Carmel Hotels

"Huge suites" on "peaceful, tranquil grounds" "await the weary traveler" at this "gem in the Carmel Valley" that's "perfect for a romantic getaway" what with the "comfortable rooms" "right on the golf course" trumpeting "wonderful, wood-burning fireplaces"; there are "fabulous views of the mountains" and "wild deer and turkeys wander the grounds", but some sigh that it's "not as luxurious as expected" since the decor "still looks like it's out of the '80s."

A "magical atmosphere" that's "perfect for an affair" or a "weekend of romance", this "simply stunning" Carmel property "tucked away on top of an ocean cliff surrounded by forests" overlooks the "rugged coastline of Big Sur", yielding "incomparable" "views of the Pacific"; the "unparalleled" setting is matched by a "reliable" staff, a "wonderful restaurant" and bar, and rooms with "wood-burning fireplaces, Jacuzzi tubs for two" and "binoculars to watch the whales" – so "take a deep breath, swallow hard and pay up."

"Not just a resort for golfers" (though the course is "legendary"), this "romantic" Pebble Beach "paradise" is "exceptional" even "if you stay off the links" entirely; "get ready to shell out the bucks" for "breathtaking grounds", "top-notch" service, "gorgeous" public areas, "country-estate–like", "luxurious" rooms with fireplaces and free WiFi ("splurge for an ocean view") and "dynamite restaurants", plus "fire pits and a bagpiper" who plays at dusk – "what more can you ask for?"

"A golfer's dream", this legendary lodge two hours from San Francisco is "absolutely out of this world" and "sets the standard for others"; from the "fantastic, flawless" rooms and "stunning setting" to the "luxurious" service, "exceptional dining" and "lovely spa", it's not just for duffers – but if you do play and have "buckets of money", "why would you stay anywhere else?"

"The pinnacle of Pebble Beach" assert aficionados of this "delightfully cloistered environment" in an "intimate and elegant setting" where the "beautifully furnished", almost perfect rooms include a "pillow menu"; under the same management as the Inn at Spanish Bay and the Lodge at Pebble Beach, it's the "height of pampered luxury" where you can "relax in a hot tub alongside the second fairway" and soak up "wonderful, personalized attention" before hitting the famous links; it's no wonder that most guests "don't ever want to leave."