Name: Hyatt Carmel Highlands
Address: 120 Highlands Drive, Carmel Highlands, Carmel, California, United States of America, Carmel, Monterey County, US
Price range: $312–$1,746 per night
Rating: 8.1

What guests think

At Hyatt Carmel Highlands, guests rave about the dramatic ocean views and scenic setting, while many note dated rooms, facility challenges like many stairs and occasional pool closures, plus mixed service with friendly staff but slow or disorganized check-ins.

The on-site dining draws praise for views and some meals, though menus can be limited, prices high, and service or hours inconsistent. Room experiences vary widely: some enjoy balconies and comfy beds, while others report thin floors, road noise, or obstructed views. Cleanliness feedback ranges from spotless to musty odors and maintenance quirks. Expect unforgettable scenery with trade-offs in consistency and convenience.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Stunning grounds and views, but facilities feel constrained: repeated pool closures, periodic construction, many stairs with no elevators, and limited or confusing parking. Ice access and signage or wayfinding also drew complaints.

Related guest reviews

4

Patricia

May 7, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

So many stairs going everywhere. Not convenient at all. Pool not functioning. Road noise. View from room not worth mentioning. Room was large and comfy, no ice. Valet parking was our only option. They were very nice, but it took time getting all our luggage because it took several trips up and down steps. No elevators on property that I saw. Restaurant was good, with nice views. Room was very expensive. It was a relief to check into a hotel without the stairs the next day for half the price. Very disappointed in this expensive hotel.

8

Andy

Dec 13, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Still a nice place but it’s getting old and out dated. Construction around the pool which was closed was on going noise, not really loud but was noticeable. Overall still a nice place to stay. Restaurant was also nice with a great view, food was delicious but limited selections.

10

Jay

Jul 4, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

Pool needs fixin

6

david

Aug 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Property is very out-dated. Stuck in the 70’s. Pool was out of service. If you’re older, be aware of the number steps to get around.

8

Hong

Aug 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The pool is closed. This information was posted on the website. But we booked through Expedia, we were not aware of this information. When I called hotel to confirm the booking, they didn’t tell us either.

10

kevin

Oct 11, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Parking was a little confusing and sometimes a walk

10

Andrew

Jun 14, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Would have been nice if the pool was open

6

Rosa

Aug 13, 2024

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Stayed 1 night

The property had spectacular views! The dining experience was average and wasn't fully open on the days we booked our stay (wish we had known that before booking). They only open Wednesday through Sunday so all guests on Monday and Tuesday really don't get the same dinner menu which is actually why we booked our stay here. The room was not what we were expecting, but comfortable nonetheless. The pool and firepit by our room were also closed so our room's view made up for all the minor disappointments. I would stay here again, but would call before booking to make sure I am getting all the amenities we are paying for. Grateful the staff was friendly and inviting!

4

Peppino

Jul 10, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Pool closed, no restaurant open for dinner, too many stairs. Would not recommend at all.

6

Nas

May 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We have been at many great places and this place was not one of them. We had to go and purchase a Fabreeze to get rid ot the smell from the room. The area in front of our room was under constructions. Hauling our luggage back and forth from the stairs was very inconvenient. No ramps, only stairs to move luggage through at least 50 steps?

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Cleanliness

Several guests found rooms clean or spotless, but many cited musty odors and maintenance issues, with inconsistent housekeeping. Reports include bugs, hot-water problems, and rooms feeling worn despite cleaning.

Related guest reviews

2

Derenik

Aug 14, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

I expected much more for the price o paid. Even motels are much cleaner. Smelly room. Smelled old, like mold and smoke combined. Tub kept leaking water and not draining water. Dirt stains like wet rust were on the air conditioner that was blowing air to our room. Fridge was dirty with stains. No lights on the balcony. Staff said, since they were never in that room they weren’t sure if we had a light. NOT HAPPY AT ALL!

4

Sukhpreet

Aug 2, 2024

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Stayed 2 nights

The rooms are old and not cleaned.

8

Alec

Dec 16, 2024

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Stayed 3 nights

We stayed in room 542. The room has a mildew smell, probably due to the damp nature of the positon of the room on the property. However, the management should provide some diffusers in the room to mask the mildew smell if they cannot solve the root cause of the issue. It is like sleeping with a waterlogged piece of driftwood with mushrooms. The room is nice other than that unpleasant feature.

10

Jose

Jun 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean. And the staff were nice.

2

Renee

May 28, 2024

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Stayed 2 nights

The property is dated, room advertised as a suite , it was a subterranean studio that smelled like mildew. Hotel has no elevators , traveled with elderly parent couldn’t get to the room and back out — 120 stairs in total. Valet staff did not offer assistance with golf cart ride to and from the buildings.

6

Vivian

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A great location and easy drive to Carmel Valley and attractions in the area. The place needs some work-paint is flaking. It’s beautiful with great views but dated. The housekeeping never came even though it said in the welcome sheet that they come daily with an evening turn down lights as well. No refrigerator in the room. The bell staff were not quite welcoming and helpful.

6

Gina

Apr 11, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room and grounds tired and needing of an update. Front desk staff uninformed and slow. Pool closed without any communication. Room not made up properly. No in-stay texting service to see if I needed anything.

10

Michelle

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We eat at the restaurant right before closing. They got us in swiftly. The food was just okay but expensive for what you got. I guess u pay for the location. The room was nice and clean.

10

Tucker

Nov 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was spotless, staff wonderful. One minor issue, valet did answer the phone, had to walk to them.

6

Kenneth

Jan 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The views from the hotel are amazing. The rooms are very dated, faux fireplaces, hole in the wall, bugs in the bathtub, hot water not working.

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Rooms

Rooms vary widely: many boast striking ocean views and comfortable beds, but others face obstructions or road noise, and thin floors can transmit sound. Decor and layouts feel dated, with small or awkward bathrooms and occasional Wi-Fi issues.

Related guest reviews

4

MARK

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Overall disappointment for a high end luxury hotel. Views were the only excellent thing. Staff was not knowledgeable and did not communicate well. Had problems with WIFI and it was not fixed for 24 hours. Was told manager would call me 3 separate times but never received a call. Even at check out, manager was not available. Room was recently remodeled but not really completed, with missing items. Finally, property is old and needs a lot of updates to be considered high end. Over priced. Very disappointed for the money

8

Jack

May 4, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property has great views! Very nice restaurant and bar overlooking the coast. Rooms are nice but dated. A little noisy from road traffic below front row rooms.

2

william

Jul 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location & view are exceptional. The valet & front desk staff were very good. The bath had nice shower doors & vanity mirror but overall the room was very poorly designed & equipped & had poor quality of finishes throughout. Nothing coordinated. ROOM SPECIFIC: no quality of interior design, no refrigerator, curtain over thermostat, lack of good lighting, no chairs other than uncomfortable chairs at small round table, no comfortable chair to lounge & enjoy the view, 1 piece of art in room that was hung 3" from ceiling to avoid fire alarm, low budget & useless electric fireplace that took up too much of the room, too many floor finishes, no pad & pen, no area information booklet, laminate floor looked & felt cheap, inset run under bed did not align with furniture BATH SPECIFIC: no quality of interior design, shower tile layout made no sense & felt cheap, no shelf in shower, no shelf in shower room, no trash can in shower room, no mirror in shower room, bad lighting, bad water pressure, one-ply toilet paper, toilet paper holder in location that injured knees HOUSEKEEPING SPECIFIC: no new hand towels, coffee mugs wiped with cloth instead of changed for new, bed not made properly...only pulled up & tucked at bottom, pillows not fluffed or made nice OVERALL: At a cost of $674 per night plus taxes & fees, this was an expensive 2 night getaway & was not worth the cost. For this price, I would expect much more quality & service from a hotel. Very overrated property!

8

Pouyan

Jan 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Main lobby and restaurant area is 4 star. However, the rooms are 3 star I would say.

10

Jay

Apr 17, 2024

·

Stayed 7 nights

We spent 7 nights at this property. The views from our room were stunning. The sound of the waves crashing fantastic. We had breakfast every day. The dinning room and service were excellent. The room was very comfortable, but could be updated. We had an incredible stay and will be back.

4

Kewu

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Check in time is 4pm. We checked in around 4:40pm but the room was not ready. They could provide any more information but want to charge our credit card immediately. The ocean view room was obstructed by other building. We could not see sunset view because of the other building in front of us. We felt like the room was built in the basement. Only one sliding window has obstructed ocean view. Especially when you sit down on the table. You will feel like everything is in the basement.

8

Thomas S

Nov 28, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Nice property, beautiful ocean view, good dining options. I'd advise requesting a top-level room, as the herd of elephants in the room above ours became a bit of a distraction.

8

Mamuka

May 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Views are great - the property is very outdated

10

Treena

Sep 8, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

This hotel was very nice. The view from the hotel was amazing. We were in room 513 which did not have a view - it only looks at the rooms in front of it. The room was clean. The beds were super comfy. The sheets were quality. The front desk staff was helpful and friendly. Our only complaint was the noise - the room above us was LOUD. Maybe the floors are super thin because we were awakened every day way before daylight with floor noise over our heads that was well above average noise level. We would definitely stay here again but maybe look at the rooms to determine a room that has a nice view.

6

Kenneth

Jan 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The views from the hotel are amazing. The rooms are very dated, faux fireplaces, hole in the wall, bugs in the bathtub, hot water not working.

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Service

Many guests praised friendly, accommodating staff across front desk, valet, and restaurant, with some standout service. Recurring complaints cite slow or delayed check-ins, poor communication or follow-through, and limited assistance with luggage or navigation.

Related guest reviews

4

MARK

Jun 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Overall disappointment for a high end luxury hotel. Views were the only excellent thing. Staff was not knowledgeable and did not communicate well. Had problems with WIFI and it was not fixed for 24 hours. Was told manager would call me 3 separate times but never received a call. Even at check out, manager was not available. Room was recently remodeled but not really completed, with missing items. Finally, property is old and needs a lot of updates to be considered high end. Over priced. Very disappointed for the money

4

Brian

Jan 3, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

The property was nice. The bellman service/valet staff were the nicest group at this facility. Check in was at 4pm and although ours was ready at that time, there were a lot of people in front of us whose reservation were not. They had no other alternatives but to say “I’m sorry.” It seemed very unprofessional from the start. The room itself was ok. Very outdated for the price we paid. The heater didn’t work so we had to rely on the small fire place heater all week. The shower was a disaster. Your options were scalding hot, or freezing cold so our showers were quick and unenjoyable. The bathroom didn’t have an exhaust fan so my poor wife had to hear me blow it up everyday and it also caused the bathroom mirror to fog up quickly making her have to wait on me to finish showering before she could get ready. The beds were very hard and uncomfortable. The view was nice (if you get an ocean facing view) but if not, you are surrounded by trees and plants. Again, for the price we paid, you’d also think room service would be an option but it was not. We were told we had to go to the restaurant and order our food to go. I also paid $500 for their New Years Eve dinner and party. They didn’t have my reservation on file so I had to show them proof of purchase from an email to gain access to the event. Our reservation was for 7:30 but the service was so slow that we didn’t get done until 10:30! The party itself sucked too. It was designed for retirement age folks and not mid 30s like us.

8

Chris

Aug 7, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff on the afternoon of August 6 were not welcoming or polite. The manager seemed to want to avoid the lines of people forming to check in. We arrived at 3pm and while I understand “check in is at 4pm”, we had to wait with our overtired toddler for an hour while we watched MANY other guests get their room keys well before 4pm. Our experience could have been enjoyable if they’d be apologetic instead of giving us the illusion our room would be ready soon. Not accommodating at all and all three staff seemed miserable. Hotel is old but fine. Balconies unsafe to have young children outside due to unsafe fencing. Our screen door also didn’t lock which meant we had to have the glass sliding closed on a hot afternoon.

10

FRANCISCO

Aug 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Service from the front desk to the valet to the restaurant was top notch. Super helpful and very attentive. Loved the vibe of the whole property! The live music was great and the martinis were great!

4

Austin

Aug 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check-in was hectic and not an ideal flow. We ended up parking ourselves and waiting for our room to be ready. Beautiful stay, but the time-share aspect took away from the experience.

6

Stephanie

Oct 29, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Amazing view but most stuff entirely unhelpful. Not worth the price. Upon check in, although already paid for, made me go get my physical drivers license although electronic version was provided. They told me the physical ID would provide information that the electronic version did not provide. Two identical copies. This was after waiting forever to check in. Then failed to tell me that there was a short little pathway to my room. Instead, we drove all the way around and had to go down countless flights of stairs to get to our room. It was then an issue to get assistance with the luggage. I had to call four times just to order breakfast. Mind you, I was attempting to order as a surprise for my husband’s birthday. Overall, very frustrating with the staff, but again, beautiful view. Definitely would not say thought that the view is worth the hassle and price.

10

Brian

Aug 26, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Property was well maintained, restaurant was delicious, staff was friendly and helpful

4

Karen

Sep 23, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Although check-in is at 4:00, our room wasn't ready until 4:15. We arrived at 3:00, so we had a drink at the bar after a long day's drive. Once checked in, we had to schlepp our luggage up multiple sets of outside steps to get to our room. Inside the room, the bathroom is small, with a small shower, but it had two sinks pretty close together. The cabinet was rather beat up and looked like it was the original cabinetry. There was only one lamp in the large living area, and a HUGE spa taking up about a quarter of the space in the room. On one day of our stay, I went to find ice, which someone from the front desk area had to go get for me. She advised they could bring it to me in the future. The next day upon our return to the hotel, we stopped by the front desk and asked them to please deliver a bucket of ice to our room. Twenty-five minutes later, I went in search of the ice. The woman who had gotten our ice the day before was surprised to learn that we had put in a request face-to-face with someone at the front desk. She hadn't gotten any message, and one of the men who had been standing there when we talked to his partner (who was no longer there) just stood there silently, not volunteering that we had in fact stopped by. The only thing good about this experience was the view from our room. However, we will NEVER stay here at this overpriced hotel again!

8

Oscar

Oct 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Jordan and staff very friendly and accommodating!

8

Linda

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Our reservation was not ready as expected, we finally got in out room at 5:30 pm, after we travelled all day.

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Location

Spectacular clifftop setting with sweeping Pacific views, close to Point Lobos and an easy drive to Carmel and Monterey. Expect a peaceful, somewhat removed base rather than a walkable town location.

Related guest reviews

8

Nancy

Jul 17, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property sits high up over the rode with a great view of the coast. However, we were there when the fog was present so we’re not able to enjoy the full effect. The weather was cool and welcoming from the hot summer days elsewhere.

10

Wesley

Jul 20, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The beautiful views of the ocean. Rooms close enough to listen to the sound of the ocean waves. Relaxing, clean, and peaceful rooms. Feels rural, yet close to shopping, great coffee, and restraunts. People in the area are super friendly.

10

Eunjae

Sep 18, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is beautiful resort in Carmel.

10

Lara

Aug 22, 2025

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Stayed 2 nights

Views were great, location was convenient for exploring Carmel and Monterey.

8

Greg

Dec 8, 2024

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Stayed 2 nights

Great stay. Spectacular view of Highlands from our balcony. Dining options reduced during stay (restaurant closed certain days…). Quiet and away from Carmel town centre amenities (shopping,dining). Point Lobos hiking nearby was incredible with some beautiful vistas.

8

Jun

May 30, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

It’s a nice location with spectacular scenery. Our ocean view room faces pacific oceans. The best place to see sunset. The restaurant is a much see place with 180 degree ocean view. The from desk people are nice. However, the parking is inconvenient. Our room has long walks passing swimming pool.

10

SUSHEEL

Jul 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Unique location

10

Xiaoyu

Jun 20, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The ocean view is amazing and stuffs are friendly.

10

Deidra

Nov 9, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location near State Parks, beautiful coast line views from room balcony and restaurant, and heated pool. The only disappointment was that there is only one guest ice machine for the entire resort and it was broken; had to go to the restaurant to request ice for the room.

10

Mark

Dec 12, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The view of the ocean was spectacular!

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Dining

Restaurant experiences are mixed: standout ocean views and several reports of tasty meals, including breakfast. Others noted limited menus, high prices, slow service, closures on some days, and no room service.

Related guest reviews

10

Carol

Oct 9, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The views are to die for. The restaurant there didn't have very many menu options. It wasn't easy to find parking.

8

Andy

Dec 13, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Still a nice place but it’s getting old and out dated. Construction around the pool which was closed was on going noise, not really loud but was noticeable. Overall still a nice place to stay. Restaurant was also nice with a great view, food was delicious but limited selections.

6

gina

Mar 9, 2023

·

Stayed 3 nights

This property is in a beautiful area and the grounds are very nice. The rooms are in desperate need of updating. TV service is only basic cable or orchard movies for 20.00 or more each. The restaurant is closed a couple days so it forces you to eat from their extremely minimal bar menu or drive to eat somewhere. No room service.

10

Lindsey Morgan

Sep 25, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

I loved staying here. It is such a beautiful hotel with beautiful grounds. It has amazing views. The restaurant was great. Staff was friendly.

10

Brenda

Jul 19, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The most amazing and beautiful hotel I’ve been to thus far. I had an ocean view room and it was absolutely breathtaking! The food at the restaurant was insanely delicious! So much so that we ended up eating there for breakfast as well! Not to mention extremely polite and helpful staff. Highly recommend!!

10

Michelle

Oct 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We eat at the restaurant right before closing. They got us in swiftly. The food was just okay but expensive for what you got. I guess u pay for the location. The room was nice and clean.

6

Donald

Oct 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The views were great. Service at the restaurant was very slow. Our room was very dated and lacked amenities for the price. During the check in process they tried to sell us additional nights for furture dates. Felt like a time share sales pitch.

10

Brian

Aug 26, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Property was well maintained, restaurant was delicious, staff was friendly and helpful

10

David

Aug 24, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The views are spectacular and the staff are very friendly. The restaurant wad also very good!

6

David

Nov 29, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Slow check-in, inconvenient parking for our highest priced room, no dining room on Monday/Tuesday (small bites from the bar)

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$339
February	$382
March	$440
April	$505
May	$555
June	$658
July	$643
August	$697
September	$527
October	$504
November	$454
December	$384

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14 $522	15 $663	16 $634	17 $458	18 $797	19 $912
20 $414	21 $480	22 $562	23 $547	24 $793	25 $1,631	26 $844
27 $450	28 $437	29 $548	30 $498

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $483	2	3
4 $460	5 $445	6 $567	7 $493	8 $467	9 $741	10 $602
11 $870	12 $451	13 $478	14 $448	15 $503	16	17 $683
18 $479	19 $415	20 $450	21 $526	22 $521	23 $1,664	24 $1,746
25 $377	26 $312	27 $361	28 $343	29 $335	30 $513	31 $1,697

Select dates to see prices and availability

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Townhome, 1 Bedroom, Kitchenette, Ocean View

Point Lobos Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View

Big Sur Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Garden View

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Garden View

Sunset Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa Bed, Ocean View

Guest reviews

Very good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Hyatt Carmel Highlands

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Considering this hotel for your Carmel trip?

Prices for upcoming dates