Asilomar Hotel and Conference Grounds

Kathy Kinney

a month ago · ★ 1

⭐ Very Disappointing Experience — Especially for Guests With Disabilities Unfortunately, this was the worst experience I have had at Asilomar, and I feel others—especially retreat organizers and anyone traveling with someone with mobility challenges—should be aware. When we arrived Friday, there was a large music event taking place that appeared to take up much of the available parking. The situation was chaotic, and we had to navigate around local event attendees just to get onto the property. If Asilomar is going to host large public events while also accommodating overnight guests, there should be parking attendants helping guests safely navigate parking and check-in. I was traveling with a woman with a disability, and there was not adequate accessible parking available. She had to park near the firepit area and walk a significant distance to reception just to check in. Guests with disabilities should be given priority for accessible parking and, whenever possible, rooms closer to reception, dining, and other facilities. Unfortunately, the front reception staff seemed overwhelmed and were not particularly welcoming or helpful, which made an already difficult arrival even more frustrating. We were attending Asilomar as part of a retreat, yet our group was spread throughout the property. Our room was extremely disappointing and honestly one of the worst rooms I have experienced while traveling. It was also frustrating to see some guests receiving upgraded accommodations while others in our retreat were given rooms that felt far below expectations. For me, the accommodations and overall experience felt worse than a Motel 6. I organize retreats myself, and this experience made a lasting impression. Based on how our group was accommodated, I would not feel comfortable bringing one of my own retreats to this facility. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and addresses parking during public events, accessibility for guests with disabilities, staff preparedness, room quality, and how retreat groups are accommodated. Asilomar is in a beautiful location, which makes this experience even more disappointing. I expected much better.

EK Rao

4 months ago · ★ 3

The views from the rooms are stunning. The beach, the paths around the hotel are all amazing. Go for a guided dure about dune conservation, the guides are superb. However, the maintenance of the rooms is quite bad. It is great that these are heritage rooms, almost a century old, but surely they can use some tender loving care. Be prepared to find spiders in the bathroom. Some rooms lack coffee makers and on campus cafe opens at 7 am.

Nicole S

a month ago · ★ 1

Service was great. Location was nice as well. The rooms, buildings, and grounds look as if they haven’t been maintained in years, several years. The buildings are literally decaying, wood rotting, fixtures falling off walls or barely hanging on, this place has never seen an upgrade. The grounds look as if they’ve given up. Basically, they’re renting rooms until this place gets shut down and condemned. The photos online are purely false advertisement as they looks fairly decent. You can tell by the photos that it’s an older place maiming the MCM look but there was no water pressure, the carpets must be the same carpets from when this place opened. When I arrived with my group, I was thoroughly embarrassed since I was the one who booked. They asked “did you read the reviews” and honestly I hadn’t. The only building that looks maintained is the guest check in building. I cannot believe they charged me $395 per night for this run down, dilapidated room at a place that has been given up on. Lots of potential, but it would take a very wealthy investor to bring this place back to life. Otherwise, a complete rip off. I got GOT. -10 out of 10. Update your photos online to reflect the condition of this place.

Meghan Golden

5 months ago · ★ 5

We absolutely loved it. The room was very simple & had some quirky aspects - but I had read the reviews and so I expected that and it didn’t bother us. The price was very reasonable to reflect the simple rooms - so I think that’s fair. But the grounds and the location are INCREDIBLE! I wish we had stayed longer! We were comfortable and it was clean and we loved loved loved the beach, the grounds, everything. There is a café on site, with really reasonable prices. There is also a dining hall, and we didn’t eat there, but the menu looked delicious and it was probably excellent. Excellent location to visit the coast, Big Sur, Monterey Bay, all of it… I would go again in a heartbeat!

Uwe Muegge

a month ago · ★ 5

Asilomar Conference Grounds is one of those places where the setting and history are a large part of the experience. This is a historic property, with many of its buildings dating to the early 1900s, and the beautiful wood-and-stone architecture gives the grounds a character you simply don't get from a modern hotel. There are newer buildings as well, so visitors who prefer a more contemporary look and feel may want to request accommodations in one of those. But Asilomar is really at its best for people who appreciate iconic architecture and a truly unique location. The grounds themselves are wonderful. A boardwalk winds through the coastal dunes toward the ocean, and deer are a common sight. In the evening, outdoor fire pits provide a great place to sit and stay warm during chilly coastal nights. The main administrative building is especially memorable. Its huge stone fireplace, soaring timber ceiling, historic piano, comfortable seating areas, and billiards tables make it feel more like the great room of an old lodge than a hotel lobby. Depending on the day of the week and season, there is also live music, and when music is offered, a bar opens in the evening. Sitting near the fireplace while listening to music is about as classic an Asilomar experience as you can get. For food and drinks, Phoebe's Café offers soups, sandwiches, other small plates, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and espresso drinks. Crocker Hall provides cafeteria-style meals for those looking for something more substantial. Asilomar isn't the place to choose if your priority is sleek, modern luxury. Its appeal is very different: historic buildings, massive fireplaces, exposed timber construction, dunes, wildlife, ocean air, and communal spaces that invite you to slow down and spend time in them. For anyone who values atmosphere, architecture, history, and location, Asilomar is a very special place.