The Monterey Bay-Central Coast area of California can claim any number of items that attract waves of visitors, and famously so. One other thing it provides, with all the quality and a fraction of the recognition, is great group lodging. The venues that go above and beyond in that category function well on a number of fronts, from unforgettable settings to scalable conference space to accessible entertainment. Here are our Group Getaway Hotel winners in Carmel Valley and Carmel-by-the-Sea, selected by our editors.
Featured photo: Courtesy of Quail Lodge & Golf Club
Stilwell Hotel
Each of the hotel’s 42 guest rooms include a variety of special features, many with full or Juliet balconies and downtown views. Created for groups by the Stilwell family of Carmel. At the heart of the property, is its grand central courtyard – an upscale oasis for guests to gather for a cocktail, glass of wine or beer, made-to-order wood-fired pizzas from an al fresco oven. Or opt for one of the firepits placed throughout the grounds. Plus, Stilwell Hotel is one of the few Carmel accommodations perfect for private events, with meeting facilities that open directly onto the courtyard.
HIGHLIGHT: Staying in the winter and wanting to stay warm? Book a hotel room with a fireplace and cozy up next to it in one of the plush bath robes that are provided for guests.
Carmel Valley Ranch
Want to try your hand at archery? Falconry? Beekeeping? Or maybe you just want to play a round of golf on a par-70 Pete Dye-designed course? Spread across 500 acres in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Carmel Valley Ranch has space for it all — including three different swimming pools. The almost overwhelming activity menu also might include cooking classes, foraging hikes, or yoga in a hilltop pavilion. The extensive fitness program includes barre, circuit training and water yoga while the menu at Spa Aiyana features ten different types of massage — making it one of the best hotels for wellness as well as luxury. Among the resort’s 181 rooms are a variety of accommodation styles and levels, many featuring fireplaces, private decks or both for a true hideaway vibe, meaning you can add it to the list of the region’s best hotels for romance, too.
HIGHLIGHT: “Equine experiences” involve interacting with the ranch’s five horses as a form of relaxation and learning. Therapist Robert Magnelli, who calls himself The Horseman, developed the programs, which include the adult-oriented Growing Awareness and the family-friendly Getting to Know the Herd. You can also hang with the herd of goats, alpacas, cows, chickens and their babies born on the property.
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
A hillside compound in Carmel Highlands, just south of the spectacular Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and only a 10-minute drive to Carmel-by-the-Sea, Hyatt Carmel Highlands has had several incarnations since it opened in 1917. Today its 48 luxurious guestrooms, scattered across rustic buildings, include 11 suites, 32 ocean-view rooms and five garden-view rooms with modern Mission-inspired furnishings; some have full kitchens, as part of the onsite Hyatt Residence Club (which goes by the resort’s original moniker, Highlands Inn.) The highly esteemed, California-inspired Pacific Edge restaurant provides a sweeping vista to the striking shoreline just across Highway 1.
HIGHLIGHT: The heated, sheltered pool and three outdoor hot tubs provide great gathering places to relax after a day of hiking in Big Sur, shopping in Carmel or wine tasting in Carmel Valley. You can also toast your adventures in style at the appropriately named Sunset Lounge, which offers a wall of windows overlooking the Pacific and live entertainment on weekends. The site of many special culinary and wine events over the years, the inn has a reputation for top-notch food and drinks.
Quail Lodge & Golf Club
Picture 93 ranch-style bungalows set amidst 850 acres of verdant valley that was once a working dairy and you’ll have a sense of Quail Lodge & Golf Club, a Carmel classic since 1964. Closed in 2009 after 45 years of operation, Quail Lodge reopened in 2013 following a ground-up renovation and redesign by Barry Design Associates, the design team behind the Beverly Wilshire and Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Vaulted ceilings and tall windows nod to Eichler, framing spacious rooms with plenty of living space ranging in size from 395 to 650 feet. Although it’s luxurious, its rates are among the more moderate.
HIGHLIGHT: In addition to the 18-hole golf course (updated in 2015) that put Quail Lodge on the map the grounds incorporate three tennis courts, pickleball, bocce ball and a nine-hole putting green. The on-site restaurant, Edgar’s, celebrates sustainable seafood and locally grown produce serving up grilled octopus and shrimp, Monterey Bay sand dabs, and farmers market salad.
Hidden Valley Inn
A family-friendly gem in Carmel Valley, Hidden Valley Inn welcomes guests with simple pastimes that never go out of style, including swimming in the seasonally heated swimming pool and picnicking on the inn’s grounds outfitted with classic lawn games like cornhole and ladder ball. Best of all, downtown Carmel Valley is right at your doorstep, with wine tasting venues, boutique shops and farm-to-table restaurants all within easy walking distance. Choose from 21 rustic country-style rooms. Morning coffee and pastries are on the house.
HIGHLIGHT: Perfect for a family reunion or small wedding, groups can stay together in the inn’s two-bedroom house that includes a full kitchen and pull-out sofa bed in the living room or reserve a block of rooms. And in some rooms, the family dog is welcome, too.
Los Laureles Lodge
The history of Los Laureles Lodge in Carmel Valley dates back to the 1930s, when the 7,000-acre property was deeded to Señor Jose Boronda by the Mexican government. Along with cattle and wheat, the rancho became known for its fine cheeses. Later, it served as a hotel for visiting dignitaries and was also purchased by Muriel “Vanderbilt” Phelps. Today, this historic lodge welcomes guests ranging from families and friends traveling together to wedding groups with a variety of room types to suit everyone’s needs—some with jetted tubs, fireplaces, and indoor and outdoor seating areas. Warm days call for a dip in the large swimming pool, while cooler evenings lure guests to the historic mahogany-paneled saloon and restaurant for drinks and dinner by the large stone fireplace.
HIGHLIGHT: There are plenty of rooming options for groups of different sizes to choose from, including standalone cottages; adjoining rooms; and the Hill House, a three-bedroom, two-bath house with a full kitchen and panoramic views of Carmel Valley that sleeps up to nine guests. Wedding ceremonies are held under a sprawling oak tree, and meeting facilities are also located onsite.
Bernardus Lodge
The sun-kissed resort is barely two decades old, but like a swath of European countryside, it feels like it’s been there for centuries. The elegant guest quarters offer plenty of room for friends and family traveling together — all kitted out in state-of-the-art technology and creature comforts ranging from deep soaking tubs and fireplaces to king-sized featherbeds with goose down comforters and Italian linens. Its Lucia restaurant is considered one of the best between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, with an emphasis on hyper-local cuisine. And with so many amenities on site — a spa, heated swimming pool, hot tub, hilltop adults-only infinity whirlpool, weekly live music, croquet and bocce lawns, and lighted tennis courts — there’s plenty to do for everyone in your group.
HIGHLIGHT: With more than 70 lodging options to choose from, guests can spread out in individual suites and guest rooms or stay together in one of the luxurious villas. A number of special events and meeting spaces are primed to host everything from traditional wedding receptions to more playful meetings like bocce ball or cooking classes.
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