Carmel River Inn is so charming! Even though it has been renovated and modernized, it still has some of that quaint mid-century aesthetic, making it a unique and historic place to stay. We stayed in the hotel portion, and loved that we had a private balcony facing the Carmel River- very scenic! The proximity to Highway One has pros and cons. There's a little noise during the day, but it's very quiet at night. The hotel is at a nice crossroads, making it easy to access Big Sur as well as Carmel, Monterey and Carmel Valley. The staff was very friendly and helpful as well. We would definitely stay again!