Oct 24

Oct 24 Where to Stay in Carmel-By-The-Sea: Hofsas House Hotel

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Last weekend, Nick and I were lucky enough to be hosted by Hofsas House in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. If that city sounds familiar, it is because it is close to Carmel, Monterey, and the ever popular Big Sur. Driving from LA to Hofsas House, we took the 1 to the 101 (not a full scenic drive - still managed to see dolphins from the highway at sunset though!), but on the way back to LA, we took the PCH and were able to experience the coast in all of its beauty. If you are thinking of visiting California’s Central coast, first of all, do it! Second of all, stay at Hofsas House!

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FYI: Carmel-By-The-Sea is not the same as Carmel. it is near it, but it is its own ordinance! It has its own quirks like the fact that are no addresses, only street names. They also don’t allow any chain restaurants or such, so that local businesses can thrive. I love and appreciate all of that, but I think my favorite part is how walkable it is. I’m going to do an entire travel guide on Carmel and the surrounding areas, so enough on that for now! I just wanted to give you a feel for the area, before diving into where to stay.

Madewell Oversized Sweater | Spanx Faux Leather Leggings (wearing a M) | Ray-ban Sunglasses | Rothy’s Camo Sneakers (c/o)

If you think Carmel-By-The-Sea sounds like a fun visit due to its location and spirit, Hofsas House Hotel will fit right in with your soon to be itinerary. I LOVE staying at places with heart and character and Hofsas House sure delivered that experience. Hofsas is a family owned and operated hotel that dates back to the late 1940’s. While they have continued to update and modernize their amenities (like a heated swimming pool!), the original charm and roots stand firm. To this day, the granddaughter of Donna Hofsas, the original owner, still runs the business. While we were there, I had the pleasure of meeting Carrie (the granddaughter) and she was a real treat. I love meeting people who are passionate about their work and you could definitely see that her family’s history and hotel were of utmost importance to her.

I’ve been referencing the hotel’s heart and soul, but it is actually quite pretty too! Looks AND a personality ;) Its light pink structure is eye candy among more modern structures, as is the Bavarian-themed welcome mural painted by Maxine Albro. Don’t forget the rooms! We stayed in dog friendly suite (Carmel is VERY dog friendly), that I’m pretty sure was bigger than our LA apartment. They have rooms perfect for solo travel, all the way up to family sized, so come one, come all! The fireplace and balcony were perfect for kicking back after a long day and the Hofsas hospitality of cheese from the Carmel Cheese Shop and a yummy Pinot from Schied Vineyards, made it even more enjoyable. Wake up before 10 am and be sure to grab some of their fresh fruit and local pastries, so you can be fueled for a day of exploring. They only have 38 rooms, so while they do have space and quite a few people, they are able to keep their boutique feel and personal touches in tact.

As someone who gets parking anxiety, I LOVE that Hofsas has easy and accessible parking within the hotel lot. Carmel-by-the-Sea is pretty popular, so it is nice not to fight for a spot. The area is SO walkable and near a lot of restaurants, shops, and of course the beach. For sure go and visit other areas like Monterey, 17 mile drive, and more too, as those things are just a short car ride away! The location of Hofsas could not be more perfect! Also, it is a quick 2ish hour drive from SF or a little longer of a drive from LA (5ish hours no traffic). There’s lots of good stops on the way though, like Santa Barbara and Paso Robles. California has so many great spots and now that I live here, I’m excited to experience more and be able to frequent my favorites. Hofsas House and Carmel-by-the-Sea, you were great and I will be back!!