We loved our stay at Cotswold Cottage! It was a convenient walk to everything in Carmel, making access to restaurants and shopping easy. The cottage is also nicely equipped and updated. Everything you need is right there, meaning you don't have to buy any supplies aside from groceries.
The owner was very easy to work with, and the property manager met us on-site and showed us around upon our arrival. Because of its location, you also have easy access to Highway 1, as well as your pick of grocery stores. There's a lovely forested park nearby with mulch trails for those who like to run or bike. And like I mentioned previously, downtown is close enough to walk to when you get hungry. (Comfortable shoes are a must because Carmel's streets are, shall we say, uneven, and there aren't many sidewalks.) We even walked down to the beach a couple of times!
We used Yelp to locate restaurants -- Demetrios, Tree House Cafe and Nico were our favorites. We grabbed brunch at The Cottage one day, and of course, we had to duck into the Hog's Breath Inn for a drink. (Try their Lover's Coffee!) The gallery owners along the main shopping corridors are very hospitable, too!
During our stay, we booked a private kayak excursion through Monterey Bay Kayaks in Elkhorn Slough. It is the best way to get up close with some of the wildlife. And on our last full day there, we hiked all of Point Lobos State Park. In other words, there's plenty to do, and Cotswold Cottage is a great central location from which to operate!