Home › United States › Monterey

United States · 3 · Our pick

The 3 best hotels in Monterey.

One Budget, one Best Value, one Luxury, chosen from 8 hotels Booking.com returned for the same stay. No endless list: pick your style and book.

The 3 best hotels in Monterey, United States: Monterey Bay Lodge (budget), Victorian Inn (best value) and Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa (luxury). Sourced guest scores and reference prices.

Selected with the Top3Hotels method · Updated October 23, 2026IndependentNo paid rankings

At a glance

BudgetMonterey Bay Lodge8.1/10 · €129 / nightBest ValueVictorian Inn8.7/10 · €178 / nightLuxuryMonterey Plaza Hotel & Spa9.1/10 · €380 / night
Quick dates:
Monterey Bay Lodge, Monterey
Budget
8.1€129 / night

Monterey Bay Lodge

★★★Downtown Monterey

Best forSmart-budget trips · Wellness breaks · Pool days

  • 8.1/10 from 1,745 guest reviews
  • 2.7 km to Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Chosen from 8 hotels
1,745 Booking.com reviewsLocation 8.9Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026

Lowest eligible reference rate · pool, free parking.

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Free parking
Reference rate
Check price & availability ↗

We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our picks.

Sold out? See available alternatives → Read the full review →
Map ↗
Report an error

Why this Budget pick
  • Guest feedback: 8.1/10 from 1,745 guest reviews; joint review-score position 6 of 8 eligible properties in the provider sample.
  • Budget choice: €128.76 per night was the lowest eligible reference price after reserving the upscale choice.
  • Price context: €128.76/night versus a sample median of €200.26/night (36% below the median).
  • Location: Downtown Monterey, Monterey. Address: 55 Camino Aguajito. Walking times are estimates from map distance.
Victorian Inn, Monterey
Best Value★ Our pick
8.7€178 / night

Victorian Inn

★★★Lighthouse District

Best forMost travellers · Sightseeing on foot

  • 8.7/10 from 1,720 guest reviews
  • ≈ 10 min walk to Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Chosen from 8 hotels
1,720 Booking.com reviewsLocation 9.4Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026
  • Guests sayLocation: Short walking distance to Cannery Row, the Aquarium, and Fisherman's Wharf.
  • Value: Competitive rates for the area, though daily parking fees add to the cost.
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Great breakfast
Reference rate
Check price & availability ↗

We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our picks.

Sold out? See available alternatives → Read the full review →
Map ↗
Report an error

Why this Best Value pick
  • Guest feedback: 8.7/10 from 1,720 guest reviews; joint review-score position 1 of 8 eligible properties in the provider sample.
  • Best Value choice: balances the guest score, the number of reviews and the reference price; it is not necessarily the cheapest hotel.
  • Price context: €177.96/night versus a sample median of €200.26/night (11% below the median).
  • Location: Lighthouse District, Monterey. Address: 487 Foam Street. Walking times are estimates from map distance.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Monterey
Luxury
9.1€380 / night

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

★★★★★Monterey

Best forSpecial occasions · Sightseeing on foot

  • 9.1/10 from 530 guest reviews
  • ≈ 12 min walk to Monterey Bay Aquarium
  • Chosen from 8 hotels
530 Booking.com reviewsPrice checked on Booking.com · 23 Oct 2026

The best-rated official 5-star hotel we found in Monterey on Booking.com: 9.1/10 from 530 guest reviews.

Reference rate
Check price & availability ↗

We may earn a commission if you book. It never changes our picks.

Sold out? See available alternatives →
Map ↗
Report an error

Why this Luxury pick
  • The best-rated official 5-star hotel we found in Monterey on Booking.com: 9.1/10 from 530 guest reviews.
  • Guest score 9.1/10 from 530 Booking.com reviews.

Compare the three hotels side by side · Hotels near: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach, California, Pebble Beach Golf Links

Do you agree with our three picks?

🏋️ The best hotel gyms in Monterey →

🏊 The best hotel pools in Monterey →

Reference rate: 10–12 Nov 2026, 2 adults, 1 room · Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026 – 23 Oct 2026.

Share:WhatsAppFacebookX✉ Email these 3 to me

Where to stay in Monterey

Each pick sits in a different part of town. Choose the base that fits your trip.

Budget

Downtown Monterey

Monterey Bay Lodge · 2.7 km to Monterey Bay Aquarium

Best for: Smart-budget trips, Wellness breaks, Pool days

Best Value

Lighthouse District

Victorian Inn · ≈ 10 min walk to Monterey Bay Aquarium

Best for: Most travellers, Sightseeing on foot

Luxury

Monterey

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa · ≈ 12 min walk to Monterey Bay Aquarium

Best for: Special occasions, Sightseeing on foot

Map

BudgetBest ValueLuxuryMonterey Bay Aquarium · Pebble Beach, California · Pebble Beach Golf Links

Monterey hotels compared

PickHotelAreaStarsGuest scoreRef. price / night
BudgetMonterey Bay LodgeDowntown Monterey38.1 (1,745)€129
Best ValueVictorian InnLighthouse District38.7 (1,720)€178
LuxuryMonterey Plaza Hotel & SpaMonterey59.1 (530)€380

Questions about hotels in Monterey

What is the best budget hotel in Monterey?
Monterey Bay Lodge (Downtown Monterey): 8.1/10 · 1,745 reviews · €129 / night
What is the best value hotel in Monterey?
Victorian Inn (Lighthouse District): 8.7/10 · 1,720 reviews · €178 / night · Guests say: “Location: Short walking distance to Cannery Row, the Aquarium, and Fisherman's Wharf.”
What is the best luxury hotel in Monterey?
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa (Monterey): 9.1/10 · 530 reviews · €380 / night
Where should I stay in Monterey?
Our three picks are in Downtown Monterey, Lighthouse District, Monterey. Open each hotel on the map to see the neighbourhood before you book.
Are these hotel prices live?
No. They are reference rates for 10–12 Nov 2026, 2 adults and 1 room, checked on Booking.com on October 23, 2026. The booking link shows the current rate for your dates.

How we pick the three

Budget is the lowest eligible reference rate. Best Value balances price and guest score. Luxury prioritises five-star hotels; if none qualify, a four-star rated 8.5+ is labelled as an upscale alternative. Every pick shows its source, review count and when we checked it. This is a data-based shortlist, not a paid ranking. How we choose →

Sources

Guest scores, review counts, reference prices and hotel photos: Booking.com. City photos: Wikimedia Commons. Sights: Wikipedia. Maps: OpenStreetMap. Price checked on Booking.com · 19 Sep 2026 – 23 Oct 2026.

Is your hotel one of these three?

Add the official Top 3 badge to your website. Copy this code:

Monterey Bay Lodge

<a href="https://www.top3hotels.com/monterey" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Top3Hotels Budget pick in Monterey"><img src="https://www.top3hotels.com/badge/monterey/budget.svg" width="180" height="60" alt="Top 3 Budget pick in Monterey 2026 · Top3Hotels"></a>

Victorian Inn

<a href="https://www.top3hotels.com/monterey" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Top3Hotels Best Value pick in Monterey"><img src="https://www.top3hotels.com/badge/monterey/value.svg" width="180" height="60" alt="Top 3 Best Value pick in Monterey 2026 · Top3Hotels"></a>

Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

<a href="https://www.top3hotels.com/monterey" target="_blank" rel="noopener" title="Top3Hotels Luxury pick in Monterey"><img src="https://www.top3hotels.com/badge/monterey/lux.svg" width="180" height="60" alt="Top 3 Luxury pick in Monterey 2026 · Top3Hotels"></a>

For hotels →

Add this Top 3 to your blog or website

Copy this code. It shows the three picks with photos and links, and stays up to date. Preview ↗

<iframe src="https://www.top3hotels.com/embed/monterey" width="100%" height="420" style="border:0;border-radius:16px;max-width:720px" loading="lazy" title="Top 3 hotels in Monterey · Top3Hotels"></iframe>

Near Monterey

Compare Monterey with: London · Paris · Rome · Barcelona · Amsterdam · New York

Run a hotel in Monterey?

Get a free badge for your website, see how travellers find you, or apply for a labelled partner feature with photos and video.

Work with us →

3 cities, 9 hotels, every Friday

One short email with three destinations and their Budget, Best Value and Luxury picks. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.

More in United States

All United States destinations →

★ Check price & availability