November ‘25

A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF GIVING AT CUDDLE DOON

A few weeks ago, a guest at Cuddle Doon (I recently discovered this to be the original name of our cottage - more on this later) left me a copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s A Gift From the Sea—a book that had been deeply meaningful in her own life. I read it and left it out for the next guest to enjoy, and when she arrived, her face lit up. It turned out that A Gift From the Sea was one of her favorite books, too, and she hadn’t read it in nearly 18 years. “It feels magical that it was the first thing I saw when walking into your lovely refuge”, she wrote.

In that moment, I felt something special taking shape—a gentle, unexpected thread connecting one guest to the next. A simple act of kindness had become a “virtuous circle of giving,” passing through the cottage like the tide: one gift, shared with another, now shared with all.

From now on, I’ll be keeping copies of this beautiful book in the cottage for any guest who feels called to take one home. It feels like the perfect companion for a quiet morning in Carmel, wrapped in a blanket, listening to the crackle of a roaring fire.

With the holiday season upon us, I hope it brings warmth to your heart—and maybe reminds you of your own peaceful moments here. Cuddle Doon misses you. And Carmel is calling you back.

With love from Carmel,
Barry

OVER HALF OF 2026 IS ALREADY BOOKED

We still have a few openings left for 2025, but our 2026 calendar is filling up fast - we’re even seeing bookings for 2027! As an Inner Circle member, you have the special privilege of reserving your spot up to 18 months in advance. Many of our guests return to Carmel Retreats year after year, and we want to make sure there’s always a place reserved for our cherished regulars.

ASK ME ABOUT OUR NEW
“POSTCARDS FOR HEALING” CAMPAIGN

We just completed a soft launch of Postcards For Healing. As part of my life’s mission to help others thrive, I’m inviting members of my Inner Circle to mail me a postcard to nominate someone they know to enjoy a free stay at Carmel Retreats as part of their journey through illness, loss, or burnout.

SHARE THE MAGIC OF CARMEL WITH OTHERS

At Carmel Retreats, we take joy in creating unforgettable moments for a small circle of cherished guests, as well as their families and friends. Nestled by the sea, our family-owned sanctuary is a place for joy, connection, romance, and pure relaxation. If you know someone who would treasure a magical escape in Carmel-by-the-Sea, we would be honored for you to share Carmel Retreats with them. Every stay is crafted with care, beauty, and a little bit of magic.

YOU’RE PART OF OUR INNER CIRCLE

As a token of our appreciation for choosing Carmel Retreats, we’ve made you part of our “Inner Circle”. We value your trust in us and don’t extend this offer to every guest - just those who treat our cottages with the utmost care.

As an Inner Circle member, you’ll receive:

* Reduced Inner Circle pricing
* Priority booking over non-members
* No VRBO/AirBnB booking fees (save up to $1000)
* No damage deposit collected