Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
big sur, usa · ★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa is the arrival-night and aquarium-day base for a Big Sur honeymoon — a 290-room four-star hotel on Cannery Row directly on the edge of Monterey Bay, built into the rocks immediately above the surf line and within five minutes’ walk of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Pacific House Museum, and the central downtown of Monterey. The hotel has a rooftop spa with the most panoramic view in Monterey (you can see the whole bay including sea otters in the kelp forest below), an oceanfront restaurant (Schooners) with terrace dining over the water, and Cannery Row’s working sea-otter colony 10m below the hotel’s deck (the rocks immediately below Schooners are a regular otter haul-out). The honeymoon proposition is the arrival or departure overnight: Monterey Plaza is a good first or last night before driving south to the cliff-edge Big Sur properties, with the aquarium and 17-Mile Drive as the obvious day. Caveats: Monterey Plaza is not destination Big Sur honeymoon material — at 290 rooms it’s a large hotel with conference business; the architecture is good but not transcendent; and Cannery Row itself is touristy. For full honeymoon, choose Post Ranch, Ventana, Bernardus, or L’Auberge. But for an arrival night, an aquarium day, or a couple on a tighter budget who want the Monterey base, the Monterey Plaza Ocean View room is the best value 4-star on the Peninsula. The honeymoon move is one or two nights here to bookend a Big Sur cliff stay.
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
79/100
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At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
An Ocean View Premier room (direct ocean-facing balcony, sea-otter colony directly below) is the honeymoon room. Skip the courtyard-facing rooms — the ocean is the entire point.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $800/nt) | $5,600 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $4,480 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $806 |
| Total estimated | $13,886 |
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival and Schooners dinner
Fly Monterey (MRY) — 10-min taxi. Check-in to Ocean View Premier room. Dinner at Schooners on the terrace, sea-otter colony visible below.
Aquarium and 17-Mile Drive
Morning at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (5-min walk). Lunch at Cannery Row. Afternoon 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach.
Transfer to Big Sur
Drive 1h south on Highway 1 to Post Ranch Inn or Ventana for the cliff half — 3 nights.
Big Sur drive
Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Beach, McWay Falls, Nepenthe lunch.
Cliff spa day
Long morning at Post Ranch or Ventana spa, lunch on deck.
Cliff slow day
Sierra Mar or Sur House dinner, infinity pool sunset.
Slow departure
Cliff breakfast, drive 1h back to MRY for departure.
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
Large 290-room hotel with conference business — not destination honeymoon material on its own.
Cannery Row is touristy and busy — the hotel’s oceanfront deck is the antidote.
Not adults-only and the standard 4-star service standard means polish varies.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon inquiry — Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa Dear Monterey Plaza reservations, We’d like 1 to 2 nights for the arrival portion of our honeymoon [DATES] in an Ocean View Premier room. Questions: 1. Honeymoon arrival turndown (champagne, dessert)? 2. Schooners reservation with ocean-view table? 3. Aquarium tickets coordination? 4. Rooftop spa couples’ treatment? 5. Late checkout on departure day? Thank you, [Your names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Good for honeymooners?
As an arrival/aquarium night before Big Sur — yes. As a full honeymoon — no; choose Post Ranch, Ventana, Bernardus, or L’Auberge instead.
Best time to visit?
April–October. September–October are the secret best months — fog clears, low crowds. Aquarium busy summer weekends.
Book in advance?
Ocean View Premier rooms for peak months: 2–3 months ahead. Standard rooms: 4–6 weeks.
Adults-only?
No. Standard family-friendly 4-star hotel.
Best room type?
Ocean View Premier with balcony. Skip courtyard rooms.
How to get there?
Monterey (MRY) 10-min taxi. SFO 2h drive. SJC 1h 30min drive.
Same Vibe, Different Destination
