Give me that sweet ocean view
July 18, 2013 5:26 PM Subscribe
Give me that sweet ocean view, and by "ocean view" I mean "diving board into the Pacific", not "you can see it vaguely in the background"
Looking for hotels, motels, and Holiday Inns between Monterey and Santa Barbara with the best oceanside accommodations.
Sometimes it's harder than you'd think to tell from an online description, pictures and google map stalking whether a place will actually have you out on a balcony over nothing but beach and crashing waves like so, or tucked over a parking lot where, maybe if you lean out far enough you can "view" the ocean.
So, any suggestions? The Morro Bay or Pismo Beach area seem to offer some promising options, but given the high prices I'd love recommendations.
Looking for hotels, motels, and Holiday Inns between Monterey and Santa Barbara with the best oceanside accommodations.
Sometimes it's harder than you'd think to tell from an online description, pictures and google map stalking whether a place will actually have you out on a balcony over nothing but beach and crashing waves like so, or tucked over a parking lot where, maybe if you lean out far enough you can "view" the ocean.
So, any suggestions? The Morro Bay or Pismo Beach area seem to offer some promising options, but given the high prices I'd love recommendations.
In the Monterey area, I've stayed at two different places that might fit your needs.
There is a Best Western just north of Monterey that is actually on the beach, which is a hard thing to find. The rates are not particularly cheap but they aren't horrible either. I stayed there almost 20 years ago, and it was fine then, but my information is not fresh.
The last time I stayed in Monterey I stayed at Borg's Oceanfront Motel, which is indeed ocean front, but you have to cross a street to get on the beach. This hotel was an excellent value, so if you are willing to walk across two lanes of road to get to the beach (but still see it from your room) that might work for you.
Have you looked at Cambria? You might find some good choices there.
posted by ambrosia at 5:42 PM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is a Best Western just north of Monterey that is actually on the beach, which is a hard thing to find. The rates are not particularly cheap but they aren't horrible either. I stayed there almost 20 years ago, and it was fine then, but my information is not fresh.
The last time I stayed in Monterey I stayed at Borg's Oceanfront Motel, which is indeed ocean front, but you have to cross a street to get on the beach. This hotel was an excellent value, so if you are willing to walk across two lanes of road to get to the beach (but still see it from your room) that might work for you.
Have you looked at Cambria? You might find some good choices there.
posted by ambrosia at 5:42 PM on July 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
An old boss of mine was a huge fan of the Best Western north of Monterey that ambrosia mentions. i think he's been within the last 10 years at least. it's a little isolated which could be fun if your plan is to just sit by the ocean and relax, which is what he liked it for.
posted by contraption at 5:53 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by contraption at 5:53 PM on July 18, 2013
http://www.cliffhouseinn.com/
http://www.montereybayinn.com/monterey-hotel-photo-gallery.aspx
http://www.greengablesinnpg.com/rooms_6.htm
More, from http://www.carevealed.com/hotels_cc.php
posted by ApathyGirl at 6:02 PM on July 18, 2013
http://www.montereybayinn.com/monterey-hotel-photo-gallery.aspx
http://www.greengablesinnpg.com/rooms_6.htm
More, from http://www.carevealed.com/hotels_cc.php
posted by ApathyGirl at 6:02 PM on July 18, 2013
We stayed at the Seacrest in Pismo Beach and while there was a pool in front of the ocean, the views were still great. We were in the center bank of rooms- they do have 2 side wings which I don't believe have good views, but their desk staff is pretty helpful if you were to call before you booked.
posted by alygator at 6:09 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by alygator at 6:09 PM on July 18, 2013
I had a room at The Monterey Bay Inn that jutted out over the bay. I opened the window and heard sea lions barking at night. It was magical.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:54 PM on July 18, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:54 PM on July 18, 2013
I wish you had camping equipment, because Jalama Beach is a jewel on this coast, and sufficiently separated from the mainland by a long, twisty road to feel... otherwordly. Keep it in mind, even as a day trip. You can walk the beach for miles in either direction (as long as you keep an eye on the tides) and not see anything other than glorious coastal cliffs. Plus, if your timing is right, there might be a Mark V rocket launch from Vandenberg while you're there. Scared the shit out of me when that happened once, but once I realized WWIII hadn't begun it was thrilling.
Not to mention all the nuts camping spots in Big Sur, like Kirk Creek and Limekiln. Honestly, if you find any spot along PCH in Big Sur, you're not only going to be essentially at the point where ocean meets cliffs, you'll likely be 50 or more feet directly above it. None of these places are cheap motels, but all are worth the expense (ok maybe not since it's high season, but surely you can get lucky if you're traveling on weekdays).
Happy travels! Enjoy PCH!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:59 PM on July 18, 2013 [4 favorites]
Not to mention all the nuts camping spots in Big Sur, like Kirk Creek and Limekiln. Honestly, if you find any spot along PCH in Big Sur, you're not only going to be essentially at the point where ocean meets cliffs, you'll likely be 50 or more feet directly above it. None of these places are cheap motels, but all are worth the expense (ok maybe not since it's high season, but surely you can get lucky if you're traveling on weekdays).
Happy travels! Enjoy PCH!
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 6:59 PM on July 18, 2013 [4 favorites]
Tickle Pink Inn (pricey) in Carmel has awesome views but is up on a cliff across a road from the ocean.
Lovers' Point Inn in Pacific Grove is right on a beach. I think there are a few B&B's in Pacific Grove along the coast as well.
Don't forget to stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and take in the waterfall view.
posted by tracer at 8:35 AM on July 19, 2013
Lovers' Point Inn in Pacific Grove is right on a beach. I think there are a few B&B's in Pacific Grove along the coast as well.
Don't forget to stop at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and take in the waterfall view.
posted by tracer at 8:35 AM on July 19, 2013
Oh also
http://www.lucialodge.com/
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:05 AM on July 19, 2013
http://www.lucialodge.com/
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:05 AM on July 19, 2013
Ventana Inn in Big Sur is up the hill and the ocean is in the distance, but you can definitely see the it.
posted by cnc at 10:56 AM on July 19, 2013
posted by cnc at 10:56 AM on July 19, 2013
I stayed at Ragged Point Inn (at the very southern bit of Big Sur, less than a mile from the backside of the northbound Welcome to Big Sur sign) last month, and their Cliff-Side and Deluxe Cliff-top rooms have a gorgeous ocean view and are as close to the ocean as you can get and still build a structurally sound building that won't fall in. From our Cliff-Side room (number 9, I believe) we could walk out the back door, take 10 steps, and fall directly into the ocean if there weren't a short fence at the 9th step*.
It's worth checking out other places in Big Sur, too, just make sure they're on the west side of Highway 1, because that's the coastal side.
*That's steps as in putting one foot in front of the other, not steps as in stairs
posted by rhiannonstone at 2:52 PM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's worth checking out other places in Big Sur, too, just make sure they're on the west side of Highway 1, because that's the coastal side.
*That's steps as in putting one foot in front of the other, not steps as in stairs
posted by rhiannonstone at 2:52 PM on July 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: These are great" We've already got a room in Lover's Point Inn actually, so glad to hear the ocean view is legit. I'm looking into everything else that's been suggested, thanks!
as close to the ocean as you can get and still build a structurally sound building that won't fall in <---that is exactly what we're looking for ;)
posted by Calicatt at 4:36 AM on July 20, 2013
as close to the ocean as you can get and still build a structurally sound building that won't fall in <---that is exactly what we're looking for ;)
posted by Calicatt at 4:36 AM on July 20, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by politikitty at 5:40 PM on July 18, 2013