Carmel River Inn

Built in 1934, Carmel River Inn is situated on 10 acres of trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and wild grasses, right on the Carmel River. There's a wooded grove and meadow, a hammock in a nice spot for relaxation, and there are stairs leading down to the river. Indoor public spaces are limited to a small living-room style lobby with a ceiling fan and a sofa with embroidered pillows. Guests spend time walking the grounds, swimming in the year-round pool, or heading to the nearby beach or sights. With its quiet, back-to-nature atmosphere, the inn draws budget-minded couples. Although there's a small pool, it isn't ideal for families with kids. 

The hotel is located off Highway 1 at the northeast corner of Carmel River State Park. Across the highway is a supermarket, shopping mall with several restaurants, the Crossroads Shopping Center local bus stop. Another shopping center, a bar, and more restaurants are about a five-minute walk up the road. Several attractions are a less than a five-minute drive or 10 to 15 minutes by bus, including Carmel Mission Basilica, Carmel Monastery, Monastery Beach, Carmel Beach, and Point Lobos Natural Reserve. The Art of Dr. Seuss museum and the center of Carmel-by-the-Sea, with its shops and galleries, is roughly five minutes by car or 15 minutes by bus. Monterey Regional Airport is a little more than a 10-minute drive from the Carmel River Inn. 

Carmel River Inn has 19 guest rooms in a two-floor building, plus 21 separate cottages. Units have a simple but a fairly charming, country-style look. Neutral colors predominate, accented with shades of rust, burgundy, and mint green. The older, rustic cottages feature pine-log furniture, and can include elements like leather armchairs, weathered white chests of drawers, and geometric-print pillows. All units overlook the grounds, and some cottages have patios. Some of the older rooms and cottages are dated, but the biggest complaint is that all units lack AC. The hotel offers fans upon request, but they aren't always adequate for cooling rooms. Standard amenities include TVs (some are flat-screen TVs and others are tube models), coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and free Wi-Fi, and cottages add microwaves. Some cottages feature kitchenettes and/or gas or wood-burning fireplaces. Bathrooms come with hairdryers and either walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. Hairdryers are provided, and a few cottages have jetted tubs and separate showers. 

Property amenities at the Carmel River Inn are quite limited. There's a small, heated outdoor swimming pool (about 10 to 15 meters long) that's open year-round, surrounded by a deck that gets sun for most of the day. A croquet set is available for games on the tree-filled grounds. Free coffee and tea are on offer in the lobby, but there's no breakfast or on-site restaurant (several are restaurants within a short walk or drive of the hotel, and reception will offer recommendations) and there isn't a public computer. The front desk is open 24 hours a day, and there's free on-site parking and Wi-Fi throughout. The hotel is also exceeding pet-friendly. Up to two pets are allowed in each room, with a per-pet, per-night fee assessed. Pet bowls, sheets for pets to sleep on, and magazines with pet-related activities in the area are all provided for free. In addition, there is a pet-washing station outdoors, and nearby Carmel Beach has no leash law.