RSS
Home
Romantic Monterey: The Old Monterey Inn
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Courtesy of Old Monterey Inn
I’m a sucker for a good B&B, though, since moving to the west coast, I’d barely looked for or found one. California, I believed, was the home of the grand hotel, with resorts like the Hotel del Coronado and Ojai Valley, the likes of which are rare on the east coast. It wasn’t until my coverage of Monterey, with its peculiar shortage of full-service luxury resorts and its abundance of much smaller four-star lodgings, that I discovered the Old Monterey Inn—and rediscovered what I love about a great B&B.
Head Innkeeper Patti Valletta, whose own impressive chops include past proprietorship of Mendocino’s Whitegate Inn and Jacksonville, Oregon’s Touvelle House, cites the towering strength of a great B&B to be personal service. “A bed and breakfast is a destination unto itself—the service and comfort we provide here is as integral to the holiday experience as visiting a tourist attraction”. Indeed, she and her staff of long-time locals delivered an unforgettable stay. Whereas I have witnessed hotel concierges send clients to the biggest wineries, the best-publicized restaurants, and the hottest shows, great inns lean in the opposite direction, demonstrating intimate insider knowledge of where to go and what to do, lending practical advice around the best timing for each activity, and revealing hidden gems.
The first gem you’ll see during a visit to the Old Monterey Inn is the estate itself. Built in 1929 as the private family home to first mayor of Monterey, Carmel Martin Sr., the three-story manor house serves as the main guest residence. Since Mr. Martin’s passing in 1965, the inn has only seen two owners—the Swett family who used it as a private residence until 1978, when they turned it into a B&B, and Patti, who purchased the inn in 2004. Both owners have shown an unfailing commitment to maintaining and restoring the original elements of the inn (e.g., hand-carved newel posts, window frames and balustrades, hand-plastered Gothic archways and bull-nosed corners, and hand painted ceiling panels), and executing additions and renovations thoughtfully.
Another appealing attribute of the inn are its beautifully-maintained English gardens. Sculpted hedges and fountains anchor meandering walkways that take guests past roses, impatients, wisteria, and other seasonal blooms. California oaks, mammoth pines, and redwoods line the borders of the inn’s property, creating a sense of privacy and separation from the outside world. The formal dining room and several guest rooms overlook the gardens, which are ideal for sitting, walking, or holding a small wedding or vow renewal ceremony.
The inn’s current incarnation bears tranquility in mind, featuring ten rooms crafted for no more than two and a recommendation that guests plan to visit without their children. No two rooms are the same, yet each features a fireplace and its own distinct attributes that adults can appreciate—the Brightstone Suite holds a two-person massage tub in front of the fireplace; the Garden Cottage has a window seat that offers lovely garden views and an oversized whirlpool bath beneath its skylight; and the Library offers comfortable relaxation amid floor to ceiling bookshelves.
To the extent that Patti holds culinary degree in baking, you’ll not want to miss many of the three daily food displays. It starts with home-baked cookies and tea in the afternoon, as much to welcome arriving guests as to refresh ones returned from their morning tours. Next is the uncommonly savory local wine and hors d’oeuvre spread served in the early evening, which not only offers much in terms of palate pleasure, but also allows for the rare delight of meeting other travelers and connecting in conversation. And breakfast is the piece de resistance. I still remember my fresh-from-the-oven chocolate croissant, a tasty egg soufflé that was beautifully presented, and just enough fresh fruit.
Other hand-crafted touches that I loved:
- Round-robin mystery books in every room: Guests are invited to add to the in-progress mystery novellas placed on each bedside table. The first chapter of the book in each room is identical, but as each is augmented by visiting guests (some add a few sentences, others add a few pages), each novella will end differently!
- Unique couples’ packages: From bonfires on the beach, to horseback rides in Big Sur, to private picnic lunches, to babymoons, your innkeepers can customize a romantic getaway that goes above and beyond the champagne/roses/couples massage commonly offered by other hotels of its class. The $1,300 Luxury Getaway Package is a multi-day, full-service romantic adventure that is popular among honeymooners.
- On-site spa services: Though on-site spa services are rare for B&BS, the Old Monterey Inn has its own lovely treatment room which can accommodate singles or couples for a substantial menu of well-thought-out massages, facials, and body treatments. I was delighted to see the La Stone Massage (a 75-minute hot and cool stone treatment), a treatment gaining momentum at some of the top full service spas in the country, front and center on the spa menu at the Old Monterey Inn
- Breakfast in bed: Upon request, you may have breakfast delivered straight to your bed!
Old Monterey Inn – Recent Awards and Accolades
- AAA 4 Diamond Award – 1988 to 2009
- Mobil 4 Star Award – 1988 to 2009
- Today Show Travel & Leisure Pick – 2008
- Karen Brown’s Guest Choice for Warmest Welcome – 2009
Exclusive Special for Examiner Readers: Mention this article and get a Couples’ 60-minute Side-by-Side Swedish Massage and Dinner for two at Fandango for $240 plus the cost of the room for two nights and tax., an $80 savings.
Related Articles:
Series Intro: Best of Monterey
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
