Asilomar Conference Grounds

Hotel

Spacious rooms walking distance from the beach friendly staff. No television in room but if you're lucky you will see deer outside your room.

Such a cool place to get offline for a few days. There are no TVs in the room and the Wi-Fi is okay. We were here to get a break from technology and work and Asilomar was perfect for it. The rooms are really basic but the views and wild deer wondering the grounds made up for it and frankly I wasn’t here to spend my time in the room.

Best place to visit anytime of the year.

Great area for dinner and drinks. The beachfront area is unmatched in beauty and there is plenty to see and do around the tide pools. Hotel facilities are a nostalgic memory of the past century. Would highly recommend to all visitors in the area.

Great complex. Very charming but little amenities. No phone or TV in older rooms, which is fine. The walls and ceiling are paper thin, so make sure you bring good earplugs because you can hear the guests upstairs walk, drop things, move furniture, etc.

Shut In building. Comfortable basic room with double and single bed. 3 drawer dresser and small desk. Lighting improved from last time I visited but hallway light comes in under door. Roomy bathroom. Plenty of hot water. Building is old and not especially well insulated for sound but other guests were reasonably reapectful. Building is a comfortable walk from dining hall and office. We love proximity to state beach.

Stayed just one night but was very impressed with the place. Extremely well maintained, love the communal aspect — the large dining and meeting halls are great for meeting new people. The walk to the beach is on these tidy wooden walkways (keep the dunes pristine! ). The room I stayed in had two queen size beds. The bathroom was clean and there were plenty of towels and included shampoo, conditioner and lotion. Not cheap, but once you're there, relaxation is guaranteed!

One of the worst stays for any place I have been too. Thin walls. Hot or cold water for a shower. Mold in the closet. Nails sticking out by the deck that I stepped on. Way over priced. Unreal. I can go on and on. Do not stay here… one of the worst.

Great location, just not the “resort” you might expect for its location. Rooms need a major update, along with the plumbing. Bathroom fixtures need to be replaced I could have pulled the shower head out the wall! Also our bathroom had a ton of ants so there’s that. Customer service was great though, very attentive, and being very close to the beach morning walks are a treat. I don’t know if I would stay here again though.

I come here to catch the sunset and have a cocktail in the lodge. Best seats on the wood paths overlooking the ocean for sunsets. The lodge is always quietly buzzing with interesting people who love the outdoors. I also get a lot of writing done here. It's the perfect place to enjoy a drink without bar noise or drama. Lovely walking paths!

I didn't stay at the Hotel, but I did walk around the property. Julia Morgan's architecture simple yet stunning. The boardwalk to the beach was short but beautiful. Parking was free because Asilomar is a state park. After seeing the inns I'd strongly consider staying overnight.

This hotel is in absolutely beautiful place to visit. It has lovely rooms and a fantastic "social lodge". Each building also has a small lounge area. However, be aware of the room you book. Historic rooms are precisely that: historic. They are a bit beat up because they have been around for many years and are a bit small. That being said, the area is beautiful and the beach access cannot be beaten. The beach is approximately seven minutes down the main path and is positively beautiful.

I am traveling this week to stay here for a conference. I was shocked that I received a phone call a few days back from the hotel more or less forcing me to share my room. I have never had this happen before. I was told that if I did not share my room, this girl would not be able to go to the conference. I thought this was very inappropriate coming from a hotel. I indicated when I registered that I wanted to have a single room — willing to pay the price for this. Because I am a pushover (I should have said no but the guilt trip was incredible) now I am sharing a room with someone I barely know. The explanation is that I will be doing a good deed (?! ). Not a good indication on how this trip will be and the place that I am staying. I am rather loathing my trip…

Great service and a beautiful place.

The hotels are really nice. The conference rooms are amazing. It is truly a unique experience. Service was superb and the location was amazing. Easy access to the ocean, well lit walkways, bon fire areas.

Rustic, old-style Lodge on state park grounds. The rooms were 2-star quality, but were clean. In 3 days, they never changed towels (even when we tried leaving them on the floor). I would not recommend this place unless someone was looking to really commune with nature. There was not much else to do. I liked the nearby beach.

Such a beautiful property! Perfect setting for the photography conference I was attending. Maps were easy to follow to find parking and meeting rooms. Staff was friendly and welcoming!

Great location for Sony kando2.0! Had a blast and the facilities were awesome.

My family and I enjoyed our stay. We liked the short walk to the beach. The rooms were clean and the grounds were quiet and peaceful.

Absolutely beautiful location! Wonderful architecture and historical buildings. Great place to relax. The lobby is a wonderful place to relax, read a book, play billiards, or one of the many board games.

The conference ground is very big. It would be better if the direction guide is more clearly written. The lighting is very poor. It was very confusing when we landed there after dawn. We couldn't see anything.

This place was so friendly and comfortable that it made my whole time here feel Awesome. I strongly recommend this place to anyone who wants to go to the ocean beach, and check out, Asilomar Hotel. It's the best.

Beautiful and Historical. Also rustic and low key. This is not a fancy hotel, however I would choose to stay here. It feels a summer camp for adults. It's a good place if you like to take a walk and sit by a fire in the lodge with a beverage of your choice (yes, beer and wine too. ) Many of the buildings feel like they belong in Yosemite. I asked the people swimming in the pool if they were cold, they said no, the pool is well heated.

Very cute place to connect with nature.

Cute place to go to relax.

Can't really beat the location. Walk to the state beach from the hotel grounds. Cottages. Our cottage had a common area with fireplace and chairs and tables, and some family board games. No ice machine in the cottage, had to walk to Phoebe's cafe to get ice (3 minute walk, about 300 steps). No microwave or fridge in the rooms, and no TV (which is great). Family atmosphere in the evenings at the main building (where you check-in and where the Phoebe's cafe is), people gathered around the big fireplace playing board games and pool. There is a also an old piano there if you want to play gently. The Crocker dining hall meal prices are absurdly high, though. So if you have a car the town has plenty of dining options. Nearby restaurants are about mike away so you can take a nice walk even if you do not have a car. They also have some bicycles to rent. Overall, great retreat place.

The environment is of great interest to nature lovers. The design of the complex was the result of a great professional ability and a vision arquitectonics of vanguardi. Unfortunately today the facilities suffer from insufficient maintenance.

Dilapidated room 120cm bed for two people bathroom old Formica year 70 limit own friendly frame uncleaned window since construction!
In the trails C is downright bizarre creepy atmosphere and if by misfortune you get away the C is dirty my wife was scared!
Ants full room We slept in the company:)
This has not budge since 40 years I do not know how to note people on Google!
or hoteliers buy their notes!
Shame seen the price paid Frédéric Mahaut.

Beautiful setting in redwood and ceder first right next to preserved dunes and tide pools. I attend Eco Farm Conference and have the pleasure of volunteering with their delightful staff. Makes a conference feel like a retreat.

Magic. Just love this place! It's like a cabin, kind of like camping but with comfortable amenities. We saw deer, magical stars everywhere, amazing sunrises and sunsets, beautiful afternoon ocean breeze with the bluest water ever. Love this place!

Great campus with beautiful examples of craftsman architecture. Fire places are abundant, and the guest hall includes pool tables and puzzles. Stayed as part of a conference — plenty of large spaces for groups of about 200 to 300, or more. Food was included for our conference and meals were very good, including vegetarian options. We also enjoyed the small bar between meals and relaxing at the many outdoor seating areas. The surrounding grounds are gorgeous, particularly Asilomar State Beach, and only a short walk to a monarch sanctuary as well as the Pebble Beach golf course. Only downside would be the slightly dated fixtures in the rooms, but they could be forgiven for preserving a 1970s/80s classic feel. Otherwise the rooms were generally clean and in good repair.

The rooms are kinda funky and old fashioned, even though the bed was new and very comfortable. I thought the food was quite good. HOWEVER the setting is heavenly. You can hear, see, and smell the ocean throughout the property. Nice enough to make me forget the 70s paneling in the room.

5 star location and architecture; accommodations a little worn with bathrooms that could be updated. Fantastic place for group meetings: lots of communal space and plenty of nooks for small break out conversations. Very peaceful and restful atmosphere. Would visit again.

Great price for large rooms, friendly atmosphere, Hearst social life is warm and allows for socializing. Service has been good. Lots of things for people to do including ping pong, volleyball, pool, swimming pool, hikes, bonfires, etc. Had a good time and looking forward to returning. On the poor side, we ran out of hot water, some ants, and not super clean. But the atmosphere of mountains and ocean with preserved landscape makes up for any down points.

Check-in was agonizingly slow. Not because there was a line, but because the desk attendant was apparently new and unfamiliar with the computer screens, with nobody there to help her. Room was 90 degrees, thermostat was stuck on even at coolest setting. Housekeeping promised to report it and I separately spoke directly to maintenance; NOTHING was done. I spent the rest of my stay turning furnace fan on to warm up and off to avoid roasting — so getting up in a cold room was unpleasant every morning. Maintenance was generally poor; headboard had fallen off wall and basin sink cold water valve was loose in fixture and will soon leak. At its best, this is a conference center dorm — — no TV, no in-room phones, no fridge, no in-room coffee. Parking is atrocious, plan on a hike to your car.

Friendly staff and comfortable rooms. When I stayed here we could see the ocean from our back porch. There are quite a few lounging areas and the beach is but a walk from anywhere on the property.

The hotel was beautiful and historic. Confusing at first but once you get the layout it's great. The food was pretty good and I loved socializing during meal times. I will definitely be going back every year!

I attended a scientific conference at Asilomar. As someone who has attended several conferences at a variety of hotels, Asilomar was a lackluster venue. My biggest complaint is that the Wi-Fi was very weak, in both our rooms and in the main conference Hall. This made it extremely difficult to do work, which was ostensibly the purpose of the trip. The food was also just fine. There were limited options — it felt much more like a college dining hall than a grown up conference venue. The view at Asilomar was great, however. Unfortunately, the nearest beach was experiencing a bloom of kelp flies that covered the sand in a carpet making the beach difficult to enjoy. Overall Asilomar was adequate but would not rank in my top percent of conference venues.

Food: The breakfast is the best, the food and dinner are boring and insufficient especially if you are hungry. Place. A bit old and boring, they don't have a bar open until night. It's like his name says: Isolated.

The Good: The grounds are absolutely stunning. The beach access is great. The common buildings (like the guest registration and dining halls) are very charming. Catering was mostly okay, nothing special. The bar had a great IPA on tap. The Bad: Most rooms are in desperate need of renovation. Old, smelly, and in my case infested with ants. Some probably view this as a charming form of escape — but the lack of functional outlets was really frustrating when trying to charge batteries or conduct business. In general, the positive memories I'll carry from exploring the grounds will outweigh the shortcomings of the accommodations.

The grounds are absolutely stunning. The beach is a short walk away. The rooms, are bare-boned, but I expected that, and was completely okay with it. The room was very clean, beds were comfortable. The pillows however, we're a different story. Bring your own pillows. Very close to all kinds of activities. No shortage of restaurants. I would definitely recommend, unless you only like staying at the fanciest of hotels.

This is a wonderful place to stay and a great place to have a work conference. The ease of access to the beach nearby makes for a delightful trip and offers some amazing views at sunset. The food here is ok but the facilities in the hotel rooms are pretty good.

Beautiful conference grounds, especially outside. Rooms are a bit dated but clean. Food service is above average for a conference ground. Location is gorgeous (on the coast), sand dunes, and nice trail on the boardwalk.

Really beautiful place. Good place to stay the night or stop at the cafe/bar for some drinks or food on the patio. They have a nice indoor space with fireplace and pool tables as well. Highly recommend.

Have attended conferences for multiple nights here. Asilomar is well located with great access to the beach and surrounding areas. The grounds are well maintained and spacious. Lodging is a bit dated and sparse, but adequate for a conference. Food on-site is mediocre.

Very special structure immersed in the green. The lobby/reception is large, very cozy, wooden, has an almost retro charm.

Grounds & beach are beautiful. Bring tennis shoes it's a lot of walking! Bathroom in room needed updating. Fire pits were great & good place to meet new people. Staff was awesome!

Beautiful grounds and peaceful setting. Excellent access to the beach. The social hall is fun, we enjoyed the pool tables and fireplace. Rooms are simple, but clean. Meal prices are very high.

I have stayed at Asilomar several times while growing up, so while planning an adult vacation through California I figured I had to stay there. It was as great as I remembered. The staff are friendly, the rooms are comfortable but still allow you to feel a sort of campish atmosphere. I love being walking distance from the beach and dunes and enjoyed tide pooling. I greatly recommend staying here!

Historic place nested in cypress forest just steps from the shore. Wooden buildings blend nicely into surroundings. Grounds are well cared for. Restorant and cafe are available. In the evening — live music events around communal fire. Stuff is great. Although more then century old-fashioned the place is nice and clean and comfortable. The seaside forest setting is the greatest advantage of this place and is well worth the visit. Loved it.

Location is amazing but the facility is run down to put out nicely. Paint pealing in the rooms. No TV, no AC, bathrooms are very dated. This location is great for a retreat or outdoor team building weekend, but it is certainly not a resort. It is part of the state parks system so the rules and policies are a little on the strange side. I will recommend this location if you know what you are getting into to. I was was expecting a resort hotel not this.

Had to change rooms after first night because of pipe knocking sounds all night that kept us awake. Staff was great and set us up with a different room that's much better. Grounds are nice and the beach area is gorgeous. Lots of walking between the buildings. Food choices were limited. Social Hall was great for hanging out and reading near the fire.

Very old fashioned style rooms. Feels like a time warp. Beautiful scenery from the forest to the beaches. Gorgeous boardwalk and the sunset is to die for. Booked it on Expedia and didn't realize it, but you don't get a breakfast voucher if you don't book through the hotel directly. Otherwise a beautiful place to stay. Got a 2 bed room with the fireplace. Definitely worth it.

Asilomar is ok. Depends on the size of your conference, your experience may vary. For a large conference, meeting rooms could get crowded and uncomfortably warm even in the spring. Having meals would be a headache. Otherwise, Asilomar provides quaint cabins and meeting room converted from old church and access to a small beach. Not sure if it is allowed, but we've done bonfire on the beach.

Stayed in a queen + 3 twin bed room. Room is clean, and has separate spaces for the toilet, shower, and sink, making it great for larger groups. Staff is very nice. Very scenic. Only downside is that out can be confusing to navigate around to the correct building.

Love the area and location. Very peaceful and loving the knitting retreat. Food is good, although would love more flexibility in meal times. The rooms are a little older, but not bad for the experience.

Place is amazing. Huge open space, multiple meeting and social locations, and many different overnight options from a typical room to a nicely furnished cabin. Walking distance to the beaxh, but also has plenty of trees and wild life to feel woodsy.

We have had many enjoyable stays at Asilomar over the years, so revisiting after a pause of eight years had the potential to start a new chapter in our relationship with this place. Unfortunately, a number of factors weighed heavily on our experience. First, whereas we always stayed within the main compound, this time we were put in a room across the road. We could still hear the ocean, but traffic on the access road (Asilomar Ave. ) was audible. The room was clean and tidy but quite worn down, with sliding doors not fitting properly, faucets/shower/toilet never updated (which is odd considering the need to conserve water in this area), and no coffee-maker, cups or etc. As amenities in a room that, with a senior discount, cost around $150 per night. No breakfast included, although one could purchase full fare at $18 per person, or go to the cafe next to the front desk. One of our biggest disappointments was the decline of the Monterey pine grove due to pitch canker disease. Trees are suffering and are left to fall of their own accord, and so look quite pathetic on the way down. Several large trees that had collapsed over by the swimming pool were especially skeletal and sad to see. While it's admirable the resort is replanting these trees, it'll take decades before they are even half the size of the originals. On the two days in mid-March 2016 we were there (Thurs. And Fri.

I was not expecting this place to be a gem — architectural, historically, and for good old fashion R&R. If you are a fan of architecture and have been to Hearst Castle, make your way down here for the other side of Julia Morgan. Regardless of its beauty, you wont find a better place to spend you time.

This place is one of my most favorite places.

This place holds something special for me. Growing up, my father would be attending conferences in the morning while my brother and sister and I would explore the grounds and have fun. It's been 16 years since I've last stayed here, but now I get to share this place with my wife. Basic rooms, no TV or phone, but tons of peace, quite, and fireplaces inviting you to sit next to it and read a book. I can't wait to share this place with my future children.

My company delivered a public workshop at the Fred Farr forum facility; It was fantastic. The room was set up beautifully beforehand, staff was available for special requests, the AV system worked flawlessly, the coffee and pastries were delicious, and they even lit a fire in the fireplace.

Rustic accommodations. Had an ant problem in the room. Rooms had no TV (which I liked) and a fireplace stocked with wood. Went there on a corporate retreat, not sure the wife would have loved it but I thought it was really different and unique. Probably hasn't been updated since the 80's but that was part of it's charm.

Very rustic, simple conference grounds. Although the food from the dining halls could be better, the proximity to the beach was awesome. Lots of trails to walk and warm soft sand to relax and enjoy.

The location is beautiful! Very close to the water and just amazing sights. The buildings are a bit outdated and not exactly what you might expect and to be honest I was pretty disappointed in the food. Still a pretty decent place to hold a conference.

The conference center was fine. The Wi-Fi was slow which was frustrating at times.

The location is stunningly beautiful. Easy beach access, walking and biking trails through the dune preservation, and other nearby locations means plenty to see and do. The rooms are very quaint, though a bit dated. My room had a fire place which I made liberal use of.

Very nice place and had a great time.

Dirty rooms sand in our beds. Over priced big disappointment never again!

We stayed here for two nights while exploring the northern end of Big Sur. The price was a bit more moderate than anything IN Big Sur, but still a bit high for such basic accommodation. That said, we loved it! It felt a bit like adult summer camp with hotel-style lodges and rooms set in a forested area within walking distance of the beach. Campfires were lit up around the property, but, unfortunately for us, they were all private fires for groups staying on the grounds. We paid a bit extra for a balcony and wished we could have spent more time out there, just enjoying the trees. (Actually, a coffeepot in the room would have been great. And if you care, there was no TV. ) The biggest downfall was the poor sound proofing. We could hear EVERYTHING the people in the next room said. Also, at 6 am one of the mornings, I heard a knock at the door and someone started keying into our room. I leapt out of bed, only to discover it was not our room. It sounded so close, I could have sworn it was. Recommended!

Best Beach to Feel the Love.

For several years we have driven by the Asilomar Conference Grounds during our vacations to the Monterey Bay Area. We finally decided to book a trip to stay at the property. We booked 3 nights and upon check in, found that we were in a non ocean view room and asked if there were ocean view rooms available. The woman checking me in said yes and it was a $40 per night upgrade. I said yes and as she was finishing checking me in the employee next to her was checking someone else in and that person also wanted an upgraded ocean view room and was quoted only $22 per night. So, essentially, I paid $54 more because I checked in with a different person. When I arrived at the building where our room was, we could see the ocean at a distance, much further away from the water than I was led to believe. I quickly realized we would not be enjoying our view. You could not see the ocean unless you were in the bed (the sitting area in the room had no view). The building is designed with the walkway passing in front of each room. So anyone walking to and from their rooms can look directly in to any room with the curtains open. Now imagine you are laying in bed (the only place in the room where you can see the ocean) and every other guest that walks by makes eye contact with you. A little creepy. Needless to say, we kept our blinds closed most of the trip. I was also a little dismayed that there are no land line phones in the room, so you better have a cell carrier with coverage.

What a great find and experience. Located right on the beach with rooms that are laid out well for sleeping. This is a location and grounds that will have you outdoors morning through evening. The fire pit at the path to the beach is a perfect gathering place every evening. Totally enjoyed the time here.