Moonstone Cottages are three private oceanview cottages, nestled in a grove of mature cypress trees located right on Moonstone Beach Drive, steps away from the boardwalk, beach, and tidal pools. These distinctly different cottages offer quiet comfortable lodging and privacy...Perfect for a romantic getaway. Complete with one queen bed, quality linens, and ambient fireplaces and in-room amenities including European blend coffee, Dorothy Prentice bathroom amenities. Each cottage is equipped with gas fireplaces, refrigerators, microwaves, flat-screened T.V. And DVD player with a view of the ocean. Sorry, no pets.
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We were so happy with our stay here at the Mariner Cottage. It's the one in the back, so maybe a bit quieter, but still has an ocean-view due to the siting on the property. While the cottages are pretty small, they have everything a couple or single could need- thoughtful touches included tons of coffee with cream in mini-fridge, good tech, nice toiletries and even a windshield cleaning spot in the small parking lot. Lovely breakfast delivered each morning with a huge amount of scrambled eggs, wraps & juice. Any issues or help just up the road at the B. Dolphin. Recommend & hope to come again!
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Date of stay: May 2022
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Room Tip:Â all three a great!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were delighted with our recent stay at the Moonstone Cottages! We stayed in cottage #2, Garden Gate and it was charming. Everything you need is here, just bring the romance. Soft fluffy robes and towels, roomy jacuzzi, good quality amenities, coffee/tea maker, dishes, glasses and silverware. Small refrigerator and microwave too. But since you’re on vacation there is a conveniently located restaurant a few steps away. We spent time enjoying our beautiful view and strolling along the beach. This is definitely a home away from home with an amazing view and intimate local. Kudos Cambria Inns Collection for your superbly appointed rooms and your kind and personable staff. We’ll be back in September!
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Audrey Arellano, Marketing at Moonstone Cottages
Responded Aug 18, 2020
Thank you so much for your recent stay and for the great rating and review. We are so glad to know that you enjoyed your time with us and felt at home. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to seeing you again in September!
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We stayed at the Seascape cottage (front most cottage). It was nicely furnished and the bed was comfy. It has a microwave and small refrig. The fireplace kept the room temp perfect. The sunsets and sunrises were beautiful. It was very clean. It also has a very large spa tub.
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Date of stay: November 2021
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here last year and it was wonderful. Booked for this year and it was runned down in just a year. The same cottage- Seascape. The bathroom smelled like mold and the bathroom window was broken and could not open. I had breakfast the first morning and it was good, the second morning it was skipped for some reason and the kitchen I was told was closed. No customer service at all. Manager Karen does not return phone calls or emails. Too bad-it used to be nice.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I just returned from a 5 night stay at the Moonstone Beach Cottages. We stayed in the very first one nearest the street (the Seascape) and it was just incredible. From the hardwood floors to the marble bathroom. It was furnished just so nicely and kept very clean. The place was a little small, especially when you get your suitcases and whatever else you bring along. Definitely a "couples" place, no room for the kiddies. There are two other cottages on property, I didn't see the inside but outside equally nice. We would definitely return.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I booked the most expensive of 3 cottages described as 'peaceful, tranquil and private' (Seascape) for a Sunday night stay. On our arrival at 4.00pm we found the Dolphin Inn, where an e-mail a few weeks previously had told us to check in, closed and obviously undergoing a major renovation. A note on the back of the building directed us to the Sand Pebble Inn which was several hotels back along Moonstone Drive . The Seascape cottage was very exposed to the road(Moonstone Dr.) and all the passing traffic both car and foot. It was hard to hear the surf over the noise of passing cars and the view was not of the beach or surf as across the road there was a wooden walking path and then a steep drop to the beach. Cars, vans and even small RVS were parked at various points on the road. The small exposed patio at the front of the cottage was only raise a few inches above the road level and had a tiny bench on it less than 4 feet I think. The cottage was just wide enough for a double bed and the only way to sit by the fire(gas) was to move the small upright chairs in to the walk by space at the bottom of the bed. The kitchenette was a small surface at the back of the room with the usual appliances. The bathroom had a jacuzzi tub on one side of the door and a toilet and dark shower with a curtain on the other side of the door. I don't think there was a door in to the bathroom which was visible from the front door as you entered or from outside if lights were on. While we were looking at the cottage two sets of people came right up to the front of the patio to remove a brochure advertising the cottages from a box placed there. Of course they stared in the windows also. The only way to be private in this cottage was with all the blinds closed. Parts of the hardwood floor were scratched and did not look very clean. We were told at the Pebble Inn that they were not delivering breakfast to the cottages any more as it was too far away but we were welcome to walk over and have breakfast(self serve) at the inn. This was a major disappointment for our 24th. wedding anniversary. Eventually the receptionist at the Sand Pebble Inn gave us an oceanfront room there but otherwise we would have left as we felt so uncomfortable. The two other moonstone cottages looked similar but were set back on the long narrow lot between Moonstone Dr. and highway 1, one behind the other with a little staggering so you could see the ocean from the door of the second cottage. There was an empty lot to one side of the cottages and a few cypress trees on the cottage lot but not a"grove" as advertised.
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Date of stay: March 2009
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our stay at the Garden Gate Cottage in May was a return trip for us to the Moonstone Cottages. We stayed last year in the Seascape cottage which sits closest to the small highway and ocean in front of the cottages. We thought privacy from people passing, whether walking or driving, was not as desirable in the Seascape cottage compared to the Garden Gate Cottage which sits one cottage back from the street. It would be nice if the Seascape Cottage had a large umbrella on the small outdoor deck, and some type of screen to afford privacy if you wanted to sit outside on the deck instead of just being "out there". The Garden Gate Cottage has a bench in front of the cottage under a large shade tree, assorted flowers, and more privacy. :) Both of the cottages are decorated very nicely, are clean, have upgraded finishes with hardwood floors, feel fairly new, and are fun to enjoy. The cottages are quite small, (especially if you have alot of luggage) but they pleasantly accommodate two people. Just don't plan on a spacious feeling when you stay in one of these cute cottages. We enjoyed the fireplace, the table in front of the large window looking towards the ocean where we dined, the beautiful bathroom with separate shower and large jacuzzi tub, refrigerator, the comp cookies. and the assorted coffee supplies. There is a lengthy boardwalk across from these cottages that runs along the ocean, a walker and jogger's paradise. The nearby town of Cambria is quite small but enjoyable to explore. Sandy's Deli in Cambria makes great sandwiches! During our second day in Cambria, we took approximately a 20 minute drive South to the small town of Cayucos and enjoyed a pizza lunch from Frank's Pizza on the oceanfront. Frank's Pizza is very small but a takeout pizza party by the beach was fun and the pizza was very good. The beach was not terribly crowded with people but was definitely more welcoming to beach lovers with its wide sandy beach, restroom facilities, and beautiful ocean front than the ocean area of the Moonstone Beach Drive area where the Moonstone Cottages are located. Both areas are nice but quite different. Negatives about our stay would include a very narrow driveway that goes past the side of the Seascape cottage, curves around in front of and to the opposite side of The Garden Gate Cottage, and curves again past the Mariner cottage and to the parking area in back of the Mariner Cottage. The Mariner Cottage is the third cottage back from the street. If you are driving a very large XL SUV like we were, good luck executing the curves! A separate straight driveway that runs along the opposite side of all the cottages and back towards the required parking area has been blocked off with flower boxes preventing use of this driveway to access the back parking area and avoid the narrow winding curved driveway. Anyone with a very large vehicle can appreciate how nice it would be to have been able to use the straight driveway to access the parking area. We contemplated moving the intentionally placed flower boxes so we could access the parking area without removing paint from the building and fence, but we resisted. :) Prices for these cottages are a bit high and the comp breakfast boxes brought to your room have a disappointing assortment of choices and are not impressive in amount or taste. In summary, we enjoyed our holidays at the Moonstone Cottages and would recommend these cottages to other people.
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Date of stay: May 2011
Value
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moonstone Cottages is the most unique vacation spot I have ever been to. We had our own private cottage, practically on the beach. The gardens were fantastic and full of color. The rooms were designed with the best in mind. Everything was so extravagent. But most of all it was private. We had the best time.
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Date of stay: March 2005
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed at the very pretty and bijoux sized Garden Cottage. The three stand-alone cottages are the perfect setup for this COVID-19 situation. Our cottage stands about 100 feet from the boardwalk, across the two-lane road. The bedroom area approximates 200 sq ft. The bathroom probably takes another 90 sq feet and has a separate shower stall, commodious jacuzzi tub, good-sized vanity and sink. Direct views of the ocean and stand of trees from the bedroom windows. Loved that the windows open, allowing for the crisp, fresh ocean breeze to freshen the room. Loved that there are heater and fireplace in the bathroom and bedroom, to warm the cold ocean breeze. Loved the skylight that could be opened and closed. Loved our warm, comfortable beddings and pillows which kept us very cozy during the night long after the fireplace had been shut off. Enjoyed bathing in the deep, soaking jacuzzi tub; we brought our own Eucalyptus bath salts and the bathroom smelled like a eucalyptus grove. Brought our own power strip bar, allowing us to charge our electronics in one spot; but if we only had our cell phones, then the outlets available would be sufficient. Loved the cute touch of Brown Bear mascot. We called him "Burrell" :-) Appreciated attention to small details like providing paper towels, windex, and windshield scraper at the parking area. I have never seen this "extra" anywhere else.
Excellent next-door location to the Moonstone Bar and Grill, which is an elevated and upscale b&g...they also strictly observe Covid precautions for their guests.
Brown-bag breakfast for the two of us was brought to the door at 8:00am promptly on each of the two mornings. Breakfast consisted of: 2 small canned orange juice, 2 mozzarella cheese sticks, 2 small yoplait yoghurts, 2 small muffins, 2 granola bars.
For guests staying 2 nights or longer (2 breakfasts), I would suggest to vary the breakfast contents, say vary the type/flavor of muffin and granola bar and switch yoghurt and fruit cup between day 1 and day 2 breakfasts. Also would be nice to add a "meat" item such as turkey a/o beef stick.
Parking is EXTREMELY tight. Making three-point turns within the parking area for a vehicle larger than a Toyota Corolla would be nearly impossible. We have a 2020 Corolla, and while we were able to turn around the car to face the street without "off-roading" into the soft dirt, it took several partial turns. Fortunately, there are two workarounds: (1) Park at the Blue Dolphin Inn parking. It is within 100 feet of the Moonstone Cottages (2 minute walk). (2) Park off-street, in front of Moonstone Cottage property.
The armoire closet would have been sizable enough for our clothes, except that the placement of the iron holder blocked a quarter of the would-be available space. Would suggest re-positioning the iron holder to the bottom corner, so that it would not get in the way of hanging clothes.
All-told, our stay at the Garden Cottage was a true high-point of our mini-vacation and will, hands-down, stay at the same cottage once more should we find ourselves again resting and renewing in the California Central Coast :-) !!!
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Date of stay: November 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Audrey Arellano, Marketing at Moonstone Cottages
Responded Jan 6, 2021
Thank you for choosing to stay with us and for the great and detailed review. Your feedback is very much appreciated and helpful to us. We have since updated our breakfast since your stay and have brought back a modified version of our pre-covid hot breakfast menu items served picnic-style to your door. Thanks again. We do hope you stay again next time you're in Cambria.
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We stayed in the "Seascape Cottage" closest to the ocean (and the the road between the cottage and the ocean). There were a lot of positives: the owners of this hotel know how to pay attention to the little details that matter like plenty of towels, electric fireplace, good TV, a Keurig with lots of pods, breakfast included, decent bathrobes and slippers, cookies hanging on your door when you come back to the room at the end of the day, refrigerator with a couple of bottles of water when you arrive & restocked each night, Wi-Fi service included at no extra charge. Appreciate that they do not nickel and dime you. Leave the window open at night to listen to the ocean waves rolling in!
Some things to consider: Poor cell reception and no long distance - past 12 miles- on room phone (or maybe it just cost for that service, I can't remember). However if your cell phone works on Wi-Fi, you're set. The breakfast delivered to the room is super convenient, but not too delicious. My guess is that the quality might be hit and miss (the oatmeal was super salty) - maybe stick with granola and yogurt if you want something to start your day (get something in your stomach) without having to go find a breakfast spot. Also, I knew it would be a queen bed which was fine for us-no way a king is fitting in those quaint little places. I would stay there over the Blue Dolphin Inn (even though the Blue Dolphin has king beds and fireplaces) because of the privacy. Also I think I would only choose the front cottage. If I did stay in the middle cottage, I would bring a couple of folding chairs to set up to sit outside. The tiny little bench for that cottage is awkwardly located around the front of the cottage and feels kind of shoved into a little spot. Seemed claustrophobic to me.
But yes, would stay there again; in fact we probably will. Also we ate at Robin's Restaurant downtown; it was nice, service excellent, but remember where you are are order simple dishes. We also ate at Madeline's which was #1 on Tripadvisor when we went. It had a nice atmosphere which leant itself to a quiet, romantic dinner but our waitress was so incredibly loud...we thought it was funny because it was so out-of-place, but well not really romantic (at all). And the night we ate there, the chef was out and the sous-chef was cooking; he overcooked everything. We will not go back there. We did have delicious pie at Linn's Restaurant. Also we picked up a few snacks for the room from Cookie Crock Market on 1240 Knollwood Dr.; might be biggest grocery around? It was totally good for getting some fruit, water, snacks to keep in room.
Lastly, a quick note on ​Piedras Blancas Light Station & the lighthouse tour which was terrific! I think it was $10 each and lasted a couple of hours...lots of interesting history and info on the flora and fauna of the area!
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Date of stay: November 2017
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Â We liked Seascape, front cottage closest to ocean (and to road which was fine with us).
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Cambria area.
ALSO KNOWN AS
moonstone cottages hotel cambria
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSan Luis Obispo CountyCambria
NUMBER OF ROOMS
3
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