Carmel is our favorite spot on the west coast...a place we return to as often as we can; thus I added another visit (our sixth) to Carmel as part of a Christmas gift surprise trip to California for my wife which included attending the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade. We enjoy bed and breakfast inns and, on previous trips to Carmel, have stayed at other B&B's. In planning this trip, I selected the Carriage House Inn largely based on Trip Advisor reviews! Having spent the day driving up the incredible Pacific Coast Highway 1, we arrived to find the daily wine and cheese reception underway in the inn's warm and cozy living room. The hostess, Tanya, immediately made us feel welcome insisting we enjoy the wine, cheese, crackers, fruit, cookies, etc. before showing us to our room. Upon entering the room, we were impressed with the spaciousness, fireplace, comfortable furnishings, amenities including a mini-fridge with complementary beverages, robes...even an umbrella! We also appreciated the off street parking at the bottom of the stairs below our room. The Carriage House Inn has a great deal going for it and much to recommend including a terrific staff all of whom we got to know during our four day stay...Cathy the manager, Tanya, Terry and Laurie...all were very helpful and accommodating. The Inn is spotlessly clean with exceptional in-room maid service every day. The location just over a block from the center of Ocean Avenue's restaurants and shops is ideal; nearly everything in Carmel is within walking distance. And, of course, breakfast delivered to the room each morning is, to say the least, a very nice touch not often experienced elsewhere. The primary "to do" for the owners came up in conversation every evening at the wine and cheese reception...the need to update the antiquated TV's with flat screen models. It requires two remote controls to operate the TV's which often results in staff having to go to the rooms to show guests how to navigate the confusing process. One does not go to Carmel to watch TV; however, with most shops closing in the early evening, watching a movie (the Inn provides DVD's to guests at no charge) or TV after returning from dinner should be easy...one remote control and no remedial instructions necessary! We learned from other guests who have stayed at the Carriage House Inn before that some of the rooms have been updated. Our room, while very comfortable and well appointed, was not one of them and could use a bit of attention (wallpaper beginning to peel and missing tile caulking in bath; weatherstripping and door threshold to prevent cold air entering room which required use of towels to block). All in all, we very much enjoyed our stay at the Carriage House Inn and, assuming the same terrific staff is still in place, will likely return.

Everyone was very nice, and the room was very pretty. It was essentially what we expected, so no disappointments - clean, large, continental breakfast in a basket. They are really centrally located, so all of these things are in the plus column. This is not an intimate B&B, so make sure you set your expectations accordingly. Also, just a suggestion -- don't listen to any of the suggestions from the management as to where to eat -- ask your friends, or do your own research.

Liked the wine and cheese and opportunity to meet other guests; appreciated the friendliness of the staff and their assistance with recommendations on restaurants; the rooms were quite spacious and the bed was very comfortable; I liked being able to have a fire in the fireplace since it was cold and dreary in Carmel. The location was very convenient and within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops. We could have walked but we drove to the beach. Off-street parking was a plus.

The host who greeted us was very friendly and it was one of the most fun wine hours at a B&B that we have experienced. The other guests were friendly and it felt more like an intimate party than a complimentrary wine hour.

I was torn about writing a review, but wish someone had called out some of the details about the room because I was disappointed when we saw it. The staff was so nice, that don't want to say any thing to discourage anyone from trying the Carriage House; we travel a certain way and these type of things may not bother other travelers. We paid about $300 a night, and though we can pay more than $500 for a premium B&B, we still expect certain amenites at that rate. The rooms are large, but they have not been updated, I would guess, for over 20 years. The wall paper and bedding is dated, and can't remember the last time we didn't have a flat screen TV. The overall amenites, room and breakfast are appropriate for a moderate, not premium Inn.

We decided we would go back if we paid closer to $200 a night because that feels like the appropriate level.