Portola Hotel & Spa
By the Top3Hotels editorial team. Based on Booking.com guest scores and reviews, location data and reference prices. We did not stay at this hotel. Updated 2026-10-24.
Book it if you want a full-service downtown hotel with a spa, gym, pool and restaurant within walking distance of Fisherman's Wharf. If you just need a good room near the Aquarium, the Victorian Inn scores higher for about €83 less per night.
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Sold out? See available alternatives →Who it suits and who should skip it
This is our Luxury choice in Monterey. It suits couples and travellers who want facilities on site: a spa and wellness centre, a gym, a pool, a restaurant and a terrace are all listed. Guests also like the spacious, modern rooms.
Value seekers should look elsewhere. Guests often call it expensive, and parking costs extra on top. Its score of 8.5 is lower than that of our cheaper Best Value pick.
Location and getting around
The address is Two Portola Plaza, in Downtown Monterey. The location score is 9.4 out of 10. Guests say Fisherman's Wharf, the Aquarium and downtown shops are walkable.
By our straight-line estimates, Monterey Bay Aquarium is about 2 km away, roughly 25 minutes on foot. Pebble Beach is about 6.1 km and Pebble Beach Golf Links about 6.2 km, both well over an hour on foot. Those two are far, so plan on a car, public transport or a taxi. Walking times have not been verified.
Beach appears in the provider facilities, but that does not confirm a beachfront position or any walking distance to the sand. Check a map before you count on it.
What guests say
The hotel scores 8.5 out of 10 from 1,511 reviews. It ranks joint 2nd of the 8 eligible hotels we compared in Monterey.
Praise focuses on location, with the wharf, the Aquarium and downtown within walking reach, and on the rooms, which guests describe as spacious, modern and tidy.
Value is the sore point. Some guests find the price reasonable, but many note it is expensive, with extra fees for parking. Factor those in when comparing.
Price and how it compares with our other two picks
Reference prices seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults came to about €261.13 per night, against a sample median of €200.26. These are not live quotes. Check today's price for your dates.
Our Budget pick, Monterey Bay Lodge, is a three-star scoring 8.1 at about €128.76 per night. Our Best Value pick, Victorian Inn, is a three-star scoring 8.7 at about €177.96 per night.
You pay about €83 more per night than at the Victorian Inn, for a lower guest score. What the extra buys is a fourth star and on-site facilities the other two do not list: spa, gym, restaurant and terrace. If you will use them, the premium makes sense. If not, it is hard to justify.
Why it made our top 3
We compared 8 eligible hotels in Monterey. Five-star hotels get priority for the Luxury slot, and a four-star can only qualify with a score of at least 8.5. This hotel has 4 official stars and meets that bar exactly, with over 1,500 reviews.
Listed facilities include a gym, a spa, a pool, a restaurant, air conditioning and a terrace. Availability, opening times and any fees must be checked for your dates.
Before you book
Room size, noise, renovation condition, breakfast inclusion and cancellation terms have not been assessed. Breakfast is not confirmed in our data, so check whether your rate includes it.
Ask for the parking fee and any other charges before you pay. The listing is tagged as pet-friendly, but conditions are not confirmed, so ask about rules and fees if you bring a pet.
Check prices on Booking.com ↗We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our pick.
Sold out? See available alternatives →Questions travellers ask
Is Portola Hotel & Spa walkable to Fisherman's Wharf?
Guests say Fisherman's Wharf, the Aquarium and downtown shops are walkable. By our straight-line estimate the Aquarium is about 25 minutes on foot.
Does it have a spa and a pool?
Yes, both are listed, along with a gym and a restaurant. Check opening times and any fees for your dates.
Is parking included?
No. Guests mention extra fees for parking. Ask the hotel for the current rate.
How much does it cost per night?
Reference prices seen for a 2-night stay in November 2026 for 2 adults were about €261.13 per night. Check today's price for your dates.
Is it on the beach?
Not confirmed. Beach appears in the provider facilities, but that does not confirm a beachfront location or a walking distance.