Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

Not that family friendly Lovely, traditional hotel. Decor a little outdated but beds were so comfortable. Beautiful views over the bay. I was very disappointed in the advertised ‘family friendly sun terrace.’ We thought we would be able to spend the afternoons chilling out reading a book. The terrace is tiny. Anymore than 2 families and it would be full. Advertised as family friendly but no shade in sight, not one parasol. No access to any refreshments and it’s very far from the main hub of the hotel. Two hot tubs, one was fine if a little dirty and the other so hot, I couldn’t even put my big toe in. A little effort would improve it massively.

Perfect for couples Great resort for couples! We booked an ocean view room for two nights, the accommodations were fabulous! Location of room was great, we overlooked the plaza and bay and were able to see otters playing in the water. Bedding and pillows were luxurious, room was large! We enjoyed the hot tub on the roof, the live piano entertainment in the lobby each evening, and the Schooner restaurant for breakfast. PERFECT walking distance to Cannery Row shops and Fisherman's Wharf. We will be back!

Disgraceful Service: A Five-Star Hotel with One-Star Staff Disgraceful Experience at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa - A Warning to Future Guests Overall Rating: 1 out of 5 stars (Terrible) My family and I, including my wife and young daughter, had a truly appalling experience at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa on July 11, 2025, around 6 PM. What was supposed to be a relaxing stay quickly devolved into a shocking display of unprofessionalism and a complete lack of human decency from the front office staff. Upon our arrival with a confirmed reservation, we simply requested a specific room. However, Kenao and his female colleague (whose name I didn't catch) were immediately uncooperative and dismissive. The female employee seemed more interested in "kissing up" to Kenao, actively escalating the already hostile situation. When I asked to speak with a manager to address their unhelpful attitude, Kenao audaciously claimed to be the manager himself. Their behavior was beyond rude; it was devoid of any compassion or understanding for a family arriving late in the evening with a child. Instead of assisting us, they abruptly called security and ordered us to leave the premises. This act was not only incredibly humiliating but also deeply upsetting, especially for my daughter. For a hotel that prides itself on being a five-star establishment, the conduct of these employees was utterly unacceptable and a disgrace to the hospitality industry. Their actions were unprofessional, uncaring, and frankly, disqualifying for anyone working in a customer-facing role. I urge anyone considering staying at the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa to be aware of the potential for such a disheartening and disrespectful experience. This was a profoundly disappointing encounter that no guest should ever have to endure.

A wonderful hotel in a brilliant location A wonderful hotel in a beautiful location. We booked bog standard inter connecting rooms and were upgraded to rooms with a sea view which made our day. Staff were helpful and attentive. We ate in Coastal Kitchen which was exquisite - incredible food with wine pairings plus binoculars at every table to watch the sea otters frolic in the bay. Utterly magical. Wonderful views and ambience in the bar and an excellent breakfast. Walkable to the aquarium. The best thing about this hotel was the proximity to the wildlife - seals and sea otters - which you can watch in the bay from the comfort of your room / a terrace / the bar. Stunning.

Short but great stay My only regret is that we didn't book a longer stay! Came here for a quick couples getaway. We started the stay with massage appointments. The spa area is nice and comfortable, there are saunas in each locker room, but the steam room and two Jacuzzis are communal and out on the spa deck overlooking the water. Shawn was my masseuse and very good. Next was lunch at Schooner's, the casual restaurant on the property. We sat outside and watched the sea otters while we ate. The food was good with lots of options. The room was nice, a notch above a standard hotel room. The Nespresso coffee maker was a nice touch. The bathroom had a big shower, and there was a separate vanity area with a makeup mirror outside the bathroom. The bed was very comfy with nice linens. The staff were all very friendly. The only (minor) complaint was the TVs could use some updating. You could connect to your streaming services, but only by using the remote as an "air mouse" with an on-screen keyboard where you had to point to each letter one by one to enter your email and password. We would definitely come back.