Hotel Review Half Moon Bay Inn spoils with comfort, European flair, service By Kathy Chin Leong I wet my pants. Yep. Kayaking on the inlet of Half Moon Bay, the water dripped into the kayak and all over my pant legs. After my excursion, I realized I was sopping wet, and all I could do was go to my hotel and figure out what to do next. The best part about staying at a boutique hotel is the fact that the owners can do so much to make your stay cozy and personal. So this spring at the Half Moon Bay Inn, I was impressed with the level of friendliness and rapid service that the owner Jamie Barber extended to me. Instead of waving me off to the local laundry mat, Jamie offered to wash and dry my slacks herself … not by hand, by machine. What a great surprise. I had dinner reservations later that evening and had nothing else to wear, so Jamie rescued me from having to sit in my hotel room and nibble on crackers. DECOR When you stay at the terra cotta abode away from home, you feel like an honored relative in someone's large guesthouse. The two-story inn was built in 1932 and underwent a $2 million remodel and is all decked out in a Spanish/Latin American style. Each of the rooms is lavishly dressed with Old World replicas and antiques. I half expect Pavarotti to march through the doors and belt out an opera. The unique rooms and suites charm you so much that you want to return to year after year just to try each room. The quilts, blanket throws, artwork, and throw pillows are so artistic that they speak highly of the owner who has mastered an exquisite taste palette – not too frilly, not too cluttered, not too modern, not too manly, just right. In addition to the large and smaller guest rooms, on site are also apartments dubbed villas that have full kitchens and are great for long stays. These run about $225 to $300 per night. AMENITIES I stayed downstairs in a two-bed bedroom, the Hacienda Familia, which has street access. At first I was concerned about noise because I was right on the street, but the nights were quiet and still, perfect for getting needed shut eye. Perks at the inn are different, depending on your room. All include local fresh ground coffee and coffee makers and a pair of cute mugs, but a few rooms such as mine have the luxury of refrigerators. Do specify your needs when you book, and I'm sure Jamie will do the best to accommodate you. In the entry is an antique sideboard she uses to serve complimentary wine and simple snacks in the afternoons. My Hacienda Familia is a great room for folks with two kids. There was a queen bed and then a daybed that pulls out so that another mattress below can hold the second child. Very comfortable- I can attest to that. Yes, there is on-site Wi-Fi, and you can also have your choice of cable channels. I love the aromas eminating from the downstairs Italian restaurant, It's Italia. It has an outstanding back patio that is so bucolic with planters, fountains and flowers you must make a point of sitting outside. Having had lunch here on occasion and also dinner, I give the restaurant a thumbs up for beautiful plating, full and flavorful tasty entrees, generous, but not obscene, portions, and warm focaccia bread-homemade I'm sure. Not far away is the local gym, and if you get a special package that includes the free exercise gym, you can access the place at your leisure. That is, if you really must work out. I tried this out for one morning, and the process was smooth. You get a pass key to the gym, and there's no muss, no fuss with the management. LOCALE One of the best things about the inn is its location. Situated smack dab in the center of historic downtown hubbub, the inn gives you the opportunity to prance about the boutiques, bookstores, and garden shops as you please since you can walk everywhere easily. Parking is free (yay!), and after you perform the shop-til-you-drop ritual, you can drive to local beaches and hiking trails and organic farms to get the full Half Moon Bay experiences. Service, location, comfort. And if you need to get something washed in a pinch, Jamie will probably help you out. *** DETAILS: Half Moon Bay Inn 401 Main Street Rates: $105 to $300 www.halfmoonbayinn.com Ph: 510/726-1177 **** Kathy Chin Leong is editor of Bay Area Family Travel and a self-admitted hotel snob!