Home2 Suites by Hilton at the Dunes on Monterey Bay

While not perfect, as the newest place to stay in town, this Home2Suites should be considered one of the better rated options in Marina. Once more reviews are added, you’ll see it move up the list. It opened earlier this year and is a reasonable choice for most people who are looking for a place to stay in the nearby vicinity. Admittedly, the community of Marina is NOT a go-to destination in and of itself. There’s not much to see or do here and I also found the local restaurant scene to be abysmal. Marina is void of any charm and should only be seen only as a springboard for those who plan travel further south. Marina serves primarily as a somewhat lessor priced alternative to the more tourist appealing Monterey & Carmel. (Not everyone has the financial wherewithal to spend $300-$500 per night for a quaint inn or bed and breakfast in Monterey or Carmel). Unfortunately, both of those communities lack newer and nicer chain hotel establishments, and the price point for their older lodging alternatives can be very high. As for the Home2Suites, I found the place generally acceptable. The August 2024 review posted by CaddieKelly hit all the key discriminating points and I agree with that consensus takeaway. The hotel sits one block from a newer, large retail development that includes a nice Target and REI. There are a few fast casual restaurants at this location as well, but no restaurants of a higher quality. A couple of minor items that management could attend to: The exterior of the window in my guest room was filthy and needed attention. Also, the trash receptacle near the elevator was often full with additional bags sitting adjacent on the ground. Send your Maintenance team around on a greater frequency to attend to this. The whirlpool appears visibly dirty as the painted “under the water” floor/walls need attention, or a re-painting. It was not visibly appealing to users. Sadly, during part of my stay, the swimming pool was closed, with a posted “Out of Order” sign. This should not be occurring at a new place where everything should be in good working order. Bottom line, the Home2Suites is a decent option if your travels have you in the vicinity for one reason or another. If you can afford premier lodging in Monterey or Carmel, feel free to pass by Marina.