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.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is located in California overlooking Monterey Bay and highest rated in Cannery Row.
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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The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa garners mixed reviews, with guests praising its prime location and vibrant atmosphere, complete with live music and ocean views. While the spa facilities and thoughtful amenities like binoculars are frequently lauded, some travelers criticize the hotel for its value, mentioning overpriced rooms and features that don't meet expectations. Room opinions vary; some enjoy the luxury and views, others point to cleanliness issues and noise.
Service is generally well-regarded, although a few guests had less-than-ideal encounters with the front desk. Cleanliness throughout the hotel is consistently applauded.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Inconsistent
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Outstanding
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The Monterey Plaza has the best location in Monterey with the most spectacular views! The rooms overlooking the bay are absolutely stunning and being able to hear and see the ocean and to watch the beautiful wildlife is magical. The views from the hotel restaurant, Schooners, are equally stunning. We enjoyed our meals at Schooners as well as the times we just stopped in for cocktails or afternoon tea. Of all my travels, this is the best hotel I have ever stayed at and each person working at the Monterey Plaza consistently provided exceptional service—including the valets, front desk and housekeeping. I felt pampered and very well taken care of each day of my stay. This year was the second year I stayed at the Plaza and I will definitely be returning for future visits. Do yourself a favor and book a stay at this amazing hotel so that you can experience the luxury and service at this magical resort! Monterey Plaza, thank you for the wonderful experience and memories!
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
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 Chris Sommers, General Manager at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
Responded Nov 21, 2023
Dear saraluvs3, It was so nice to see you again, thank you for your continued support and we hope to continue to make many more memories!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We lucked out as we were able to get a room here at the last minute on our way home from a long road trip. Our room was ready at 2:00 allowing us to check into our room early, and check out was 12 giving us a long leisurely morning. We loved the location, right in between the shops at Cannery Row and the Aquarium and on the other side the harbor and pier. Rooms with a balcony & water view are pricey, but we found it to be worth it ending the trip in such a nice way. My husband used the 5th floor jacuzzi and said it was really nice, especially the view. Service from everyone we came in contact with was very good, exceptionally polite and eager to please. Rooms are very comfortable & clean. Schooners restaurant has good food and a lovely outdoor seating area. We were here in July with the state still dealing with Covid-19, the rooms had "sanitized" stickers across the doors when ready, and they maintained social distancing in the restaurant and elevators only allowing 1 party in at a time. I do admit, that I had traveled with my clorox wipes & lysol so I did do a little extra wiping down of highly touched areas (light switches, tv controlers etc) just as a precaution. We hadn't been to Monterey in about 15+ years so we were excited to be right there in the heart of it. Will def return and would love to stay at this hotel again.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: July 2020
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.
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Complimentary valet parking is available upon arrival for convenience. The staff is friendly and energetic. As with all hospitality and service industry personnel, we encourage our readers to tip, generously if possible.
The lobby inside of the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa has an amazing view of the ocean, a fireplace and board games for families and a bar/lounge area. Guests are welcomed with a nice glass of wine at the hotel check-in counter.
Our room was not ready, but the attendant was nice enough to upgrade us to a room that was available with a balcony. The room was located on the 3rd-floor facing Cannery Row with the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa oceanside rooms and lobby across the street. Spacious with a great amount of natural light which includes comfortable queen size double beds with feather pillows. A work desk with plenty of space next to the television. It also had a nice armchair with a round coffee table. There is also a cabinet that contained the mini-fridge, coffee maker, coffee, teas, and bottled waters.
The bathroom was nice and luxurious with marble shower walls and countertops. A pair of bathrobes are also included with plenty of towels and washcloths. The Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa's complimentary lotions, shampoos, and conditioners smelled amazing and everything about the room exuded cleanliness, luxury, peace, and relaxation.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Moved my plans to stay in Healdsburg to Monterey due to the Glass Fire on very short notice so we didn’t have time to really plan. Got a 2 queen bed with inland view and balcony. Inland view means your room faces the front street but there was very little traffic midweek so that wasn’t a problem. The balcony is narrow and just fits two chairs, a little disappointing but not a deal breaker.
COVID precautions meant most of the hotels amenities were not available which is unfortunate but that’s the world we’re living in at the moment.
One thing you need to know is the bed is very high. If you have accessibility issues or are short, it could be hard to climb into it - I’m not kidding, that bed is high and whatever you do, don’t fall out as it’s a long way down! I’d almost suggest a step stool to assist a person. The bed was comfortable though.
Room was very clean and all hotel staff were courteous, demonstrated excellent customer service and maintained attention to safety. Hotel staff will not enter the room unless you specifically ask for something that requires them to do so. You’ll have to call to request clean cups and glasses and they meet you at the door and hand them to you.
For me, I won’t be back until the COVID restrictions are lifted. The inability to take advantage of the amenities you expect from a higher end hotel, just doesn’t make the price worth it to me at this time.
It is centrally located and within walking distance to many sights. Our weather was beautiful and the views from the restaurant and the plaza are beyond compare. Air quality was good and it allowed me to salvage some of my plans to take a few days off and unwind of which I’m grateful.
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Date of stay: September 2020Trip type: Traveled with friends
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.
We have stayed here before, and it is always a consistent 5 star experience including this visit. For those worried about COVID, know that the rooms are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized AND they place a seal over the door should someone enter after the cleaning process. Additionally, all staff are properly masked, including housekeeping.
The staff is so kind, professional, and helpful. The views of the Bay and Harbor are spectacular. The restaurant still serves top quality meals (even for room service). Valet parking is included with your stay, and they valet staff are swift yet careful with your carriage.
This place is well worth the $. You feel the peace and elegance upon pulling up to valet.
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Date of stay: August 2020
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.
A friend and I recently had a little staycation at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa. We checked in around 5pm and found out we had been upgraded to the Grand Bay Suite. We arrived to the french door entrance and were immediately in awe of the amazing space. With two fireplaces, a massive balcony, and incredible views of the ocean, the Grand Bay Suite was an absolute dream. We settled in and ordered room service from Schooners, and it was brought up so quickly ! Everything we ate was fantastic, and the cocktails to go were the cherry on top. We both loved the portabella mushroom sandwich and the patio boss cocktail. After an incredible night's sleep on the super comfy bed, we woke up to a foggy morning. But, the fog burned off over a couple hours and we were treated to a perfectly sunny Monterey morning on the water! We ordered breakfast again from Schooners, and they were kind enough to let us sub out the meat for avocado on our eggs benedict since we are both vegetarians. We ate outside on the balcony, watching all the otters and seals that live in the bay - the binoculars in the living room are a nice touch ! Finally, around noon we had to check out of our dream suite. We called down for our car to be brought around by valet and they had it there in minutes! We had such an amazing time, and I absolutely cannot wait come back ! A few notes on COVID - the hotel has done a wonderful job at keeping everything as clean as possible during these weird times we are in. When we arrived at our room door, there was a small piece of tape where the door meets the wall signifying that it has been properly sanitized and no one had tampered with it. All food from the restaurant is brought up in to go containers so that no one has to enter your room and touch anything. I felt so taken care of seeing all the extra safety protocols they had put in place.
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Date of stay: November 2020
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.
My family (husband, 8 year old daughter, and 3 year old son) were a little worried about venturing out again during the pandemic especially after our earlier, terrible experience at the Sanctuary Beach Resort in Marina. Our stay at the newly re-opened Monterey Plaza Hotel was anything but terrible. They seemed to have really taken the time during the shutdown to thoughtfully prepare for their reopening. They had information about their changes clearly listed on the website and when we arrived there was an option for self-parking, signage promoting masks and social distancing, hand sanitizer in the lobby, and all staff were in full compliance. The staff were so friendly and accommodating. Hilary and Jessica even went out of their way to make our son feel special for his birthday that we were celebrating. The kids were so happy and enjoyed themselves to much-thank you ladies! When we got to our room we did wipe everything down, but it was more of a formality for our own reassurance because it was clear the room had been well cleaned, even placing a sticker over the door to show it had been cleaned and sanitized. We had a partial harbor view (#1237) with a balcony overlooking the courtyard. We loved it, but we’d consider springing for a full harbor view next time. There isn’t much more to say; the hotel, the staff, the room were all excellent and we had no concerns. No questions about it, the Monterey Plaza Hotel has been and will continue to be our favorite place to stay in Monterey. Thank you all for taking everyone’s health and safety so seriously!
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Date of stay: June 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
Beautiful hotel, rooms, plaza. Over the water. Worth it to get an ocean view room with balcony and watch the otters and seals thru the provided binoculars. Advertised price does not include the unavoidable "resort fee", but the overall price does include wifi, parking and free use of a limited number of bikes. Bike rental and kayak tours available across the street and down the block. Aquarium two blocks and Lover's Point beach is a one mile walk on bike/walk trail. All the employees were exceptionally helpful and professional and rooms were spotlessly clean and quiet (except for seals!!). Hot tub and saunas on the top floor very nice. Beautiful spa if a bit pricey. Walking distance to plenty of dining and Tidal Coffee (in hotel) is a great quick, breakfast option. Wharf nearby and Carmel a 10 minute drive. Had a great time and would recommend to anyone.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
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.
Please ignore the trip advisor photos, they are out of date. This hotel had a complete remodel about 2-3 years ago so everything is like new, please see attached room photo.
The lobby overlooks the water and it pretty big place for the kids to run around. The hotel is a 10 minute walk from the aquarium, but if you upgrade to an ocean view, ocean front room you’ll be able to see sea otters, seals, several birds...and maybe even a whale like we did (however no guarantees). There is a kelp bed about 50-75 yards in the bay and the sea life plays and lives out there. There is also a small public beach right next to and below the hotel dock if you decide to dip your toes in the cold water.
However if you opt for a non sea view room there is a public patio out back with a fire pit where you can check out the sea life. There is also a coffee place next door. Please note there is 24/7 valet parking which is included in the $32/day resort fee.
We had a small mix up with the housekeeping, but when it was brought to the hotel’s attention they resolved the issue immediately and provided a complimentary cheese and cookie plate.
Overall a great place to stay and relax
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
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.
This was our first time staying at this hotel but it won't be our last! The view from our Harbor View Room was spectacular! We stayed in a lower floor in one of the rooms right over the water and we loved it! We looked down on the water UNDER our room when out on our deck, and we listened to the waves crashing on the rocks directly below our room throughout the night. Heaven! The room was clean and well stocked with everything we needed, had a refrigerator and 2 free bottles of water (not often included at most hotels). Schooners (excellent, beautiful restaurant at water's edge) was right down the hall - easy to pop over for a drink, dinner or lunch. There's also a convenient coffee place on the Plaza with delicious breakfast burritos. It was great to be right in the midst of cannery row and right off of the bike/walking path. We were able to walk to the harbor and Wharf one way and Pacific Grove in the other direction. You can also rent bikes, kayaks and paddleboards right across the street at Adventures by the Sea. The spa on the upper floor is gorgeous and peaceful, with beautiful views of the bay while enjoying the hot tub (you have to book a service to use). The only down side to staying here is that you have to use their valet parking at $32/night which adds to the price of the room. However, overall, the price was worth the views and location!
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Date of stay: March 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Â Lower Harbor View floor in a room over the water was perfect - we could hear and watch the waves.
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.
I am going to agree with some of the other people who answered this question. The room was cleaner than other hotels, well appointed with some nice touches including a nespresso machine for in room coffee (yay and delicious!) and set up with deck facing the ocean. I didn’t even notice if the room was recently updated or not. I guess in this case, it didn’t matter because it felt clean, calming and inviting. I will stay there again.
As I have no pets, I do not pay attention if the hotels are pet friendly, but your question now moves me to start looking into this to better inform readers of my reviews from now on. Thanks for alerting me!
There are more places to choose from in the Monterey area.
PRICE RANGE
₱18,893 - ₱23,573 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
monterey plaza hotel monterey, monterey plaza hotel and spa, monterey plaza resort, plaza hotel monterey
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaMonterey CountyMonterey
NUMBER OF ROOMS
285
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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