Underwhelming & Overpriced - Not 'Pet Friendly'
We booked Carmel Beach Hotel because it was listed as pet friendly and looked great. Unfortunately, that description is totally misleading.
They charged $273 for a dog ($250 pet fee + tax on the pet fee) with zero amenities or effort to make us feel welcome. No water bowl, treats, or pet-friendly vibe—just a HUGE extra charge. I wasn’t aware of the huge pet fee when booking, and when I was informed and asked to cancel, the manager said we’d be charged for one of our two nights. Not great customer service.
The room was good-sized and had a soaking tub, but the water pressure was low, the carpet was dingy, and the noise level was unacceptable—you can hear everything: conversations, rolling suitcases over the bricks, even raccoons fighting outside over the garbage. Room 6 is especially bad as it's right above housekeeping/maintenance. Also, the window coverings don’t block light, so I had an early wake-up call from the sun.
The property is okay, but the “lawn” is fake plastic turf.
The beach is close, but if you want to walk to town, it’s 15–20 minutes in the dark—no sidewalks or streetlights. They did offer a car service until 9:45PM.
Bottom line: it’s not pet-friendly, not welcoming and relaxing, and definitely not worth the price. There are much, much nicer hotels in Carmel for this price point. Wouldn't stay again