monterey hotel recommendations?

[Freelance Superhero]

for those of you familiar with the area, can anyone recommend any nice hotels in the monterey area? my aunt wants to treat some friends from france to a nice leisurely drive up the coast, and asked me for help finding a nice place to stay. i figured i'd ask you all first, since there always seems to be someone here in the know about these kinds of things. :)

thanks in advance.

EDIT:
preferably closer to the ocean, if possible.

[raimin]

i stayed at the potorola plaza hotel. it was quite nice, and best of all, i did not have to pay.

http://www.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=dspv&flag=l&itid=&itdx=&itty=&from=f&foop=0&hwrq=&htid=1024&spsh=&spsi=&crti=4&nfla=1&&zz=1121226435886&


for a nice smaller hotel, check out monterey bay inn

http://www.montereybayinn.com/

[surfer]

I stayed at the worldmark resort in Marina Dunes which is 8 miles from Monterey and right off the beach. :-)