Carmel Lodge Offers Renovated Accommodations in Quaint City-By-The Sea

Carmel is among the country's most popular small-city destinations. Quaint restaurants, art galleries, boutique shops, unique homes, international conferences and famous golf courses are all back-dropped by the Pacific Ocean.

As a result, the city by the sea has a steady influx of global visitors. More than 900 rooms are available in 60-plus locations within a mile radius of the city's center.

So, while a visit to Carmel is a good choice for myriad reasons, it does present a dilemma: Where's the best place to stay? Logical choices, of course, vary depending on your reason for visiting the Monterey Peninsula - business to budget travel, a romantic getaway to golf.

Carmel is not an inexpensive destination, but one location that provides covers a good cross-section of accommodations needs is Carmel Lodge.

Formerly known as Carmel Sands Lodge, the 42-room property was family owned for several decades. But earlier this year, the property was purchased by a syndicate led by Fornine Investment Company of Pacific Grove.

Fornine chose Coastal Hotel Group of Seattle to manage the property and its renovation plans soon began. Within a few months, the motor lodge had undergone an exterior facelift, a name adjustment and interior renovations steadily progressed.

Carmel Lodge is located two blocks from Ocean Ave. (the city's main east-to-west artery), on San Carlos. And it's the location, along with the ownership and management changes and its renovation that has helped the property earn a continuing reputation as among the city's best values.

Certainly, there are more upscale properties. Likewise, plenty of places charge more and offer less. But during a recent several-night stay (just prior major room renovations), I spent several nights at Carmel Lodge while on a brief "business vacation" and enjoyed my stay.

Carmel Lodge has four room types, some featuring classic retro-looking furniture and decor and varying accouterments, microwave ovens to refrigerators. Six rooms also have wood-burning fireplaces.