I wrote the following back in July 03, but never got around to posting it. Perhaps a little dated by now ... but hopefully useful.

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Highlands Inn -- A GREAT Experience

The Highlands Inn (a Park Hyatt in Carmel Highlands, CA) is a property at which my spouse and I have always wanted to stay. So when I end up with certificates for 3 free nights at Hyatt “Elite” properties (of which the Highlands Inn is one) it looked like a golden opportunity. Fortunately, it turned out to be even better -- it was a “diamond” opportunity, as described below.


Background
As part of a now-ended rewards program with National Rental Car, I got 3 Hyatt Stay Certificates each good for one night at “Elite” properties. But then my spouse and I kept having trouble finding 3 consecutive days when we could both get away at the same time. In mid April, I finally just made the decision that “we gotta schedule this”, and (to my great surprise) I was able to get award reservations for the nights of 3, 4, and 5 July 2003 at the Highlands Inn!

I was a bit worried in that each certificate had an expiration date of 31 May 2003 on it. But each also had the statement “Expiration date void where prohibited by law, including California”. Since we live in California and the Highlands Inn is in California, I figured there should be no problem. And to make a long story short, the certificates were accepted with absolutely no questions or issues.

From FT, I had learned that Hilton Diamonds who called Hyatt Gold Passport and faxed in proof of their Hilton status could get comped to Hyatt Diamond. So bingo, I became Hyatt Diamond, and had that fact appended to my reservation.

Then the fateful day of check-in: I called 1-800-CHECKIN very shortly after 9 AM to see what might be available in terms of an upgrade and to check in. Gave the CSR my confirmation number and was politely told: “I’m sorry, sir. Your reservation has been cancelled.” WHAT!?!?!?!, I responded. But the story has a happy ending. Turns out they had already processed an upgrade for us. In order to do so, they had moved the reservation from the regular Hyatt reservation system to the timeshare reservation system (the Highlands Inn is now a Hyatt Vacation Club timeshare property). So the reservation had in fact been cancelled in one reservation system, but was definitely there in the other reservation system. After the abject panic subsided, I was very, very pleased that they had automatically upgraded my award reservation.


The Stay
The hotel is built on many levels into a steep hillside (mountain side?) just above California Highway 1, next to the Pacific Ocean. (Check out the “Slide Show” under “Hotel Information” at http://www.highlands-inn.com/ or http://www.highlandsinn.hyatt.com/pr...ow/index.jhtml ). The view from the cocktail lounge and Pacific’s Edge restaurant in the main building is breath-taking (assuming the marine layer [a/k/a fog] is not in or too thick). All the rooms have a patio with a garden view or a balcony with a full or partial ocean view. My understanding in that just within the last year they have completed renovating the entire property (all the units and the common areas), and I would say it shows it.

Check-in was most friendly and cordial. Since the Highlands Inn does not have a Regency/Grand Club, we were given a coupon for Continental Breakfast for two for each day. The coupons could be used in either the California Market restaurant or for room service. If you wanted something other than the Continental Breakfast, each coupon was worth $25 (!) toward whatever you ordered. Over the three mornings, the price of our a-la-carte breakfasts averaged about $30 plus tip each day. So the coupons where certainly appreciated. All the food was excellent to outstanding. The service was very friendly and courteous, but a little erratic in delivery times and servicing. We also had one dinner at the California Market during our stay: It was excellent as well, and the service was better. Regrettably, the tasting menu at the Pacific’s Edge did not have any thing that my spouse really wanted to taste (she doesn’t eat red meat), so we have no report on that acclaimed restaurant.

Also at check-in, we were given a “Diamond Amenity” card from which to select one from Column A and one from Column B. Column A included a bottle of red or white house wine (our selection) and some other things (have forgotten what they were). From Column B, we selected the cheese and fruit board (have forgotten what the other choices were). After unpacking, we went walking for about an hour. Upon our return, we found the white wine chilling in the ice bucket and a butcher-block tray covered with a very ample quantity and variety of cheeses, crackers, grapes, and strawberries.

The room itself was #217 (a “Spa Suite”), an end unit on the top floor of its building. We really liked the idea of having only one “neighbor” on one side and none above. I didn’t pace it off, but I would guess the overall unit was more than 25 ft by 25 ft (well over 600 square feet) with a redwood balcony that was as wide as the unit and extended out about 10 to 12 feet. When checking in through 1-800-CHECKIN, the view from the balcony was described as “partial ocean view”, and that was a very fair description: Lots of beautiful vegetation to look at, with a major “cut-out” where you could see the ocean. A full ocean view would have been nice, but all things considered, we were NOT complaining.

Upon walking in to the unit, there was a huge coat closet on the right and a full kitchen to the left. Straight ahead was the living room with a very comfortable easy chair and a sofa bed surrounding a coffee table. Angled in the left corner of the room was a wood-burning fireplace (with wood). The far end of the room included a sliding glass door onto the balcony. That describes the left half of the unit.

The right half of the unit was about 1/3 bedroom and 2/3 bathroom. The bedroom included a king-size bed, two end tables, a clock radio with a CD player (with two peaceful-sounding CDs next to it), and a second sliding door on to the balcony. A good-sized TV was enclosed in an armoire that could be rotated to face the bed or into the living room. Lots of cable channels, but no free premium channels (as if you needed them).

The bathroom included a two-person sized Jacuzzi spa tub, adequately-sized vanity/sink, shower stall with two shower heads (neat!), a separate room for the toilet, and a clothes closet. About the only thing that we (or should I say, my spouse) could complain about in the entire unit was the mediocre lighting over the vanity/sink (how many times have I heard that before in other hotels!)

One of the more unique features of the unit was the set of three sliding wooden panels that could be used to close off the bedroom from the living room plus three other sliding wooden panels that could be used to close off the bedroom from the bathroom. Way cool!

And I almost forgot to mention: Both the living room and bedroom had vaulted ceilings.

We took a quick look at their fitness facility (small, but adequate), but did use one of the Inn’s outdoor hot tubs that was located very near our room.

Upon check out, I made a point of telling the people at the desk how very much we appreciated how well they treated Diamonds.


Other Random Information
Since we have been to the Monterey/Carmel area about once every other year for 20+ years, we didn’t spend a lot of time sightseeing. However, we did go to the Point Lobos State Park for the first time. Great and beautiful and not too-stressful hiking/walking.

We also played a round of twilight golf at Pacific Grove Municipal Golf (only $20/person!!! plus cart). The back nine (along the ocean) is almost as magnificent as Pebble Beach -- but at a MUCH more affordable price. And you know about hazards like sand traps and water? Well, this course adds deer. Yep, bucks, does, fawns -- all totally oblivious to their risk of being hit by a golf ball. Another very unique feature of this course is the rough on that magnificent back nine: Its major component is ice plant. And a ball hit into an area covered by ice plant is HARD to find, let me tell you.


Summary
As I think you can gather, we highly recommend the Highlands Inn and a long weekend (or more) in the Monterey/Carmel area.