Carmel-by-the-Sea fast became one of my favorite small towns in America. And for good reason. Carmel is one of those places that never quite feels real—white-sand beach, cypress trees, and houses that look like they were sketched in a fairytale notebook. When you’re somewhere this charming, a generic hotel room feels like a missed opportunity. If you’re searching for cottages in Carmel by the Sea that feel like an actual home base—fireplaces, decks, gardens, ocean air drifting in through open windows. These four handpicked stays are the ones to bookmark or book immediately, as they are often sold out in…