My wife and I live in southern California, and we love to go north and visit Monterey every couple of years. It's such a great little town with a lot of history. We've visited Cannery Row many times, and still see something new during every visit. We love to stay at the Monterey Plaza Hotel, and we always know that it's not going to be cheap. Not only will you pay a lot for your room (splurge, and get one with an ocean view), but you'll be charged valet fees, parking fees, and an assortment of other charges. And everyone in this town expects a tip. $5 is the norm. Wow! But you're on vacation, so spend the money. The rooms at the Monterey Plaza are great, and the beds are incredibly comfortable. And its spa is exceptional. I scoffed at a "hot stone" treatment but it was amazing. The shopping nearby is good, and we always pick up a lot of fun items for our grandkids. And the restaurants are the best. We love Hula's Island Grill, and the Duck Club as well. The Grille is also fantastic. The hotel's staff is very gracious, though they tend to be a wee bit formal, almost as though they think their higher prices warrant that. But we have no complaints, and we'll visit again and again.