“Oh, but it’s so expensive.” “You guys must be wealthy.” These are some of the comments I received when people asked if we were headed anywhere for summer. When I said our usual weekend in Carmel-by-the-Sea, I discovered these are the assumptions some have about the quaint European village by the sea.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it. The seaside resort town that loves dogs as much as their owners is not always a budget getaway. But, no, we’re not wealthy (but have a very rich life) and we go for two reasons: Hofsas House Hotel and the off-leash dog beach. We don’t usually do high-end dining, nor do we buy plates off the dog menus (yes, that’s a “thing” in town).
What we do is enjoy a hotel room with a full kitchen and easy access to the beach all day long. As the temperature rose to 100 degrees in Simi Valley, we headed up the coast. It stayed under 65 the entire weekend. Heatwave, who?
Carmel-by-the-Sea on a Budget
Stay at Hofsas House Hotel
Hofsas House Hotel offers reasonably priced accommodations in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The best part is their 37 rooms to select from. We stayed in the King room with a full kitchen and twin bed (room 21). While many hotels in Carmel-by-the-Sea can have you looking at upwards of $500 and above per night, Hofsas House offers lovely and personable hospitality at a fair price. We’ve been staying with them for over 10 years. We love seeing as our family grows, so does the love for Hofsas House.
This heatwave getaway had us tackling Mabel and both our dogs along for the ride. Room 21 which was optimal. We had a king bed, a twin, and a full kitchen. I shopped the day we left and had supplies along. It was great to have strawberries and juice at the ready to unload and have during the weekend. You could consider bringing groceries to make pasta, burgers, or anything the family is craving. The kitchen had utensils, plates, and some cooking needs. I would call before a stay and inquire about the exact availability of certain goods. But, this is certainly a terrific way to keep costs down during a beach stay.
You can either enjoy your meals at the dining table or al fresco as there are communal tables right outside the room. We love to start the day watching the fog roll in and sip coffee. In the evening, Carmel-by-the-Sea sunsets are a favorite.
Hofsas House Amenities
Hofsas House is right at the beginning of the Carmel-by-the-Sea village. We parked our car and only moved it once. That was to enjoy our beach afternoon with a tent and the dogs. The shops and cafes are all within walking distance from Hofsas.
From eight to ten am, they host a continental breakfast. I always take advantage of this hour to grab a few things for the day for Mabel. There are pastries, fruit, yogurt, and organic Carmel Valley Coffee.
Although many Carmel hotels do not have a pool, Hofsas does indeed. There’s also a dry sauna to keep with their European roots. Just a half mile up the street is Forest Hill Park. After a day at the beach, you think our kiddo and pups would have been pooped. Nope. This playground did the trick. There are also restrooms on sight.
Playing at the Beach
As mentioned, we go to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the entire family to soak up the beach. We packed our tent and beach toys from Target. Big tote of snacks, too, of course. The water is not warm but aren’t we used to that already? I will say, Carmel-by-the-Sea has something going for it. The ocean is a bright blue and pristine. I wish we could say the same for most of our local beaches. So, although it’s still cold, I can tell Mabel loves the true ocean blue.
Just under five miles by car is Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Before we headed out on Sunday, we spent the afternoon here. Downtown Monterey has so much to offer including their world-renowned Monterey Aquarium. I love to get an ice cream scoop at the gluten-free parlor, Revival Ice Cream. Although they have vegan options, it’s all about their award-winning Bee’s Knees honeycomb for me.
Book a Stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Summer is a wonderful time to escape the heat and visit Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are many ways to go on a budget (especially if weekdays are open for you). Check out the Hofsas House Hotel here and tell Carrie, their lovely owner (and a Hofsas descendant herself), that Mary sent you!
(Disclosure: Thank you to Hofsas House Hotel for hosting my stay on behalf of this story.)
