Disclosure: Hofsas House Hotel provided a complimentary two-night hosted stay for review purposes only. All opinions are my own and are honest. Affiliate links.
We kicked off our family summer vacation with a two-night hosted stay at the Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, a small 1 square mile radius town that is perfect for families. Hofsas House is a quaint, 37-room family-owned Bavarian-themed boutique inn. It was founded in the late 1940’s by Donna Hofsas, and is currently maintained by her granddaughter, Carrie Theis.
Each room at Hofsas House is decorated differently expressing its own personality and charm. Bavarian-style murals can be found on the exterior of the hotel.
Fun Fact:
Carrie Hofsas, daughter of Donna Hofsas, personally selects each bedspread for each room.
The Room
My husband, daughter and I were assigned to room 39, which is described as a family suite. Room 39 is huge! The brick fireplace is visible as soon as we entered it came in handy during one of the chilly North Cali nights, and we sipped on on local wine while eating local cheeses. In the same room, there’s two twin-sized beds, a kitchenette, and floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that open up to a balcony where we sat to have breakfast, watched the sunrise and sunset, and took in views of Carmel.
In addition to the main room, there is a large master bedroom with an ensuite. In total, our room had two full bathrooms, which made it easier for the three of us to get ready in the mornings before we headed out for the day.
Each room is equipped with free Wi-Fi, which allowed my daughter to use her tablet on our downtime. There are two televisions with cable service; one in the main room and the other in the master bedroom. All my daughter cared about was that the television had HGTV and I was able to hook up the Roku so that she could watch her favorite Netflix series’.
Overall, the room was clean and well-maintained. However, I do think that that the room could have been laid out a little better to maximize the utilization of the space. Although Carmel is a “safe” town with little to no crime, as a parent, I wouldn’t feel comfortable having my kids sleeping near the entry.
Amenities
The Hofsas House Hotel has a pool that is heated to 80 degrees. Remember my Instagram post where I asked if my husband should take my daughter to the pool? Guess who took her? No one! Although the pool is heated, we just couldn’t bring ourselves to getting into the pool, plus our time was consumed with doing touristy things like visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, 17 Mile Drive, and Big Sur. In addition to the pool, there is also a dry sauna that is great for relaxing after a day out on the town.
There is also a meeting room that can accommodate 40 – 50 people and has a full kitchen. It is perfect for a family reunion, especially since it has direct access to the pool.
Breakfast is Provided
A daily complimentary breakfast of seasonal fruit, coffee and fresh pastries from a local bakery are available each morning. Be careful choosing a pastry if you do not eat meat or pork because there are some that contain ham, and we found out the hard way.
Location
A walkable city/town is something that my husband and I both look for whenever we travel, especially as a family. With Carmel-by-the-Sea being just one square mile, everything is within walking distance from luxury shopping to restaurants and even the beach. The hotel is also less than 2 miles from the famous Pebble Beach and 17-mile drive, and about a 10 – 15-minute drive from Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is one of our favorite aquariums by the way.
Best Time to Visit
With temps in the mid to low 60’s, summer in North Cali can be a bit on the chilly side. However, to experience warmer weather and to take advantage of Hofsas House outdoor pool, you should probably plan your visit during the fall (September – November) when the temperatures reach around 80 degrees. My husband and I remember the last time we visited Carmel, which was August 2016, and it was extremely busy. We were told that June – September is the busiest time of year, especially in August when there is the Monterey Car Week and Concours d’Elegance. During this time, the hotel is booked to capacity. Visitors book their rooms one year in advance. So if you’re planning on visiting this summer, it is already too late.
What Did We Think?
Overall, my husband, daughter and I enjoyed our two-night stay at Hofsas House. With its antiquated style, it was definitely different from other hotels we’ve stayed in the past. However, we did enjoy the warm, homey, bed and breakfast feel of the inn. The staff is amazing. General Manager, Carrie Theis, and her mom were delightful and extremely welcoming. Both my husband and I could feel the love both of these women have for the inn as they told the history of it and their experiences growing up there. Through this, we were able to make the most of our stay by knowing where to visit in the small town. If you are looking for a charming hotel for a family vacation or couples weekend getaway that offers a great location and value, then Hofsas House Hotel is a good fit for you. If luxury is your thing, then you may want to look somewhere else.
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Disclosure: Hofsas House Hotel provided a complimentary two-night hosted stay for review purposes only. All opinions are my own and are honest. Affiliate links.