Monterey Plaza Hotel &Spa

We stayed at Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. The hotel acknowledged the occasion by gifting us a bottle of wine, which was a nice gesture, though the quality could have been better for a luxury property. We booked through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts, and the upgrade was honored. The upgraded room was very spacious and comfortable—more than enough space for us and our child, which we really appreciated. However, our late checkout request was denied, which was disappointing, especially since late checkout is typically a benefit of booking through Amex FHR. Valet parking was expensive but expected for a hotel of this caliber. What was frustrating was that EV charging was not complimentary. Paying over $40 for parking plus an additional $20 for charging feels excessive. Luxury hotels should offer complimentary EV charging, as many comparable properties already do. We dined at Schooners, and unfortunately the food was a letdown. Dishes were either overly salty or completely bland, which was surprising given the hotel’s reputation. Checkout itself was quick and not busy, but despite requesting an emailed receipt, it was never sent automatically. I had to call three days later to have it emailed, which should not be necessary at a hotel of this standard. Overall, the hotel has a beautiful location, spacious rooms, and attentive gestures, but several service and value-related issues prevented the experience from fully matching the expectations of a luxury anniversary stay.