Travel & Stay

If possible, you should fly into Monterey Regional (MRY). Not only is it the closest airport (about 15 minutes from Carmel), but it's tiny and so quick/easy to navigate. San Jose (SJC) is roughly 1.5 hours and San Francisco (SFO) about 2 hours if you'd prefer more flight options. If you fly into SJC or SFO, the Monterey Airbus Shuttle provides convenient transportation to downtown Monterey.

If you're staying in Carmel-by-the-Sea, most activities are walkable. But if you'd like to explore Big Sur, Monterey, or Carmel Valley, renting a car is a good option. Ask your hotel about parking. Ride Share services do work in Carmel, but they can take longer to arrive than in a big city; plan accordingly.

Right on Ocean Avenue, the Normandy Inn is in the middle of the action! Rooms are $285 for weekend nights, but they're not yet accepting reservations for April of 2027.

Another little Inn right downtown. Because of the Big Sur Marathon, they're requiring a 4-night minimum stay and a 2-month cancellation policy, but a room with a king bed starts at $279. Call to book: 831-624-6046.

Nestled in the trees downtown, this little hotel is in a good location a few blocks from Ocean Avenue. Current room rates are all under $300 a night.

A quaint old hotel right downtown where our favorite Italian restaurant Il Fornaio is located. Rooms start at $300 a night.

Also right downtown, Lobos Lodge has rooms starting at $360 a night.

While this hotel is not walkable from the beach, downtown, or the wedding venue, it's only a 10 minute drive away. It has a pool and rooms start at $380 a night. Its location on Rio Road might make Sunday morning departures difficult. Ask the hotel about the impact of the Big Sur Marathon happening on April 25, 2027.

A few blocks from the beach and the wedding venue, this old-timey little inn is right downtown. Rooms start at $425 a night.

A personal favorite—this is a nice hotel a few blocks from the beach and the wedding venue. Probably the best location of all the hotels listed (in our opinion). Rooms start at $450 a night.

Also right downtown, this is the sister hotel to where we're getting married (La Playa Hotel). It appears to be newly renovated and gets good reviews. Rooms start at $700 a night.

A new hotel, Le Petit Pali gets great reviews and is right downtown. Rooms start at $700 a night.

The wedding celebration is at La Playa Hotel! If you're interested in staying here, let us know. If we have a block of guests, we can negotiate a small discount for rooms, which usually start around $1,200 a night.

There are currently 4 of these adorable little cottages available to rent… do not wait!!! Each has their own small kitchen. This location is ideal, less than 2 blocks from the beach and our wedding venue.

This cottage has a bedroom with a king-size bed and a pullout sofa in the living room and can accommodate four guests. With its soft colors and large, oak-shaded yard, it is ideal for families. It's fully equipped kitchen allows you to enjoy a meal or a glass of wine in your privately furnished yard or on the sitting deck with Weber barbeque. The living room has a Hi Def TV with streaming video and free wifi access. The bedroom has a flat screen TV. $542.50 / night + taxes. We've already booked this cottage so it would be available to our guests. Please email Emily (ebrownsf@gmail.com) to reserve.

This bright and sunny cottage features a private backyard with barbeque and lounge chairs, a bedroom with a king-size bed and a flat screen TV, and a full kitchen that's stocked with all of the essentials. The living room features a beautiful stone fireplace and Hi Def TV with streaming video. Accommodates four guests. $542.50 / night + taxes. We've already booked this cottage so it would be available to our guests. Please email Emily (ebrownsf@gmail.com) to reserve.

This beautiful house is about 3 blocks from the beach and 3 blocks to the wedding venue. It has 8 bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms, plus a beautiful, well-stocked kitchen and lots of hangout space. The bedrooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Each room has 1 bed (2 Kings and 6 Queens), but children are welcome. $5,000 / night for the entire house.

Carmel has notoriously strict short-term rental laws. Carmel Realty Company offers select homes with a one-week minimum stay. These often turn out to be a better value than anything you'll find on Airbnb or VRBO. Call or email them with your dates and headcount, asking for short term rentals in Carmel.

We have discovered some good options recently on Airbnb in Carmel. Be sure to drill down on the Carmel-by-the-Sea area if you want to be able to walk to the beach, wedding venue, and downtown restaurants.