Hofsas House in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Price: $$ For: Couples, families Cleanliness: 4.5/5 Comfort: 4/5 Recommended: Yes

Features: Big rooms, pet-friendly, convenient location, free parking, wine-tasting discounts Official Links: Hofsas House Website, Facebook, Twitter at @hofsashousehotel

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a tiny town along the California coastline with charm and character. What better way to enjoy the sites of the city and nearby attractions than to stay right in town. Hofsas House is a homey place for the whole family to unpack, unwind, and un-stress. From here, you can stroll to the other side of town or sink your toes into the fine, clean sand beside the ocean-side beach (our favorite chill spot).

The Hofsas House was designed with a Bavarian feel, with two stories above street level and two below (a solution to work around a city ordinance). It’s a lovely family-owned/-built/-operated hotel with oodles of rooms. There’s plenty of complimentary guest parking on-site. However, the driveways are VERY steep so make sure your car has good brakes.

Our Stay at the Hofsas House Hotel

Friendly staff at the front desk checked us into our pet-friendly room quickly. WHOA! The accommodations were huge! Let’s just say that Speckles was out breath after giving the place on sniff over. She and my daughter felt right at home soon after arriving though. However, with such large areas, it was a bit tough to watch the 20-something inch tube televisions that were set up in each room.

I knew there were supposed to be two rooms (one bedroom with two daybeds in the common area) but I was not expecting two bathrooms. One featured a double vanity outside the shower/toilet area while the other had only one sink but the same counter length. Sweet!

Beds were comfortable, everything felt clean, temperature was perfect, and we had nothing but peace and quiet for all three nights of our stay. The kitchenette contained dishes, a microwave, a coffeemaker, sink, and a mini-refrigerator – everything needed for packing a picnic lunch or having a bedtime snack. During the day we enjoyed a nice view with a peek at the ocean. In the evening, we curled up near the fire.

Details, Details . . .

The decor was, well, very vintage. This was fine but the beds squeaked and the bathroom counters were unusually short. I did get to tour a few renovated units sans the floral wallpaper and with new bathroom and kitchen areas. So, if you prefer your lodging to be a bit more modern, ask if one of these units are open for vacancy.

While there is an accessible room at the hotel, our room was on the third floor with no elevators on the premises. Since Speckles was still recovering from her leg surgery, I had to carry the 57-lb furball on the stairs to and from our room. Yeah, that was quite a workout.

Breakfast in the lobby consisted of pastries (yum!), coffee, orange juice, fruit, and yogurt cups. The heated pool is available year-round and reservations can be made to use the small meeting facility right next to it.

If you need suggestions for where to go or where to eat, feel free to ask at the desk. The mom, son, or daughter of the Hofsas family would be more than willing to help, as would any other employee on duty. Oh, and don’t forget to take advantage of their special packages like the discounted Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea Wine Tasting Passport or Beach Fire and S’mores package.

Final Impressions

My family and I enjoyed our stay at the Hofsas House. The location was perfect and, with spacious rooms, gorgeous views, amiable staff, tranquil settings, and key amenities, it’s a cozy home away from home we’d be happy to return to.