We spent one night at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott The Dunes on Monterey Bay as part of our Pacific Coast Highway drive from Los Angeles. This is an all-suite property, and the rooms feel noticeably more spacious than a typical mid-range hotel.
The stay was mixed overall. The room and breakfast were very good, but the check-in experience was frustrating since the hotel was sold out and our room was not ready on arrival. The issue was later resolved, but it did affect our impression.
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Location
The hotel is in Marina, just north of Monterey, right off Exit 408 of Highway 1 near Imjin Parkway. The surrounding area feels newer, with several modern residential developments and basic conveniences nearby. It is an easy stop for groceries or a quick meal, with options like Trader Joe’s and Costco Wholesale within a short drive.
Parking is free and shared with the adjacent Home2 Suites by Hilton. There are no reserved spaces for Marriott Bonvoy elite members.
We paid US$185 after taxes on a Marriott Friends and Family rate, though it was only slightly lower than the standard public rate. The price felt on the higher side for a SpringHill Suites, and it did make us wonder if the brand premium here is entirely justified.
If you prefer to stay closer to Monterey, there are smaller inns that can be similarly priced and sometimes offer a more convenient location, depending on the dates. They are, of course, not directly comparable in terms of SpringHill Suites’ amenities or consistency, but worth considering if proximity matters more.
Check-in
The hotel reception didn’t have much people when we arrived around 4pm. We were told that our room was not ready, so we went out to the Pacific Grove area and came back later in the evening, when the room was finally available.
As Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members, we received pre-packaged snacks and one additional item from the pantry as a welcome amenity.
The hotel lobby is also pretty big, and is pretty much the same space used for breakfast too.
You even have some views of the Monterey Bay in the distance.
The room
We booked a Two Queen, Sofa Bed suite with a total area of about 38 sqm. The room was spacious and well laid out for a short stay. It included a sofa bed, a work desk, a small pantry area with a microwave and refrigerator, and a walk-in closet.
The furniture was modern, and the property overall looked relatively new, granted the hotel was indeed built in the past couple of years.
Power sockets were easy to find, both at the workdesk and beside the beds.
We didn’t really use the workdesk for work. We used it to have our dinner instead. We picked up a rotisserie chicken from Costco and apple cider from Trader Joe’s, and it was exactly the sort of road trip dinner that hits the spot after a long day.
Beside the workdesk is the living area. The living area is indeed spacious, and I’m sure the sofabed here can accommodate one person, provided if you don’t mind sleeping on the sofa!
Our view faced the Home2 Suites next door, with some rooms on the opposite side facing Monterey Bay offering partial ocean views.
The two queen beds were comfortable and suitable for families.
The large walk-in closet provided more storage space than we needed for one night.
The bathroom was clean and modern, stocked with Marriott’s standard Alice + Co Botanicals amenities. The shower area was typical for this segment of hotels, functional and comparable to what you would find at similar brands.
The facilities
Swimming pool
There is also an indoor pool. The pool area was clean and well-maintained, with plenty of towels available and a few lounge chairs along the sides. It’s not a large pool, but more than adequate for a quick dip or a short swim after a long day on the road.
Gym
The gym was better than expected for a select-service property, with a good range of equipment and enough space for a proper workout.
Business centre
There is a small business centre, useful if you need to print something.
Laundry room
There is also a laundry room for self-service laundry, and payment can be made through an app instead. There were instructions on the wall on paying through a mobile app.
Pantry
The pantry is basically a small convenience corner near the reception center, with snacks, drinks, and little supplies like shaving cream and some off-the-shelf medicine, which is handy on a road trip when you realise you are missing something. But I cannot imagine buying anything from here when there is a Trader Joe’s just across the road.
Breakfast
Breakfast is included for all guests and offered a solid variety. The main seating area was somewhat limited, but guests could easily use the adjacent lobby space. It did get crowded during peak hours in the morning.
Hot options included omelettes, bacon, and turkey sausages. There were also packaged muffins, fruit, cereal, and oatmeal.
The muffins were especially handy to grab on the way out if you wanted something to snack on in the car, and the mix of hot and cold items worked well for a quick start before getting back on the road.
At the end of the buffet line, you can find a juice dispenser, along with milk and yoghurt in a chilled section. It rounds out the breakfast nicely, especially if you prefer something lighter or want to add yoghurt and juice to your breakfast.
Concluding thoughts
If you are stopping for one night after driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, this hotel does what it needs to do. The rooms are spacious, feel relatively new, and breakfast is included in the rate.
The main drawback is how busy the property can get. We were not able to access our room at 4pm, and there was essentially no flexibility when we later asked for a late checkout. Being unable to extend checkout to even 1pm or 2pm meant rushing back from 17 Mile Drive and cutting short what should have been a more relaxed final morning.
We eventually escalated the feedback to Marriott, and the hotel manager followed up by email and handled the situation professionally. Even so, if you are staying here during a busy period, it is reasonable to expect the hotel to be running near capacity, and it is worth confirming your checkout timing early if you need extra time.
