Hi, my plan is follows - leave LA on morning of 9th September, and arrive to SF on mid-day of September 10, driving via CA-1. I'm looking for a place to spend a night along this route, and i very much prefer it would have either Hilton, Marriot or *wood property (in declining order of preference). Looking on map, Monterey sounds like ideal location, but doesn't have any of those hotels. Any other suggestions ?

Monterey has, I believe, an Embassy Suites.

Indeed it has. And the rate is 179 for that one night - quite pricey for that location.

The poster did ask

And for that time of year, it's not terribly pricey compared to other comparable rooms in Monterey, Seaside, or PG.

Well, there is a Hampton in Santa Cruz that is cheaper but really, early September is still the high season for those coast resort communities. Monterey is always kind of pricey.

If you want to drop out of your preferred alliances to somethng a bit less expensive, try the Choice Hotels website. They have several properties in and around Monterey/Seaside in the $80-110 range for weekdays. Of course, a Clarion or Comfort Suites is not the ES but they are a lot cheaper.

I've stayed at the Monterey Marriott. It's attached to the convention center, so that's the focus of the hotel. It's fine. Rooms have been renovated recently.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...erey-marriott/

There is also a Hilton Garden Inn in Monterey. It is in a much better location than the Embassy Suites, which is actually in Seaside.

http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en...tyhocn=MRYMHGI

I have to agree here. The ES Seaside did not impress me. The staff seemed to be in disarray during my visit last fall and the location is not really close to much of anything.

359 per room is quite out of my league, and actually almost equals rates in Manhattan. I've booked HGI, with 10% discount from eAdvantage. Interesting, that this rate is only 3 usd cheaper than corporate one for any proper Hilton in LA or SF.

But you will be in Monterey!

Ummm...

You do realize (I hope) that while driving up I-101 from LA to SFO can be accomplished in 6.5 hours of driving on highspeed 4 lane freeways (I-101), Highway 1 between Morro Bay and Carmel is mostly 2 lane narrow and twisty road. You are looking at roughly 7 hours of driving between LA & Monteray via Highway 1, assuming you are not delayed by traffic getting out of LA.

Frankly if I didn't *have* to drive Highway 1 on a trip between LA & SFO of less than 2 nights, I would not.

Of course, YMMV...

Morro Bay has a lot of very nice indie places to stay-much cheaper than Monterey.
And If you have the time I think it is a GREAT idea to travel the coast versus the ugly 5 route.But you just cannot be in a hurry on this route,And a midway stop is very nice.

I've just discovered this - so for my upcoming trip plan to take the train from San Luis Obispo to LA - only US$60 in "Y" and you can do one way car hires to SLO airport with Hertz...My coastal trip is coming together!

Huh? I thought you were traveling from South (LA) to North (SFO)...

Now you are talking about taking the train FROM San Luis Obispo TO LA...

I'd agree that the trip between the two by train is lovely (amazing ocean views from Ventura to Grover Beach), but getting from the train station in downtown SLO to the airport on the southern fringes of town 5-6 miles away is apt to be a nusance....make sure that your car rental place is willing to pick you up, or you will be stuck trying to find an overpriced local taxi or dealing w/ the haphazard local bus service.

Oh, and remember to pack a lunch or snack for the train. The trip takes 5-5.5 hours (more if delayed) and the food in the "snack car" is generally overpriced and fairly vile...although there is little they can do to ruin soda, beer, or wine.

(I gate-crashed in half through this thread! The OP is travelling North)