Carmel's Hidden Gem: The Vagabond's House Boutique Inn (Unbelievable!)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a review of this place. Forget the polished, corporate jargon – this is gonna be real, warts and all. And trust me, even the best hotels have their warts. Let's see what we're dealing with, shall we?
The Nitty Gritty: Accessibility, Internet, and Oh, the Endless Amenities!
First things first: Accessibility. We're talking about a good starting point. Wheelchair access: I’m not personally in a wheelchair, but the info suggests it's there, which is a major plus. Check the specifics before you book. Then the Internet access: Okay, here's where it gets interesting. They shout "Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" which is great, but in this day and age, it's practically a requirement. Internet [LAN]… hmm, for those old-school folks or business travelers needing a hardwired connection, nice to have. The real question is, is it fast and reliable? That's the real test. And, of course, Wi-Fi in public areas is a must. My personal experience with hotel Wi-Fi? It's always a crapshoot. Pray to the internet gods, people.
Things to Do and Ways to Relax (aka Am-I-on-Vacation-or-Am-I-at-Work?)
Okay, the fun stuff. "Body scrub," "Body wrap," "Fitness center," "Foot bath," "Gym/fitness," "Massage," "Pool with view," "Sauna," "Spa," "Spa/sauna," "Steamroom," "Swimming pool," "Swimming pool [outdoor]": Whoa. That’s a lot of options. I'm overwhelmed in a good way. Seriously, this place seems geared toward serious relaxation. I’m picturing myself, completely zonked, in that pool with a view. Pure bliss. (Maybe I need a body wrap before the pool… or after. Decisions, decisions!). The fitness center is essential for offsetting all the spa treatments, and for avoiding the dreaded "holiday bloat". The Sauna and Steamroom are my personal heaven!
Cleanliness and Safety: In a World Gone Crazy…
This is HUGE now. We're looking at "Anti-viral cleaning products," "Daily disinfection in common areas," "Hand sanitizer," "Hot water linen and laundry washing," "Hygiene certification," "Individually-wrapped food options," "Physical distancing of at least 1 meter," "Professional-grade sanitizing services," "Room sanitization opt-out available," "Rooms sanitized between stays," "Safe dining setup," "Sanitized kitchen and tableware items," "Staff trained in safety protocol": Okay, this is reassuring, bordering on impressive. It’s clear they get it. The "Room sanitization opt-out" is brilliant. Gives you the choice, which is a nice touch, and shows they’re not just going through the motions.
Let's be real, seeing "Doctor/nurse on call" is both comforting and a little unsettling, ya know? But, the "First aid kit" is a must.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Feed Me, Seymour! This is where my stomach starts rumbling. Let's be frank: a good hotel can live or die on its food situation. "A la carte in restaurant," "Alternative meal arrangement," "Asian breakfast," "Asian cuisine in restaurant," "Bar," "Bottle of water," "Breakfast [buffet]," "Breakfast service," "Buffet in restaurant," "Coffee/tea in restaurant," "Coffee shop," "Desserts in restaurant," "Happy hour," "International cuisine in restaurant," "Poolside bar," "Restaurants," "Room service [24-hour]," "Salad in restaurant," "Snack bar," "Soup in restaurant," "Vegetarian restaurant," "Western breakfast," "Western cuisine in restaurant.": Okay, okay, okay. This. Is. Serious. Asian, Continental, heck, they're even doing veggie options. This is food-lover heaven. I’m particularly excited about the "Poolside bar." Picture this: sun, a cocktail, and… ah, perfection. I will definitely check out this bar.
The "Room service [24-hour]" is a lifesaver, especially after a long flight or a late night of… well, whatever you do on vacation. Breakfast in the room is a must for me.
Services and Conveniences: They Thought of EVERYTHING (Almost)
"Air conditioning in public area," "Audio-visual equipment for special events," "Business facilities," "Cash withdrawal," "Concierge," "Contactless check-in/out," "Convenience store," "Currency exchange," "Daily housekeeping," "Doorman," "Dry cleaning," "Elevator," "Essential condiments," "Facilities for disabled guests," "Food delivery," "Gift/souvenir shop," "Indoor venue for special events," "Invoice provided," "Ironing service," "Laundry service," "Luggage storage," "Meeting/banquet facilities," "Meetings," "Meeting stationery," "On-site event hosting," "Outdoor venue for special events," "Projector/LED display," "Safety deposit boxes," "Seminars," "Shrine," "Smoking area," "Terrace," "Wi-Fi for special events," "Xerox/fax in business center": Goodness gracious! This covers pretty much everything. They even have a "Shrine"? Curious! That's a bit… unique. The "Concierge" is your best friend; the "Luggage storage" a must, and the fact they have "Contactless check-in/out" makes me happy. This is travel in the 21st century!
For the Kids (aka Keeping the Peace)
"Babysitting service," "Family/child friendly," "Kids facilities," "Kids meal": Ah, the little ones. If you're traveling with kids, this is a lifesaver. The fact that they're "Family/child friendly" suggests they've actually thought about families.
Access, Security, and the Stuff That Keeps You Safe (and Sane)
"Access," "CCTV in common areas," "CCTV outside property," "Check-in/out [express]," "Check-in/out [private]," "Couple's room," "Exterior corridor," "Fire extinguisher," "Front desk [24-hour]," "Hotel chain," "Non-smoking rooms," "Pets allowed unavailablePets allowed," "Proposal spot," "Room decorations," "Safety/security feature," "Security [24-hour]," "Smoke alarms," "Soundproof rooms": Safety first! Seeing "CCTV" and "24-hour security" is a must. The "Proposal spot" is an interesting touch. I’m now imagining all the romantic possibilities.
Getting Around (Because You Gotta Leave Eventually)
"Airport transfer," "Bicycle parking," "Car park [free of charge]," "Car park [on-site]," "Car power charging station," "Taxi service," "Valet parking": Everything appears to be covered. "Car park [free of charge]" is a big win! And the "Airport transfer" is essential.
Available in All Rooms: The Final Countdown!
"Additional toilet," "Air conditioning," "Alarm clock," "Bathrobes," "Bathroom phone," "Bathtub," "Blackout curtains," "Carpeting," "Closet," "Coffee/tea maker," "Complimentary tea," "Daily housekeeping," "Desk," "Extra long bed," "Free bottled water," "Hair dryer," "High floor," "In-room safe box," "Interconnecting room(s) available," "Internet access – LAN," "Internet access – wireless," "Ironing facilities," "Laptop workspace," "Linens," "Mini bar," "Mirror," "Non-smoking," "On-demand movies," "Private bathroom," "Reading light," "Refrigerator," "Safety/security feature," "Satellite/cable channels," "Scale," "Seating area," "Separate shower/bathtub," "Shower," "Slippers," "Smoke detector," "Socket near the bed," "Sofa," "Soundproofing," "Telephone," "Toiletries," "Towels," "Umbrella," "Visual alarm," "Wake-up service," "Wi-Fi [free]," "Window that opens": Okay, we’re in the home stretch. Whoa. That's the whole shebang! Everything you expect, and then some. My favorite feature? The "Bathrobes"!
My Quirky Takeaway:
Look, this place looks pretty damn tempting. Yeah, there's a lot of stuff going on, and, for a hotel, that's a good thing. This isn't just a place to sleep; it's a destination. I'm imagining myself, after hitting the gym, grabbing some fresh fruit, and heading for that pool with a view. Pure bliss.
Here's My Offer – You Can't Refuse!
**Tired of the same old, same
Escape to Paradise: The Henry Hotel Roost Bacolod's Unforgettable Luxury
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to get REALLY messy with this itinerary. Forget the perfectly polished travel blogs with their Instagram-filtered perfection. This is the real deal, folks. This is how a trip to The Vagabond's House in Carmel-by-the-Sea actually goes.
The Vagabond's Ramble: Carmel-by-the-Sea - Let's Get Weird (and Possibly Lost)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Carmel Panic
1:00 PM: Arrive at The Vagabond's House. (Or, you know, attempt to arrive. Spent a solid hour circling Carmel because, apparently, GPS hates me and tiny, charming towns. Finally, after some truly epic u-turns and a near-miss with a VERY judgy-looking poodle, we found the place.)
- Impression: OMG, the courtyard! Tiny, intimate, and full of flowers. Immediate sigh of relief. This actually looks like the photos (a rarity!). The check-in lady (bless her patient soul) was super nice.
1:30 PM: Unpack. Or, more accurately, hurl suitcase contents onto the bed in a desperate attempt to find something vaguely presentable after the drive. Discovery: My "emergency" chocolate stash melted. Tragic.
2:00 PM: Explore the Inn. Wander around in a daze, touching everything. The Moroccan touches are gorgeous. I nearly sat on a woven pouf and shouted "Genie, grant me chocolate!"
- Quirky Observation: The little key tags are HANDMADE. Seriously, every single one. This is a high-class hobo den, and I love it.
3:00 PM: Carmel Village Stroll (Attempt Number One). Okay, so, every single shop window screamed "luxury" and "craftsmanship." Broke a sweat just looking at price tags. Found a tiny, amazing bookstore. Bought a book I’ll probably never read, because, let's be honest, I'm going to spend the rest of the trip eating and drinking.
4:00 PM: Wine Tasting at Scheid Vineyards. Seriously, who doesn't love wine? The tasting room was all exposed brick and low lighting, designed perfectly to get you buzzed and loosen your purse strings. I ended up buying a bottle of something called "The Graduate." (I’m not judging myself.)
- Emotional Reaction: Initially, I was all, "Oh, I'll just have a little taste." Twenty minutes later, I was practically best friends with the bartender, rambling about my life choices. The Graduate… I think I'm going to need another glass. This is the life I'm sure.
6:00 PM: Dinner reservation at La Bicyclette. (Praying it turns out good. Yelp reviews are a fickle mistress.)
- Opinionated Language: Ugh, the parking. Finding a parking spot in Carmel is like finding a unicorn. I swear, I saw a guy circling a block for a solid half-hour, muttering about a lost soul or something like that. The food at La Bicyclette… it was good alright. Nothing mind-blowing. A bit pricey. The ambiance, however, was spot on.
8:00 PM: Stumble back to the Inn. Collapse into bed. Contemplate the meaning of life while scrolling through endless Instagram feeds. Realize I forgot to brush my teeth. Whoops.
Day 2: Beach Bliss and Questionable Decisions
9:00 AM: Attempt breakfast at the Inn. (They have these amazing muffins.) Fail to resist the urge to steal a second one. (Don't judge me.)
- Messier Structure: Okay, so I meant to go to the beach early. But I’m on vacation. It was a lazy breakfast, and a couple of hours of "research" into that bottle of wine from yesterday.
11:00 AM: FINALLY make it to Carmel Beach. The sand is ridiculously soft. The ocean is a stunning shade of turquoise. Spend a glorious hour just staring at the waves and feeling actual, genuine peace. My soul is healing. This alone could make this trip worth it.
12:00 PM: Lunch at a cafe. (Name escapes me, because, let's be honest, the wine from yesterday is still doing its thing.) Ordered something vaguely healthy to counteract my breakfast muffin sins. Fail miserably and order fries.
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. This.. Was. Amazing.. Words cannot describe it. Rugged coastline, dramatic cliffs, seals barking in the distance, the air filled with the scent of salt and pine. I probably took about a thousand pictures. I climbed rocks (against my better judgment) got a little bit close to the edge, and found myself wishing I was a seagull.
- Doubling Down on Experience: I came to Point Lobos with a plan to see the Cypress Grove Trail. But I saw the Sea Lion Point, and decided to hang out with the seals. I watched the sea otters. The rocks and the water and the world felt alive. I got so lost in it. It was the most beautiful thing I have seen in years. The entire experience, from the smells, to the sounds, to the views was perfect.
- Imperfection: My camera battery died about ten minutes into my grand exploration. Cue the internal screaming. I managed to take a couple more pictures with my phone, which is basically like comparing a crayon drawing to the Mona Lisa. But still, memory saved.
- Emotional Reaction: I honestly almost cried. It was that stunning. The feeling of being small and insignificant in the face of such natural beauty is absolutely humbling. God, I love this planet. And if I could live there, I would. Forever.
4:30 PM: Back to Carmel.
5:00 PM: Browse more shops. (More window shopping, mostly. Unless a lottery win magically appears.)
6:30 PM: Dinner and drinks at a random pub. (Because, let's face it, spontaneity is key.)
- Natural Pacing: The pub was a typical pub. Loud, full of people, not-great beer. Got a burger and fries, which hit the spot.
8:00 PM: Stroll back to the Inn, feeling pleasantly tired and happy.
Day 3: Goodbye (for now…) and the Meltdown
9:00 AM: Final breakfast. (Another muffin. No regrets.)
10:00 AM: Pack. (Or, more accurately, shove everything back into the suitcase indiscriminately. See: Day 1.)
11:00 AM: Check out. (Goodbyes are always hard, especially when you’re leaving somewhere this charming.)
- Stronger Emotional Reactions: Leaving The Vagabond's House? I feel like I'm turning my back on a close friend.
11:30 AM: Head to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (It's a bit of a drive, but everyone raves about it.)
- Opinionated Language: The Aquarium. It was everything everyone said and more. Jellyfish are basically aliens, otters are the cutest things on the planet.
1:00 PM: Lunch in Monterey. (Seafood, of course!)
2:00 PM: The Monterey Bay Aquarium.
- The Aquarium: Watching the octopus, the jellyfish, and the sea otters made my heart explode. It was a beautiful afternoon.
- Quirky observations: The penguins there have such huge personalities! Each one has its own strut, or pose.
4:00 PM: Drive home, filled with bittersweet memories and the lingering aroma of sea salt and freedom.
5:00 PM - End: The drive. The traffic. The real-life world slamming back into existence.
- Messier Structure: The drive home. It was long. I was tired. I was also already planning a return trip. Carmel, you beautiful, slightly crazy town, you've got a hold on me.
Overall Reaction: This trip was a mess, a total joy, and exactly what I needed. The Vagabond's House was a dream. Carmel? Well, Carmel is a beautiful, quirky place, and I cannot wait to go back.
So there you have it. An honest, rambling, probably-overly-detailed account of a trip to Carmel. No filters, no perfectly posed photos, just real life, a little wine, and a whole lot of heart. Now, excuse me while I go look at more pictures of Point Lobos. And maybe start planning my next trip.
Escape to Paradise: Casa Andina Select Zorritos Awaits!
So, uh, why this whole FAQ thing, anyway? Seems a bit...formal.
Formal? Me? HAH! Let’s just say I've got this… *thing* where I over-analyze everything. And by "everything," I mean *everything*. Like, the other day I spent a solid hour debating the existential purpose of a dust bunny under my couch. So, basically, I have a brain that craves answers, and sometimes, the best way to do is write it down.
Plus, I *like* the idea of pretending I'm some all-knowing oracle answering your burning questions. Even better if there's *no one* asking the questions in the first place. It's a fun self-soothing mechanism for my ADHD-addled brain.
Okay, fine. But… What *are* you actually trying to "answer" here?
Good question! Honestly? I'm not sure. It's like a digital brain dump. Things that have been bouncing around in my head, the quirky, the confusing, the utterly mundane. A lot of them will be about my life, my struggles, and joys, and how I see the world.
It's therapy, but with less paying the therapist. (Please don’t tell my imaginary therapist.) I’m hoping someone reading this will relate, or maybe just laugh at my ridiculousness. Either way, it's a win-win for me, mostly because this whole thing is for my own enjoyment
Tell me about your earliest memory. Go on, hit me with the deep stuff.
Oh, the deep stuff, huh? You want primal, unfiltered me? Okay. This is going to sound weird. I think it was the *smell* of my grandma's perfume, combined with the scratchy wool of her sweater. I was probably, like, three. I have this vivid image of her laughing, and the way the sunlight hit the dust motes in the air. But the perfume was the *key*. It was a weirdly comforting smell of her and everything that was "safe" and "good" in the world.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you? Be honest!
Oh, honey, buckle up. My brain has a whole *album* of embarrassing moments, constantly on replay. But the one that still makes me want to crawl under a rock? Okay, so picture this: high school, prom, wearing a dress that was, apparently, a bit… *too* enthusiastic about its 'satin' ambitions. Got up on stage for a dance competition, and the music started, as I began my routine, my dress ripped right down the back. Right down. Like, full-on, structural integrity questioned, ripped. I froze, mortified, for what felt like an eternity. The whole place went silent, then everyone started laughing. Even the judges.
I just remember the mortifying heat in my face and a burning wish that the earth would open up and swallow me whole. I think this is the reason why I still can't stand satin or any kind of performance.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Hmm. I hear a lot of advice in my life, but the best I *ever* received? My dad actually said it: "Don't be afraid to be yourself, even if "yourself" is a bit… weird. The world's full of boring people." I'm not gonna lie, at first, I figured it was a way out of our family's constant disagreements, but as I got older, I think the advice really stuck with me. I think I'm doing a decent job of it.
What are you *most* afraid of?
Ugh, where do I start? Okay. The big one? Loss. Losing the people I love. The thought of a future without them, especially my best mate Sarah, literally makes my breath hitch. Another is probably the crippling fear of failure. I know, it's cliché, but I'm a perfectionist, and the thought of not measuring up is a constant, low-level anxiety. It can be a nightmare.
What's your favorite thing?
This is a tough one. Right now, it's the smell of my coffee brewing in the morning, especially when paired with the feeling of a really good book. I'm also a big fan of sunshine. Seriously. I crave those vitamin D rays like a vampire craves blood. Nothing's better than soaking up the sun, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be, and why?
Teleportation, hands down. Imagine! No more commuting! No more airport security! I could be eating a croissant in Paris one minute and cuddling my dog the next. Plus, think of the money I'd save on travel costs. Pure, unadulterated convenience. I could spend more time doing the things that genuinely make me happy instead of wasting hours in a car, an airport etcetera.
What are your thoughts on... um... cats?
Okay, here's the thing. I *like* cats. I really do. They’re cute, they're fluffy, they're...cats. But I'm *allergic* to them. And let me tell you, that's a special kind of torment. Like, I see a cute kitten, and my eyes start itching and I start sneezing, and I’m just like “WHY!?” But I’d rather have a dog, if I had to choose. Dogs are just better. They can be a bit needy, but they’re loyal, and they’re *happy* to see you. Cats, sometimes, they just act like you are an annoyance.
Do you have any regrets?
Oh, yeah. Plenty. Not taking myself seriously when I was younger may be up there. Letting fear hold me back from a lot of things probably too. Also, I regret that I didn'Hotel Hop Now
