Not worth the money
We last visited Pacific Grove Inn in Sept '99 and were very impressed with the rooms and our stay. This time, however, we were surprised to find this B&B has new owners and cut corners where they shouldn't.
For starters: the linens - awful! The bathroom towels - those extremely cheap, thin, sandpaper-ish white towels, awful bed and bedding and a rickety, squeeky, extremely uncomfortable "brass bed". We were very disappointed for what we paid for. The room itself was nice - the Kent Seavey Room #16 located upstairs in the detached Cottage - so we had privacy, fireplace and a little balcony that overlooked a few rooftops, neighbors backyard and the Pacific Grove Police Dept, and yes there is a bit of an ocean view. We noticed the other two rooms in that cottage had a much fuller ocean view than this room. It didn't seem we had a common wall with anyone else, which was nice. You do hear when anyone comes in downstairs, but our neighbors were polite and quiet. Granted, the location is good. It is within walking distance to Lighthouse Ave where there is a variety of restaurants and shops. We ate at the new Cellar Door - very excellent food and service.
Poor customer service - When I first called to request some "romance amenities" such as champagne in our room and to book us a couples massage, they stated they had no liquor license and we would have to book the massages ourselves. Not very good customer service in my opinion. The only thing that saved the day was the breakfast - it was very good. You had your choice of make-your-own waffles with the exact amount measured out, raisin bread, english muffins, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, juices, boiled eggs, yogurts (Yoplait) but the coffee was rather bland and very weak. The owner was very kind and gracious, but you can tell the new owners sure have cut corners where they shouldn't. If you are going to call yourself a Bed and Breakfast, your beds should really be a refuge - comfortable mattresses, soft, full comforters, sheets and pillows. Not the rough, cheap, linens we found. It was very disappointing. It seems there is no middle ground in Pacific Grove, you either can stay at these "motel-like" restored Victorians such as Centrella Inn (which also has poor beds and linens but excellent breakfast) and this place, or you have to pay top dollar at the top rate Victorians - Grand View, Seven Gables, Gosby House. (we've stayed at Seven Gables in 2002 and it was heavenly) If anyone finds someplace in between, let us know! Definitely not worth the money.