The Gorgeous Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort and Resortime

The Carlsbad Beach and Resort is absolutely stunning!

Disclosure: We were invited to stay at the resort.

Last month we had the opportunity to stay at one of the most gorgeous resorts in Southern California, The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort. Carlsbad is one of our favorite places to visit near the beach. It is usually less crowded than many of the OC beaches and has a relaxed vibe. Carlsbad Inn is just 80 steps from the beach, and stretches along a 4.07-acre site fronting on both Pacific Coast Highway and the Pacific Ocean, nestled within the quaint village of Carlsbad.

Our View Was Breathtaking!

The Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort is a managed by Grand Pacific Resorts and is also a part of ResortTime. You will be spoiled when you stay at a ResortTime hotel and will not want to vacation anywhere else. Here’s why. The rooms are spacious and have all of the comforts of home. Our room came with a separate living area, full kitchen, a gorgeous full bathroom, and a bedroom. When you vacation with your family, you want to do it in comfort and not be cramped in a little room. The Carlsbad Inn Resort, Grand Pacific Resorts, and ResorTime provide you with that experience. Trust me, after you’ve stayed and had room, you will not want to stay in a small room ever again!

Credit: Carlsbad Inn

The Carlsbad Inn Wrapping around a lush green lawn and courtyard with views to the Pacific Ocean, guests enjoy complimentary use of bicycles and jogging strollers, and a lively activity center with over 30-weekly activities including tours, classes, and special events. Recreational amenities include a pool, two Jacuzzi hot tubs, playground, a large gym with Nautilus, free weight and aerobic equipment, sauna, men’s and women’s locker rooms. It is the perfect place for a beach vacation. I really can’t wait to be able to come back and stay for a full week with my family.

The Bathroom was very luxurious!

It’s a very short walk out to the beach, where they have a seasonal beachfront cabana offering beach chairs, boogie boards, umbrellas and other beach toys for guests at the resort.

The pool is very inviting!

There are so many activities to do with the family. I love that I could walk down to the beach anytime and take a stroll multiple times a day. No worry about parking or dragging chairs down, all I had to do was enjoy myself!

Walking along the beach.

Norte Mexican restaurant is right next door. It features tasty and affordable Mexican food. It is now my husband’s favorite Mexican restaurant in San Diego County. There are also lots of other great places to eat within just a block of the Carlsbad Inn.

ResorTime manages several vacations spots all over the world. They recently redesigned their online booking website to make it easier than ever to get the dates you want in the destination you have longed to visit. Check out the site here.

I have an amazing code to book your next vacation through Resortime. Use Discount Code: 16B3F and receive 20% off any resort. You must book by 08/31, but you can travel through 2015. It’s a great deal! Trust me, you will never want to stay at any other place.

Pacific Edge Hotel of Laguna Beach

Living here in SoCal means not having to go far for the beach. This past November, we were invited to stay the night at the Pacific Edge in Laguna Beach. The Pacific Edge Beach Front rooms all feature balconies with a beach view. Each room also has a wet bar with a mini fridge and a microwave. There are also several value priced rooms without the view but are equally close to the beach, like literally just a few yards away!

The following day, we got to stay in their unique beach front Bungalows. Each Bungalow at the Pacific Edge Hotel includes a comfortable living room that overlooks the ocean, a VIP Bungalow Host, a private bathroom with a shower, a bar area, valet parking, catered food and beverages, and a private oceanfront deck area. Rent one Bungalow for up to ten guests, or reserve all five for an oceanfront event. They are the perfect setting for a birthday celebration, a day with the family, corporate meetings, or industry soirees.

In 2013, Pacific Edge Hotel enhanced The Bungalow experience further by partnering with five local groups. These groups are local companies and groups who have had the opportunity to enjoy The Bungalows and wanted to make them “theirs”. Each group decorated a Bungalow to their own, unique style, creating a custom interior design that reflects that group’s style. This means each of the five bungalows are distinct and unique. They can be rented individually, or the entire area could be rented for a large party, such as a wedding reception or an anniversary party. Adding to the spirit of your reception, photo booths offer guests a chance to let loose and snap some fun, spontaneous photos. They are always a hit, providing not just entertainment but also a wonderful souvenir from your special day. Visit https://www.pictureblast.co.uk/ for more details on how to incorporate this exciting feature into your wedding.

We spent our entire Saturday in Bungalow 3, which was designed by Tania Cassill Interior Design and inspired by the work of local artists and designers who share the same love for the ocean, the surf and the Laguna Beach lifestyle. Our room had natural sisal floor coverings, a luxurious overstuffed sofa, and large windows lined with cotton panels to maintain the cool breeze from the ocean and the sun’s natural light. Each bungalow has a VIP host that made sure we had everything we needed from complimentary snack and drinks to our delicious lunch from The Deck restaurant located there at the hotel. My husband’s not much of a beach guy, so he was kept entertained by the huge flat screen plasma TV and every channel you could think of. If you are looking for kitchen equipments, the right one for your needs can be found here! The kids and I spent much of our afternoon down on the sand, where a cabana attendant helped to set us up with chairs, towns, umbrellas and beach toys. I’ve never felt quite so spoiled at the beach. Learn more about their bungalow packages here.

*Disclosure: we were invited by the Pacific Edge Hotel of Laguna Beach in exchange for this review.

Crystal Cove Cottages

I usually blog about daytrips , outings and events. Today I wanted to blog about a place some of you may or may not know about- Crystal Cove Cottages in Crystal Cove, Newport Beach. The cottages are state owned and offer you an opportunity to stay in a beachfront bungalow at a very reasonable rate from one to seven nights. available on Saugatuck Michigan rentals Think of it as camping on the beach in style. In fact to reserve a spot in Crystal Cove you must use the reservation system used by all California campgrounds and parks- Reserve America.

The cottages are extremely popular and you can rent them on the first day of the month at 8am. You can sign on to the system and start trying at 7:50. If you want to make sure to snag one a night or two make sure to browse through the website for the cottages and let the agent know the one you are interested in. You can also call and see if there are cancellations for perhaps a last minute outing or book a cancellation online through Reserve America. You make a reservation 6 months in advanced. For example if you were to book a cottage on Mar 1st , you would be booking for your stay in September.

The Cottages are newly restored and are either Individual or Dorm-style Cottages Crystal Cove Beach Cottages offer gorgeous ocean views, charming historic details, and a glimpse of a uniquely Southern Californian beach community from a bygone era. Located in the heart of Crystal Cove State Park’s 3.5 miles of pristine coastline, the Historic District first developed as a South Seas movie set due to its seclusion and tropical aura. The community thrived and became beloved for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and picturesque landscape, and in 1979, the Crystal Cove Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

You can stay in one of 11 Individual or 3 Dorm-style Cottages. Located directly on the beach or overlooking it from a bluff top, each cottage has been painstakingly restored and furnished to recreate Crystal Cove’s unique historic beach culture and ambiance. Reservations are available year-round.

I know that we are facing some tough economic times and the thought of renting a beach home or vacation sounds like a far fetched dream for many- but thanks to Crystal Cove you can afford a beachfront retreat for around the same price as spending a night at your local Marriott. Rentals are around $180.00 for a flat rate of 4 people. This does not include children 4 and under. There is an additional charge for more than 4 people over the age of 4.

I’m planning on renting a little cottage for one night.. I hope you can also and spend an unforgettable day or days at the beach.

For additional information click here and for reservations click here

Reserve America

Reservations 1-800-444-7275

Customer Service 1-800-695-2269