My family and I (7 adults, 3 children) are planning a trip to California for next spring.

For part of the trip we are thinking of renting a house on the beach. I've come across this one at 813A Pacific in Oceanside:

http://www.vacationrentals.com/vacat...als/32931.html

Has anyone stayed here? For that matter - has anyone rented through vacationrentals.com?

Any tips on Oceanside in general? I've been to California before but never farther south than LA.

Thanks!

It looks like a very nice condo. There's not much to see in Oceanside. It's a long drive to the San Diego Zoo or Sea World. On the other hand, it's not so far to Disneyland if you'd be going there.

If you'd be going to lots of the things to see in San Diego, you might be better finding something closer to the city. The weather can be dodgy in the spring and the ocean water will be very cold.

So far the plan for the trip is: (maybe late April/early May?)

fly into San Francisco & stay there for 4 days (including a day trip to Sonoma), spend a couple days driving down the coast, 3 nights in Anaheim for Disneyland/California Adventures and then a week at a house on the beach.

We're not set on this house, or Oceanside in general, it just caught my eye when I started the search.

For the week at the beach, we'll more just be hanging out together as a family, relaxing by the beach. We're Canadian, so "cold weather" is a relative term.

Is there a town that would be better? Or does anyone know another good website for beach rentals? We need 5 bedrooms.

thx......

It looks like a nice place. But in Oceanside there isn't much too see (and honestly it's not a real pretty place it even walk around). You're about 25 mins from Logo land, and 40 min (south) from Sea world. You're about an hour from the heart of the OC. You might want to look into staying some place else in S.D.

Try here for some good idea's
http://www.san-diego-hotels-resorts.com/

Del Mar is nice
La Jolla is nice
San Diego is nice
Newport beach is nice,
Huntington Beach is fun, and very down to earth
Laguna Beach
Santa monica

Have a nice trip

I think Oceanside is a fine place to stay (altho I stay in Carlsbad, just to the south). The beach in OCeanside is nice and weather in the spring can be very nice - I was in Carlsbad last week and it was perfect.

The house you are interested in says it is brand new, so it is unlikely anyone has stayed there. I don't know of many places that would have room for 10.

You have a big family, so that is a consideration.

What are you planning on doing? Oceanside is not far from San Diego and not too far from Disneyland and environs.

For other rentals in the north San Diego County area, try Barbara McLain properties

www.barbaramclain.com

They are property managers for loads of beachfront property, altho not many places will be able to handle all 10 of you.

Oceanside is okay if you only plan to use it as a base to travel to other places and it is a great price for a great place that you can't find elsewhere. Otherwise, nicer areas are Coronado, La Jolla, and Del Mar, Solana Beach....all these will be pricier. Other great areas are Cardiff, Encinitas, and Carlsbad.

It's a 40 mile trip into San Diego if you want to go to the zoo and Balboa Park etc.
If you're interested in the Wild Animal Park it's fairly close.
There is a small art museum in Oceanside. That's the only reason I've ever gone there.

The beach is okay, and the beach at Carlsbad is great. Carlsbad is a pretty little town.
If you go north, San Jaun Capistrano is a nice little town.

Spring is a good time to drive to the desert, you may be in time for some desert blooms.

I grew up in Oceanside and agree that there's not much to do there. The beach is great and you're really close to Carlsbad, which has a darling little village area you can walk around-- shops & restaurants and such. The only nearby sightseeing things are Legoland and the Wild Animal Park (which is fantastic and I highly recommend it, especially with kids).

If you're looking for a "relax on the beach" kind of trip, then I think Oceanside is fine. If you were wanting to do all the S.D. sights, then you might like to stay closer to the city. S.D. traffic is absolutely hideous these days and you'll spend your whole trip on the freeway going back and forth to the city.