Relax Beachside at Monterey Tides Hotel
The Monterey Tides Beach Hotel is the lovely location to stay while relaxing for a weekend in Monterey. It has a prime beachside location overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It has also been used for some “Big Little Lies” TV series scenes. I had the intro song to the show stuck in my head the whole weekend, and kept turning my head thinking I might catch a glimpse of the Monterey Five. We were visiting for a bachelorette party, and this was the perfect place to relax on beaches, sip wine, and spend time at the spa.
From this hotel it’s a quick ride to Cannery Row and to downtown Carmel. There are also some great places to go for a day at the spa, like Refuge, a thermal spa experience that might call “aggressive relaxation.” That someone is my friend, because you are expected to be silent while inside the spa zone.
Monterey Tides Hotel is a bit worn on the outside from the salty sea air. The hotel was originally built in 1969, and although it was renovated in 2017, it still has a dated appearance. Even though the hotel needs a little more love, from our room you looked out over the expansive Pacific Ocean. For me personally, that can make any location 5 star quality. We could hear the sound of the waves lapping as they lulled us to sleep every night, and every morning you could smell the crisp sea air. It was quite magical being here. Looking out the window every morning made me incredibly happy.
The lobby, bar, and restaurant are quite beautiful and very affordable considering the ideal beachside location. Breakfast was about $12-15 a plate, and dinner around $22-$28.
It’s a quick jaunt to the beach from the hotel, just out the door and down the steps. We spent the late afternoons here enjoying the very lucky 80 degree weather. Usually Monterey can be really foggy and a bit chilly.
There is also a pool you can relax at, but the real views are on the coast. Unfortunately the pool was built on the backside of the hotel. My guess is they did this for cold days to block it from the ocean breeze.
It’s legal to have beach bonfires in front of the hotel. By night, it’s quite lovely being able to dig a hole in the sand and start a fire next to the ocean. During the day watch your feet as there’s a lot of ash leftover. We spent Saturday night under the dark skies chatting about life with the smell of salty sea air and camp fire, and the taste of Chardonnay.
Note: Monterey Tides has bundles of wood you can purchase at the front desk.
Closeby:
Cannery Row: This downtown area of Monterey was once a thriving sardine cannery that collapsed after World War II. It was revived from ruin in 1976 and transformed into a beautiful historical destination with shops and restaurants.
Monterey Aquarium: This aquarium is a window to marine life. It's home to sea otters, penguins, sharks, jellies and thousands of other marine animals and plants. A great place for adults and kids alike.
Downtown Carmel: This quaint little downtown has farm-to-table restaurants, art galleries, wine tasting rooms and more.
Refuge Spa: A spa is known for its thermal cycle, including hot and cold pools, saunas, and eucalyptus steam rooms. Come here for a massage or just to meditate in silence among the trees in this refuge of relaxation.
Point Lobos State National Reserve: This beautiful National Reserve is populated with rare plant communities, endangered archeological sites, unique geological formations, and incredibly rich flora and fauna of both land and sea.
I would happily stay at Monterey Tides Hotel again and explore more of what Monterey has to offer!
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