Travel Budget for Monterey Visit Monterey on a Budget or Travel in Style

The most affordable highest rated hotels in Monterey include:

• The Jabberwock Bed & Breakfast starting at $289
• Hotel Abrego starting at $241
• Victorian Inn Monterey starting at $239
• Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa starting at $149
• Wave Street Inn starting at $259

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Monterey

This family-friendly city makes Monterey a great option for traveling with kids, and you'll want to find a larger place to stay.

Traveling during the shoulder or low season, instead of summer, can save you money on accommodations and spare you the heavy tourist crowds.

Walking is a common way to explore Monterey, so look for a place right in the heart of the action. This might, however, come at a higher price.

Transportation Tips

Ensure that your hotel has easy parking arrangements if you're planning to drive.

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Monterey is around $98 ($98) per person, with previous travelers spending from $42 to $198. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Monterey are as follows:

• Breakfast: $10 to $29
• Lunch: $15 to $39
• Dinner: $29 to $68
• Coffee: $8
• Fast Food or Street Food: $15

You'll find no shortage of restaurants around town and while most cater specifically to tourists, they still offer fresh and delicious foods, often at a good price. Seafood specialties in the area include clam chowder in sourdough bread, abalone, calamari, and Dungeness crab. Sanddabs are a local seafood that is typically fried.

There are plenty of excellent seafood restaurants at the Wharf and downtown. Grotto Fish Market, Old Monterey's Fish House, and Sea Harvest Fish Market are all contenders for the title of the best clam chowder around.

The Poke Lab is a hot new restaurant following the latest poke food trend. Diners love the ahi tuna bowl with sesame ponzu sauce. Crepes of Brittany offers delicious crepes, both savory and sweet at a budget price. Try the ever-popular caramelized onion buckwheat crepe and finish with the cooked banana crepe for dessert.

For brunch with a nice price, Loulou's Griddle in the Middle is famous for its crabcakes and eggs, calamari steak, and seafood omelette. Be warned: there's usually a long wait, so arrive early. On the up side, Loulou's takes your cell phone number so you can meander the pier while you wait.

Off the beaten path, Monterey's Fish House is a moderately-priced restaurant frequented by locals, who love the cioppino, crab ravioli, and oak-grilled cooking method.

Restaurant 1833, though a little pricier, is a lovely place for fine-dining in a romantic and intimate setting. Menu highlights include the applewood-smoked sturgeon, roasted bone marrow, and the crowd favorite, bacon cheddar biscuits.

Passionfish is Monterey's first certified green restaurant, taking pride in serving delicious food that is also sustainable and good for the planet. Passionfish draws in the crowds of fine diners with their dungeness crab salad, smoked trout, duck confit, and bread pudding. Wine lists are priced at retail, not only a bonus for your wallet, but they also keep stock of many rare wines.

In addition to seafood, the area is also well known for its artichokes, which can be a wonderful option when they're in season. You can find them prepared in any number of ways including fried, grilled, boiled, or as an ingredient in other dishes. While there's no shortage of seafood restaurants, you can also easily find international options in town ranging from Thai to Mexican.

Food & Dining Tips

If you're traveling with kids, search for restaurants that offer a children's menu. This can save you a lot of money since these dishes are usually cheaper. Keep in mind that some places may not list their kids' options, so make sure to ask the server.

Many establishments feature breakfast in their pricing, although some tack it on as an added expense. The price and quality can fluctuate depending on the hotel. Being aware of this beforehand helps you gauge if you'll need extra cash. The hotel buffet might be a delicious choice, or you could save some cash by heading to a nearby bakery or cafe.

Carry your own water bottle instead of spending on drinks. It's also a positive step for the environment.

Planning a tour? Be sure to confirm in advance which meals are provided. You could find yourself footing the bill for some meals, which can affect your budget.

If you're looking to experience the culinary culture in Monterey, taking a food tour or cooking class is a terrific way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. Some of the best food-related activities here include:

• Guided Walking Food Tour with Tastings for $150 details

Monterey is heavy with both Spanish and Mexican heritage as easily seen in the architecture of the Monterey Old Town Historic District. If you haven't planned out your trip, stop by the Visitor's Center for information about events and points of interest, including historical landmarks like the Presidio Chapel, the Cooper Ladera Adobe house, and Colton Hall, the building where California became a state and the first California constitution was written.

Some of the main attractions of Monterey are at the waterfront. Stroll down Fisherman's Wharf for souvenir shops, art galleries, restaurants, and bars on the way to observe the seals laying out on the Coast Guard Pier. Rent a bike, a surrey, or simply walk north on the 18-mile-long paved Recreation Trail from the wharf to Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck's book with the same name.

Monterey was the sardine capital of the world in the 1930s and today, restaurants, shops and hotels occupy the former canning facilities. While you're there, search for seaglass at Macabee Beach and check out the starfish, anemones and other sealife in the tidepools at Saint Carlos Beach.

If you continue north on the recreation trail, you'll come across the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where visitors can see and learn about thousands of different species of animals. The aquarium is great for kids and hands-on fun with a 40-foot long touch pool to interact with different plants and sealife local to the bay. Further north on the Recreation Trail is Lover's Point, popular for sailing the rocky shores, swimming, and taking in the beautiful view from the peaceful and romantic park.

Get in your car for one of the most scenic drives in the world on the iconic 17-mile drive for views of the Lone Cypress,Point Joe, Fanshell Overlook, the Spanish Bay, and Pebble Beach. Monterey is a dog-friendly city and you'll be sure to come across plenty of dog-friendly hotels. Dogs are also welcome off leash at Del Monte Beach, where you can end your evening with a bonfire in the fire pits under the night sky.

Another great place to visit which is not far from Monterey and other nearby coastal towns is the new Pinnacles National Park. With a rental car or camper van, reaching this park only takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. This beautiful natural area is full of peaks, forest, and wildlife. For more information, check out this great guide to Pinnacles National Park.

If you're looking for active things to do, you'll be sure to find plenty to do. From whale-watching tours to fishing trips to harbor cruises, there are lots of tour operators and charter boats to take you out to sea. During high tide, surfing is an amazing experience for beginner and seasoned surfers alike, and it's not uncommon to experience sea animals that come up right up to your board.

Monterey is also the perfect setting to try out other watersports, including paddle-boarding, kayaking, and skimboarding during low-tide. Scuba divers can check out the the immense kelp forests and explore "the best beach to dive in the US," as named by by Scuba Diving magazine.

Those who are looking for a lower impact workout can enjoy Monterey Wine Country, named the wine-tasting destination of 2013. A Taste of Monterey on Cannery Row features wines from more than 85 local wineries. Climb aboard the Monterey Wine Trolley, which takes visitors on 3-5 hour wine tours which can take you to 3-6 different wineries (depending on the package) around town and in Carmel Valley Village, which also has a number of wine tasting rooms.

Monterey Peninsula also has popular golfing spots at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pacific Grove Golf Links, and Spyglass Hill. Meanwhile, shoppers will find a plethora of shops at Del Monte Center and around Cannery Row.

For nightlife, Cannery Row and Alvarado Street are both hotspots. Lined with pubs playing live music, venues for comedy shows and intimate concerts, dance clubs, and karaoke bars, there's bound to be a nightlife scene fit for anyone, even if it's live entertainment out on the street.

Thrillseekers can take advantage of Monterey's beautiful terrain as they skydive and paraglide over the Santa Lucia Mountains, sand dunes and Monterey Bay.

For a local experience, check out Monterey's Farmer's Market which is open every Tuesday, rain or shine, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Old Monterey Marketplace.

Some popular annual events and festivals in Monterey are:

- The Monterey Beer Festival and the Monterey Wine Festival, both in early June.

- The Monterey Jazz Festival, one of the biggest and best jazz festivals in the world, a 3-day weekend festival which takes place each year in September.

- The Redbull US Grand Prix in April.

- The Big Sur Half-Marathon in mid-November.

Monterey has over 150 accommodations so you'll be sure to find a fitting place to stay, whether it's a luxury 4-star hotel, bed and breakfast, inn, brand name motel, or hostel, no matter what your budget. Super budget travelers can sleep under the stars while camping at Veterans Memorial Park.

Sightseeing Tips

Museums and Attractions:
The museums and landmarks in Monterey have earned worldwide fame. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a not-to-be-missed destination in town. You can also visit the Monterey State Historic Park or the Monterey Museum of Art.

Shopping:
Visiting this shopping destination is an experience you can't afford to miss. You'll find both local vendors and tourist shops around town. Cannery Row is a popular destination, as is Old Fisherman's Wharf and the Old Farmer's Market.

Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Monterey. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

• 17-Mile Drive Pebble Beach E-Bike Tour for $75 details
• "Family Friendly" Scenic E-Bike Tour along 17 Mile Dr for $79 details
• Monterey Peninsula Sightseeing Tour including 17 Mile Drive for $153 details

Nightlife Tips

While nightlife can be a blast, skipping a few rounds can significantly lower your travel expenses.

Stay sharp if you're out at night and enjoying a few drinks. You might attract pickpockets or worse, so stay close to friends you trust and avoid being alone.

Tasting tours and nightlife activities are very popular in Monterey. A few of the favorites from previous visitors include:

• Carmel Valley Wine Tasting Tour for $188 details