1000 Aguajito Road, Monterey, California, United States | (618) 248-8274
Walking distance to the beach and Monterey Peninsula College
Spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs, microwaves,
mini-fridges; some with balconies
Heated outdoor pool, hot tub, cabanas, and a fire pit
Restaurant, bar, evening room service, and a breakfast buffet (for a fee)
Large fitness center with cardio machines and weights
Meeting spaces and 24-hour business center
Coin-operated laundry room and 24-hour convenience
store
Free Wi-Fi
Self-parking (for a fee)
Most attractions aren’t within walking distance
Breakfast buffet and parking are not free
Complaints of noise from other rooms
Room decor is generic and tired in places
The three-pearl Hilton Garden Inn Monterey is a
15-minute walk from the beach, across the street from the Monterey Peninsula
College, and a short drive from Monterey’s most popular
areas. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool and a hot tub that are complemented
by cabanas and a fire pit. It also has a large fitness center, and a restaurant with evening room service. The 204 guest rooms are modern and simply decorated and include flat-screen TVs, microwaves, and mini-fridges; some have balconies with pool views. But complaints have been made about bothersome noises. The clientele is almost
entirely couples and families, though business travelers occasionally stay here due to a
comprehensive 24-hour business center and fully equipped meeting spaces. Wi-Fi
is free but buffet breakfast and parking are not included in the rates. Travelers might
also consider the upscale Monterey Bay Inn for its oceanfront and centralized location and
free breakfast.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Modern and homey interiors drawing families and couples
The Hilton Garden Inn Monterey occupies a large
U-shaped building made of cream-colored cement and stacked stone. Gently sloped lawns with well-kept trees and flower patches surround the building, which encircles a central swimming pool. Guests check into a contemporary lobby with low ceilings and a circular atrium near the front desk. Cream-colored
couches and plush slate-gray chairs provide seating on a gray-patterned carpet near
a fireplace, while a brown couch and blue Victorian-style chairs sit next
to a large, red-framed window. There are several dispensers with free coffee, and potted flowers throughout the room. The lobby lounge bar has a blue,
gray, and cream color scheme. The restaurant’s decor differs in that it has low
lighting, dark wooden tables with chairs that have maroon or cream cushions,
and a brown-and-cream-patterned carpet. Guests are overwhelmingly families and
couples who are typically seen relaxing at the pool and eating at the breakfast buffet.
Location
A 15-minute walk to the beach and within driving distance of popular attractions
The hotel is located right off of Highway One and is a
15-minute walk from the beach and the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail. Across the
street is Monterey Peninsula College. Del Monte Golf Course is a two-minute
drive or about a 15-minute walk away. Guests can also reach El Estero Lake and Park Complex and colorful Dennis the Menace Park in about 15 minutes on foot. There
aren’t a lot of dining or shopping options on surrounding streets. However,
Fisherman’s Wharf, a pier with shops and restaurants, is under a 10-minute
drive, while Downtown Monterey takes five minutes to reach by car. Cannery Row,
an area with local shops, nightlife, restaurants, beach activities, and the
Monterey Bay Aquarium is 10 minutes away by car. Monterey Regional Airport is a seven-minute drive from the hotel.
Rooms
Contemporary rooms with microwaves and mini-fridges; some with pool-facing balconies
Rooms are fairly generous in size and have contemporary, yet simplistic, decor that’s a bit tired in comparison to other Hilton Garden hotels. Brown-patterned carpet, honey-colored wooden furniture, white linens, and lime-green armchairs provide a pleasant, if generic, backdrop. Each Suite includes a small
gray loveseat. Each room includes a flat-screen TV, Keurig coffeemaker,
microwave, and mini-fridge. Some rooms have patios with chairs or
lounge chairs and small tables, with the option of pool views. Note that top-floor rooms have odd-shaped patios due to the building’s structure and don’t offer great views. Guests have complained of noises from hallways and other rooms, as well as traffic noise, particularly when balcony doors are left open. Bathrooms have large black-and-gold granite countertops, Neutrogena toiletries, and shower/tub combos.
Features
Heated pool, on-site restaurant, meeting spaces, and a fitness center
The best feature of this hotel is the outdoor pool
area, which includes a heated pool, hot tub, fire pit surrounded by plush
chairs, and row of cabanas sheltering tables and chairs. The Pacific Grille serves a breakfast
buffet (for a fee) with hot and cold items and Starbucks coffee,
plus American and seafood dishes for dinner, and evening room service. There’s a lobby lounge bar serving alcoholic drinks, and guests can stock up on snacks at the 24-hour
Pavilion Pantry. There’s a large, comprehensive
fitness center with multiple cardio machines and a diverse set of weight machines
and free weights. Business travelers can make use of 6,500 square feet of
fully equipped meeting spaces and a 24-hour business center with a trio of computers, a printer, fax machine, and copier. Weddings are also held on-site, including under the outdoor gazebo, though its location next to the
parking lot may not be ideal for some. There's a coin-operated laundry room. Wi-Fi is free. Guests must pay a self-parking fee, which has
drawn complaints.
