*This post is sponsored by the Hofsas House, but all opinions are my own.
Hello, friends!
Since my last post 2 weeks ago, Daniel and I have been traveling all over the country–literally! We had the wonderful opportunity to fly out to Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, and be hosted by the Hofsas House Hotel for 2 nights. Wow, was it amazing!
Today, I’m so excited to tell you about the Hofsas House and our wonderful experience there. It made the perfect home base for all our adventures through Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey, California!
Although it’s a fairly small town, Carmel-by-the-Sea has 46 hotels to choose from! However, with the average nightly prices ranging from $230-$400 for a single room, the 2-star Hofsas House Hotel offers a great budget-friendly choice for this luxury town while still offering wonderful service and personal touches.
Take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour with Us on YouTube
Staying at the Hofsas House Hotel
As soon as we rounded the corner on San Carlos Street, I knew we were going to enjoy the Hofas House. Its pastel pink walls decorated with gingerbread trim and colorful artwork, thick, moss-covered shingles, and Dutch doors on every room exuded charm and fun European flair. In a town filled with fairytale-like cottages, secret gardens, and European-styled storefronts, it fit right into the storybook feel of Carmel-by-the-sea.
We entered the cozy lobby, complete with a copper and brick fireplace, lattice windows, and comfy seating, and were warmly greeted by third-generation owner Carrie Theis. She was quick to tell us about the many activities available around town and along Highway 1, as well as some of her favorite things about the hotel.
Local Art and Color
She pointed out a series of paintings in the lobby and a Bavarian-style mural gracing the outer wall of the car pull-through. All 4 art pieces were created by Maxine Albro, an artist friend of the hotel’s founder, Donna Hofsas. Carrie has continued that tradition recently by hiring a resident artist to do some artwork around the hotel.
“We like color here,” Carrie told us. “So many of these hotels are all gray and white. But we think everyone needs color in their life, so we incorporated it into all the rooms.” I couldn’t agree more, and I loved our quaint and colorful suite from the moment we stepped in.
As she let us into our room, Carrie informed us that our unique headboard in Suite 36 had recently been custom-made by a local carpenter, then painted by the resident artist, Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham. Marie-Clare hand-painted the headboard in a German-folk style, using lovely golds, pinks, and greens and incorporated elements similar to the original mural out front. She also painted matching floral designs on the top half of the Dutch door of our suite.
Unique and Cozy Suites
When we stepped out onto our balcony, I realized just how big the Hofsas House was! From the front, the Hofas House appears to be only 1 to 2 stories. However, 38 rooms and suites are built into the hillside, and certain wings are up to 4 stories tall! According to Carrie Theiss, each room is unique, from the bedspreads to antique furniture and even wall colors.
Our suite was perfect for a relaxing stay with a brick fireplace (which I enjoyed both nights), a private balcony overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and a kitchenette. A soft, pink bedspread accented the colors on our king-sized headboard and the comfy chairs on either side of the room. And as a clean-freak, I was thrilled with how tidy and clean our entire room was–even the bathroom! It was exceptional for a 2-star hotel.
I was also surprised by how spacious our suite was. That’s one of the things I don’t usually think about until I’m squished into a room! One corner of our room had a bistro set and an armoire held a TV, but we weren’t cramped at all. Our separate kitchenette area also doubled as a vanity area with a long counter, mirror, and sink and decent-sized closet space for hanging clothes. It made it so easy to get ready in the mornings without running into each other.
Memorable Breakfasts
On day 2, we woke early to spend some time on the beach (only 8 blocks away!), then returned for breakfast in the lobby. Due to the pandemic, the Hofsas House made some changes to their breakfast setup, but I had no complaints! From 8 to 10 am, guests can stop by the lobby for a continental breakfast and load up trays to take back to their rooms.
We filled our tray with a yummy spread of fresh fruit, pastries, coffee, tea, juice, yogurt, etc., and headed back to enjoy breakfast with the view from our balcony. However, I was not prepared for how delicious breakfast would be! Every morning, the Hofsas House has fresh pastries delivered from an authentic Parisian bakery over in Monterey, and it makes all the difference. Hands-down, they were the best pastries I’d ever had at any hotel breakfast. We also enjoyed a full carafe of fresh, French Roast coffee from Carmel Valley Roasting (Carrie prides herself on offering coffee that people actually enjoy), a local coffee shop that also provides the in-room coffee selection.
When I talked with Carrie about it later, she said, “This business is about details. And it is those little details that we hope people notice to enhance their stay.” We certainly noticed the little details, and they made a huge impact on us!
More About the Hofsas House Hotel
As part of our trip, Carrie was kind enough to give us an interview and a behind-the-scenes tour of what makes the Hofsas House so special. It was so fun to get to know her and her heart for the hotel.
History of the Hofsas House
Donna Hofsas started the Hofsas House Hotel back in the 1940s, with the purchase of three small cottages. She chose to style it after her husband Fred’s German heritage to tie it in to Carmel’s European themes. In the late 50s, she expanded and built the main 25-room hotel building right next to the cottages, and in the 1960s, she added on yet another wing and the conference room.
Over the years, the hotel has remained in the Hofsas family under the care of Donna’s children and grandchildren. Today, Carrie Theiss and her son run the Hofsas House, and Carrie is hopeful that it will remain a family tradition for a long time to come.
Art at the Hofsas House
During the pandemic, Carrie decided to take on a resident artist to update some of the hotel’s original murals and create some new pieces. She’s been working closely with Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham, who is a Carmel-based folk artist with several murals around town.
One of her most recent pieces is the new Hofsas House crest mural across from the pool. She recreated the mosaic mural crest from out front and incroporated the birds from Maxine Albro’s original mural for a beautiful piece that really captures the heart of the Hofsas House.
Marie-Clare turned the Hofsas House meeting room into her personal studio where she can create her gorgeous designs. She not only paints murals, but she also designs clothes and has had some of her artistic pieces turned into fabric. She’s also picked up a bit of woodworking skills and has a couple more painted headboards in progress.
Carrie hopes that Marie-Clare will continue to add artistic touches throughout the hotel to carry on the tradition and make art an integral part of the experience.
A Room for Everyone
One of my favorite things about the Hofsas House was that there’s a room for everyone. It’s a great choice for families with a heated pool (a rare find here), easy beach access, and self-contained 2-room/2-bath suites. Couples can enjoy spacious suites with private balconies and fireplaces. And pet-owners can even bring their pups along to stay in designated pet-friendly rooms (for an small cleaning fee). There are even doggie-stations around the property for extra convenience.
“We’re constantly doing something to the rooms,” Carrie said. “Whether that’s a new bedspread, or a new coat of paint, or new flooring. We try to change it up so that it’s different.” She said that their repeat guests often request their favorite rooms when they come back, but guests can also “be adventurous and mix it up when [they] come.”
It was so refreshing to hear that they’re consistenly updating the rooms and grounds (the pool was just redone and looks fabulous) without sacrificing the unique and comfortable atmosphere that Donna Hofsas created.
I would like to give a big thank you to Carrie Theiss and all the Hofsas House staff for giving us such a wonderful stay in Carmel-by-the-Sea. We had an amazing time learning about the hotel and the town, and we hope to come back soon!
If you make it out that way, be sure to book your stay with the Hofsas House! It’s hard to find that kind of personal hospitality these days, and the location was absolutely perfect.
Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more posts about Carmel-by-the-Sea and the surrounding area! We had so many amazing adventures in just 2 days of exploring Highway 1, 17-Mile Drive, and more!
Planning to Visit Carmel-by-the-Sea? You May Also Enjoy…
- Carmel-by-the-Sea: A Luxury Vacation Destination
- How to Spend the Perfect Day at Point Lobos State Reserve
- The Best 8 Things to See on 17-Mile Drive
- 5 Breathtaking Hwy 1 Stops Between Monterey & Big Sur
Thanks for stopping by to learn about the Hofsas House Hotel! If you enjoyed this post, be sure to save and share it to spread the word about this unique family-owned business!
And if you’d like to read more posts like this in the future, you can sign up for my free weekly newsletter.
Sign Up for Updates from Carried Away Travels
Happy travels!
Ready for More? Check Out These Recent Posts!
- Dublin Exploration Hack: Big Bus Tours
- The Best 5-Day Colorado Itinerary
- How to Maximize Your Next Workcation: Top Tips
- Whale-Watching In Virginia Beach: An Epic Winter Tour!
- Say “Cheese” At Lost Planet Selfie Museum In Virginia Beach!
- Whimstay’s Top 10 Affordable Spring Break Destinations in the U.S.
Make Vacation Planning Easier
Download my Vacation Planner or Travel Blogger’s Planner today!
