We stayed for one night at the property. Our room was large and tastefully decorated. But it had an extremely annoying high-pitched hum night and day. I reported this to the front desk the morning we were leaving. They offered to send up Engineering - but nothing else.

The property is about 6 blocks from the Aquarium (which was a great take-in for our daughter). On the other hand, any facilities related to the hotel's spa (including the hot tubs, sun decks, saunas, etc) are off-limits to anyone under 18. Also keep in mind there's a Facilities Fee of $15 per person / per stay to use these.

The property is not convenient to the downtown section where many shops and restaraunts are located. So you'll need to deal with the hassle of getting your car from the valet ($18 / nt) any time you want to go somewhere.

As others have noted, breakfast at the restaraunt isn't so great, though the view is nice.

If we visit Monterey again, we'd stay elsewhere.

The most exciting day of my life, October 28, 2006, turned into a nightmare at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa. I feel totally violated after someone entered our room and stole my wedding jewelry and bouquet. The most expensive aspect of our wedding celebration was this hotel. We expected a safe and secure room for $500.00 per night. Instead, I got ripped off. I do not recommend this hotel to anyone.

After our wedding ceremony and dinner, we returned to our room 2213 and found our beds turned down. We changed into more comfortable clothes, I removed my jewelry and placed it in my jewelry case. My husband and I went on a walk around 8 pm and returned before 10pm. There was no reason for housekeeping to enter our room as the beds were already turned down. However, during our absence, someone entered our room and took my beautiful wedding bouquet and my wedding necklace and earrings.

Just before turning in for the night, I decided to put my bouquet in water to help preserve it, however, I couldn't find it. I had left it on a dresser on the far side of the room. I couldn't believe someone from housekeeping would throw it away so assumed that my mom or bride's maid had taken it on home with them.

Upon arriving home on Sunday evening and unpacking my suitcase, I realized my jewelry box was not there. My mom and my bride's maid verified that they had not picked it up. Had I known before checking out, I would have refused to pay the $500.00/night room fee, but it just never occurred to me that there could be security issues in an expensive hotel such as the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa.

I have been in touch with the hotel and all security says is that they have asked the housekeeping staff if the jewelry was found in the room. They say no and that's it. (Do they really believe someone would admit to taking it?) They have reviewed the security log for the room and have nothing to report. (Someone entered that room and they don't have a record of it. What kind of security is that? - sounds like an inside job to me.) They have not offered any compensation, not even so much as a credit for one night.

I will never stay there again. I would not recommend this hotel to anyone because of the lack of safety and security as well as their lack of concern for their guests.

Worst experience we've had at a supposedly high quality hotel in years. Starting with the worst problem and working down to irritations:
1.The entire wing was at about 85 degrees all night, two nights. There was nothing that could be done with the themostat (no A/C) to help on this. If you opened the windows ----unfortunately we were on the costlier bay side------the sea lions, maybe 300 of them, were barking very loudly all night and all morning without let-up. Neither I nor my wife could sleep.
2. The shower in our room made a noise like an alarm clock every time it was used, for the entire time it was in use. Four for four on this.
3.We all know that "ocean view" means a view from an angle. But when the room is ,in writing, presented as built directly over the water like on a cruise ship, I really wasn't expecting a plaza overlook.
4. It took 10 minutes to get hot water--ironic is it not?----even though I guessed right on which direction to turn the knobs and persevered steadily. I hate to think how long it could have been.
5.This is one of those places that charges you a daily spa membership fee (waxes, saunas, etc.) if you want to use the treadmill and weight machines. I think these are 2 very separate activities and, in the context of everything else, this felt like a rip-off.

My wife started to complain but the reaction was so blase that she gave up and concluded that the number of complaints had likely numbed the staff to customer concerns. Congrats to those who had a better stay than we did. We think you were very very lucky!

My husband and I stayed there August 29, 30, 31 for our anniversary. We booked an "ocean view" room (plus spa package), but really the first view come in sight is the concrete block of a building which you can see in one of the "Traveler Photos" "Schooner's As Seen From The Spa." We had a terrible experience with the spa. My husband's massage was average. The server was not able to adjust the pressure as requested. I was refused a pedicure AND manicure because the server said I have fungus in my toes. When I requested that she present such spa/hotel policy to me; she had none to show. She showed me a list of health regulations from some Board. I saw provisions related to stripe throat and such but none regarding fungus. When I spoke with the spa director and assistant director on the phone, they were unable to show any written policy regarding the determination of fungus or refusal of services. I'm still waiting for a reply to this day. When I informed the hotel my displeasure and requested to talk to a manager, "none were available as they were all in a meeting." I had to leave without a resolution because I did not want to miss my flight. I was offered a refund of spa charges but don't know if it was reflected in the total fees, as I still have not received a final statement from the hotel. I'll report back when I have some updates.