Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Following an extensive $20 million property-wide renovation, this historic property has been tastefully enhanced, all while preserving the quiet eclecticism for which the hotel is known. The renovation carefully covered all aspects of the hotel, from the welcoming lobby to the commodious corners of Bud’s bar and the luxuriously appointed guest rooms with sunfilled windows beckoning the ocean breeze. Ready to welcome a new generation of guests, the transformation is classic, richly layered, and intimate — incorporating new designs and signature components. Located just steps from the white sands of Carmel Beach and the renowned shops, art galleries, and restaurants of charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, La Playa Hotel is the cornerstone of one of California's most prestigious neighborhoods and features meticulously tended gardens, intimate patios, secluded courtyards and a tranquil outdoor swimming pool.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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La Playa Hotel garners high praise for its exceptional service, with many travelers commending the attentive staff and thoughtful amenities like the complimentary shuttle. The hotel's atmosphere is celebrated for its charming decor and cozy ambiance, while its cleanliness receives accolades for meticulous upkeep.
Though opinions on value differ, the hotel's prime location near the beach and downtown is a consistent hit. Guests love the comfortable rooms and amenities, including a sumptuous breakfast and evening treats, despite some concerns about room size and noise insulation.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Top-notch
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My husband and I just stayed here for the first time and everything about the hotel exceeded our expectations. The decor and ambiance is very cozy and relaxing. The champagne breakfast that was included every morning was by far the best hotel breakfast we've ever had and the staff is so friendly and accomodating! The bartender was persuaded to ring the bell for "Dime Time" and told us the story of how it all started. Each room is decorated with the cutest little old fashioned bar, and the bathrooms come with Le Labo bath products. Hotel location is great, very close walking distance to the beach and to town while still being enough distance away to have the quietness of the neighborhood. We discussed coming back for an annual visit because we enjoyed ourselves so much!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at La Playa. The staff was amazing. Gorgeous hotel that felt fancy but equally calm and peaceful, very low key. The afternoon sangria and evening cookies were a nice touch! The grounds of the hotel are beautiful. Easy walk to all the restaurants and shops. But most of all the staff - specifically Kathleen, were just amazing. I would highly recommend.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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We had a delightful experience at the La Playa Hotel. Our room was ready upon arrival and the desk and bell staff were very helpful. The ocean view from our room was fantastic. Open your guest room window at night to hear the waves crashing on the nearby beach. The hotel was able to shuttle our group of four to our Carmel dinner destinations each night we stayed at the hotel. We also enjoyed nightcaps at Buds Bar in the hotel each night. The hotel offers a European style breakfast in the dining room and patio including an omlette station. The grounds of the hotel are beautiful. Although our group did not use it the swimming pool is gorgeous. One area for improvement is the guest room hair dryer. Also, the hotel does not have an elevator. We will definitely stay at the La Playa Hotel when we return to Carmel.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Asuncion, Marketing at La Playa Hotel
Responded Oct 16, 2024
Dear John F, We’re thrilled that you enjoyed our location and the stunning views! It’s always a pleasure to hear that our guests appreciate the beauty and tranquility that surrounds La Playa Hotel. Thank you for sharing your positive experience. We look forward to welcoming you back to La Playa the next time you visit Carmel. Warm regards, Sara Asuncion Guest Experience Manager
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My significant other and I stayed here for our anniversary and had an amazing time. Parking was a little hard to find. It’s located behind the hotel which we found out after circling the hotel. The check in experience was great they had freshly baked cookies when we had arrived. The walk from the parking lot to the rooms was definitely not fun. Especially since we were in the top floor. Also they had no elevators which is fine since there’s only 4 floors. Besides that everything from the rooms to the complementary breakfast was amazing! The complimentary chauffeur was a great touch. The hotel had a private driver during dinner hours that would drop you off and pick you up from any restaurant within the city of Carmel. Depending on when you’re planning to visit pricing per night can reach upwards to $500 a night it’s a bit pricy but truly a great and worthwhile experience. Will definitely come again!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
La Playa is a magical place! The setting is gorgeous, the staff are warm & welcoming, and the property is incredibly lovely and unique. From the warm chocolate chip cookies each night to the placement of the temperature handle in the shower, every detail has been thoughtfully considered and it shows.
It’s so hard to achieve this level of upscale service without stuffiness, but somehow La Playa does it. It is simultaneously laidback and high class. This is perfect for us, because my husband is allergic to anything that feels snobby and I like a little luxury.
I rarely write reviews but gazing out at the ocean at breakfast this morning, I’m inspired to share. Details below.
My family and I arrived at 4pm on a Saturday afternoon and were greeted out front by staff who knew our names, took our luggage and escorted us to check in and then to our room. It was Happy Hour, so my husband and I got a welcome drink (rosé for me, sangria for him) and then the staff brought our luggage to our room. By 4:30pm my son and I were playing giant lawn chess on the beautiful grounds.
We then walked to two blocks to the beach for the most beautiful sunset and even my 14yo agreed to have their picture taken. ;) then back to the hotel for dinner at Bud’s, complete with their “dime martinis” (10 minutes every night you can buy a martini (or a beer or glass of win) for a dime! For real! But you need an actual dime). The wagu burgers for my husband and I, grilled cheese and tomato soup for the kids, and we split a molten chocolate cake. All delicious.
Wandered into town after that and explored with the hubby while the kids wanted screen time. (11 & 14, what can you do?) Then back to the hotel for a late night drink and convo on the patio by the fire.
Great night sleep. Beautiful, big garden view room with two queen beds and lots of space.
Up this morning in time to catch the sunrise on beach and then back to the patio for champagne brunch overlooking the ocean.
A truly beautiful 24 hours. This weekend La Playa became an instant classic for my family and I. We’ll be back for years to come and I can’t wait to share it with others.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Asuncion, Marketing at La Playa Hotel
Responded Jan 8, 2025
Dear Cara G, Thank you so much for your kind words! We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay at La Playa Hotel. Our team works hard to ensure every detail is perfect, and it’s wonderful to know that their efforts contributed to your positive experience. Your feedback is incredibly rewarding to our entire team, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another exceptional experience. Warm regards, Sara Asuncion Guest Experience Manager
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They put us in a garden room underneath a rehearsal dinner upstairs and a cocktail and dinner party outside in front of us. Needless to say the noise level was off the charts from 8 to 11pm. This should have been a room they put one of the people at these events in. From 10:30-11pm they were moving tables which made horrendous noise above us. While trying to check in we were told our room wasn’t ready yet while sitting there they checked in a lady of color right in front of us then saw us starting at them and said oh your room is ready. At breakfast the man waiter was rude to me basically telling me to get out of his way to clean the table I was waiting to sit at. Then the lady waitress never said one word to us but doted on the foreigners next to us. The whole experience made us feel like we were discriminated against because we were a white family.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Brett Bird, General Manager at La Playa Hotel
Responded Jul 30, 2024
Dear mlyons25, I want to sincerely apologize for the noise disturbance caused by the event held during your stay. I understand how important a peaceful environment is, especially when staying at a hotel, and I regret that our gathering disrupted your stay. Please know that I have taken your feedback seriously and have followed up with our events team. I deeply regret the impact this had on your stay and genuinely appreciate your understanding and patience. Once again, I apologize for the disturbance and thank you for bringing this to my attention. Sincerely, Brett B.
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Fabulous hotel, food is almost fabulous. This is a romantic, superior hotel. Great staff. Scented throughout with lovely aromas. Fireplaces, romantic cubbies, complimentary treats. For example, on Saturday, there were complimentary aperol spritzes at cocktail hour. Free cookies from 7:30 pm on. Game room with fireplace. Stunning indoor outdoor bar areas. Fabulous cocktails. Unfortunately , some of the food was disappointing. The tomatoe soup was wonderful. The grilled cheese it came with was overdone with cheese that wasn’t all that flavorful and in an amount no one wishing to have a long life should want. Not fully melted bc it was so much. The gnocchi was wonderfully fluffy but the cheese sauce was watery and lacked flavor. The Niçoise salad was a flop; the flavor fell flat though ingredients were fresh and good. The included brunch had excellent offerings, including high quality croissants and other breads. There were breakfast burritos, mini salmon and avocado toasts, and chia pudding . The fruit was disappointing: unripe mango, and borderline papaya. But there was dragon fruit-yum! And unlimited mimosas. Kudos to all staff on all areas.
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Date of stay: December 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Asuncion, Marketing at La Playa Hotel
Responded Dec 12, 2024
Dear StuiWa, Thank you for taking the time to share your fantastic feedback of La Playa Carmel on Trip Advisor. We are thrilled to hear that your overall experience at La Playa Hotel was so positive. Your kind words about our service are appreciated by all. We hope to see you again in the future, when your plans bring you back to Carmel. Warm regards, Sara Asuncion Guest Experience Manager
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La Playa is an AMAZING hotel. It truly is as luxurious as you could get in Carmel. I loved the amenities including the champagne breakfast (which was amazing), the free shuttle to any downtown Carmel location, and the spritz happy hour and cookies in the lobby.
We stayed in the poolside casita and it was so lovely to walk right outside our door and be at the pool. The weather cooperated with us for half our trip and we loved laying by the pool and getting some sun.
We went to Bud's bar for pre-dinner drinks and while the drinks were tasty, the olive and cheese plate left a lot to be desired for $18. The drinks are around $17-$20 each, but that was to be expected.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend as long as you can afford around $1,000 a night (again was for our Honeymoon so we splurged)
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Asuncion, Marketing at La Playa Hotel
Responded Oct 2, 2024
Dear eran13192, Thank for choosing to celebrate such a special time with us! I am happy to hear you enjoyed your honeymoon stay. I am sorry that Bud's did not fully meet expectations but am happy to hear that you enjoyed our delicious champagne breakfast. I do hope you will return to La Playa Hotel so we may welcome you for another special celebration. Warm regards, Sara Asuncion Guest Experience Manager
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We celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Carmel and decided to stay at La Playa based on location and past reviews. We were very happy with our stay - the staff was friendly and the we loved the location. It's only three blocks from the ocean and about three blocks from the shops and restaurants. We didn't have to drive anywhere once we arrived. My tip would be to stay there on the weekdays because it's much cheaper than the weekends.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wouldn't recommend. I'm pretty sure it's only priced what it is because of location. Nothing else would make me want to stay here again. Room was small. Food was meh, the upgrade we paid for, the "ocean view" was completely obstructed by a building, trees and the bar. We could not even have our curtains open because the lounge patio (that was always full and loud), could see right into our room. Spend your hard earned money on an actual ocen view.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Asuncion, Marketing at La Playa Hotel
Responded Jan 4, 2025
Dear Jenn K, Thank you for your review. Your feedback provides information important to our ongoing improvement efforts. We endeavor to provide all of our guests with an exceptional experience, and we clearly failed to do so during your recent stay with us. I apologize for your disappointment with your room assignment, and I regret any inconvenience this caused. We do have many different room types and sizes in different locations across our property. Given another opportunity, I am confident that we can provide the memorable experience that you should expect at La Playa Hotel. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly should your future plans include a visit to Carmel. I would be most happy to personally arrange your reservation. I do hope that we have an opportunity to welcome you back. Warm regards, Sara Asuncion Guest Experience Manager
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We did not have a dog with us. I would recommend calling the property 1-800-582-8900 and ask your question as the staff at Carmel by the Sea La Playa was courteous, friendly and genuinely interested in making sure you enjoyed your stay.
We did not see or use an elevator but we did see one guest in a wheelchair. You should contact the hotel to ask them about accessibility issues to be sure.
There are more places to choose from in the Carmel area.
PRICE RANGE
₱24,487 - ₱42,508 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
hotel la playa, la playa carmel ca
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
La Playa Carmel
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaMonterey CountyCarmel
NUMBER OF ROOMS
75
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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