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Recently, my husband and I went on an adventure to beautiful Carmel-by-the-sea. Although it’s been on my list for a while, this was the first time either of us had gone… but I assure you that it definitely won’t be the last! When I visited Charleston a couple of years ago, I thought for sure that that’s where I’d end up eventually but after visiting Carmel, I’m not so sure. I could totally see myself living here! Is that crazy? It has all of my favorite things…the beach, the forest and the prettiest fairytale cottages (not to mention perfect weather, delicious food and my favorites stores!). And this time of the year was absolutely breathtaking with blooming florals covering every inch. A lot of you loved the post that I shared last week that included what we did, where we ate and where we stayed…which brings me to today’s post: My Hofsas House Hotel Review.
Hotel History
For seven decades, the Hofsas House Hotel has been a staple in Carmel-by-the-sea. It’s pretty pink exterior and Bavarian-inspired design exude the type of European charm you’d see in a fairytale. We were lucky enough to meet the general manager, Carrie, who is the granddaughter of the originally founder, Donna. What started out as a group of four cottages grew to be full-fledged boutique hotel. Every inch of the hotel is personalized and you can see not only the history of the hotel unfold but also the pride that the family took in it. A friend of Donna’s was commissioned to paint a customized Bavarian-themed welcome mural along with three other paintings that don the walls of the hotel lobby while her ex-husband created the mosaic coats of arms, whose Latin words mean “Leisure with dignity.” Over the years, the hotel has spanned three generations being passed down to Donna’s son, Jack and ultimately to her granddaughter, Carrie. I was very happy to not only get a personal glance into the history of the hotel but to also get personalized recommendations from Carrie since my husband and I had not been to Carmel before.
Room Amenities
Each room features one-of-a-kind decor, free wifi and pretty much everything you’ll need for your vacation. There are also large suites available for newlyweds or family travel. Here is a glance at some of the amenities offered:
- Fireplaces
- Private Balconies
- Wet Bars
- Kitchens
- Patios
- Dutch Doors – perfect for welcoming a bit of cool ocean air into the room (plus they’re pink!)
Hotel Amenities
- Continental Breakfast – includes various pastries, fruit, yogurt, tea, juice and coffee.
- On-Site Parking
- Heated Pool
- Dry Sauna
- Dog-Friendly
- For larger groups (weddings, company meetings, family reunions, etc), a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen is available.
- No Hidden Fees (LOVED this perk!)
Special Packages
There are also special packages available for celebrating and entertaining!
- Monterey Wine and Lula’s Chocolates (we found Lulu’s during our walk around town – so delicious!
- Monterey Wine and Cheese Pairing
- Champagne and Cheese Pairing with Hofsas House engraved flutes (so yummy!)
- Carmel Wine Walk-by-the-Sea Passport
- Cinq Mondes Spa Bookings
- Golfing (Hofsas House has partnerships with four different golf courses in the area!)
- Monterey Bay Aquarium (receive a two day pass for the price of one)
Location
The location could not have been better! Carmel only covers one square mile and with the Hofsas House Hotel being so centrally located to the downtown area, nearly everything is accessible by foot. Just outside the doors are various restaurant options, unique shops, wine tasting rooms, and peaceful parks. We explored the town with ease and even took a short walk to the beach! By car, Pebble Beach, Monterey, Point Lobos and a slew of even more restaurants including our faves from the Barnyard are just minutes away. Further down the road, you can venture to Big Sur and view the beautiful winding California coastline along the way (a must-see!). With no shortage of shopping, eateries, hiking trails, beaches and other scenic points of interest, there is aways something to be discovered in Carmel.
Hofsas House Hotel Review: Overall Thoughts
We had an amazing stay! I was so pleased with Hofsas House Hotel and they made our first stay in Carmel absolutely magical! The hotel was well taken care of with many little nooks to explore. The room was very clean and spacious. Ours had a fireplace, kitchen and pretty much everything else you would need for a comfortable stay. We also stayed on the top floor so we had an amazing view of the ocean. I really loved the adorable dutch doors and the vintage furniture too 🙂 I also loved all the attention to detail with the artwork, architecture and incredible array of florals! Not one thing was out of place and yes, it’s very Instagrammable 😉 I was telling my husband that we could do a year’s worth of shoots here haha! The location was incredible – we were able to walk everywhere. The front desk staff was kind, helpful and ready to answer any questions we had. I can’t think of a more perfect place to stay. In fact, we’re already planning a return trip! 😀
I hope you enjoyed my Hofsas House Hotel review!
Will you be putting this pretty pink hotel on your travel list?
xo
