Captain's Inn at Moss Landing — Hotel in Watsonville Water Treatment Plant

First the review of the property …. The Inn is very quaint and our first night was enjoyable and relaxing. The Inn is very clean and maintained well. The shower curtain in the Captain’s room could use changing. When you have to touch it to get the soap it is slimy… pretty gross. The kitchen has a refrigerator and microwave you can use and there were some prepackaged pastries for the AM. There was also bread sitting out (uncovered) and I believe it was the same bread Friday and Saturday.

Had we not had an issue on Saturday I don’t think we would have ever met any staff. It felt very impersonal.

Staff/communication. We booked our stay three months out and never received any correspondence from staff that there would be an annual antique fair and we would not have access to parking Saturday or Sunday. This is an annual event that takes place every year so the Inn knew the fair was taking place but never bothered to say anything. One hour before we were able to check in we received a text saying we would not have any parking on site Friday after 10pm until Sunday at 5pm and the street would be closed. The text messages days and dates did not match so I asked what days/nights would we not have access parking. I received a text back that Saturday 10pm until Sunday 5pm.

When we came back to the Inn on Saturday around 2pm vendors were already set up in the parking spots and driveway. Needless to say I was not pleased. The Inn promotes itself as a quiet, relaxing, stress free zone and it was like being placed into the middle of a flea market with tons of cars and junk spread up and down the street. I have nothing against flea markets etc but this is not what we told we were renting and again the staff never said a word about it being an event this weekend.

I did call the number letting you needed any assistance and Sweety did come and explain that it is an annual event and she had instructed her staff to let people know 15 days before their arrival date. This did not happen and 15 days is way too late. We wouldn’t have been able to find someplace else to stay.

We had a wedding Saturday evening so when we returned to the Inn at 11:30pm we had to park up the street and walk about 8-10 minutes to the Inn down a pitch black street except for where people were still unloading their stuff there was light from their flashlights and headlamps.

On Sunday at 4:15am more people came and started unloading their cars and pounding metal stakes and poles together. There was the clanking of them unloading their trucks and their conversations. It might as well been noon out. We tried to go back to sleep but it was impossible with all of the noise. We decided to get up and get the hell out of that place. So back up the street we go pulling our luggage, cooler and backpacks. What a total cluster ——.

Needless to say we were totally disappointed...

February 2025 update: We stayed here again in order to do the sunrise kayak again through Kayak Connection. We mostly enjoyed our experience again with similar comments from last year.

One thing that is frustrating is that there is a room rate and when you have selected everything and go to check out, there is a non-refundable $15 credit card processing fee that is ridiculous and misleading for the overall room rate. The room rates should reflect the normal cost of doing business which includes credit card processing fees which are typically much less than the over 10% that the $15 represents. In 2024, there shouldn't be separate charge for something like this especially when there is no other way to pay for the room.

We were in a room with a bathtub and no shower and the bathtub took forever to fill up to the point that we gave up and had a low bathwater level.

July 2023 Larry at Kayak Connection recommended this place and despite the kitchyness of the photos and themed rooms, I went ahead and booked. The place isn’t inexpensive but the proximity to Kayak Connection was perfect for what we are doing in Moss Landing.

I received a call to confirm a few days prior and was told I’d receive a text with check in info including codes which I received the day before we arrived

The room was clean if not a bit dated which was fine. There were a lot of rules which was a bit annoying. The Covid mask sign was fill up in the main house which was also annoying and which we ignored.

We are in the castaway room. The bed was very high and required a step stool to get on and off so if you have physical limitations this is not the room for you.

The view of the slough was nice and there were binoculars in the room which was nice (but we didn’t use). Shower pressure was good.

The fireplace turns on with a switch offering a nice effect and some warmth.

There’s not much nearby but the Thai place was really good.

Checkout was at 10 which is early but I think you can easily extend until 11.

Parking was available on the property.

We weren’t there long enough to walk around the area or enjoy other parts of...

A wonderful place for a solo traveler! I loved my stay at Captain’s Inn. From the moment I arrived, I realized that this place was special. I stayed in the Riverfront room and loved all the little nautical details and thoughtful conveniences. The room was immaculate. The dual head shower was hot with excellent pressure. The bed was super comfortable. I slept very well each night. I loved the gas fireplace, which provided extra warmth in the evening. But also loved that there was a little, portable fan in the room as I tend to get hot when I sleep. The views out my windows were spectacular. At all times of day different birds pass by, such as egrets and wild turkeys. In the Slough, you can see otters and sea lions swim by and sandpipers on the beach; truly, it is a nature lovers paradise. And every night presented a new and beautiful sunset. Mostly, I loved the vibe of the place. It was very relaxing. I loved the common room where I could put food in the fridge and eat whenever I wanted to. I liked meeting people there, too. As a solo traveler, it was enjoyable to have impromptu conversations. And I particularly liked the inn keeper Sweetie who met me the day I arrived, offered me cheese, crackers and Prosecco and chatted with me for an hour or so in the common room. She is kind and filled with life and laughter. It was a lot of fun. I felt like I was at home. As for activities, do not miss out on whale watching which is very nearby. Visit Marine Life Studies, next door, and support their mission of protecting our ocean, whales, dolphins and other marine life. Check out the Shakespeare Society Museum. It has an eclectic, extensive collection of Shakespeare ephemera and is run by a passionate proprietor named Terry. Also, do eat at Moss Landing Inn. A very simple little restaurant with a fabulous staff and amazing food. I’m already contemplating when to return to Monterey and when I do, this is the place...