I have walked past this hotel on numerous occasions and finally booked a room this visit to Monterey. The location is great, just a couple blocks from Fisherman's wharf and Cannery Row is a leisurely 10 minute stroll on the marked trail on foot. This isn't more than a 2 star or so hotel. No gym, pool, etc. There is a spa there and if you step outside, Pubs, restaurants, theatres, coffee shops...you are IN downtown Monterey!. Room wasn't big at all. I was on 4th floor so even tho my queen suite was on the side, I was high enough to have a water view (standing and looking out) and a view down the other side. If I was drinking (more than I did) I would really dread that 4 flights of stairs as there is no elevator. This hotel was built in 1904 and the oldest around or maybe even in Cali and is charming with furniture and original flavor to match. I never use a gym or crap when visiting Monterey. If you are wanting a large fancy room and to be pampered with amenities, this isn't your place. If you want a quaint room and very friendly staff that stay out of your way unless needed, the location can't be beat.

I didn't have a choice but to stay here to go to a conference nearby, and we were on a budget, so the only place that was doable was this one, but even then I think this place is overpriced (maybe it's the whole town that's overpriced, not sure..), because it's kind of drab. Maybe if you like vintage style without style you might like it (well, the decorations are not to fine taste, it just seems old. I felt it was more like early 90s suburban, rather than fancy 20s).
Everything was quite average, nothing exceptional. The only reason I stayed there was because of availability and price in that immediate area, and it will stay that way.
That said, there was nothing really wrong with the place either, the front desk person was ok, the room and the bathroom were average. I didn't find anything dirty or broken.

I booked this hotel when I was attending a conference. The conference hotels ran about twice the cost as this one and this hotel is very close to the conference center and within walking distance to the sights. As others have said, this is a very charming, quaint, vintage hotel. Rooms are small but that didn't bother me. The worn carpet and no elevator also did not bother me. The staff are ultra friendly and I thought the complementary breakfast was great (bagels, muffins, juice, coffee, cereal, yogurt - really a nice spread for being complimentary) Also, the free wi-fi was nice as a friend told me that the Portola charges for wi-fi. HOWEVER....the noise is just a joke. The first night there was some hippie-ish peace, love and freedom group with a flute, drum and 3 chanters that were doing a group chant outside on the street for over an hour. Okay, I thought, it's still the weekend and they ended at a reasonable hour, that's probably as bad as it'll get. Not so fast. At 4:18 the next morning a truck was unloading something and left it's radio blaring. It woke me out of a such a sound sleep that at first I thought it was the radio alarm, when hitting snooze didn't work, I thought it must be my cellphone, then realized it was coming from the street! Okay, I thought, noisy radios could happen on occasion, just my bad luck it had to happen on a day I was staying at this hotel. I chuckled about it the next day and even joked to other conference attendees about my little "noise saga." I mistakenly thought the worst was over. It was not. Tonight, a Monday evening, a punk rock band is doing a gig at the Golden State Theatre. NO JOKE, you can read about it in the Monterey Weekly at: http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2012/oct/18/punk-healing/ . The Golden State Theater is almost right across the street from The Monterey Hotel. Their website is http://www.goldenstatetheatre.com/ My suggestion is to check out what events they have scheduled at the Golden State Theater before you book at this hotel because whether or not you are actually going to the concert, you will definitely be hearing the concert! I have one more night that still remains to be heard. What others have said about hearing people in the hotel and in the surrounding rooms, I have not found to be troublesome. It is just the incessant street party that seems to be going on outside that is why I will most likely NOT come here again. I am a light sleeper so maybe others who aren't would not have a problem. But, the hotel provided ear plugs (or any) don't really work to dampen the noise enough to be able to either get to sleep or stay asleep. It really is ashame because everything else about the hotel is great.

Great Place right in the heart of Old Town Monterey. Walking distance to great bars and restaurants. Very noisy from the street coming from the bars letting out. I would definitely recommend the Monterey Hotel and hope to be back.