Portola Hotel & Spa

Hotels
8.5 (2982 reviews)
Two Portola Plaza , Monterey , us

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Heating
Terrace
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent location near Fisherman’s Wharf and main attractions
Lovely lobby and atmosphere
Comfortable beds and generally clean rooms
Family friendly options (connecting rooms)
Friendly, accommodating staff (majority of reports)
Cons:
Pricey — expensive breakfast and additional parking fees
Rooms can be small with limited views
Variable staff experiences at check-in for some guests
Room maintenance issues (A/C, pillows, worn carpet, lint on sheets)
Pool small/located across the street and sometimes unclean

Categories

Cleanliness
7.4
Generally reported as clean in many rooms (comfortable beds, clean bathrooms) but several guests noted worn/old carpets, lint on sheets, an unclean pool and occasional odors — mixed cleanliness impressions.
Service
9.2
Mostly praised: numerous comments about friendly, accommodating staff and helpful guest services, though a few reports of unfriendly check-in experiences and curt staff at times.
Location
9.8
Consistently highlighted as excellent — walking distance to Fisherman’s Wharf, aquarium and many restaurants/shops; repeatedly described as a prime, convenient location.
Room Quality
8.1
Rooms often described as comfortable with good beds and nice bathrooms, but several guests noted small rooms, limited views, A/C or ventilation issues, flat pillows and other maintenance concerns.
Amenities
7.6
Lobby and public spaces much liked, but amenities had drawbacks: small or across-the-street pool, limited bar hours, no elevator in some cases and parking fees — amenities are decent but constrained.
Value for Money
7
Multiple mentions that the hotel feels pricey: expensive breakfast, additional parking charges and a general sense that some rooms/amenities don’t fully justify the cost.
Food and Beverage
9
Food generally got positive notes (nice restaurant, tasty breakfast) though some guests complained about high prices and isolated issues (bar smell/cleanliness).
Overall Experience
9.9
Overall very positive: many guests call it a lovely hotel with a great atmosphere and enjoyable stays, with the strong location and service outweighing intermittent negatives.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-08-11 13:19

Property Description

Luxurious Accommodations
Experience comfort and style at the Portola Hotel & Spa, just steps away from Fisherman's Wharf. Unwind in guest rooms equipped with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs, refrigerators, and eco-friendly bath products.

Scenic Views and Relaxation
Indulge in breathtaking views of the harbour from select rooms, offering a tranquil escape from the bustling city life. Rejuvenate your senses at the on-site spa, ensuring a truly relaxing stay.

Prime Location
Located only 1.6 km from the iconic Cannery Row, our hotel provides easy access to the area's historic attractions and vibrant atmosphere. Book now for an unforgettable stay at the Portola Hotel & Spa.

Important information:

Guests may make reservations for a maximum of 9 rooms. 10 or more rooms is considered a group and needs to be booked directly through the sales department.

Please note that digital credit cards are not accepted at check-in. A physical credit card with the guest's name must be presented at check-in.

Pool Closure: Please note that the pool and hot tub will be closed November 30 through December 31, 2025, for maintenance. The pool at the Monterey Sports Center, near the Portola Hotel, is open to the public.
Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Airport code: MRY

Location

Guest Reviews

8.5
Based on 2982 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.4
Service: 9.2
Location: 9.8
Room Quality: 8.1
Amenities: 7.6
Value for Money: 7
Food and Beverage: 9
Overall Experience: 9.9
J
James • extended_group • us
10
Amazing
Pros:

Excellent location to ward

Cons:

None

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
S
Sonia • extended_group • es
5
Pros:

La zona del hall era bonita.

Cons:

Nos hicieron esperar una hora en la recepción para ser atendidos a nuestra llegada.
Además, la habitación no estuvo lista hasta después de las 16:00.
Teniendo en cuenta que solo íbamos a estar una sola noche y que pagamos 500€, podrían haberlo tenido en cuenta y facilitarnos la entrada antes.
No volveríamos.

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
K
Kai • family_with_children • us
5
Cons:

Our bathroom sink was clogged, so we requested maintenance service. A staff member came to clear the sink, but unfortunately, the problem was not resolved and the sink remained clogged until we checked out. It was inconvenient to use the bathroom without the working sink. But the staff who came to fix was friendly.

Also, at check-out, the front desk staff told me that the receipt would be emailed to me. It has now been three days, and I still have not received it.

I was disappointed that both issues were not properly resolved during our stay.

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
A
Aarif • family_with_children • nz
9
Highly recommend. We would stay again.
Pros:

Clean, excellent location, very good value for money

Cons:

Such a nice hotel and facilities, we were surprised they didn’t bathroom slippers for guests

2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
C
Craig • family_with_children • gb
10
What a lovely spot, great location and lovely hotel.
2026-08-26 • via Nuitee
A
Alexis • solo_traveller • fr
8
Pros:

Bel hôtel, chambre spacieuse et confortable.
Restaurant correct dans le grand hall de l'hôtel, parking disponible avec l'hôtel.

Cons:

Dommage que la décoration des chambres soit plus vieillissante que le hall de l'hôtel qui a été rénové et est très joli

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
M
Magalie • family_with_children • fr
8
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
L
LEE • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-08-23 • via Nuitee
R
Ronen • family_with_children • il
9
מומלץ בחום
Pros:

מלון מפנק , חדרים מקסימים , מיקום מעולה .

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
C
Cesare • family_with_children • it
10
Pros:

Ottima struttura, nel centro vicino a tutto, al molo, ristoranti, centro negozi, piscina e SPA bellissimi da poter usufruire…
Staff gentilissimo e parcheggio

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • couple • us
8
We enjoyed our stay, except for the previously noted issues.
Pros:

Great staff, good restaurant.

Cons:

No designated pet area. Bed pillows in poor condition. No counter in bathroom.

2026-08-21 • via Nuitee
M
Matthieu • family_with_children • fr
7
Ok sur la route vers SF
Pros:

La localisation au calme de la ville et son atmosphère

Cons:

La taille de la piscine (très petite) et le personnel limite désagréable

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
S
Shahar • family_with_children • il
9
2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
M
Maria • family_with_children • gb
7
Comfortable at the heart of Monterey
Pros:

It was stylish, clean and comfortable

Cons:

The staff. Reception staff were disinterested and unfriendly and the bar/ restaurant staff borderline rude

2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
L
Laetitia • family_with_children • fr
10
Très bien
Pros:

Chambres très confortables, piscine agréable

Cons:

Pas de petit déjeuner

2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
L
Leonid • family_with_children • il
10
Wonderful stay
Pros:

Nice hotel in a great location with spacious suites and beautiful décor.
We stayed in a city-view suite on a high floor. The room was cozy, and well-maintained, including the spacious bathroom.
Comfortable beds.
It was walking distance to the wharf and beach promenade.
A nice bonus during our stay was the car show event hosted by the Sotheby’s motorsport.

Cons:

Pool was outside a main building.
The price was a little high.

2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
W
Will • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
G
Gavin • family_with_children • gb
9
A great stay
Pros:

Very comfortable and well sized room. Enjoyed the gym and family friendly pool area. Lovely jacuzzi. Excellent location.

2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
G
Gingko • extended_group • us
8
It was great.
Pros:

Excellent customer service from valets and all staff.

Cons:

The air conditioning unit was very noisy and made it hard to sleep.
The shower glass doors did not keep water from spilling all over the bathroom floor.

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
A
armelle et fred • solo_traveller • fr
7
Pros:

L'emplacement était très bien.

Cons:

Le bruit des autres appartements et de la rue

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee