While the historic Monterey Hotel may not have the waterfront setting of many of the more luxurious hotels in the vicinity, its downtown location affords guests the opportunity to stay in a less touristy part of town and is still only 1.5 miles from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and less than a 10-minute walk to Old Fisherman’s Wharf. The affordably priced rooms here aren’t short on charm, either: All 69 rooms feature. Victorian-influenced accents, including hand-carved wood furnishings, ceiling fans and plantation shutters, and some even feature fireplaces and views of the bay.