, so we left after a 2 nite stay. Other than nice, disabled or not, I find this Inn just plain old, vintage thermostat, toilets that are so low to the floor....like from the 70's., a 30" shower that had old plumbing that used up water that Californian's who are socially responsible, should not be wasting. We did not have an issue with trampling over head from the rom above us because it was unoccupied! The best part was their charming basket of breakfast goodies. The Inn is making money but putting nothing back into the facility. I would not stay here again nor would I recommend it. Thre are many better places for the same amount of money in Carmel. Read the negative reviews. If I had, we wouldn't have stayed here! read more

Tradewinds Carmel - Tiny shower - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

Worth it for the location alone. But the rooms are very nice. Stay in a King room, and get the end of a corridor, as far away from the stairs as possible. You WILL get sounds overhead, but in my experience anyway they were not that intrusive. I loved the spacious bathroom. Water in the room is $5 but if you walk a few blocks there are MANY places to purchase bottled water and such. The people are very friendly. read more

Overall I loved the look of Tradewinds, but the experience needs a lot of improvement. The courtyard and decor within the rooms look great and is definitely unique within Carmel, but those alone don't justify the price ($300+) of a night here. There is absolutely zero sound proofing between floors. Do not ignore the complaints about this. You can hear everything (everything) the guests above you are doing. Every step sounds like they're stomping and any shift in furniture sounds like someone is scraping the ceiling. There is no a/c, which is extremely odd considering Carmel can get very hot, and instead you're given a super cheap tiny fan that barely does anything. Few minor gripes: - there is no late checkout. Best they can do is 11:30. Regular checkout is 11 - the office closes at 10pm, but the business is advertised as 24hrs read more

Very Beautiful grounds and well presented room although the noise from the neighbors above absolutely ruined the experience. I get that there is not much which can be done for thin walls/ceilings so I only mentioned this when checking out and they were very apologetic which was nice. I also mentioned that we used the bottle of water in the room marked as $5 and asked if that could be left off the list of charges as I believe when you spend a thousand dollars on a room, a bottle of water could be provided without cost. I was really hoping for a high class experience but this fell short. read more

The property and guest room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. The daily organic breakfast delivered to your door is just okay, with the exception of poor quality cut fruit, room temperature yogurt and coffee that wasn't hot. Our balcony faced directly into a bush of high trees with no actual view of anything. The flat screen TV was unexpectedly small in size. The old-style furniture is a bit too large for the room size. The bathroom shower head and mechanism was simply useless. Warning: Be careful if you walk around your guest room barefoot. I hit my pinky toe on the bed's front leg and a few weeks later it still hurts, however it is slowly healing. My X-ray revealed it has a possible small fracture. Also, be prepared the property sits on the higher part of a very hilly street. read more

We checked in last night for our 5 year anniversary and at first everything seemed decent. The room was a little older looking than we expected, and didn't look like the photos that were posted. After about 10 minutes we saw a massive spider over the headboard of the king bed. The spider was the size of a dollar coin, it was black which is already terrifying and had to of been the biggest spider i have ever seen. We went down to the front office to see if they could have someone come remove it and were told to "just kill it" ourselves. after killing it ourselves we asked for another room but were told that there we no other rooms available. We then proceeded to ask for a refund since we were no longer comfortable staying, we were then told they did have a room on the first floor all of a sudden but it was a downgrade from the ocean view room we had originally gotten for our anniversary. We again asked for a refund but were once again told they did another ANOTHER room that was bigger than the one we had originally gotten, but at that point we felt lied to since we were literally just told there was no other rooms available from the start.. none of it really made sense. Because we had our pets with us we genuinely no longer wanted to stay because the rooms clearly weren't cleaned thoroughly enough, hence the spider and we didn't want us nor our dogs to get bit. If there's a spider that size in a room chances are there are more. We checked out the larger room and decided it just wasn't worth it after what had happened. It was about safety. The lady at the front desk refused to give me a refund and then after my wife spoke to her she only gave us half of it back. Not only did we have to deal with the spider ourselves we were also told "spiders are everywhere" as if to say get over it. The front desk was extremely rude and seemed annoyed to the point where she lied about no more rooms being available from the very beginning. My wife had to insist that she call her manager in front of her because she just kept lying to us until we became very pushy. She continued to make remarks throughout the processes of us being refunded only half of what we paid for a room we didn't even under up staying in. I'm extremely disappointed in the way this was handled. I get it was just a spider but no one would want to sleep there after that. I've post photos of the spider after we had to kill it. Keep in mind this is after it was dead next to the quarter. it doubles in size alive. Never going back to this hotel and is definitely not worth the 600$ we paid. We ended up at the Clement in Monterey and got a cheaper room for a way nicer stay. The front desk even at the Clement said that they get a lot of people who complain about the Tradewinds and end up here. So just a warning! Make with it what you want but definitely not worth it at all. Way nicer hotels to spend the night in than this one with way nicer staff. read more

Tradewinds Carmel - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

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Friendly, clean, well located... We enjoyed our visit, would give the hotel a 3.5 if we could do half ratings. The room was well appointed. THE fireplace and lighting were awesome. The couple of items that could use improvement: First: COVID is over. Get rid of the BS associated with this. The rooms SHOULD be cleaned and towels restocked. STOP using COVID as an excuse. This is annoying... Second: It is nice to have breakfast... appreciate this. However, you went halfway here. Instant oatmeal w lukewarm water? Cold bagels and croissants? Please- consider giving a full pot o coffee... This is really it. We would consider staying here again, although choices are fairly abundant at nearly $400 per nt. read more

Absolutely stunning location. The grounds and the room are top notch. We were so excited when we arrived. We were quickly disappointed however as we soon realized that you can hear the people upstairs walking, stomping actually, all night. Along with the people outside, next door, pretty much just be ready to not sleep at all or be able to relax. Super bummed. read more

Great location and clean. Please be aware that if you book a lower level room, you will hear the people above you. While they accommodated a move to another room, you could still hear the person above us walking around. It was not a restful stay. read more

We enjoyed a two night getaway at Tradewinds in Carmel. They were very accommodating and easy to communicate with. It's also quiet, but close to the shops downtown and the beach. Highly recommend Tradewinds!! read more

The softest beds and comforters! Very cute. Located in a neighborhood which was strange, but nice to be walking distance to shops and restaurants. Limited parking on-site but plenty of street parking. Loved the restful decor and the free breakfast delivered to the room was excellent! read more

SECURITY ALERT: There is no swing bolt, latch, deadbolt or lock on the inside of Guest Room Door (see photos). This should be your first red flag that this is not a good hotel. This hotel is not close to the beach. There are better and more affordable hotels that are two blocks from the beach. The accomodations are filled with old, damaged and tired furnishings. Tradewinds staff and manager offer guests an attitude of indifference that is a contradiction to the word hospitality. The "zen" ambiance of flowing water had the water flow valve set incorrectly. That instead of soothing sounds of water, it sounds like a toilet running!!! "A Tiffany's Box that has nothing inside is just an Empty Box" That is the Tradewinds. Save your money, keep yourself and loved ones Safe, and Protect the memories you wish to make in Carmel by staying someplace truly wonderful where you are treated with care and your special occasions are treated with importance as they are important to you. Tradewinds makes no apologies that their priority is not Guest's care, needs, and safety. Look at the pictures to see for yourself this is not worth their room rates and poor guest service. The One Star is because Yelp required a "star". read more

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We had a little bit of trouble finding the place with the lack of visible street signs and hilly/small roads, but we were thought it was cute as we drove into their little lot. At first I do agree with the other reviews that it did remind me of a more classy motel, but something about it felt different to me. We parked our car and came in more then 4/5 hours before check-in time, but just wanted to either see if the room was ready or grab our tickets to the aquarium which were part of our package. We walked into the lobby area and it looked so cozy. They had some fresh cookies, beautiful decor, and it was all just so well kept. My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 2 year anniversary here and got the romance package. There was a woman that came out of the back area, which I must say had a bit of an attitude on her. She told us that our room was not ready yet in a rude tone, but she gave us our certificate for our dinner and tickets to the aquarium. Something we didn't realize was that the tickets were good for 2 days, which is great but we didn't have time to go twice ... but I wish we did -- Oh well, that's a whole 'nother review ;). After we got back to the hotel from the aquarium, it was around 6pm and we went back into the lobby. It was different woman from last time that helped us, which was a whole lot kinder, and she quickly got us checked-in. She told us that she upgraded our room for our special occasion and summoned a Bell Boy to help us with our things. We grabbed our things from our car and headed up the flights of steps. I loved how the steps even stayed in theme with the entire place. We got to the room and the Bell Boy opened the door, placed a beautiful orchid on pretty vase by the door, and began to close the blinds for us as it was dark outside -- but as he was doing so he explained to us that he had opened them earlier since he wanted us to see the beautiful sunset view from our room ... how thoughtful of him. He also had the cute little fountain going, and started the fireplace for us as well. Let me say that when we walked into the room we were absolutely blown away. We loved loved loved loved x100000 it! The large patio, beautiful tiling on the floors, jacuzzi, fountain, decor, high ceilings, fireplace, and the list can just go on and on ... but the view, oh man that view, really took the cake. Since we got the romance package we got the breakfast in bed, which was a fruit salad with a bagel and cream cheese, yogurt, and a drink. If you were still hungry though you could always make your way downstairs where they had little bit more options, but you can grab as much as you please. We woke up early and just sat on that patio enjoying every inch of our view, and enjoying our breakfast. We left Tradewinds extremely satisfied. We LOVED that we got the romance package and was able to get dinner at a very nice restaurant, got some amazing massages, breakfast in bed, a beautiful room, and enjoyed the entire hotel as a whole (i.e. the mini-garden, so beautiful!). Although we did receive a little snotty service from the one woman at the beginning, after that it was smooth sailing. We would definitely go back, and recommended this place to friends. We had such an amazing experience! Keep up the fantastic work! read more

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Like another reviewer, we were brought here by Hotel Tonight. We have been coming to Carmel nearly 15 years and I honestly didn't know it existed. It was a great find. The location is in a quiet area of town that is a short walk to Ocean Ave, restaurants, etc. The appearance of Tradewinds Carmel is clean, fresh and inviting. Staff is very friendly and accommodating. The room was perfectly relaxing and comfortable. It felt upscale, calming and cozy. The fountain inside the room was lovely to listen to while taking it easy. The bathroom is large, nicely appointed and has a great shower. Never in Carmel have I stayed somewhere with actual strong water pressure - this in itself is a reason to come back. The bed was soft and luxuriously appointed for a great night's sleep. We did not take advantage of the complimentary breakfast and chose to sleep in - or try. That's the one nit I have to pick. Our room was located on the bottom floor in the central front area, which is near the breakfast room. We got to hear everyone clamoring in for breakfast early in the morning and being loud while doing it. The upstairs neighbor could also be clearly heard walking to and fro in the room. I will stay again, but next time far away from the breakfast room and on a top floor. The property is large, has ample parking and offers some nice spots to relax, such as the fire pit and zen garden with waterfall. read more

Stayed at this zen spot for our weekend getaway post our nuptials in San Francisco. Tradewinds Carmel is conveniently located in the heart of Carmel by the Sea - 3 minute walk to the village. The staff was very personable and accommodating, helpful with making dinner reservations for us. Highly recommend Andrees Bouchee and Cassanova We stayed in room #3, which was one the 1st floor surrounded by lush greenery. When we entered the room there were complimentary chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us - delicious! The decor of the hotel and the room reminded me of a tranquil getaway somewhere in Bali or Thailand... Our room featured a cute little bamboo fountain in the hallway, beautiful gas fireplace, a balcony (even though with the view to the street), luxurious bed linens, seating area, beautiful zen decor. I particularly enjoyed the downtempo sounds that were playing in our room provided by the hotel; the music was on the replay every day! The bathroom had a jet tub and a separate glass shower. Overall, it was an amazingly relaxing and enjoyable stay. The reason for -1 star is because the walls are a bit too thin, we could hear our upstairs neighbors walking and talking in the room. (thankfully they were NOT honeymooning ;-) ) read more

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I was very pleased with the room -- had a king room with no view (but we didn't pay for one either). The bedding is AMAZING -- the sheets and quality of the mattress -- plus towels were first rate. i love that they have dispensers of shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and lotion instead of the wasteful small bottles. The courtyard was cute. It's in a great location to walk into town without having to use your car. The breakfast delivered in the morning was a nice touch! Unfortunately the MAJOR drawback for us was when the staff arrived at 6:00 AM -- our room (#10) was right above -- you could hear them walking back and forth and back and forth CONSTANTLY!! Would not have been an issue if they actually wore shoes with soft soles instead of hard soles! When we checked out I noticed the front desk woman was indeed wearing hard sole shoes!!!! I'm on vacation and would love to be able sleep past 6:00 am!!!! VERY ANNOYING! Plus the hotel was NOT full so they could have put us in a room that was away from the front desk area! read more

My mom decided to celebrate her 80th birthday with a visit to Carmel. Carmel Valley Ranch, her first choice, was booked, which proved to be serendipitous because, with some research, I found us a great place to stay--Tradewinds Carmel--that enabled us to get to our destinations around town with ease. Mom booked two adjoining rooms (one with a king-sized bed for her and another with two doubles for me and my sister). Each room had a small outdoor balcony. The beds were firm and comfortable. There was an inviting deep tub and walk-in shower in the bathroom. Tradewinds' aesthetic is one of understated elegance informed by a Japanese vibe (read: bamboo is staple element of the decor). It's really lovely. The exterior features a fire pit and the hotel's architecture and landscaping lends the area a sense of serenity--and isn't the point of getting away? Breakfast was included and featured yogurts; cereals and granola; an array of fruit; bagels, breads, and pastries; and quiche. Much better than your standard continental (i.e., spartan) breakfast There were cookies in the lobby too. The staff was friendly and helpful and ensured we felt cared for. Tradewinds Carmel is within a short 12-minute or so walk to the glorious beach. It's easy to walk to the many restaurants and other amenities in town. The three of us very much enjoyed our experience at Tradewinds. read more

This is a wonderful hotel! We stayed for only one night, in a regular room, and it was absolutely amazing. The hotel has beautiful grounds, cozy comfortable rooms, and has an overall zen feel to it. The breakfast is included and has a variety of perfectly ripe fruit, cereal, and some kind of special (like quiche). The check in and out was easy and smooth, and the people who work here are amazing! It is difficult to find parking, but the concierge was very helpful. The rooms can be slightly loud, but we had no problem later in the night (after 9:30) Carmel is beautiful, and this hotel made the stay here even better! read more

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We needed a four day COVID-19 getaway and Tradewinds was the perfect place. It's cozy, peaceful, clean, tranquil and quiet. From the moment we checked in I felt very relaxed. The Asian themed courtyard has tranquil flowing fountains which are naturally soothing. We did pay a lot for room 27, the Serenity Suite but it was worth it. We had a nice view of Point Lobos and Carmel River Beach in the distance from both of our balconies. The king bed has a firm Tempurpedic type mattress and there's a romantic gas fireplace in the bedroom. The large two part bathroom off the bedroom has a closet with safe, storage cabinet with drawers, a makeup vanity, a sink, a shower and a spa jacuzzi tub. The living area has a pullout queen sofa bed which we did not use as a bed. Theres two large comfortable padded chairs, a coffee table, a mini fridge, coffee maker, cabinets for food supplies and a large flat screen TV. There's also a convenient second half bathroom right as you enter the room. This room would be comfortable for stays of a week or more. I can attest to how quiet the room is after walking outside and hearing the many seagulls loudly cruising around during the day. Our only complaint was the cushions on the sofa bed were constantly sliding off and had to be pushed back up into place. We felt like we were sliding onto the floor. We would definitely return to Tradewinds Carmel. read more

Very cute boutique hotel. Lovely grounds and a lot of thought put into the rooms for that zen feeling. Conveniently located short walk to restaurants and a few blocks from the beach. read more

We chose a Lark hotel because we enjoyed our stay in The Nathaniel Lord Mansion in Maine this past summer. The Tradewinds Carmel had none of the charm and few of the amenities of the Maine property. The worst part of our stay was what sounded like an elephant herd in the room above ours. My guess is that while renovating this 1950s-era structure, corners were cut when it came to soundproofing. The insulation between floors and walls is still vintage 1950. Not only do you hear every human footstep and conversation, because they are dog friendly, we got to listen to an additional 4 legs trotting around. You'll also know immediately when your neighbors are showering or using the whirlpool tub because it sounds like it's in your room. So, if you like to sleep while on vacation, STAY ON THE TOP FLOOR! I mentioned the excessive noise to the desk person and she said "I'm sorry" but nothing was done in the way of trying to make things right (aka customer retention.) The location is good, fireplace was nice but we've stayed in Motel 6s that were quieter and it's certainly NOT worth the $$$. You'll see by the hotel's response to the noise complaints (below) that it's just "lip service", but at least they do respond. read more

Recommend looking elsewhere to stay. Not NCGA affiliated. Tried it once and won't be back. Many other options in beautiful location to pursue. read more

Clean and very friendly staff. Super dog friendly. Tucked in a quiet are but walking distance to all the shops restaurant and beach in Carmel by the sea. Would stay here again read more

My Wife and I took our Honeymoon last week and decided that we wanted to stay at a romantic Bed and Breakfast while on our Honeymoon last Tuesday (September 20, 2016). Our stay at this Bed and Breakfast was one of the worst experiences we have ever had. There were many issues during our stay and please be advised from choosing this property. The first issue had to deal with the temperature at the room. When we booked this Bed and Breakfast little did we know that there would be no air conditioning. We simply could not cool our room down. We left the slider door to the balcony partially open and had to leave the box fan on the ironing board to get some airflow in our room. But, this didn't help much. What resulted was a great deal of noise from garbage trucks and horns being honked shortly after 6am. It was very disruptive and we hardly got any sleep. (We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, which was 10 minutes away on Monday night, which was well worth the money for less than half the price of this Bed and Breakfast.) As we prepared to check out on Wednesday morning, we found a pair of dirty boxers from a previous guest by the headboard on the right side of the bed. If something like this was missed, it makes you wonder what else wasn't cleaned in our room My Wife called down immediately and spoke with Valerie, who said she would leave a message for the Manager. After several hours of not hearing from anyone, my Wife tried calling back again. This time, she reached the Manager who just kept articulating that no places in Carmel had air conditioning (which wasn't accurate since we confirmed with a local Hyatt property that they had air conditioning.) But, the bigger issue was the boxers. We paid over $400 for this room and never imagined this being a part of our stay. This has soured our experience and it is the only thing we will remember Carmel for, primarily because of her response. In sales you are always taught to treat issues with care and because your manager did not, we will never return to your property. When we mentioned writing a review, the Manager did not seem concerned at all. As newlyweds, we sincerely hope that this is not the treatment that all of the guests receive. We articulated all of this in an e-mail to the owner Susan Stilwell on Wednesday (September 21, 2016) and have yet to hear back from her as well almost a month later now. The fact that the Manager and the Owner could care less about an experience like this is very disconcerting. We certainly hope that others won't have to suffer through an experience like we did, especially on our Honeymoon. read more

Tradewinds Carmel - Dirty boxers found next to the headboard of our bed during our stay. - Hotels Near Me - Carmel, California

This is the place to stay if you ever visit Carmel. The hotel is tucked away off the main street, meaning quiet and a nice getaway. It is walking distance from all the shops, restaurants, and beach. The staff is incredibly friendly and you can truly tell that they care about what they do and how their hotel is presented. The rooms are beautifully decorated and spacious where you feel transported to a tropical oasis. I will always come back and stay here. read more

Ah Carmel. So quaint, so charming, so predictable. Yeah, I said it. Carmel, I get it. You're the perfect respite for wealthy wanderers and rich retirees. You're not exactly the ideal location for travelers who prefer embarking upon those off the beaten path adventures. No no. Thankfully, our stay at Tradewinds proved to be money well spent. We stayed in room 20, the room featured in Architectural Digest and also the hotel's website. Complete with a fireplace, bathtub, balcony, ocean views, chocolate covered strawberries, a fluffy king sized bed, and mood music, this stay was among the best. I mean, seriously, what's not to like? Everytime we'd venture out to explore the city, we'd end up synchronizing thoughts and wondering why we weren't just splurging in our hotel room. Absolutely gorgeous with hints of Thai decor! Pack food and never leave this room. read more

I swear I'm not normally this picky, but this was my first and last stay at a boutique upscale hotel. I suppose I'd be more generous too, if I hadn't planned our first wedding anniversary at Tradewinds, New Year's Eve. We're middle-class folks. Solidly. Maybe this isn't a big deal in Carmel where the median income is so high, but when I drop $500+ on a romance package, I can't help but expect a lot. Lord knows I drop that kind of money on two things: mortgage payments and car repairs. After all of the fabulous yelp attention the business received, I was sure this was the place for us. I called about a month in advance and booked with the owner. She was very friendly and helpful. She even said she'd upgrade us to an ocean view suite since it was our first anniversary. The package included a couples massage, king bed, $75 toward dinner at one of 3 restaurants, and breakfast in bed the next day. I did some research and chose "Da Giovanni" for our romantic NYE dinner, as the other two choices were more casual and generally not our style. The owner called me later to confirm we were booked for dinner. On to our arrival: We're welcomed by a friendly kitty and a plate of cookies. We're shown to our room. Let's just say it felt far from "deluxe". Lounging robes were available to us, and the products in the bathroom were all Aveda, cool! Nice accent touches, art, and other thoughtful decor in eastern styles...but it definitely just felt like a fancied up regular hotel room, not a high end suite. On top of that, since we're on the bottom floor, with no ocean view, we get the pleasure of our upstairs neighbors STOMPING around all night. Far from romantic. I went up front to ask if anything could be done and right in front of me were a couple who were checking out early and getting a refund on their booking on account of the noisy upstairs folks. Realizing that I would be given the same option of "put up or shut up" I just politely explained to the lady at the desk about our anniversary and that we had hoped for a nicer room. She told us she was all booked, and that there was nothing she could do. I realize you can't help who your hotel neighbors are sometimes, but the sheer unapologetic nature of it made us feel like we were really just a bottom line rather than valued guests. Meanwhile, dinner rolls around and we walk into town. Upon our arrival we're told that there's no reservation under our name and that we have to come back in 2 hours if we want to eat there. We walk back to the hotel. Once again, rather unapologetically, the desk lady seems to just act like it ain't no thing and tries to steer us to the other restaurant options in the package that we'd previously decided against. Right. Normally we'd just roll with it, but I wanted our anniversary to be free of easily avoidable snags like this. Finally, after about 10 minutes of flipping through menu books wondering if anyone will take us in last-minute, the woman offers to call the restaurant and "pull some strings" with the owner. They somehow squeezed us in and we walked back down into town for our dinner. Breakfast in bed was...a bagel with cream cheese, a glass of orange juice, and some yogurt and fruit salad. Again, maybe my expectations were too high. I will admit that the massage was great and refreshing, but when I think couples massage I usually imagine them happening at the same time. Instead we had to wait our turn. Again, lots of little disappointments scattered throughout the stay. Instead of being able to focus on each other we were dealing with little frustrations like this the whole time. Ultimately the room and dinner mess-up was fine, these things happen. It was the completely cool and unapologetic nature of the staff who seemed indifferent to our experience that really soured us on the visit. While we laugh about it now, it was all kind of a disappointing way to blow half a grand. read more

Stayed here during our weekend road trip to Carmel October 26th-27th, 2013. Here's what I found: Upscale. Tranquility. We arrived early and were originally booked in room 10, but upgraded to room 7 with a partial view of the ocean. While waiting for our room to be prepared, we walked to the beach and along the way, took in the sights of the charming city of Carmel. Upon our return to Tradewinds Carmel , I was presented with a flower by staff and we were shown room 7. Complimentary chocolates bedside and chocolate dipped strawberries presented on a plate drizzled in chocolate and garnished with a flower also awaited us upon entering. After seeing the photos posted on yelp, I had an idea of the elegance that awaited us once we were escorted to our room, but it wasn't until the door was opened that it fully hit me. Everything about our room was perfect. The bathroom was impressive with a jacuzzi tub and separate shower. The bed was noticeably clean and smelled of fresh linens. The window coverings were dark and heavy and when closed, they kept out all outside light. Needless to say, we easily slept in late. read more

I'm asian and I like asian things. This was definitely a luxury hotel with all the perks with an Asian feel. Yes it is a bit on the pricey side ($300 a night) considering there are no hotel amenities like a pool or gym---you've just got your room and a complimentary breakfast. The grounds of the hotel are beautiful. There's a small area with a table and a fire pit. There's also a small buddha shrine with various fountains surrounding the area. It was lovely hearing the fountains while we were in our room. Very peaceful and serene. The room was decorated to my tastes--asian! There were kimono robes in the room and fuzzy slippers. There was a huge spa tub big enough for two+ and Aveda toiletries. We had a cozy featherbed with super soft cotton sheets and down pillows and comforter. I really loved how everything felt clean and new. I can't stand hotel rooms that feel "used" or "dirty". I felt completely at home here. Bonuses were the chocolate dipped strawberries, free trail mixes which came in handy when we had our adventures driving around Monterrey. I took advantage of the free cookies in the lobby every time we came and went from the hotel. The clerk was super cool and so was the cat that hung out inside. Free wireless Internet was helpful when we were planning our outings. The Tradewinds was also walking distance to everything in Carmel. Just a short walk which we needed after all the eating we did. The complimentary breakfast was one of the better ones I've had. All in all I would recommend this place to anyone. Basically whenever I am booking accommodations the Tradewinds has set the standard! read more

Zen-tastic! By chance, my husband found Tradewinds while walking the dog. We had stayed overnight in another place (I'd rather not say where but it was below normal standards) and I was "itching" to check out. We took a quick thorough tour of the available room (king bed with spa tub and fireplace), and we knew this is how we wanted to start our vacation. What's not to like: the modern zen decor, all the nice touches in our room, the delicious breakfast, a beautiful garden/courtyard, a short walk to the best restaurants and shops, far enough from the hubbub of tourist traffic and noisy seagulls. We (including our pet) are clean freaks and it was so nice to have bright fresh linens (virtually new), a very comfortable king-sized bed and clean cabinets for our clothing. I'll have to say even the carpet was as spotless and scent-free. The in-room safe, kimonos, chocolate covered strawberries and Aveda bath amenities gets my vote. For the midweek rate, it was very reasonable, the service impeccable and the staff non-intrusive. We will certainly be back! read more

The Tradewinds is a charming inn with an Asian motif that was once featured in Architectural Digest for its renovation and reinvention of itself. I'd like to give Tradewinds 4 stars for its aesthetic. If someone gives you a gift certificate you will definitely enjoy your stay. However, in my book, it's a bit expensive for what you get. Plus: Comfy bed and sheets Spunky decor Courtyard with fire pit and bubbling fountain/brook Cons: Expensive (but I guess so is all of Carmel) Carmel is an expensive place to visit. The least expensive way to see Carmel is to take a day trip. Therefore, I suppose, I should be more accepting of how much it costs to stay at the Tradewinds. The room at Tradewinds in similar in price to the cheaper rooms at Auberge and La Playa. I'd prefer to try one of those hotels if I visit Carmel again. Why? Mainly because although the staff at Tradewinds is gracious there are only a few customer facing staff. I suppose it works because it's a small property with only twenty some rooms. I guess that's not much different than a bed and breakfast or inn. B&B's as nice as Tradewinds probably charge about the same. However, I kept thinking how much I would love the property if it only cost me $200. If I visit Carmel again, I think I'll try to get a room for a similar price as what I paid at Auberge or La Playa instead. read more

On a clear day you can see forever. In honour of Valentine's Day, I'm writing a review for the lovers. Nothing says I love you like hotel jaunts, and a few months back I was swept away by Tradewinds Carmel. Tradewinds is the cutest little Hawaiian inspired hotel, and if you're visiting Carmel I highly recommend it. The rooms are equipped with huge bathtubs, floral cotton robes, crazy cozy beds, in-room fountains and massive wooden black-out blinds for letting air in and keeping light out. The property has a communal fire pit, which is a lovely place to sit with some wine and snacks and listen to the ocean. I fucking love love. PEPPER PROPS: Stunning top floor rooms. Views stretch all the way to pebble beach. read more

LOL. I too realized I had an old review in drafts. This is from June 2009. Service makes or breaks an establishment, be it restaurant, hotel, or grocery store. I don't care how good the food is or how soft the beds are -- if the service is subpar, I won't be back. But I will forgive flaws if they are addressed quickly & with a smile. The service here is fantastic. When I initially called, I had a lot of questions. I have been visiting Carmel on day trips for well over 20 years, but had not spent the night in the area since I was a child. There are no Four Seasons or the like in Carmel, so picking the right hotel can be a challenge under ordinary circumstances, and my circumstances were not ordinary. This was a gift & we would be travelling with dogs. I wanted a hotel that accepted dogs, but that did not look (or smell) like it accepted dogs. I also wanted a suite with an ocean view and great service. When I called Tradewinds, I spent a lot of time on the phone with the front-desk receptionist, who was extremely gracious. She told me the Serenity suite had an ocean view (really, it is just a partial view), but they did not allow dogs in that room. However, she made an exception. A+! Tradewinds is an old motel that has recently undergone a major renovation. When I say "motel" I don't mean Motel 6. I mean one of those old-time, hip, luxury motels that were more common in the 1950s. The kind of place were you could imagine seeing someone like Bing Crosby hanging out by the pool. (Bing Crosby actually used to stay here back in the day). This property was never a dive and it is not a dive now. Yes, the property looks like a motel (because it is a motel); but the grounds really are lovely and peaceful. The promo. shots come in a bit close & are designed to make the property look higher-end than it is (which is a shame because it sets expectations to high in my opinion), however, the Asian-inspired garden is beautiful. I also appreciated the bamboo balconies, which appear to have been left over from the good-old days. Bing would have been pleased. I like that Tradewinds is not in the heart of town. The walk to town is short and beautiful & it exposed us to restaurants and stores we would not have seen if we had stayed closer to Ocean Avenue. Also, the room rate includes a dedicated parking spot, which is a big plus. We did not move our car for four days. Serenity suite is a very spacious, two-room suite with high ceilings, two, small, private balconies, a large master bath w/ separate, jetted tub & separate dressing area, and a half bath. There is a fireplace in the bedroom & small sink & cooler in the living room. The decor is soothing, but it is not the Asian-inspired decor depicted in promo pictures. On the down side, it showed wear and the tvs & phones are old. No plasmas or cordless in a $475/night room. The view is nice but very partial ocean. I wanted luxury & the Serenity suite didn't deliver on that, but it was a very nice room. Re service, everything I needed was taken care of without pretense. No staff in fancy uniforms trying to call you by name (massacring it in the process) when you dial the front desk; just low-key, unobtrusive great service, where things get done in a friendly manner, without pretense. Room service did not bang on the door at 8:30, which happens even at the nicest hotels. Nothing pisses me off more than hearing "BANG BANG BANG . . . HOUSE KEEPING." when I am trying to sleep. If you decide to visit Tradewinds, make sure to tell them you do not want a room on the bottom floor. Most of the top floor rooms have high ceilings, while the bottom floor rooms do not. Also, the wing of rooms across from rooms No. 6/7 do not seem to have balconies and are dark. I would avoid that entire wing. read more

We love the Tradewinds and had such an amazing experience. My husband booked this as a surprise for our one year wedding anniversary and upon arrival, we were treated like royalty. Pros: Close to Town (aka everything!) Free Breakfast ( with the freshest fruit ever! Yum!) Nice, Friendly Staff Plenty of Parking Dog Friendly Great Perks (we got a discount at a few restaurants when the Tradewinds staff made the reservation for us). The Fire Pit in the patio area THE ROBES!!! Oh my, the robes. I am sad that I left there without purchasing one as I can't imagine life without the comfort of that awesome robe! Cons: NONE It may depend on the time of year you go, but we didn't hear a single other person. In fact, we often commented how quiet it was and how secluded we felt (which is great when you want to relax). read more

Anyplace that has Aveda products in the bathroom definitely gets a top rating from me!!! We booked this place on our drive down from San Fran to LA. We had Toby the dog with us and needed a place that allowed dogs. This is no normal "pet friendly" hotel. It is usually kinda pricy but we somehow got a great deal .... we used our AAA card and about 5 minutes after we booked (at a discounted rate) the hotel called us back and said since we were staying there for the first time that they would knock some more money off! The design is very boutique like and I loved it. Huge comfy bed, nice big bathroom with shower and tub, fireplace, wet bar. Oh....did I mention when you walk in there are some fresh chocolate covered strawberries waiting for you along with some free pretzels and dried apricots? Nice!! When we walked in we noticed a teeny tiny snag in the comforter (not a big deal AT ALL). Since we had our dog with us we did not want to be charged for the snag so we called down to the front desk just to let them know about it. They immediately sent up a bottle of wine as an apology. This place would bend over backwards for you. We loved it here and were super sad that we could only spend one night. read more

I recently booked a 2 night stay at Tradewinds Hotel five days ago. The representative I spoke to assured me that if I changed my mind there would be a full refund as long as I canceled 3 days prior to the reservation. I was hesitant because I booked this reservation in three months in advance. I called the hotel today which was my 5th day of booking this reservation, I spoke to a gentleman, and he said he would refund me but there was going to be a $25 cancelation charge. I told him I had just booked this a few days ago but he would not refund me my 50% of the down payment, which is charged when making a reservation. This was so wrong of them to lie to their customers, it's bad business. He kept putting me on hold, but said he could not give me my whole down payment. Stay away from liars. DESPERATE FOR BUSINESS TO THE POINT OF STEELING FROM CUSTOMERS... read more