Rehabbed from a motel in 2016, the mid-range, 27-room Hotel Carmel offers a homey, country-chic ambiance in what feels like a hybrid between a boutique motel and bed-and-breakfast. The inviting lounge looks more like a chic living room than a hotel lobby, while the courtyard offers a welcoming patio with Adirondack chairs surrounding a fire-pit. There’s free bagels for breakfast in the morning and a free daily wine reception in the early evening, plus a charming local sports bar and restaurant attached. Rooms are relatively simple, situated along open walkways, with comfortable beds and pleasant decor but small bathrooms and thin walls. Mini-fridges, Nespresso coffeemakers, and robes are standard amenities. The location in downtown Carmel is excellent, just five-minute walk from bustling Ocean Ave. Travelers looking for something similar may want to compare digs with the Wayside Inn.