Carmel Lodge

My husband and I stayed at this hotel for our anniversary — and we were absolutely delighted! The room was magnificent: beautiful, cozy, clean, and thought out down to the smallest detail. A special thank you for the breakfasts — very tasty, varied, and a real treat. The atmosphere at the hotel is magical and perfect for relaxation and romance. Celebrating our anniversary here was the perfect decision. We will definitely come back again and recommend it from the bottom of our hearts! 5/5 ⭐

The hotel was immaculate and everyone was very friendly. Having stayed at quite a few hotels across America on our road trip, I’d say the friendliness here was a little more subtle rather than the super helpful, enthusiastic welcome we’ve experienced in some other places — but everyone was still very pleasant. Breakfast was really good and there seemed to be plenty of variety to cater for different dietary requirements. As a vegetarian, with my partner being vegan, one thing that would have made it even better would have been little cards in front of the food explaining what everything was and whether it was vegetarian or vegan. It would have saved having to ask and made things much easier. My only real complaints were that our room was quite noisy from the road and there was no laundry service, which would have been particularly useful for us while travelling on a long road trip. There were lots of nice touches, including free water and plenty of tea and coffee. There’s also a lovely outdoor area where you can sit and relax. The location is very central and we felt very safe here. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay and I would definitely stay here again.

My husband, friends, and our corgi stayed at The Stilwell for a few nights, and overall, it was such a cozy stay. Compared to many of the other hotels in Carmel, The Stilwell felt updated, modern, and thoughtfully designed. The entire hotel had a warm, welcoming atmosphere that truly felt like a hug! Upon arrival, we were greeted with complimentary champagne and dog treats for our pup, which was such a sweet touch. My husband and I stayed in the Junior Suite with a fireplace. The room was smaller than I expected, but there was still enough space for two people and a dog to be comfortable. Unfortunately, there were a few cleanliness issues. When we checked in, there was garbage left in the waste bin. We also only requested housekeeping once during our stay, and unfortunately, the floor did not appear to be swept. I could still see quite a bit of hair and dust on the floor. What was most disappointing was returning to our room to find urine left in the toilet. We also noticed that the Nespresso pods and cups were not replenished. I booked the King Room with a balcony for my friend, and his room was clean and cozy. He had no complaints! Each room has toiletries by Lather, which is one of my favorite brands. Our hands were soft and clean every day. One of my favorite things about the hotel was the outdoor common areas. There are fire pits with plenty of seating, and every night we enjoyed sitting by the fire and having pizza. The wood fired pizzas were amazing, but the real star was the spicy garlic infused olive oil! The chef and waitress were both incredibly sweet and kind, which made the experience even better. Breakfast is included with the stay and is served from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The breakfast was just okay and probably not something I would go out of my way for, but it was convenient to have included. The hotel is within walking distance of so many great restaurants and eateries, so there are plenty of options if you want to explore beyond the hotel. De Tierra Vineyard is literally a one minute walk away! Ultimately, I’m not sure if I would return based on our experience with the cleanliness of our room and the housekeeping service. Those issues were disappointing and a bit disturbing. That said, aside from the housekeeping concerns, The Stilwell itself is beautiful, cozy, and has a really lovely atmosphere. With some improvements to the cleaning and housekeeping experience, I think this could be a fantastic place to stay in Carmel.