Nice properties. Have stayed at Cottage Inn at Pismo Beach and Blue Sea in San Diego. Marina International, Marina del Rey was OK, but needed updating.

Thanks, Michelle.

We stayed at one of their Marina del Rey properties years ago, and it desperately needed a facelift. I think my son told me they filmed many scenes of "Dexter" there.

Inn at Venice Beach is newly renovated, and Jamaica Bay Inn is a brand new re-vamp, too. It always pays to ask how long ago was the property re-done.

We were on college tours two summers ago when we stayed at MDR. Jamaica Bay was under renovation then. Thanks for the info.

College tours-- did you look at LMU?

Yes we did! She ended up at Cal Poly this year and we just picked her up today for summer break. Tough decision, but our checkbook is happy

Haha, I know what you mean! DS graduated LMU a year ago. Wooo hooo! My niece is considering Cal Poly, but she wants to leave her home state.

I am surprised no travelers have posted here and are going to use this coupon. So many have posted questions about the California coast and lodging. Oh, well. . .

We love to stay at Cottage Inn in Pismo when visiting DD at Cal Poly.

PeaceOut: how did your son like LMU? Several of DD friends are there.

He was in the school of Film and Television, and that is a very small, specialized program where the students work closely together and form bonds which take them out into the work world. So that was awesome for him. Honesty, it would have been hard to pay that kind of money just to earn a basic B.A., but his degree actually taught him a "trade".

I think the criticism he had as a freshman and sophomore, living on campus, is that most the students have cars and most of them disappear after classes. He didn't think there was much social life on campus.