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We have stayed here several times pre-Covid so I didn't really expect to have any concerns. We've loved the rooms and location so booked our stay as usual. We travel with our dog and it has plenty of dog friendly walking areas near by. This time we were in what must be the older part of the hotel but even that wasn't that concerning. We checked in around 9 pm and our room smelled strongly of disinfectant with the bathroom floors feeling wet like housekeeping had just left. The TV remote was not wrapped in something indicating it had been wiped down like every other hotel we've stayed in since COVID. There were glass glasses also unwrapped so we had no idea if they had been handled/cleaned properly so used the paper coffee cups for water instead. Then there was the used bar of soap in the shower that pretty much sealed my concern. The parking lot was packed so I'm assuming they had a full house which also means less time for a proper cleaning and airing out in between guests. I rarely write negative reviews but felt compelled to share our experience in a place we used to book but will be looking for alternatives on future visits.
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Date of stay: October 2020
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Response from David Lurie, General Manager at Carmel Mission Inn
Responded Dec 2, 2020
We so sorry and would like to apologize that you had such a poor experience. We do take your feedback very seriously and have reviewed this with the entire team as we are always focused on improving our guest experience. There is no excuse when we let down our customer and are adding additional training and inspections to remedy this for the future. As the new General Manger to the property I hope you will give us another chance to regain your trust in our team and property. Please feel free to reach out to me directly to assist you in a future stay and thank you for your feedback.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
First, used to be one of my favorite hotels, but things have radically changed.
Negatives::
We reserved a room with a balcony with a great view. The slider was broken and not sufficiently repairable. The housekeeper came to help (wonderful staffer) and after seeing her struggle, we decided on a new room. She packed everything, got new keys and front desk assisted. New room was an updated room so off to a good start. However, it was over the pool and lots of partiers until 1:00 AM. Not great for sleeping.
Our neighbors were pot smokers and we don't care but didn't want to smell it in our room. Unsure if they were smoking in the room or balcony but I will say you could smell it in the parking lot 2 floors down. We did not complain; didn't want to get them in trouble but it was a PITA for us.
Noticed no safe in the room. We called and one was delivered later in the day. How do you forget a safe when that is part of the room decor?
The drawers were not clean and there were cookie crumbs, etc. there. Very unpleasant.
We came to eat our restaurant but were told it "is closed Monday and Tuesday"! This is a hotel near Carmel and Big Sur. Closed Monday and Tuesday .. seriously?
The ice/water machine was broken on our floor. We had to go 2 floors down to get ice or water. Oh, you can have bottled water at $6 per bottle.
Positives::
The staff is very nice but they just can't do much. They try to fix things but there is that "mañana" attitude. It will get done whenever.
Keys didn't work after first day. Had to go back to desk to get re-programmed. A "sorry" would be nice.
The towels are nice.
The robes are rough and scratchy and hard to wear.
The soap and lotion LOL says "if you'd like one, don't take it and stop at desk and you can have each for $40". It's like Softsoap aloe. Couldn't stop laughing.
Slippers? None
The internet/coffee/pool/hot tub are all "free" but in reality are covered in the Resort Fee. So you can't surf or swim for that matter for free.
It was a disappointing visit.
Neutrals:
Good location. The gas station and Starbucks didn't bother us. Parking was good but you pay for it in the 'resort fee'.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Restaurant closed Monday & Tuesday
Ice / water machine do not work.
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Response from David Lurie, General Manager at Carmel Mission Inn
Responded Aug 24, 2023
We apologize for your experience during your stay last week. Staffing is a challenge in this area but no excuse and we apologize. We are a smoke free property and we do everything in our power to enforce that with signage and in our registration card with fees that apply out of respect for all of our other guests. When we purchased the hotel we learned that the previous owner disposed of all the safes and they are slated to be purchased by the end of the year. We just implemented the soap and lotion as an effort in sustainability removing bar soap and mini lotion bottles (plastic) from the property. This has been overall well received but again our apologies. We certainly are saddened that we were not able to provide you with a memorable stay and hope that you would give us another chance on your next visit to Carmel. Please reach out to me directly so that I may assist you with a future stay. Again our sincere apologies. David
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked this hotel for 2 nights through Expedia. First night for $40.00 less than 2nd night. When I questioned the price difference, the front desk told me that it is based upon availability. Mind you, we stayed Weds and Thursday. We were placed on the ground floor in the back parking lot. When I asked for a room change, I was told there were none available. Next time- I will book direct with the hotel. The room was cute, clean and had a retro feel. Bed was comfortable. Bathroom is small and when showering, the tub filled up with water. The walls are thin, so I recommend bringing ear plugs. This is a dog friendly hotel and there were a lot of them! The pool area looked nice. Be forewarned there is construction to the restaurant and front of the hotel.
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Date of stay: April 2021
Room Tip:Ask for a room on the inside of the hotel and not the back lot.
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Response from David Lurie, General Manager at Carmel Mission Inn
Responded Apr 5, 2021
Thank you for your review. We apologize for your stay not being more perfect. This weekend was Spring Break and Easter so we experienced a high volume of families with their pets. We will be completing all the updates you mentioned just in time for the summer business and hope that you will come back to experience it. Please feel free to reach out to me directly to assist you with you next stay.
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My husband and I planned a last minute trip to Carmel area after our previous holiday weekend plans had to be cancelled. I attribute most of my dissatisfaction with this hotel to my inability properly research this hotel. I called in to ask for a military discount and the reservations agent seemed to know less than I did. He was unable to see rooms available that I saw on the hotel website and he gave me incorrect information about a parking fee which we discovered when we arrived at the hotel and had to pay a resort fee for parking. We were upset about this because the lot was very full and we had difficulty the one evening finding a parking space.
The decor is dated. The hallways have a musty smell. Our bathrobes were ratty and deteriorating. Our WiFi did not work for the duration of the trip. We had to log off and on to the server every 15 minutes.
There was a dog across the hall from us. This would have been good to know when checking in as my husband is highly allergic to dogs and cats. It barked for much of our stay.
I was very disappointed with our stay after spending $800 for a 2 night stay.
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Date of stay: May 2021
Value
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Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Review collected in partnership with this hotel
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Response from David Lurie, General Manager at Carmel Mission Inn
Responded Jun 4, 2021
We are so sorry to hear about your stay and are making considerable efforts to make all new including the pool area and spa. We hope you will give us another try and feel free to reach out to me to assist you.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I want to give this property a very straight ahead review, and try to take any emotion out of it.
First the Positives: - The rooms are recently updated, to a very nice modern standard, so if a clean mid-sized room with decent amenities and finishes are a priority, they are more or less just fine. - The pool is average sized for and appointed better than many motels, but that's about it. - Some of the staff try to please, like at the front desk, but not so much Stephanie, showing no empathy when our reserved corner (quiet) room was given away to someone else. Had to escalate to Mary when she assigned a noisy King balcony, small highway facing room. - Breakfast was above average for a motel cafe, with $16 omelet, nice size and quality. - Plenty of parking (it's a roadside motel after all), but see comment on "Resort Fees". - Convenient to surrounding two shopping centers, and offering services and good shopping options a few steps away. But you take the good with the bad. The property is definitely NOT adorable or surrounded in nature, like in-town Carmel or Carmel Valley options.
The Not-So Positives: - This is a cosmetically, if tastefully, updated roadside Motel! Most of the rooms face fairly noisy Hwy 1, so don't expect relaxing solitude when you sit out in the courtyard or on your small balcony space (some rooms have). The pool inside the courtyard masks the outside world, so you trade those sounds for pool sounds. We didn't. It was quite cool during our October stay. - Every hotel/motel has the right to set their rates wherever they want, I'm a free market advocate, as long as they market their rooms honestly and transparently. Alas, like a growing number of "resort-wanna-be's" the Carmel Mission (not to be confused with the Carmel Mission Ranch, the latter actually near the Carmel Mission!) is most certainly not a "resort". - Which brings me to the main point here, is that this Management/Ownership lists their motel without spelling out the $28 (w/extra taxes!) "Resort Fee". We booked on the phone with the front desk, and that was never mentioned. Til we arrived! And then gotcha. - They claim their Resort Fees pay for "wi-fi, parking and local telephone calls." But lets be honest here: Those things do not a resort make. And besides, all motels are surrounded by parking, or they wouldn't be motels! And every hotel everywhere today has free wi-fi, even Motel 6! We all have cell phones, so how are "free local calls" in room, a resort feature at all?? And then the in-room water bottles all at $5 each. Do real resorts charge that? (Photos)
I for one grow weary of hotels and motels laying claim to "resort" status, but when you walk past these ground floor rooms, the little patio areas are basically grey concrete cinder block! So let's a bit get real here! There are no tennis or golf facilities (the stuff of resorts) only ample asphalt parking all around! (So don't expect killer views either.)
I think I would have rated this property a 4-Star, even at the same rate, if we booked it knowing the "all in" price, had they not tried to game us. Credit to the manager that quickly made that "accommodation" when we mentioned it.
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Date of stay: October 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:If you are sensitive to noise, ask for a room facing south (toward the Safeway/CVS shopping...
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Response from David Lurie, General Manager at Carmel Mission Inn
Responded Oct 28, 2022
Thank you for the kind and honest feedback. You are right we are a 3 Diamond property and an upgraded Motor Lodge that many of our customers really enjoy. We have upgraded the public space: lobby, courtyard with firepits, restaurant and pool furnishings. We continue to focus on the staff experience to create a warm a welcoming stay for our guest and apologize that you did not have that with one our our staff members. As a property that is trying to be sustainable we have switched to Aluminum reusable water bottles and have filtered FloWater refilling stations around the property hence the charge. The Resort Fee might be better suited to be called a Facility fee and we offer Free WiFi, no additional charge for parking, Free access to Fitness Center, often complimentary arrival amenities in the lobby, upgraded compostable coffee and tea service in the room, and for our guests with electric cars today we offer free charging stations. We feel our rates are certainly reflective of not being in Carmel by the Sea (5 minutes away by car) and yes on Highway 1 between two shopping villages. With gratitude, thank you for the constructive feedback we will certainly use it in our efforts to continue to upgrade the property and service.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
