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Hotels in Monterey CA Area

My daughter and I had not taken a mother, daughter vacation since my son was born.   After close to 13 years we found ourselves on a road trip headed to the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, in Monterey.  She was long overdoing for a vacation with mom!

The timing of this trip could not have been any more perfect.  She is now a young adult that has graduated from college and is trying to figure things out.   I felt like this trip would allow us time to really discuss her plans and come up with a strategy that we would both feel good about.

Like most family vacations, she never takes time to research where we are staying.   She always trusts me and knows she is in for a wonderful time.   Either I am a fun mom or I just have good taste?  Umm…

Upon our arrival, we were definitely pleased with all that the Hyatt has to offer.

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course

• Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience.
• Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings, and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort.
• Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Restaurant, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000 square foot full service spa.

 

We spent a lot of our time at TusCA Fireplace Lounge. We ate breakfast and dinner there daily, although room service was an option.  Dinner was always delicious.   When we arrived we had Monterey Bay Salmon, Farrotto, Salmon Roe, paired with a 2015 Pinot Noir Rosellas Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands.  I instantly knew I wanted to taste all that the restaurant had to offer.  For breakfast we decided to indulge ourselves with the Continental Breakfast Buffet, this included fresh fruit, yogurt, cold and hot cereals, bagels, smoked salmon, bread, muffins, and freshly baked pastries.

 

TusCA and Fireplace Lounge

• TusCA and the Fireplace Lounge are popular with residents and visitors alike for their simply prepared, rustic and primarily locally sourced dishes featuring sustainable seafood and meats, organic produce, artisanal cheeses, and creative dressings, sauces, reductions, syrups, remoulades, and gremolata.
• For example, one dish sure to become a local favorite is TusCA’s Central Coast Lamb Sirloin, which is accompanied by toy box squash, cherry tomatoes, fava beans, parsnip mash, and mint gremolata.
• In the Fireplace Lounge, one dish that will grab diners’ attention will be the Tuna Poke Nachos, which switches out wonton chips for tortilla chips, with subtly sweet wakame seaweed, spicy sriracha aioli, and wasabi.
• Diners flock to TusCA not only for its exemplary dishes but its spacious, modernly appointed dining room, open kitchen and impeccable service.
• Those wanting a more informal setting to opt for the Fireplace Lounge, where the warm stone fireplace is the centerpiece, and shared plates such as artichoke fritters, charcuterie and cheese boards, and hummus and charred eggplant not only make sharing delicious but fun. Add live jazz from some of the Monterey Peninsula’s finest jazz musicians every weekend and you have a recipe for an entertaining and rewarding night on the town.

Each night after dinner we enjoyed live jazz.  On the first night the band leader, who happens to be a doctor by day, walked through the crowd and greeted everyone.   To our surprise, the band dedicated a song to me and my daughter two nights in a row.

During our stay, we dined at the restaurants in the hotel.  They offered some of the best food in Monterey.    There was no reason to dine outside of the hotel.   The last night of our stay and after a night of jazz, we made our way over to Knuckles Sports Bar with a group of friends.  Knuckles stays open until midnight.   We could not have ended our last night’s stay any better.  We ordered a plethora of food items, but the one that stood out most was the fried cheesecake.  I am not much of a sweet eater.  I believe sweets should be worth eating.  Trust me, this dessert was worth it.  It was incredibly delicious.

The fried cheesecake made me view dessert a little differently. I am still talking about how delicious it was.   When I really think about it, the first night I dined at TusCA I enjoyed a Chocolate Mouse Orange Bombe, Carmel Orange.  It was divine.  This paired well with a 2012 Marinus Estate Carmel Valley Bordeaux Blend.  After eating this decadent dessert, I threw in the towel.  All intentions of watching what I ate went out of the window and the door.    That is what allowed me to have an open mind to the fried cheesecake.

 

Just as I was hoping, my daughter and I were able to take in some good conversation while we dined on delicious food in a relaxing environment.  Some of our best conversations happened in the Fireplace Lounge & Patio during lunch.   The restaurants in the hotel were some of the best places for lunch in Monterey.

The days were cold while we were there and we wanted to dine outside.  Finally, on the last day it warmed up and we decided to spend some time outside on the patio.   We enjoyed a variety of delicious gelato!  It was absolutely some of the best gelato that I have ever had.  I will either have to plan a return trip soon or have them ship some to me.  I wonder if that is possible?

There is more to the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa than food.  But, it did play a big role in our weekend.   Our best conversations happened over delicious meals, relaxing moments by the golf course, enjoying live jazz or just relaxing.  We were able to discuss my daughter’s plans for her future.  We returned home feeling good about everything.  Now my son is asking when is the mother, son vacation.

 

The Hyatt Regency was perfect for our trip.  If you are looking for a mother daughter trips in California this is a great option.  They also cater to many people and their needs.

Weddings at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa

Walking past the fountain entryway into the Hyatt Regency Monterey’s Fireplace Lounge, you instantly feel yourself relaxing amid the resort’s sophisticated comforts, natural materials, and soothing earth tones. Take it from us, the skylit Lounge is an inviting spot to while away a pleasant hour, quaffing a local vintage from their wine cellar along with tasty appetizers by their acclaimed farm-to-table bistro, TusCA Ristorante.

While the innovative food and drink are delicious, the resort boasts a bounty of recreational activities, like their full-service Racquet Club, 2000-square-foot Fitness Center and neighboring Del Monte Golf Course. Two sparkling pools surrounded by gardens beckon swimmers and sunbathers alike. Rent a bicycle to tour the scenic grounds, or take the trails that skirt the nearby bay up to historic Cannery Row. (The hotel’s Les Clefs d’Or Concierge can arrange everything from Aquarium tickets to wine tasting.)

With so much to entice and entertain, you don’t need an excuse to visit this resort. But if you’ve come to celebrate a special occasion, then you’ll be delighted by the expert service and range of venue options.

The Regency Grand Ballroom, the largest in the county, can host a gala dinner for 600 and still have plenty of room for dancing. Soft teal blue-and-beige décor reflect Monterey’s serene coastal palette; high ceilings with inset lighting bays and a bank of windows provide gentle illumination. The adjoining foyer opens to a terrace with a retractable awning, perfect for an indoor/outdoor social hour.

For a more intimate setting, the Monterey Ballroom still holds up to 400 guests but can be reduced to accommodate as few as 25. While the Regency takes its inspiration from the sea and sky, the Monterey recalls the region’s mountains and meadows: Rustic hues are enlivened with a sunny yellow reminiscent of springtime daffodils. An adjacent patio increases your staging possibilities.

Open-air receptions are sometimes celebrated on the Garden Terrace, which can also be tented. The bridal party and guests may reserve the rooms overlooking this courtyard, which offers convenience to the ceremony and is close to the celebration.

Your nearest and dearest will thank you for their mini-vacation, which includes plush, contemporary accommodations. Newlyweds receive a complimentary suite for their wedding night, but for the ultimate indulgence splurge on a Villa, a four-bedroom oasis with its own private lanai and swimming pool! This secluded hideaway can host up to 50 guests for your rehearsal dinner or cocktail party in high style.

From arrival straight on through to Farewell Brunch, your destination wedding weekend at this luxurious resort is an inspired way to savor a memorable Monterey experience.

About Davidson Hotels & Resorts

• Davidson Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, full-service hotel management company providing management, development/renovation, acquisition, consulting and accounting expertise for the hospitality industry.
• Amassing one of the purest full-service hotel portfolios in the industry, Davidson, along with its lifestyle and luxury operating division, Pivot Hotels & Resorts, specializes in independent and branded assets in the upper-upscale to near-luxury segments including 45 hotels, over 13,000 rooms and over 1.5 million square feet of meeting space across the United States.
• A trusted partner and preferred operator of Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, Davidson delivers hospitality and creates value for owners with every single hotel. More information can be found at www.davidsonhotels.com.

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