I didn’t think deciding where to stay in Monterey Bay would turn into a whole family summit, but here we are—three weeks out, seven tabs open, and I’ve toggled between “book it now!” and “we should sleep on it” about five times.
This is our first coastal getaway with our daughter where she’s old enough to really remember it. She’s six. That magic age where every tidepool looks like a treasure map and even the hotel shampoo feels like an adventure. So yeah, we’re excited. But that also means we’re overthinking every little detail—especially where we’re going to sleep.
Monterey isn’t exactly a choose-your-own-adventure town when it comes to family lodging. It’s more of a “get this part right, and the whole trip clicks into place” kind of decision. The wrong call, and we’re eating microwaved mac and cheese on a wobbly Airbnb stool or squeezing into a hotel room that felt bigger in the photos.
Here’s how we’ve been thinking through it—and where we’re leaning now that we’ve combed through every last review, floor plan, and Google Maps street view we could find.
Why This Decision Feels So Big
A few years ago, we would’ve booked the cheapest boutique hotel with a decent rating and called it a win. But kids shift your entire center of gravity.
What used to be a question of charm or location is now about:
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Can we all sleep comfortably?
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Is there a place for her to wind down without feeling trapped in a corner?
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Will we have to eat every meal out?
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What if she wakes up at 6am and starts singing “Let It Go” at full volume?
Basically: do we want more space and freedom, or convenience and predictability?
What We’re Prioritizing (as Parents of a Six-Year-Old)
Everyone’s threshold for “comfortable” varies, but we’ve realized ours comes down to five things:
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Separate sleeping areas. Not necessarily separate bedrooms, but at least enough room for our daughter to crash early without forcing us into total darkness by 8:30 PM.
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Breakfast without a rush. We like starting the day on a relaxed note. Whether that means coffee in pajamas while she plays or walking down to a buffet—it has to be easy.
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Walkability. We’re aiming for less car time, more coastal trail time. Cannery Row, the Aquarium, the beach—all within stroller or scooter range if possible.
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Easy check-in, low drama. After a 3.5-hour drive, the last thing we want is a host who “just left the keys under the rock by the third bush on the left.”
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Quiet at night. We don’t need luxury. We need sleep.
Airbnb: The Tempting Option
We found a couple of Airbnbs that had us this close to clicking “Book Now.”
One of them—a cozy craftsman-style cottage a few blocks from the water—had a full kitchen, two small bedrooms, and a little patio. It looked like the kind of place you’d read bedtime stories with the fireplace crackling and feel like you’re living in someone else’s better-organized life.
The second was a modern studio with a Murphy bed, slick interiors, and rave reviews—except one person mentioned noise from the upstairs unit and limited street parking. That gave us pause. As much as we like living like locals, we don’t want to hear them at 11pm on a Friday.
Airbnb Pros (for us):
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Space to spread out
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Kitchen = less eating out = less chance of hangry meltdowns
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Feels more like a home base than a layover
Cons:
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Reviews can be… generous
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No daily housekeeping (yes, this matters when your kid thinks sand is a souvenir)
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The check-in process is hit or miss
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Some places look better online than they feel at 9pm with a sleepy kid
And one big unknown: How much downtime is too much “doing chores in someone else’s house”?
Hotels: The Predictable Option
On the hotel side, we narrowed it down to two:
Option A: The InterContinental Clement Monterey. Right on Cannery Row, walkable to everything, ocean views, and—let’s be honest—a bathtub that looked big enough to qualify as an attraction.
Option B: A smaller, locally run inn just off Lighthouse Ave. Clean, quiet, family-run. Not flashy, but warm reviews from other parents made it a serious contender.
Hotel Pros:
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Staff on-site (when you need an extra towel at 10pm or a Band-Aid after an unexpected tumble)
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Daily cleaning = reset button every morning
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Breakfast options either onsite or steps away
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No “house rules” or checkout chores
Cons:
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Less space to unwind
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Eating every meal out = $$$ + energy drain
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Can feel tight once suitcases, a scooter, and bedtime toys are unpacked
Option C: Stage Coach Lodge.
A little further from the waterfront, but tucked in a quiet neighborhood with an outdoor pool and a bit more character than your standard motel. It’s close to Lake El Estero and Dennis the Menace Park, which feels like a bonus for families. Rooms come with mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffee makers—which means we could start our mornings without rushing out the door. Not fancy, but charming in its own lane.
Normally, a solid hotel breakfast is a deciding factor for us. On past trips, it’s been a sanity-saver—especially with a hungry kid before 8 a.m. But this time, we actually don’t want to eat in. We’re looking forward to finding a great local café or a mom-and-pop bakery that feels uniquely Monterey. So the breakfast situation didn’t carry the same weight in our decision this time around.
What We’re Leaning Toward (and Why It Surprised Us)
After all that, we’re leaning toward the hotel.
Here’s why: As nice as the Airbnb space sounded, we realized what we really want from this trip is less responsibility—not more. We don’t want to scrub pans. We don’t want to figure out the coffee maker. We want someone else to make the bed and tell us where to find good clam chowder nearby.
And if we’re honest, Monterey Bay is walkable. Being based right on Cannery Row means we can do the Aquarium, grab lunch, watch the sea lions, and head back for a nap—all without strapping our daughter into a car seat or figuring out a side-street parking puzzle.
That convenience? It’s worth giving up a second bedroom.
What We’ve Learned So Far (That Might Help You)
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Look at the sleep setup first. Some Airbnbs call a pull-out couch in the corner of a studio “family friendly.” Not at 8pm, it’s not.
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Google Map the address. That “10-minute walk to the Aquarium” might include a steep hill, no sidewalks, or a super busy street. We now check every address from a parent’s POV.
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Read reviews from other parents. They’re gold. You’ll learn quickly whether walls are thin or if the breakfast is just a tray of Costco muffins.
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Think about what you want at 6am and 8pm. Those two times matter more than you think when you’ve got a kid in tow.
Our Shortlist
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The InterContinental Clement Monterey
Pros: Location, service, comfort, easy reset each day
Cons: Pricey, no kitchen -
Victorian Inn
Pros: Free breakfast, fireplace rooms, walkable
Cons: Room layouts not ideal for early kiddo bedtimes -
Stage Coach Lodge
Pros: Situated in a quiet residential area, this boutique lodge offers family-friendly amenities like an outdoor pool, mini-golf, and a diver’s wash station. Rooms come equipped with microwaves, mini-fridges, and Keurig coffee makers. It’s within walking distance to Lake El Estero and Dennis the Menace Park, and a short drive to Cannery Row and the Aquarium.
Cons: Lacks the upscale polish of larger hotels, and some guests have noted limited breakfast
We haven’t clicked “Book” yet—but we’re almost there.
Would we miss the homey vibe of an Airbnb? Maybe. But right now, we want to soak up tidepools, not wash dishes. We want to walk out the door and see sea otters, not wonder where the nearest coffee is. And if that means trading space for service, we’re okay with it.
What about you? If you’ve done Monterey with kids—what worked best for your family? Would you go for the kitchen and space, or the breakfast and bell desk?
Let us know. We’ll take any wisdom we can get—especially before we hit “Confirm Booking.”