Monterey Beach Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel [In-Depth Review]

The author stayed as an invited guest of Monterey Beach Hotel. All opinions are the author’s own, and Monterey Beach Hotel had no input in any part of this review.

Monterey Beach Hotel originally opened in the 1960s as a Holiday Inn. Since then, it has been a Best Western and an independent hotel called Monterey Tides. After extensive renovations, this iconic hotel reopened as a Marriott Bonvoy Tribute Portfolio hotel in August 2024.

Don’t let the fact that it’s part of a big-name hotel brand fool you. There’s nothing bland or cookie-cutter about this independently owned hotel. It’s a unique place that embraces its community. From the design of the interior spaces to the locally sourced menus, there’s no denying you’re in Monterey, California.

The hotel goes even further to give guests a fully immersive experience. It works with over 65 local partners, including food and beverage vendors, artists, and other local businesses, to bring the local community to each and every guest.

I was invited to check it out just about a month after it reopened. Here’s my take on this oceanfront gem in Monterey.

Booking the Monterey Beach Hotel

Monterey Beach Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is part of Marriott Bonvoy.

Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio brand is a collection of independent, boutique properties that offer bold styles and aim to connect guests to the local area. There are over 130 Tribute Portfolio hotels worldwide.

Rooms at Monterey Beach Hotel start at around 50,000 Marriott points per night, making it a great place to redeem those Marriott free night certificates.

There are lots of ways to earn Marriott Bonvoy points quickly so you can make a reservation in no time. You can use a Marriott credit card or transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Bilt Rewards. Of course, you earn lots of points by staying at any of Marriott’s extensive family of brands.

Cash rates range from around $200 to nearly $700, depending on seasonality. When paying with cash, be sure to use a credit card that earns lots of Marriott points.

Resort Fee

The Monterey Beach Hotel has a daily $25 resort fee, which includes the following:

• Daily $25 food and beverage credit
• Daily 2-hour e-bike rental
• Daily beach yoga class
• Enhanced high-speed Wi-Fi
• Nightly beach bonfire with s’mores
• Use of NOCS Provisions binoculars

You have to pay the resort fee even if you’re paying for your room with Marriott Bonvoy points.

Location of the Monterey Beach Hotel

The property is just off California State Route 1 (better known as Highway 1) in Monterey on Monterey State Beach. It’s a 5-minute drive to Monterey Regional Airport (MRY), which has flights from 8 U.S. cities on United, American, Sun Country, and Alaska (some routes are seasonal).

If you’re flying into a San Francisco-area airport, you have a drive to get to the hotel.

• San Francisco International Airport (SFO): 1 hour, 40 minutes
• Oakland International Airport (OAK): 1 hour, 45 minutes
• Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC): 1 hour, 12 minutes

Monterey Bay Hotel is convenient for exploring some of the area’s most popular attractions. It’s about a 13-minute drive to Monterey Bay Aquarium (one of the best aquariums in the U.S.) and a 9-minute drive to Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Pinnacles National Park, which would make a great day trip, is just over an hour away.

Checking In

The first thing you should know is that the Monterey Beach Hotel is the only beachfront hotel in Monterey, with 600 feet of shoreline looking out on the Pacific Ocean. The views are spectacular, and they were the first thing I noticed when I walked through the front door.

The lobby has floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the view, giving the feeling of being on a luxury ship or a wealthy friend’s living room rather than a hotel lobby.

The check-in process was quick and easy. I received a map of the property along with an explanation of where to find everything and what was included in the resort fee.

After that, I headed up to my room.

Ocean View King Room

My Ocean View King room was on the fourth floor facing the beach. The hallways were outside, which gave the hotel a retro feel. My room, however, had a distinctly modern coastal vibe that matched the location perfectly.

The front of the room had big windows that looked out toward the ocean. There were both sheer and blackout curtains, so you could adjust how much privacy you wanted.

There was a couch and a small table right in front of the windows. This was a great spot to get work done before I headed out for the day. The artwork on the walls was by local artists.

Right past my room’s door was a cabinet with a minifridge, an espresso maker with ceramic mugs, complimentary bottled water with glasses, and the most gorgeous teal ice bucket.

The TV was mounted across from the bed with a small ledge under it and hooks next to it.

There were outlets next to each side of the bed, including a 3-prong outlet and USB-A and USB-C ports.

As part of the resort fee, each room had a pair of binoculars for guests to use. You could watch for whales right from your room.

Bathroom

The bathroom and closet were at the back of the room. The closet was small but functional. It had hangers and a luggage rack, and there was a garment steamer in the drawers next to the closet.

The single sink had plenty of counter space and featured DS&Durga soap and lotion.

The shower and toilet were in a separate space. It was small, but the shower had plenty of hot water.

Amenities

Beach

Monterey Beach Hotel is the only beachfront hotel in Monterey. It has 600 linear feet of shoreline, offering sweeping ocean views.

Outdoor Pool and Hot Tub

The hotel had a secluded outdoor pool and hot tub.

The pool didn’t face the ocean, but it was a nice spot to relax.

Outdoor Sauna and Cold Plunge (Coming Soon)

The outdoor sauna and cold plunge area were still under construction when I visited in October 2024, but they were supposed to be up and running soon.

E-Bikes

Guests got complimentary use of e-bikes for 2 hours per day as part of the daily resort fee.

Fitness Center

A fully equipped fitness center was in a freestanding building just steps from the lobby. It had cardio machines, including Peloton bikes, as well as weights.

As part of the hotel’s resort fee, it offered a complimentary yoga class on the beach daily.

Pets

As a pet-friendly Marriott property, all pets under 50 pounds were welcome. In addition to the $150 nonrefundable pet fee per stay, there was a fee of $20 per night per pet with a maximum of 2 pets per room.

Gift Shop

The lobby gift shop sold a few snacks and essentials but also offered lots of locally made products and gifts.

Food and Beverages

The Lantern Room

The Lantern Room is the main restaurant at Monterey Beach Hotel. It is on the fourth floor and offers spectacular ocean views.

The food was excellent. I couldn’t stop talking about the incredible bread from local bakery Ad Astra.

The Lantern Room was open daily for breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.

Hot Tip:

Marriott elite members (Platinum and higher) who choose breakfast as their amenity dine in the Lantern Room. The Bonvoy elite breakfast includes a seasonal sliced fruit plate, a croissant, juice, and coffee.

Tidewater

The hotel’s beachside lounge is called Tidewater. It had cozy outdoor couches and firepits that overlooked the ocean and beach, so it was the perfect spot to watch the sunset each night.

During my stay, guests were free to use this area at any time, but it didn’t offer service. However, beginning in 2025, guests will be able to order through a QR code to have food and drinks delivered directly to their seats.

Lobby Lounge

The Lobby Lounge felt more like a cozy living room than a hotel lobby. It was a welcoming gathering spot for locals and hotel guests alike. It featured custom furniture, a fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows, inviting guests to stop and mingle.

The bar served local wines, local beers, craft cocktails, and light bites. On the weekends, you could find a selection of grab-and-go coffees and pastries at the bar.

Next to the bar was the hotel’s wine wall. This was a self-serve area where guests could sample locally made wines.

“Our entire wine list is local,” assistant manager Bastiaan De Winter told me.

In fact, Monterey Beach Hotel is the only one in the area that serves only local wines.

The hotel’s wine list, made in partnership with I Brand Winery, highlights family-owned wineries with a focus on sustainability.

The daily $25 food-and-beverage credit could be used at the wine wall.

The Lobby Lounge, another great spot to watch the sunset over the beach, was open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Service

The service at the Monterey Beach Hotel was flawless. From the servers in the restaurant to the front desk staff to the housekeeping staff, everyone I interacted with was friendly and helpful.

Final Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed my 3-night stay at the Monterey Beach Hotel in California. As Monterey’s only beachfront hotel, it’s a special place with incredible views. A few weeks prior to this trip, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, and as much as I enjoyed that stay (the breakfast was excellent), I would choose the Monterey Beach Hotel if I visited Monterey again.