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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 9:28:21 GMT -6
Suggestions, please? I'm hoping you guys can spam me with links to places you've stayed (or have wanted to stay) to make life easy.
We're hoping to do a 1-week family vacation in the middle of July. A beach being involved would be ideal.
Accommodation: Either a 1-2+ bedroom vacation rental that's on the beach or a hotel on the beach that's a suite. We do not want to share a room with the kids if at all possible, but having a suite that has a separate living area and two queen beds in a different room would be okay. (Basically, we don't want to be stuck sitting in a dark room with no TV and making no noise while our kids go to bed super early). No need for a full-service resort, but we wouldn't turn it down. Breakfast served on premises would be great.
Location: We'll likely be starting our trip with short kid-free (for us) cruise out of SoCal, but will need to pick the kids up from my sister's house in Santa Clarita, so would probably prefer something somewhere on the coast in between there and the Bay Area. Stuff to do nearby (kid friendly and not kid friendly) is a plus. Kids will be 5 and 2.
Budget: Prefer to stay under $400-500/night.
I am still getting DH on board with the idea of vacationing with kids... His suggestion is just to do an exact repeat of last year's vacation - which isn't a terrible idea and we may end up doing that, but I'd like to see what options are out there for trying something new. (Last year was a week at Pismo Beach, in a suite on the beach.)
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brux
Diamond
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Post by brux on Apr 9, 2018 9:34:21 GMT -6
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brux
Diamond
Posts: 35,325 Likes: 282,429
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Post by brux on Apr 9, 2018 9:35:00 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 9:37:47 GMT -6
brux, that looks promising. I've also never seen this Oyster site... that's great.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 9:39:33 GMT -6
Hah. I take it back.. it does look lovely, but to get a separate sleeping area, I'd basically have to turn to prostitution.
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brux
Diamond
Posts: 35,325 Likes: 282,429
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Post by brux on Apr 9, 2018 9:39:44 GMT -6
brux , that looks promising. I've also never seen this Oyster site... that's great. I use it all the time. I don't always agree with their suggestions, or book their top choices, but it's a great starting point to hit the highs and lows of kid-friendly hotels and then see pictures of rooms and pools. Which are the most important features for travelling with kids, IME. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 9:46:54 GMT -6
I have a connection to a beach house rental in Manresa.
It’s closer to home than you probably want but it’s really great. PM if you want me to check dates with them.
It’s a 3 bedroom house that has the layout you want and it’s reasonably priced. It’s walking distance to the beach.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 9:49:43 GMT -6
I have a connection to a beach house rental in Manresa. It’s closer to home than you probably want but it’s really great. PM if you want me to check dates with them. It’s a 3 bedroom house that has the layout you want and it’s reasonably priced. It’s walking distance to the beach. Amusingly, I have no idea where Manresa is and all google is giving me is Manresa the restaurant... |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 10:01:46 GMT -6
I have a connection to a beach house rental in Manresa. It’s closer to home than you probably want but it’s really great. PM if you want me to check dates with them. It’s a 3 bedroom house that has the layout you want and it’s reasonably priced. It’s walking distance to the beach. Amusingly, I have no idea where Manresa is and all google is giving me is Manresa the restaurant... It’s a lovely get away because you feel far from home but it’s only about 45 minutes from SJ. It’s south of Santa Cruz between Aptos and Watsonville. What’s nice is it’s totally small beach town but if you wanted to do Santa Cruz, Capitola or Monterey for a day or half day, it’s a short drive. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 10:03:23 GMT -6
@juliagulia, do they have any photos? I am not averse to a trip in that location. It will take us 5-7 hours to get there from my sister's, so 45 mins on the way home sounds fantastic.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 10:18:51 GMT -6
@juliagulia, do they have any photos? I am not averse to a trip in that location. It will take us 5-7 hours to get there from my sister's, so 45 mins on the way home sounds fantastic. I’m getting the info and will send you a PM. |
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Minerva
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Post by Minerva on Apr 9, 2018 11:01:23 GMT -6
I was going to suggest Pismo beach until I read to the end. 😁
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 11:13:58 GMT -6
I was going to suggest Pismo beach until I read to the end. 😁 He may win out and get Pismo again... it was a great vacation. Plus I'm getting my cruise, so he's got more bargaining chips. Maybe Avila Beach to spice it up. You know.. down the street.  |
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thatgolfb
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Post by thatgolfb on Apr 9, 2018 11:16:11 GMT -6
I was in the middle of writing a post earlier and I have no idea what happened to it.
We stayed at a La Quinta Inn and Suites in Bakersfield when my sister had her baby, and it was great. We got a king suite that had a separate bedroom in addition to the main living room with a pull out couch, TV, and kitchenette. DD slept on the pull out couch while we slept in the bedroom (which also had a TV). I think they also had a 2 bedroom suite.
This was Bakersfield of course so lower cost, but the price was only $130/night. It included a really decent buffet breakfast, too. Plus they had a pool/gym. It was way nicer than I expected and I would stay there again for sure.
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thatgolfb
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Post by thatgolfb on Apr 9, 2018 11:18:55 GMT -6
Santa Barbara is expensive, but worth it if you can find a good deal. It is cheaper to stay in Goleta but I probably wouldn't want to with kids, at least when school is in session.
ETA: I forgot you said July. Maybe worth it if you find a nice enough, inexpensive enough place?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 11:22:52 GMT -6
thatgolfb, we stay at the La Quinta whenever we visit my family. It's a great value for the price and quality is on par (maybe better than) other hotels in the area. My kids would be happy if we did a week there and got to see family and swim in the pool. DH, not so much.
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Post by potatocakes on Apr 9, 2018 11:54:50 GMT -6
Santa Barbara is expensive, but worth it if you can find a good deal. It is cheaper to stay in Goleta but I probably wouldn't want to with kids, at least when school is in session. ETA: I forgot you said July. Maybe worth it if you find a nice enough, inexpensive enough place? I was going to recommend this - tons of kid friendly stuff (zoo, cool new science museum, beach) plus decent restaurants and family-friendly wine and beer places as well. Hotel Milo (right at the beach) looks like they have suites, but I'd probably look around for a vacation rental in your price range. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 13:55:39 GMT -6
At first I thought thatgolfb was recommending a Bakersfield vacation and was like LOL @k3am do you want a one stop vacation or would you be open to breaking up the drive back up north ? We did a good portion of hwy 1 a few year ago driving after dinner or just before. Going an hour ish each time and then spending the next day in our new location. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 14:12:45 GMT -6
@privacy, we are probably a one-stop for this one. We cart around entirely too much stuff to want to worry about loading/unloading at each location.
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tater
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Post by tater on Apr 9, 2018 14:26:37 GMT -6
Huntington Beach is very close to Disney/Knotts and about 60-90 minutes from Santa Clarita. I love the Hyatt Regency.
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thatgolfb
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Post by thatgolfb on Apr 9, 2018 16:25:50 GMT -6
At first I thought thatgolfb was recommending a Bakersfield vacation and was like LOL @k3am do you want a one stop vacation or would you be open to breaking up the drive back up north ? We did a good portion of hwy 1 a few year ago driving after dinner or just before. Going an hour ish each time and then spending the next day in our new location. I 100% do not recommend Bakersfield vacation ever, but especially in August. Thanks, nephew! |
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Post by CurlieWhirlie on Apr 9, 2018 20:01:28 GMT -6
We absolutely love the Venetian Inn in Capitola, it’s right near Santa Cruz so you can do the Boardwalk easy, but it’s a cute little small town and every room is a suite. It’s one of those old-fashioned hotels where every room is different. They all have kitchens and living rooms, and it’s right on the beach.
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Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on Apr 9, 2018 22:36:10 GMT -6
I live on the central coast, Pismo adjacent. How about Cambria? It's so cute, but then I wonder if it might be a touch boring with kids.
If camping or rv situations would ever be an option, Jalama Beach outside of Lompoc is wonderful.
Monterey is fun too. Aquarium, etc.
But also Pismo and Avila are great!
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Jesslfar
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Post by Jesslfar on Apr 9, 2018 22:59:29 GMT -6
I love Capitola. So walkable and kid friendly. How close do you want to the Bay Area?
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