/home/me/trips/monterey/ihg_clement.review
i stayed at the intercontinental the clement monterey for a 2 nights on a weekend, and overall it was a really solid experience. the location is unbeatable, right on cannery row, next to the aquarium, with the ocean basically outside the window. it feels upscale without being pretentious, and walking everywhere was easy.
the room itself was clean and comfortable. housekeeping clearly does a good job: no dust, no weird smells, and the bathroom was spotless. the fireplace and partial ocean view made it feel cozy, but i will say the walls were a bit thinner than expected. i could hear muffled noise from the hallway at night, not enough to ruin sleep, but noticeable.
the amenities were impressive. the c restaurant + bar had great service (though a little pricey for what you get), they sent up a champagne i ordered to the room. and the outdoor fire pits facing the water were probably my favorite part of the stay. the fitness center was well maintained, though the pool was even smaller than i imagined from the photos. the hotel also has ev chargers and solid wifi, which could be convenient.
staff were professional and friendly without being overbearing. check-in was smooth, and when i asked for extra towels, they showed up in under five minutes. that said, parking was expensive — around what you’d expect for the area, but still annoying given the nightly rate.
outside the hotel, monterey itself was great for exploring. i spent an afternoon walking the coastal trail that runs through pacific grove — quiet, scenic, and full of small coves and tide pools. old fisherman’s wharf was within walking distance and had some decent clam chowder spots, though it’s definitely tourist-trappy. if you have time, the 17-mile drive and point lobos are short drives away and absolutely worth it for the views.
overall, i’d rate the stay a strong 8 out of 10. the location, cleanliness, and amenities make it a great choice if you want a comfortable, scenic spot in monterey. not perfect — a little pricey, slightly noisy, and the pool could be better — but still one of the best hotels in the area. i’d definitely come back, just maybe try for a full ocean-view room next time.
i paid 738$ for the 2 nights.
