Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

We stayed at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The hotel acknowledged the occasion by gifting us a bottle of wine, which was a nice gesture, though the quality could have been better for a luxury property. We booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, and the upgrade was honored. The upgraded room was very spacious and comfortable—more than enough space for us and our child, which we really appreciated. However, our late checkout request was denied, which was disappointing, especially since late checkout is typically a benefit of booking through Amex FHR. Valet parking was expensive but expected for a hotel of this caliber. What was frustrating was that EV charging was not complimentary. Paying over $40 for parking plus an additional $20 for charging feels excessive. Luxury hotels should offer complimentary EV charging, as many comparable properties already do. We dined at Schooners, and unfortunately the food was a letdown. Dishes were either overly salty or completely bland, which was surprising given the hotel’s reputation. Checkout itself was quick and not busy, but despite requesting an emailed receipt, it was never sent automatically. I had to call three days later to have it emailed, which should not be necessary at a hotel of this standard. Overall, the hotel has a beautiful location, spacious rooms, and attentive gestures, but several service and value-related issues prevented the experience from fully matching the expectations of a luxury anniversary stay.

This is one of the best hotels we have ever stayed and cleanliness is terrific. Only downside is cost of valet service. Otherwise, this is a top destination hotel.

Such an expensive disappointment. Nice location and lovely staff but so many issues. First off the spa - why we went - which is nice and has a good usable gym - had no robes for 3 days. What an absolute joke when you’re spending $1k + for 2 nights. The noise is unbelievable- from the auto closing doors designed to make the most noise possible to the paper thin walls and ceilings. 2 days no sleep and then no robes for the spa. We could.not wait to leave. Never again.

I stayed two nights at this extraordinary hotel in mid-December and my only regret is I didn't have my wife on this trip. There is an understated elegance about this place and after spending two days here on a business trip I actually felt relaxed. It didn't hurt that my room overlooked the ocean and in between meetings I spent all my time on the balcony enjoying the view. Amenities were plentiful and I wanted for nothing in the room...and the king bed was very comfortable. I did have one business lunch at Schooners, their in-house restaurant and we dined outside, again overlooking the water. And one morning I had breakfast next store at a coffee shop called Tidal, which had some affiliation with the hotel (you can charge to your room) and I enjoyed a fantastic breakfast burrito (order it) with a Mocha. I also interacted with the valet parkers numerous times and they were all very professional and had a system where you can request your car through a text which alleviated me having to wait downstairs. I can't wait to return to this oasis.

Every associate went above and beyond during my stay — from the valet team to the front desk, housekeeping, and the restaurant staff. The service was warm, attentive, and consistently excellent. You can feel how much pride the entire team takes in creating a great guest experience. Truly outstanding from start to finish.