Axel's take on Del Monte Beach & Seaside: #6 of 6 in Monterey, California, 5.4/10
Choose beach access deliberately; Seaside's inland streets offer a different stay. Del Monte Beach and Seaside offer good value and beach-led appeal, but dispersed amenities and weaker sightseeing access leave them sixth.
Del Monte Beach offers broad sand, dune boardwalks and access to the coastal trail; farther inland, Seaside is a working town of commercial streets, neighborhood restaurants and everyday services. Those are different experiences. Check the actual walking route to the sand rather than assuming a Seaside address means a beachfront stay.
This works best for drivers who want beach time between peninsula outings, not first-timers expecting historic Monterey outside the door. Fremont Boulevard is useful for buses but is not a coastal promenade. Cyclists should also check current SURF! construction notices before riding north toward Marina, where coastal-trail detours remain relevant. Choose downtown instead if evenings on foot are a priority.
- Best for: travelers on a budget, sports fans
- Skip it if: You want historic Monterey on your doorstep; You assume every stay is directly beside the beach
- Getting around: JAZZ A/B serve Fremont Boulevard, not the beachfront; the coastal trail suits walking and cycling where accessible. MRY: taxi. SJC: Groome to Monterey, then bus or taxi.
- After dark: Evening activity is dispersed among restaurants and individual drinking spots, rather than one continuous pedestrian nightlife district.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $188 a night
Where to stay in Monterey, California: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Del Monte Beach & Seaside
- Sand Dunes Drive. Choose the coastal side for sand and shoreline walks rather than expecting historic Monterey outside the door. Hotels here: Monterey Beach Hotel, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel.
- Roberts Lake and Canyon Del Rey. Look here for trail access, birdwatching and beach outings while using a car for the wider peninsula. Hotels here: Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside, Holiday Inn Express at Monterey Bay by IHG.
- North Fremont near the Fairgrounds. Choose this inland commercial stretch for practical driving access and fairgrounds visits, not a waterfront atmosphere. Hotels here: El Castell Motel, Lone Oak Lodge, Ramada by Wyndham Monterey, Best Western De Anza Inn, Vagabond Inn Monterey.
How to choose
- Choose El Castell Motel if you want clean budget rooms, free parking and an indoor pool, and will drive to attractions.
- Choose Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside if separate living and sleeping areas plus cooked-to-order breakfast matter most for your family.
- Choose Monterey Beach Hotel, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel if direct beach access and relaxed hotel evenings justify higher rates, extra fees and compact rooms.
What paying more buys
El Castell Motel is cheaper than most here and already provides an indoor pool and free parking. Embassy Suites costs more for two-room suites and cooked-to-order breakfast; Monterey Beach Hotel charges more for direct sand access and oceanfront dining, not larger rooms. Skip those premiums if you mainly need an overnight driving base. Typical rates with Axel here run from $99 a night at Vagabond Inn Monterey to $362 at Monterey Beach Hotel, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Del Monte Beach & Seaside, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- El Castell Motel 8.4/10, no-frills 2-star motor-court motel on Monterey’s North Fremont strip. A strong budget base for drivers, with clean rooms and a useful indoor pool. Why it's here: a cheaper driving base combining consistently praised cleanliness with an indoor heated pool. Accept: aircraft and road noise; main sights require transport. $89 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Monterey Bay Seaside 8.3/10, mid-range all-suite hotel near the beach in Seaside. A strong family base with spacious suites, excellent breakfast and extra fees. Why it's here: two-room family suites with cooked-to-order breakfast and an indoor pool. Accept: destination and parking charges, breakfast queues and elevator waits. $273 a night with Axel against $276 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $3 a night less (1%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Lone Oak Lodge 8.2/10, budget motor lodge on Monterey’s North Fremont strip. A strong budget base for drivers, with clean rooms but some noisy nights. Why it's here: one of the cheaper driving bases, with clean rooms and kitchen-equipped family cottages. Accept: loud air conditioners, uncertain parking charges and closed shared facilities. $88 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Ramada by Wyndham Monterey 8.2/10, no-frills, motel-style 2-star near Monterey’s fairgrounds and airport. A clean, friendly budget base for drivers, but light sleepers should think twice. Why it's here: clean, friendly road-trip accommodation with free parking near the fairgrounds. Accept: aircraft and walkway noise; no breakfast or elevator. $106 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Best Western De Anza Inn 8.1/10, simple, budget-friendly hotel on Monterey’s North Fremont strip. A dependable Monterey base with roomy accommodation, friendly staff and no air-conditioning. Why it's here: roomy accommodation with responsive staff, included breakfast, parking, pool and hot tub. Accept: no air-conditioning, with traffic, aircraft and overhead noise. $152 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Monterey Beach Hotel, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel 8.1/10, renovated 4-star beachfront hotel with motel-style exterior corridors. Come for the beachfront setting, but temper expectations for room size and extras. Why it's here: direct beach access with oceanfront dining and fire pits for evenings at the hotel. Accept: compact rooms, limited privacy, extra fees and road-facing noise. $292 a night with Axel against $375 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $83 a night less (22%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa 7.8/10, sprawling 4-star golf-side resort and conference hotel. A good family resort, stronger on outdoor amenities than consistently polished rooms. Why it's here: the strongest resort-style family setup here, with two pools, outdoor games and adjacent golf. Accept: uneven room upkeep, sound transfer and resort and parking fees. $252 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Holiday Inn Express at Monterey Bay by IHG 6.8/10, basic, motel-style 2-star in Seaside near Monterey. Useful breakfast and location, but uneven upkeep makes this a cautious pick. Why it's here: included hot breakfast and free parking for short Seaside sightseeing stops. Accept: uneven cleanliness and upkeep, with renovation completion unconfirmed. $161 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Vagabond Inn Monterey 6.5/10, bare-bones 2-star roadside motel, formerly Motel 6. A workable Monterey stopover, but small rooms and uneven upkeep limit the appeal. Why it's here: the cheapest option here for a bare-bones, one-night driving stop. Accept: small rooms, inconsistent cleaning and maintenance, and minimal extras. $97 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
