We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page. We don’t add any fee, and the commission helps support LayzTravel.
The best family hotels with pools in Monterey are the Hyatt Regency Monterey, the Portola Hotel & Spa and InterContinental The Clement, and for a pool-focused trip the Hyatt Regency is the pick. It sits on 22 acres with two outdoor pools heated year-round, each with its own hot tub, plus bocce, cornhole and bike rentals. The Portola has an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi a 5-minute walk from Old Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Clement is on Cannery Row, a 3-minute walk from the aquarium. The Monterey Plaza, also on Cannery Row, has hot tubs but no swimming pool.
| Hotel Name | Best For | Pool Highlight | Key Amenity | Booking Options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa | Cannery Row convenience | No pool, hot tubs only | Spa services | Compare Rates → |
| InterContinental The Clement Monterey | Aquarium access | Outdoor pool and whirlpool | Pet-friendly | Compare Rates → |
| Portola Hotel & Spa | Wharf access | Pool, Jacuzzi, cabanas | On-site brewery | Compare Rates → |
| Hyatt Regency Monterey | Active families | Two heated pools | Golf course | Compare Rates → |
Every hotel below gets our own 1-10 rating for how genuinely relaxing it is to bring kids poolside. Not a generic star rating, but four specific things that actually matter to tired parents:
- Toddler Entry: How easy it is for small children to get in. Zero-entry pools, splash pads and shallow areas score highest.
- Lazy River: Whether there’s a lazy river or float feature, and how good it is.
- Shade Coverage: Cabanas, umbrellas, or covered areas so you’re not baking in direct sun all day.
- Lounge Chairs: How much comfortable poolside seating there actually is to relax in.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa
The Monterey Plaza sits over the water on Cannery Row, an 11-minute walk from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and it rates 4.6 out of 5 across 8,114 TripAdvisor reviews, the highest of the four. It has no swimming pool, though, so it suits a family that wants the aquarium and the bay more than a pool day.
- What it’s like: A 250-room hotel over the bay with Coastal Kitchen downstairs and a spa and fitness center on the top floor.
- The Pool: There is no swimming pool. The Terrace, which the hotel calls family-friendly, has a sundeck with lounge furniture and two oversized hot tubs. The two rooftop hot tubs at the spa are for guests 18 and older.
- Rooms That Fit a Family: 250 guest rooms and specialty suites.
- Walk to the Aquarium: 0.5 mile along Cannery Row, about 11 minutes on foot.
- Nearest Groceries: Andronico’s Community Markets at 900 Lighthouse Avenue, a 3-minute drive.
- Good to Know: Coastal Kitchen serves breakfast from 7 to 11:30 a.m. every day, so breakfast does not need a drive.
What It Actually Costs: Valet parking with in-and-out privileges is $45 a night plus tax.
The Downside: No pool at all, and the rooftop hot tubs are adults only.
Why It Scores 3.3: With no swimming pool there is nothing for small children to get into. The lounge mark comes from the Terrace sundeck.
Skip It If: a pool is the point of the trip.
InterContinental The Clement Monterey
InterContinental The Clement is a 3-minute walk from the aquarium on Cannery Row, and it rates 4.5 out of 5 across 3,677 TripAdvisor reviews. Of the two Cannery Row hotels here, it is the one with a swimming pool.
- What it’s like: An upscale hotel with a spa, a fitness center and the Pacific View Courtyard, an outdoor space with fire pits and ocean views.
- The Pool: An outdoor pool with a whirlpool. We found no separate area for small children.
- Rooms That Fit a Family: Connecting rooms are available, and every room has an espresso machine.
- Walk to the Aquarium: 0.2 mile, about 3 minutes on foot.
- Nearest Groceries: Andronico’s Community Markets at 900 Lighthouse Avenue, a 6-minute walk.
- Good to Know: Pets are allowed in specific rooms for $75 a night, which covers up to two pets.
What It Actually Costs: Valet or self-parking is $45 a night plus tax, in a covered garage next to the hotel.
The Downside: Parking costs the same $45 as at the Monterey Plaza and nearly double the Hyatt’s rate.
Why It Scores 4.0: A pool and a whirlpool by the aquarium, but nothing built for toddlers and no river feature.
Skip It If: you need a pool built for small children.
Portola Hotel & Spa
The Portola Hotel & Spa is the most kid-focused stay here, with a free Pirate Program for ages 3 to 12, and it is a 5-minute walk from Old Fisherman’s Wharf. It rates 4.2 out of 5 across 5,339 TripAdvisor reviews.
- What it’s like: A 379-room bayfront hotel beside the Monterey Conference Center, with a spa, Jacks Monterey and the Peter B’s craft brewery on site.
- The Pool: An outdoor pool and Jacuzzi with lounge chairs and poolside cabanas, open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The hotel does not say whether the pool is heated.
- Rooms That Fit a Family: Guest rooms, premium rooms and suites with city, garden terrace or harbor views. A Pack ‘n Play is available on request, and rollaway beds cost extra.
- Walk to the Aquarium: It is a 7-minute drive (1.5 miles). Old Fisherman’s Wharf is 0.2 mile on foot.
- Nearest Groceries: Trader Joe’s at 570 Munras Avenue, a 9-minute walk.
- Good to Know: The Pirate Program changes by season, from a treasure map in summer to root beer floats in souvenir mugs in the fall. Kids sign up at the front desk at check-in.
What It Actually Costs: Valet and covered self-parking both cost extra, and the hotel does not list the rate online. Rollaway beds are extra too.
The Downside: The aquarium is a drive rather than a walk.
Why It Scores 5.3: Poolside cabanas lift the shade mark. There is nothing built for toddlers and no river feature.
Skip It If: you want to walk to the aquarium.
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa
The Hyatt Regency Monterey is the pick for a pool-focused trip. It sits on 22 acres beside the Del Monte Golf Course with two outdoor pools heated year-round, each with its own hot tub. It rates 3.8 out of 5 across 2,431 TripAdvisor reviews, the lowest of the four.
- What it’s like: A resort with Spa Adeline, tennis, pickleball, bocce, cornhole, life-size lawn games and a hammock garden.
- The Pool: The Spyglass pool and hot tub are open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the garden pool and hot tub from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The hotel suggests water basketball and volleyball with the kids.
- Rooms That Fit a Family: Cribs and rollaway beds cost extra, and rollaways are allowed only in king rooms and suites.
- Walk to the Aquarium: It is a 12-minute drive (2.8 miles).
- Nearest Groceries: Whole Foods Market at Del Monte Center, a 6-minute drive.
- Good to Know: Hotel guests have full access to the Del Monte Golf Course, which has been open since 1897.
What It Actually Costs: The hotel’s FAQ lists self and valet parking at $25 a day with in-and-out privileges, and a nightly resort fee is added on top of the room rate.
The Downside: It has the lowest TripAdvisor rating here, and the aquarium and Cannery Row are a drive away.
Why It Scores 5.1: Two heated pools carry the lounge mark, but there is nothing built for toddlers and no river feature.
Skip It If: you want to walk to Cannery Row.
FAQs About Family Trips to Monterey
Which Monterey hotels have the best pools?
The Hyatt Regency has the most to swim in, with two outdoor pools heated year-round and a hot tub beside each. The Monterey Plaza has no swimming pool, and its rooftop hot tubs are for guests 18 and older.
Are these hotels close to the Monterey Bay Aquarium?
Two of them are. InterContinental The Clement is a 3-minute walk from the aquarium and the Monterey Plaza an 11-minute walk, both along Cannery Row. The Portola is a 7-minute drive and the Hyatt Regency a 12-minute drive.
Is it better to stay on the water or inland?
The water gives you views and walking access to Cannery Row and the aquarium. The Hyatt, inland, gives kids more space to run.
More Family Travel Guides for Monterey: