This is my honest review of the Gosby House Inn in Pacific Grove, California. If you’re planning your trip around Monterey Bay, this hotel is perfect for your stay. Keep reading to learn more about this California gem!
My husband and I explored America in a self-converted Sprinter van for a year. I wasn’t blogging much at the time – and haven’t shared a lot about our trip… but these days I’ve been inspired to share more from that trip. We spent the majority of that year sleeping in our van, on public land, and in parking lots across the country. But there were some places we wanted to explore that weren’t so van friendly.
One of those places was around the Monterey Peninsula in California. Parking was hard to find, and signs everywhere warned against sleeping in your car.
For this reason, we decided to book a hotel for one night. This would give us a free place to park the van, a shower, and a chance to explore the area, without driving through the night to find somewhere to sleep. All of this led us to the Gosby House Inn.
This is an honest review of our stay at the Gosby House Inn, located in California’s Monterey Bay.
What I loved about Gosby House Inn right away was the beautiful, historic home that it was. Gosby House Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places. I love driving around and exploring neighborhoods where these historic homes stand – so staying in one was a treat.
The hotel is newly renovated – we actually stayed here just a month after the renovations were completed in 2023.
Please note: This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for supporting my blog! This is the fastest, easiest way to support my lil travel bloggin’ dream. 🫶🏻
My Review of Gosby House Inn, Monterey Bay
Gosby House Inn is part of the Four Sisters Collection. A unique collection of boutique, locally run hotels in California. They have 17 properties throughout the state, in some of California’s most popular tourist destinations. By booking and staying with multiple Four Sisters properties, you can earn loyalty and snag exclusive discounts.
Each Four Sisters Inn provides its guests with:
- Signature Free Breakfast
- Afternoon Wine Hour
- Freshly Baked Cookies (available all day)
- Bicycles to Borrow
- High-Speed WiFi
These are just a few of the perks that the Four Sisters Collection provides their guests.
Getting to Gosby House Inn
Traveling in America is almost impossible without a car. So, you’ll likely have one for your trip – especially if you’re visiting Monterey Bay.
Big Sur in California is a bucket list trip for so many people – and Pacific Grove is a perfect jumping-off point. If you’re flying in for your trip, you’ll have options from San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland International Airport. You’ll probably also be renting a car from the airport for the duration of your trip.
I recommend DiscoverCars. We’ve used them countless times and they always get you the best price, cancellation, and payment terms.
From San Francisco, it’s a two-hour drive to Pacific Grove. Or if you’re coming from Los Angeles, it’s a 5-hour drive.
About Gosby House Inn
Gosby House Inn is located in downtown Pacific Grove. It’s on a quiet street, but then again I would say that all of the streets around Monterey Bay were pretty quiet. It can be hard to find parking – especially if you’re in a big vehicle because parking is all-street parking. However, it’s not impossible.
At Gosby House Inn you’re about a 30-minute walk to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Canary Row. But you’re less than a 10-minute walk to the Lover’s Point Park and about a 20-minute walk to the Harbour Seal Observation Area. There is a lot to see and do within walking distance of this little hotel.
If you don’t feel like walking, they also offer bicycles that you can use to explore.
Like I mentioned above, Gosby House Inn also has a ‘Wine Hour’ each day. You can join them for a complimentary glass of wine and savory snacks. As a wine lover, this is always a huge bonus for me! Each afternoon they have freshly baked cookies and each room has coffee, tea, and water.
Our Gosby House Inn Room Tour
Gosby House Inn has managed to keep so many elements of the original, historic home in place while updating the space for full luxury. They have 22 rooms available – and when we checked in, they actually showed us three rooms to choose from.
Because this hotel is inside such a historic building, each room is completely unique. Some rooms have balconies, bathtubs, and fireplaces. Each room is priced based on its amenities, which means it’s easy to find something at Gosby House Inn within your budget. We stayed on the second floor, in the Steinbeck Room.
Our room’s bathroom was across the hall (something we definitely didn’t mind) but we still had a small sink and mirror in the room. We decided on this room specifically for the windows and view.
I personally loved the king-sized comfortable bed with plush pillows. And the windows – I definitely would’ve moved in based on the windows alone.
Quick Guide to Pacific Grove and Monterey Bay
If you’re wondering what to do in the area – you’ll be pleasantly surprised! As I mentioned above, Monterey Bay is a world-famous destination. California Big Sur is on bucket lists around the world. There will be plenty to do during your stay.
Apparently Monterey used to be the capital of California! It was founded by the Spanish and today it’s a beautifully inspiring piece of coastline. During your stay, make sure to take a walk along the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail (or borrow a bicycle from the hotel!).
And if you visit during the spring, make sure to visit the Harbor Seal Observation Area for pup season.
Other things to do in the area include:
- Visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Whale Watching in Monterey Bay
- Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
- Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary
- Check out the Point Pinos Lighthouse
- Wander through Canary Row
- Drive the 17 Mile Drive from Pacific Grove to Carmel California
And if you visit on a Monday, make sure to check out the Pacific Grove Farmers’ Market. You’ll love Pacific Grove because it’s not touristy. It’s quiet and local, with bakeries, coffee shops, and bookstores lining the streets.
Gosby Inn Hotel Information
Gosby House Inn is located at 643 Lighthouse Ave, in Pacific Grove California. It’s a two hour drive from San Francisco and just a 10 minute walk from Lover’s Point Park.
Located on a quiet street, this hotel is within walking distance of restaurants, coffee shops, and tourist attractions in the area.
Rooms start at $185 a night, but you can book in advance or stay longer for big discounts. I personally found Gosby House Inn on Hotel’s Tonight where I got an amazing deal for a last-minute room.
Book Your Stay: Gosby House Inn (8.8⭐️)
Gosby House Inn is a boutique hotel that’s part of the Four Sisters Collection. They offer unique accommodations with amazing perks across the state of California.
This stay was not sponsored. We found the Gosby House Inn on Hotels Tonight and paid in full for my room. I wanted to review Gosby House Inn to help you plan your trip! I would 100% book it again if I was back in the area. They have everything you need for a more than perfect stay around Monterey Bay.
As always, all opinions are my own.
For even more travel inspiration, follow me on Pinterest (@justynjen). I’m taking a break from Instagram, but you can follow my ‘real-time’ updates on Ko-Fi and show your support by buying me a coffee there.
Traveling around the United States? Make sure to check out my other travel guides.
