I have stayed here for several years and just to add a side note there is a new manager there for this year 2010 for anyone who had a problem with the old manager...The rooms are each owned privately this is true. I request # 315 it is clean and UTD has nice decor and the owner just bought a new sleeper and the beds in this unit are great. It is the last unit on the 3rd floor so it is quiet,(only one neighbor on the left.) no one on top of me! So you may want to Choose your unit to get one that the owners keep UTD.
One thing i did notice is, if you want a short stay ( 2 -3 days) you need to call the hotel direct since on the web it will not let you book less than a 4 night stay, but you can by calling direct or as a walk in.. there is a free grill for cooking , you can eat on the patio, and plenty of places that deliver as well. I like that it is right on a free beach that is clean, not crowded and noisy. Its not at a boardwalk so I do not have the kids asking me to buy them things all day- however a fruit truck and ice cream truck does stop by the hotel.. Pool is warm and there a great patio to sit on at night at enjoy the air

I liked the Monterey. It's location is great, six steps off the pool area and your on the beach. It also has a great big gas grill that we used several times for dinner and lunch. The kids enjoyed the ping pong table, shuffle board, pool table and the nice pool.
The room was clean and fresh (302), but I little small for six people. It had two double beds and a pull out couch that was really a futon.
Jeanne the Manager is so nice and helpfull. We booked for next year when we checked out.

OK overall being an snob with hotels I did not have alot of expectations for the hotel...with that is mind first impression was oh what did we get ourselves into...then we checked out our room and I was pleasantly surprised that the room was CLEAN! It had no muffy smell and it was decorated ok for a shore town. Would I stay here again? Probably right on the beach, nice pool, quiet for my family. Nice family time!

The location is great - right on the beach. Our room was fine. The manager, however, was the rudest person I have recently encountered. She screamed at my husband in front of my children and called them animals. When it was made clear she was yelling at the wrong person and that we were not the guilty party, she continued to yell until I demanded an apology. We received a mumbled half-apology. My kids were horrified, to say the least. We Will never come back to the Monterey.