Vagabond's House Inn — Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea

My experience at Vagabond was so horrible it's honestly laughable. The full review doesn’t fit here but I wrote a longer one on TripAdvisor.

My bf and I booked over a month ago because we wanted to stay over Thanksgiving; they had a 4 night minimum for the holiday (and 30 day cancellation notice requirement with no COVID exceptions) and we reserved Room 9 because it was pet-friendly and the nicest from what we saw online.

Fast forward to us arriving the night before Thanksgiving. We checked in with Ian the concierge & went to our room, only to be very disappointed. For $380 a night, their most luxurious room did not live up to the price. The windows didn't fully close, the walls were paper thin (despite being in a side unit we heard EVERYTHING in the courtyard/street), the flooring was outdated & some furnishings were shabby (not in a charming B&B way). Needless to say, it wasn't worth the $1800 bill and we were bummed. After Lysol-ing every knob/surface, we dropped our bags down but didn't unpack or use anything. We saw online there was a smaller/less expensive room available for $219/night and wanted to ask about switching. Ian tried talking us out of it but then showed us the room. It was definitely worth saving $160/night. So we said yes, and waited for him to get approval from his supervisor.

After sitting outside in the cold for 15min, we checked in and were told that they'd likely have to charge us $380 for the first night since we “infected” the room by entering it, and since the cleaning staff couldn't come until the next morning they wouldn’t be able to rebook the room tonight. I pointed out that it was already 7:30pm and there were other vacancies in the hotel, so unless someone requested that specific room tonight it wouldn’t be an issue. He pointed to the cancellation policy, saying that we would’ve had to make these changes 30 days in advance. When we asked why the 4 day min policy didn’t apply to new bookings online, he said they relax their rules leading up to the holiday. So while someone who booked last minute would’ve had flexibility, we were stuck with a 4 day stay in a room we didn’t want. Then while on the phone with his manager, he magically discovered that someone had JUST booked the exact room we wanted (the smaller/cheaper one) on Expedia (what are the odds!). We had no priority despite having booked a month in advance, paid a deposit, been physically present & expressed interest in the room before these other people had (if they even existed).

In comes Thomas, the manager! We calmly and politely explained the situation. After emphasizing that they clearly had some wiggle room in their policies because they allowed several last-minute COVID cancellations (yet we were still beholden to our original 4 day min and 30 day notice requirements despite trying to honor our stay in a different room), he rudely asserted “We don't have to explain our policies to you" and became extremely combative. He said none of the vacancies were pet friendly (except the one just booked on Expedia) so we were stuck with our original room. When he asked what was wrong with the room and we expressed our concerns, he responded “Oh, so now you’re insulting me?!” When we reminded him of competitive options nearby, that’s when he erupted and screamed “I WANT YOU TO LEAVE!” My boyfriend said his behavior was wildly unprofessional, and he shouted “SO NOW YOU’RE INSULTING ME AGAIN?” Bear in mind, this transpired in the courtyard for everyone to hear, including guests checking in. He proceeded to KICK US OUT OF THE HOTEL and caused a scene all because we expressed disappointment in our booking. We never even asked for a discount or to be released from our booking. And for him to do that on Thanksgiving weekend, at 8pm, to leave us roaming around in a new city for a hotel to stay in — was just absolutely psychotic.

Never in my life have I seen such abhorrent customer service esp in hospitality. To be disrespected like this and offered NO accommodations as a 1st time guest was unfathomable. Go to The...

What a gem! While many other lodges and inns in Carmel by the Sea get away with descriptions of "quaint" and "charming" to offset the old furniture, pealed paint and general lack of upkeep - you will not find evidence of any of that here at Vagabond House Inn. Beautiful cozy rooms with fresh linens, furniture and paint and completely remodeled.

Some rooms are very cozy in their decor style with warm colored carpets, fresh paintings, comfy leather chairs and warm lighting. Some rooms have a more modern feel with an excellent balance of the use of wood with black, grey and white decor for the more urban hipster crowd. We tend to prefer the less modern rooms. What's extremely helpful is that you can book the exact room you like through their site because it has individual photos of each specific room.

Their beds are sumptuous, as is the breakfast which is served on a tray right to your door and made to order! Fresh eggs, fruit and delicious warm croissants along with tea or coffee. Add in cereal and yogurt, and it's one amazing way to start your day. But you may never want to leave your room, while sitting next to the fireplace (most rooms) tucked under a throw in your provided bathrobes.

At night you are serenaded to sleep with their courtyard waterfall, and without road noise or loud guests. You have a chance to socialize beforehand with the always interesting guests this inn attracts through their complimentary 4pm wine and cheese.

They've recently replaced an unhealthy tree in their courtyard with a gorgeous custom stone gas fire pit. It's a wonderful new place to site and chat with others, or just to enjoy a glass of wine in the eve before heading out to many of the amazing restaurants. Most of which accept dogs, as does the Vagabond Inn House (small fee).

We've stayed here 15 times in 15 years and have loved every bit of our experience! Right down to the engaging but non invasive hospitality of Thomas and Randall, the non-owner innkeepers, who really know how to take special care of their guests.

Need I say more? Maybe I shouldn't have said a thing! Book in advance, this Inn is a favorite at...

This is a nice and centrally located place, though not quite a full-service bed and breakfast. The bed and pillows are very comfortable, and the bathroom is updated with modern amenities, including wonderful heated floors. However, the carpet looks quite old, but the cozy fireplace in the room adds a lot of charm.||For the price and location, this is still a good option. It’s located just north of Carmel’s main strip and only a short walk from the beach, making it a convenient spot.||Breakfast consists of basic grocery store items, but the presentation, along with the various sides served in your room, makes it enjoyable. The only cooked item are the hard boiled eggs. Room service is the only option for breakfast, though it would have been nice to have 2 chairs in our room so we could both enjoy the food together. ||The front desk staff is friendly, but the level of service isn’t what you’d expect. Upon arrival, we were told our room was ready, but there had been a mix-up with housekeeping, and we were taken to a room that hadn’t been cleaned. Later, when I mentioned there was no parking available in their private lot, the staff member didn’t seem to care and suggested parking on the street, adding that it was unlikely we’d get a ticket.||Another minor issue was with the breakfast request process. On the second day, when I asked for the order form slip, they said they’d just send the same meal as the day before, which didn't work for us since we didn't want the same items. ||The fruit served both at breakfast and during the wine and cheese hour was not very fresh, though the wine served during the 4-6 p.m. wine and cheese hour was excellent.||Overall, I’m used to bed and breakfasts with freshly baked goods, amazing food, and great coffee, so perhaps that’s why I was slightly underwhelmed. However, this place still has a lot of charm, especially with its convenient location and...