La Playa Carmel
Location: La Playa Carmel
I have been wanting to make a trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea for years now, everyone has been telling me the unique rejuvenation experience that Carmel has to offer. When Phoebe and I were planning our trip, we stumbled upon this beautiful boutique hotel - La Playa Carmel, not too far away from the Carmel village center. Full of character, charm and superb service overlooking the Pacific ocean, we knew we couldn’t pass on this hidden gem.
La Playa Carmel was originally built in 1905, it was remodeled in 2012 to preserve its original Mission-inspired charm, with 75 guest rooms and gorgeous garden landscape. We were offered an ocean view room on the third floor with about 300 square feet in size, a pretty comfortable space for guests of 2. The room is designed in beach cottage style, simple yet unique with ocean view within your sights and lavish gardens below.
Nothing beats waking up in the morning to fresh air and the promise with views of the ocean. Even the morning mist makes everything look more mystical and dreamy. While we wait for the morning fog to fade, we decided to give the breakfast buffet a try. The morning champagne and fresh fruits are definitely a plus, not to mention the made to order omelets and waffles on the patio. The smell is irresistible! After a fulfilling breakfast, Phoebe and I decided to move down to the garden terrance to do a picnic. It was a little misty the day we stayed at La Playa, so there weren’t many guests strolling in the garden. While sipping on our morning coffee, we enjoyed the views of the gardens brimming with dahlias and my favorite jasmine. It’s so relaxing to stop and smell the roses and listen to the sounds of the Pacific.
After a relaxing morning well spent in the hotel, we decided to take the hotel complementary bike for a ride in the neighborhood. La Playa is located in a quiet residential neighborhood. It’s only about a 5 minute biking distance from the village center, where you can find local art galleries, upscale boutiques and authentic Mediterranean food (which I highly recommend Dametra Cafe for lunch or dinner). Unfortunately, given the gloomy weather during our stay, we couldn’t make it to the beach. But if you’re lucky visiting Carmel on a sunny day, be sure to check out the near by Pebble Beach to rent a kayak or join a boat tour. If you’re traveling with family, I’d also recommend going to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is only a 15 minute drive from the hotel. As guests at the La Playa hotel, you will also enjoy a discount on the tickets to Monterey Bay Aquarium. I highly recommend on booking your tickets in advance to avoid waiting in long lines at the door. Every night La Playa also provides hotel guests with dessert snacks in the lobby. The cookies and milk were exactly what I needed to complete my night! Because Carmel is a beach town, be sure to grab a heavy duty jacket to keep yourself warm during the morning and at night. The temperature difference can be difficult to tolerate if you’re not fully prepared.
We had such a wonderful time at La Playa Carmel, the perfect destination for any weekend getaway. Phoebe and I have already started talking about our next trip back to Carmel. If you have any questions about La Playa Hotel or Carmel in general, feel free to leave me a comment below or send me an email. I am happy to provide as much help as I can to make your travel easier!
Thanks for Reading <3