The Hideaway

Very Poor
Traveller Type: solo traveller
  : TLDR: If you're Black do not stay here!I had previously stayed here in early March this year and had a decent stay. Aside from the stares throughout my time in Carmel. I booked a trip for my mother for her birthday. I mentioned it was her birthday and that she was allergic to alcohol and that I would like them to give them a special welcome. ( I went for my partner's birthday and they did the same for him when we arrived. He is white passing.)The man at the front desk, Scott, checked in my mother when she arrived. He was incredibly hostile. I paid for her stay in full, month's in advance. I put the reservation in her name and and noted that it was a birthday gift for her.He told her she couldn't stay unless the card holder was present and was refusing to check her in. She called me to talk to Scott. He was incredibly short with me on the phone. He told me I had to fill out an authorization form with my credit information so she could be checked in.I filled out that form and sent it immediately. My mother relayed to me that while I was filling out that form Scott firmly told her to go sit in the lobby. I sent over the form within 3 minutes and took a screenshot and sent the authorization form to my mother.She took it over to Scott, who then curtly told her that she needed to wait till he got it on his end. After a long wait my mother was then allowed to check in. Scott then took her ID and examined it thoroughly, held it up to her face, checked if it was real. Only after all of the scrutiny did he decide she could stay.After that entire ordeal, no one offered to help her with her bags upstairs. My mother is 62 years old, gray haired, with a bad back, often clad in a Hamilton shirt and crocs. She is harmless and can't carry a heavy bag up some stairs. She asked Scott to help with the bags, he grabbed her bag walked to her room and dropped it on the doorstep and left.
  : Carmel-By-Sea is probably one of the most racist cities my mother has experienced but Le Petit Pali was unnecessarily hostile toward her. Early this morning as she was sleeping my mother was awakened by heavy knocking at her room door. The previous evening she had put the "do not disturb" sign on her door but the staff ignored it. She woke up to a woman walking into her room under the guise of housekeeping, and checking the rooms status.She asked the woman to leave and the woman left without checking any other rooms on that floor. That is when my mother decided to leave. She felt Le Petit Pali was a hostile place for her and that her safety was in jeopardy. She talked with the manager and while she was waiting witnessed the staff prepare a birthday welcome for another guest. This set her over the edge. She mentioned that I specifically asked for that service to be provided for her and Scott replied, "didn't you get the card in your room?" There was no card.Don't stay at this hotel. I spent 2.5k on my mother's stay only for her to be treated like a criminal because of the color of her skin. In 2024 this is disgraceful. To receive a call with her in tears over a birthday retreat I planned for her is unacceptable.Edit: Also while talking with the manager before my mother left, she found out that the authorization form was never needed to check in.

Wonderful
Traveller Type: family with young children
  : Location was great and the rooms were well appointed with some nice homey touches like cookie delivery and welcome drinks. The breakfast was also a great way to start the day.
  : The fridge and glasses are kept in the bathroom, which is off putting.Parking is also limited but as they don’t have their own lot.

Very Good
Traveller Type: young couple

Wonderful
Traveller Type: young couple
  : The design of the rooms and lobby was creative, well thought out and had a cozy upscale feel. The champagne at check-in, the breakfast.
  : The pet fee for 1 night was too high! I couldn’t get the A/C to work.

Good
Traveller Type: young couple
  : The staff and amenities were great here, I felt truly welcomed.
  : Parking sucked

Fair
Traveller Type: young couple
  : Location
  : No closet or chest of drawers and only 1 luggage rack so my suitcase stayed on the floor. No decaf coffee is inexcusable for breakfast. Even decaf coffee using pods would have been acceptable.

Very Good
Traveller Type: family with young children
  : Pretty, clean, well located
  : A bit expensive