California - Monterey lodging choice

I am trying to choose between Monterey Bay Inn and Monterey Plaza for mid-April trip with family (6-year-old twins, M/M). MBI has an oceanfront sofabed room that seems to fit our needs. I can even do aquarium package one night and romance package the next. I am not as familiar with the Plaza. Do they have kid-friendly rooms (not suites)? I was offered a very good visiting journalist rate at the Plaza for an ocean view room with 2 queen beds.

Should I stick with MBI or go with Plaza (since it is supposedly the best place in Monterey)? Thanks!

In my opinion the Monterey Plaza is the nicest hotel in Monterey. The ocean view rooms, especially the ones with a balcony, are superb and the restaurant in the hotel is also excellent.

If you can get a good rate there in an ocean view room (the city-view rooms are definitely a notch down), I highly recommend it. But the regular rates are quite high, maybe even overpriced.

I just stayed at the Monterey Plaza Hotel and Spa over Easter weekend and wanted to share that they have a frequent guest program. I found it hidden in their website and the wording implies that you can join after you've already had a visit - but when I spoke to the reservationist she said, no, you can join anytime and benefit from your first vist. This is what joining gets you (no $$ to join):

BENEFITS

Be the first to receive special promotional offers and packages before they’re offered to the public

Enjoy a special welcome gift upon your arrival

Receive complimentary upgrades when available

10% discount on all Spa treatments

Select your choice of Free Children’s Meals or a Free Entrée with the purchase of any adult entrée in our restaurants

Complimentary Spa facility fee

REWARDS

After staying 5 nights with us, you will receive two monogrammed Spa robes

After staying 10 nights with us, you will receive 25% off your guest room rate and Dinner for Two in the Duck Club

After staying 15 nights, your reward is two 50-minute Spa treatments

After staying 20 nights, you will have earned a complimentary stay in one of our luxurious suites

Upon staying with us for 25 nights, you will receive a 10% discount on your total bill for all visits thereafter

__________

Here's a link to bring you to the sign up:

http://www.woodsidehotels.com/monterey/monte_spa_preferred.htm

I had booked an Ocean View king at a AAA rate of $235. I didn't get the upgrade to ocean/balcony because they were booked up. But I got the welcome amenity (basket of 2 little bottled waters, fruit and granola) and the spa facility fee waiver and restuarant offer was worthy of joining their program.

I also had their shuttle pick me up from MRY and return me there.

The room was great and I would stay there again, but I wouldn't stay in a non-ocean view there - those face the street or worse and why pay for that.

Follow-up after my stay:

We stayed at the Monterey Plaza April 15 and 16. I joined the frequent club before my stay. At checkin, I was apologized to because the only available suite to upgrade to was a king bed room. Not sure if it was because of my frequent membership or visiting journalist status (my reservation said VIP, if that meant anything). I needed two beds since there were 4 of us (2 kids). So, we settled into our ocean front room with 2 queen beds. In-room binoculars were a treat; we were continually looking at the seals, otters, fishing boats, and kayakers.

The property is walking distance to Cannery Row and the aquarium. A special bonus was the hotel's executive member aquarium passes. Their passes cost the same as the walk-up rate but allowed us to enter through the group entrance and was valid for 2 days.

We did not eat in the hotel; too many great places that I wanted to revisit. The kids loved to pick an apple every time we passed through the lobby. The valets and concierge workers were very pleasant and friendly.

The tic-tac-toe playing chicken is no longer in the amusement area by the carrousel. A worker said a chicken might be there in a couple of weeks.