Where to stay when visiting Hearst Castle?

[parrot tulips]

My boyfriend suggested visiting Hearst Castle for my birthday weekend. I thought it was a fabulous idea! Does anyone have suggestions for nice places to stay in the area? Thanks!

 

[Selkie]

There's a little cluster of hotels/motels in the town of San Simeon, which is the nearest village right on the coast. They're mostly very basic, and cater mainly to people going to Hearst Castle. But I'd actually recommend looking a little farther south in the town of Cambria. It's a quaint little village, with a nice main street. I don't have any specific recommendations for hotels, but TripAdvisor would probably be helpful.

 

[Skippy123]

I loved the Hearst Castle; I don't know if my suggestion will be helpful but we stayed in San Simeon at Best Western Cavalier since we were in Santa Barbara on our way to Pacific Grove/Monterey. I know there is a bigger town I think 60 miles away called Cambria and I think they have more to do there and more restaurants. I did like the BW Cavalier for our stop to Hearst Castle since it was a big room and right on the water. Have wonderful birthday!!!

 

[Gypsy]

Except for the indoor pool I thought Hearst Castle was a waste of time and the accomodations nearby where appalling. Talk about false advertising. You should SEE the brochures. I also suggest staying a little farther down a ways. Much nicer places to stay.

 

[Selkie]

Great minds, Skippy! But Cambria is actually only about 10 miles south of San Simeon.

 

[parrot tulips]

Thanks for the replies! I''ll definitely try checking out accomodations in Cambria on Trip Advisor.

Gypsy, sorry to hear you were disappointed with Hearst Castle. We''re not going in with too many expectations, other than checking out something different. BTW, I''ve seen your wedding threads over in the Brides forum and it looks like it''s going to be gorgeous!!! Love your taste!

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/26/2008 2:36:03 PM
Author: Gypsy
Except for the indoor pool I thought Hearst Castle was a waste of time and the accomodations nearby where appalling. Talk about false advertising. You should SEE the brochures. I also suggest staying a little farther down a ways. Much nicer places to stay.

I am sorry it was appalling; that is no fun.

PT, I thought it was sort of cool to see; it definitely isn't the Biltmore or the Palace of Versailles but I thought it was interesting as I had seen the movie Citizen Kane. It was a fun little detour on our trip from Santa Barbara to Pacific Grove.

Have a wonderful birthday trip if you go!!

Selkie, thanks, I hadn't been there in 3 year so maybe it felt further. hehe Yes, great minds do think alike.

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 3/26/2008 3:04:46 PM
Author: parrot tulips
Thanks for the replies! I'll definitely try checking out accomodations in Cambria on Trip Advisor.

Gypsy, sorry to hear you were disappointed with Hearst Castle. We're not going in with too many expectations, other than checking out something different. BTW, I've seen your wedding threads over in the Brides forum and it looks like it's going to be gorgeous!!! Love your taste!

Thanks for the wedding compliments parrot, that means a LOT! We went in with high expectations. SO many people had told us it was MORE amazing than the european castles I'd seen while in europe. And the hotel brochure was so misleading it was criminal. So we were spectacularly disappointed. Skippy the room had cockroaches, the pool was a neon green from algea... it was foul.

Plus, a lot of the things at the castle (especially like in the dining room) were 'imported' from european castles and churches... it made me sad that those beautiful original historical buildings were plundered for a monument to American greed and commercialism/materialism. The indoor pool is SPECTACULAR though. I could have stayed there all day along.

 

[AmberGretchen]

Gypsy - I actually really loved Hearst castle. I had read in a biography of Julie Morgan, the architect who helped Hearst build it, that most of those old European pieces of things were things that he "rescued" that were otherwise destined to be destroyed and/or fall into ruin for lack of the will/funds to preserve them. I can''t completely vouch for how factually accurate this is, but I always liked the idea of that and it certainly fits with what the rest of the biography said about Julia Morgan, who I think is really cool.

 

[Skippy123]

SDL, those places look cool! I heard about the Madonna Inn on the travel channel where each room is a different theme; looks like fun. I love going to eat breakfast where the waitstaff calls you honey or sugar; it always makes me smile

AG, going to check amazon for that book!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 3/27/2008 12:38:11 AM
Author: AmberGretchen
Gypsy - I actually really loved Hearst castle. I had read in a biography of Julie Morgan, the architect who helped Hearst build it, that most of those old European pieces of things were things that he ''rescued'' that were otherwise destined to be destroyed and/or fall into ruin for lack of the will/funds to preserve them. I can''t completely vouch for how factually accurate this is, but I always liked the idea of that and it certainly fits with what the rest of the biography said about Julia Morgan, who I think is really cool.

I really hope that it''s true that they were ''rescued'' rather than ''plundered''... that would make it all much more palitable. My ''plundered'' impression was a result of the way the tour guide explained the aquisitions of the materials. I didn''t get the sense that ''rescuing'' is what was happening. But, like I said, I hope it''s the case.

Thanks for taking the time to explain that to me. I appreciate it.

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 3/27/2008 10:54:43 AM
Author: SanDiegoLady
You could stay at the Madonna Inn, too.. http://www.madonnainn.com/


AND GO TO MARGIES DINER FOR BREAKFAST!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL--I always joke with bf about staying at the Madonna Inn, but he''d never agree to it. Way too campy for him. If you do stop by there, though, definitely check out the waterfall urinal in the men''s bathroom.

 

[parrot tulips]

Thanks for the additional suggestions!

SDL, I''ll definitely check those two places out online. And I''ll be keeping my eye out for those zebras.

 

[dragonfly411]

When my family and I went to Hearst Castle, and we ended up staying in Carmel. It was such a beautiful little dutch style town, and the hotel we stayed in was very accomodating (they provided a fresh bread basket at the door in the morning for us). It was a lovely place to visit with some shopping and small cafes and pebble beach is near-by as well as the golf course with the lone tree on the cliff (not sure of the name) so maybe that would be a fund destination?

 

[diamondfan]

I was going to suggest the Madonna Inn as well. Stayed there YEARS ago but it was a hoot. Not sure if it is run down or nice at all now, but is worth a peek, since it was so amusing back then.

 

[diamondfan]

PS I visited Hearst many times years back. It is a spectacular property and his vision was amazing. I think as a man he lacked some pleasantness, but as a tycoon he really had a sense. The house is likely musty and dark on certain levels, I recall the blue indoor pool was gorgeous, the outdoor pool with statuary was interesting, and the grounds amazing. I also hope he salvaged things, but knowing a tycoon of his caliber wanting to fill his manse with artifacts, I could see it go either way. I think he built the home to use as a getaway from LA, his mistress Marion Davies held court there and he entertained tons of Hollywood stars and politicians there. In it''s heyday, an invite there was beyond valuable and coveted. I am sure you can order a DVD about the making of it, I saw a PBS special on it once a few years ago, it was very worthwhile.

 

[bem3231]

When we were in that area in September we stayed somewhere pretty different - Treebones Resort. They are outfitted yurts overlooking the ocean. People seem to either love or hate the experience - we thought it was awesome. We stayed in some pretty chichi places in Monterey and Carmel, so this was a welcomed and unique change of pace. I would definitely recommend going for the ''deluxe'' yurts with the gas fireplaces in them.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/28/2008 1:22:32 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady

Date: 3/28/2008 11:59:25 AM
Author: diamondfan
PS I visited Hearst many times years back. It is a spectacular property and his vision was amazing. I think as a man he lacked some pleasantness, but as a tycoon he really had a sense. The house is likely musty and dark on certain levels, I recall the blue indoor pool was gorgeous, the outdoor pool with statuary was interesting, and the grounds amazing. I also hope he salvaged things, but knowing a tycoon of his caliber wanting to fill his manse with artifacts, I could see it go either way. I think he built the home to use as a getaway from LA, his mistress Marion Davies held court there and he entertained tons of Hollywood stars and politicians there. In it's heyday, an invite there was beyond valuable and coveted. I am sure you can order a DVD about the making of it, I saw a PBS special on it once a few years ago, it was very worthwhile.

... I could never get sick of the view, its just breathtaking from the grecian outdoor pool. The indoor pool is beautiful as well, I'll have to see if I can find my pictures when I get home. I just love that place.

I loved it too. The neptune pool was my favorite; I loved all the flowers and roses that were blooming and the views

DF, I think I saw that PBS special is it the one hosted by Patty Hearst or is that a different one I am thinking of? I also think it was cool he loved animals and I love that you can see the ocean from the Hearst Castle. SDL, you are lucky you did so many tours; we only had time for one.

PT, if you are go up to Carmel/Monterey; I loved Pacific Grove and the Seven Gables Inn, most of the rooms have a view of the ocean and this B&B is so beautiful with wonderful flowers everywhere. The B&B has this wonderful evening reception w/wine, cheese and other goodies and the breakfast is wonderful w/views of the ocean throughout the house.

 

[diamondfan]

Skippy, I think so. I recall a female narrator, and I think it was Patty. They had old newsreel footage of parties there, and it was really fascinating. I ordered a couple DVD''s from Amazon a few minutes ago, and one is narrated by John Forsythe, but I am sure once I get them the one I saw will look familiar. I recall being very bowled over by the place when I was a teenager. It did not feel homey, but it was magnificent.

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 3/28/2008 1:54:44 PM
Author: diamondfan
Skippy, I think so. I recall a female narrator, and I think it was Patty. They had old newsreel footage of parties there, and it was really fascinating. I ordered a couple DVD's from Amazon a few minutes ago, and one is narrated by John Forsythe, but I am sure once I get them the one I saw will look familiar. I recall being very bowled over by the place when I was a teenager. It did not feel homey, but it was magnificent.

I agree!!! That is so cool you stayed at the Madonna Inn too!

eta: I will look for my pictures too. hehe

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 3/28/2008 1:49:05 PM
Author: Skippy123
PT, if you are go up to Carmel/Monterey; I loved Pacific Grove and the Seven Gables Inn, most of the rooms have a view of the ocean and this B&B is so beautiful with wonderful flowers everywhere. The B&B has this wonderful evening reception w/wine, cheese and other goodies and the breakfast is wonderful w/views of the ocean throughout the house.

Some close friends of ours got married in Pacific Grove at Lover''s Point--it''s so pretty there!

 

[diamondfan]

SDL, it was THE hot ticket back in the day. He had guest cottages on the property, I recall not too many people were invited to stay in the main house but I could be wrong. He wanted alone time with his mistress I think. But at the time, the house was just a major undertaking on all levels, including irrigation etc. Today I cannot imagine what it would cost...in the billions if you could do it.

 

[Skippy123]

SDL, the Bluebird looks so cozy and romantic!!! Which was your favorite tour??? We did the main tour since we did not have time. did you find your pictures; I remember mine are on video tape so no pictures. I should watch the tape as we had so many fond memory's during that trip.

LadyPirate, wow, what a beautiful location for a wedding; I loved Pacific Grove and there was a romantic restaurant near by and I can't remember the name, darn. We took a stroll along the beach and we could hear the ocean from our room, ahhhhh. Also, at 10pm the B&B served cookies and milk

You probably saw the Inn since Lover's Point is right there.

DF, you are correct on the info; that is what they told us during the tour too.

 

[musey]

It''s probably too late, but I got this in my email today and remembered seeing this thread, so I thought I''d post it!