Fall for a $99 stay at ‘rustic’ Big Sur River Inn

After summer road-trippers are gone but before winter delivers its consistent coats of cold air and rain, fall is a beautiful time to visit California’s Big Sur area. Lush and leafy, coastal and cozy, Big Sur is one of those magical places that draws its fans back again and again to hike and adventure, watch for warblers or simply skip rocks riverside.

If you’re staying in the region, you’ve got a wide range of lodgings to choose from, like camping, staying in a yurt or cabin, or luxuriating at the romantic Post Ranch Inn. If you’re on a budget, though, and want to sleep indoors, one of the best deals I’m seeing in fall is at Big Sur River Inn. But there’s a caveat. See below.

Deal: At Big Sur River Inn, you can take advantage of a “$99 Fall Back Special,” which gives you, for that appealing pre-tax rate, a queen-bed room for two with a full breakfast off the menu thrown in for both members of the party (note that tip is not included). This special, as well as any room at the inn, is bookable over the phone only. (The summer rates available right now start at $125, by the way.)

If the goal for your getaway is to see as little pavement as possible, your gastronomic needs can be met on-site. Frommer’s says that the River Inn’s “unpretentious, rustic, down-home restaurant” has something for everyone.

When: Book now for stays Sunday through Thursday, Sept. 8 through Oct. 29, 2009. When I called, the special was widely available during the promotional period.

Caveat: This place doesn’t get the most consistent raves on TripAdvisor, with member-generated descriptions ranging from “almost heaven” (written by someone who stayed in a suite) to “rustic but fine,” all the way down to “disappointing.” While some seem to embrace the no-frills nature of the place, others complain that the rooms don’t live up to their appearance on the venue’s website.

For $99 per night, though, with free breakfast, it might just be worth a gamble. And member reviews on the restaurant seem largely positive.

What do you think? Have you stayed at the Big Sur River Inn, or do you have another budget Big Sur lodging option to recommend?

Contact: Big Sur River Inn, (800) 548-3610

— Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Photo: At Big Sur River Inn, relaxing is a tried-and-true activity. Credit: Big Sur River Inn

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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 11:17 am by Susan Derby and is filed under Big Sur, California, California's Central Coast, Deals, Fall, Family & Kids, Hotels, Outdoors & Adventure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.