Oceanside or Carlsbad lodging
 

We're going to stay in Oceanside/ Carlsbad in July or August. On the weekdays, and want to try to stay in the $100.-to $130.- range. Has anyone stayed at either of the Best Westerns, or have another iplace? I've stayed at the Comfort Inn and Days Inn in O'side and would prefer something new.
Thanks!
--Karen

I have been researching the area for a trip this fall. there is a condo community called North Coast Village in Oceanside. The condos are individually owned but they look nice. The grounds are nicely landscaped and the community is oceanfront. I have never stayed there but hope to try it this fall. you can google it or try vrbo.com

We stayed at North Coast Village a few years ago and it was very nice. Walking distance to Oceanside pier and Ruby's restaurant. Close to the Coaster station (we took the train up to San Juan Capistrano to see the mission).

I have only stayed in Carlsbad which is very, very nice and closer to SD. My impression of Oceanside is that it is heavily visited by hardcore surfers and famlies from the nearby Marine Base (Camp Pendleton) - not good or bad, just my impression.

I'm sure you'll hear from the locals when they get back from the beach!

I live inland from Oceanside so know the area well. As far as beaches are concerned, I really like the Oceanside beaches better. Wider and more sand. However, the hotel choices are not much and as far as a place to stay, I think Carlsbad is better.

North Coast Village is very nice but I think you have to rent a condo for the whole week and they aren't that cheap. If you are going to be there a whole week, though, you might want to look into it. That stretch of beach is very quiet. My friend used to rent one of the houses right next door to North Coast and we enjoyed the beach there.

I was just looking for rooms for a co-worker from LA for last week, a couple of weekdays. I was looking in Oceanside and Carlsbad. Carlsbad is much more expensive. Also most of the hotels were booked so you should find something now and book it. I ended up getting her a room at the La Quinta Inn in Carlsbad for $129, AAA rate was $116. It gets a decent review on tripadvisor. The worst thing about the hotel is that it backs up to I 5 so you need to make sure to get a room towards the front. All the other hotels in Carlsbad that were reasonably prices were already booked. The Travelodge close to downtown Carlsbad surprisinly gets good reivews. There are also a few hotels in Carlsbad on the east side of the freeway, closer to Legoland. They might be cheaper but personally I would rather stay closer to the beach.

You also asked about the Best Westerns. I am not sure which ones were refering to but I have had family and friends stay at the BW Beach Terrace Inn. Even if you could get a room there, the price range is more than your budget. If you read the trip advisor reviews, they are mostly right on. The property is older and the rooms somewhat dated although clean. However, it's the only hotel in Carlsbad right on the water, the beach is right in front of your room. Carlsbad Village Drive with all it's restaurants and shops is a 5 minute walk. The location is perfect. I don't know about any other Best Westerns.

We have stayed at the Beach Terrace Lodge and the Beach View Lodge, both Best Westerns. They were not bad properties, we clean, but we like the Beach Terrace Inn the best. If you have AAA, you can get a fairly decent rate and we stayed in a room that we could hear the surf all night. It was great. We prefer Carlsbad to Oceanside as far as the beaches go.

This is good info, thank-you all. As it turned out, we had to cancel the trip this year.