Fernwood Resort, Big sur

I have never left a negative review before, but the experience at this motel had my family in tears twice it was that bad. I am a mom and was traveling with my two daughters. First night arrived in the later evening after a long day driving, checked into out cabin to find mice. The mice were out and scurrying around with the lights on and us in the kitchen. The bunk beds were basically at the edge of the kitchen with no door so my girls sleeping there was not a choice. We were going to leave, but it just too late to drive. The only place they had for me to stay was a basic tent cabin. Three cots, that's it. I big difference from a cabin. Awful night sleep since we were not prepared to camp and the tents are so close to each other I could hear the guy in the next tent snore. The motel staff was as helpful as they could be and gave us $15 worth of rented linen and some firewood. He put a hold on two motels since it was too late to officially check in, one for the next night and one for the night after that. I figured the motel would not have mice, we still wanted to vacation in big sur, and we were all set to start having fun. Wait, there is more. The next morning I officially checked in. We had a fun day, slept in the room, which was fine except the noise, and then had to leave that room at 11 and wait for our next room to be cleaned. We had another nice day, came back at 8pm looking forward to relaxing, and they had given our room away. I had already checked in. I guess the person did not check me in both nights even though I explained my situation. A few hours later when someone else wanted the room with the hold on it with our name, they gave it to them. They had my credit card and my phone number. I obviously was not at the hotel since we were needing to wait hours for our room to be ready, but they did not even call to clarify. There were NO rooms in Big Sur, Cambrian, Carmel, or Monterey. There was a show and it was all booked. The staff tried to find me another room somewhere, anywhere,but after they had no luck they said sorry and turned a mom and two girls into the night at 9:30 pm with no place to sleep. Oh, one more thing. As I was standing next to the car comforting my crying girls, a guy walked up to me smoking a joint and asked me if I wanted some.

We stayed at the campsites and were happy that we got two since they were very small but did like being able to pitch the tent next to the river. We did have a good time, we enjoyed the hiking trails and innertubing down the river, but the staff was very lack a daisical and didn't seem to know much when I asked about a trail that they posted on their website and not very friendly attitudes when we ate dinner at the restraunt and tavern we all wondered if they were being snobby and/or just really didn't care. It would have been a more pleasant experience if they had been friendlier.

This is easily the best way to ruin a trip to Big Sur. In a place so filled with beauty and peace, a rowdy roadhouse bar in a compound of relatively unhelpful people with no interest in helping visitors feel comfortable is simply not needed. With people getting into fights, yelling, and driving away after drinking too much, this place is simply the pits, and unsafe to boot. Overpriced, unhelpful, depressing.

From what I have found (and i've done a lot of searching) there is no place cheaper than Fernwood. That being said? It's a great place to stay! I've yet to try the motel, but the canvas cabins are exactly what they should be and the people and staff go out of their way to help you find the best hikes or views for you. There's often live music and although the cabins are a little close together, what can you expect, you're camping at a camp site. I've travelled the PCH a few times and this is ALWAYS where I pick to stay the night. I'm looking forward to my chance to stay a whole week and try all the hiking options they have!