Del Mar Beach Cottages and Campsites

We just ended a 3-day stay in the RV park in site #94. I had read a lot of negative reviews about this military campground but our experience was absolutely great! We parked in the 4th row from the beach, for $30 a night. There was no one in front of us and we had a spectacular view of the ocean. The staff was especially helpful and the facilities were first rate. They also had a free daily newspaper! Even the weather was cooperative: warm days and cold nights! We have stayed at San Onofre and Admiral Baker many times and are currently at Seal Beach (which is our all-time favorite!), and I would rank this higher than San Onofre or Adm. Baker. I know it gets super busy in the summer, but for our needs, it fits perfectly.

This review is for the Beach Trailers only. These are the 6 or so, three room trailers they have that are in the back area of the parking lot.
DO NOT STAY IN THESE TRAILERS!!!! The trailers are in such disrepair that they should not be rented. The one we were in was old, outdated and worst of all FILTHY. Not just Marines having a good time type wear and tear. But dirt and yuck in numerous area's. Stuff on walls, air vent covered in filth, crud stuck to floor, filthy mess under furniture, I could go on but you get the picture. This trailer had not been cleaned properly for a long time. When I booked the trailer it was because it was all that was available. I did not see any reviews or any info on the trailers. So I could not make an informed evaluation. So I want to make a post for families who may be considering the trailers. DON'T DO IT. After I arrived I was told that these trailers would be removed soon. I think the sooner the better. By the way the staff on property was wonderful. The Manager and front desk clerk were especially helpful.

The villas are really enjoyable, very easy on the budget, and very picturesque, so long as you understand a few things: 1. If you are active duty, they will tell you the villas are only available to book 12 weeks in advance. This is a lie. Say you need the villa on Friday, April 8. Call in 12 weeks prior to Friday, April 1, and reserve the cottage from April 1 through April 8. An hour later, call back to cancel the April 1-7 dates. Voila, beach villa reserved 13 weeks early. Everyone except us already knows this, apparently, and nothing was mentioned of this witchcraft when we went in to ask about reserving a beach cottage for our wedding. Imagine our surprise to find the cottages we wanted completely booked 12 weeks out! Magical! 2. If they claim to have reserved you adjoining units, MAKE THEM POINT OUT THE UNITS ON A MAP, IN FRONT OF YOU. We were twice told we had adjoining units, and we didn't find out we were being lied to until we actually went to the base and looked at the villa address numbers they gave us. Make them point that out on a map. Maybe more than once, if need be. No joke. 3. Don't expect any special treatment. There's no early check in or late check out. Our wedding location was conveniently next door to Del Mar's scenic laundry/shower facilities. I am appreciative of the fact that Del Mar resort has allowed us to have a beach wedding within our modest budget. However - it is not a "resort," it's a (very nice) campground, and if you think of it as such, it's infinitely less frustrating.

Very nice beach. Great for boogie boarding and Surfing. The Life Guards are there doing their jobs making sure swimmer and and boarders stay on there side and surfers stay on there side. The Beach and Marina have activities for the young ones. My older daughter went to Surf Camp and younger one went to Sailing School for a week. Both classes impressed us and the girls had a great time. Now for the negative. The Restrooms are horrible. I feel sorry for those who have to use them. The rules are posted at each camp site. 1 RV and 1 tent or 2 tents if no RV. 8 person max per site. 2 Vehicle limit. These rules are not enforced. Sites were crowded with multiple tents and vehicle and over the 8 person max. So much that they even protruded in to the streets making it hard for two vehicle to pass. I had heard that nothing was enforced prior to coming and now I have seen it first hand. I don't plan on camping there again. But I will visit the beach for a day and use the nasty restrooms. Fortunately, I'm a man and don't have to get too personal with them. I just pray I don''t have to go #2. :)

We camp here whenever we can and "LOVE IT". The beach is one of the best on the west coast. Parking right on the beach and having full hookups is outstanding. The only real negative I have is the military style restrooms, that stainless steel toilet is a little cold in the fall and spring. Their checkin has a few candies and drinks but could use a little store which would be helpful. The mini-mart is only a few miles away but not within walking distance. Lots of dogs but we have one too so we put up with it. Occasionally a tank might drive by which is kind of cool. My grandchildren absolutely love it and they stay on the beach the whole time.

Luxury Villa - our family can't wait to stay here again. I saw so many negative comments that contradicted our visit. We are a family of 4 (2 small children). I can only compare this to a Marriott on the beach (- breakfast). Our cottage was clean, modern, & the front desk was pleasant. The safety, really nearby playground, bonfire pit, & that it is right on the beach were +++ for our family. We have stayed at a few other so called beach fronts in Cali & Hawaii, but none were as nice nor really beach front. The price may be a little steep for some military, but try staying at civilian hotels "on the beach" and the prices are much higher with fewer niceties. The sofa does not open into a bed was probably the only disappointment I can state.

First room we checked into had such an overpowering cleaning odor, even after we left all the windows open for two hours, we had to request to be moved to another room. The second room was not clean to the standards one should expect for a $100 per night room. We were asked to sweep the floor, empty the garbage, and wash dishes upon departure. Due to the amount of sand and stains on the floor, it was clear it had not been swept or mopped before our arrival. The vent in the bathroom was so clogged with dust, the ventilation was not effective. We have stayed in other military lodges, at much less cost, and were totally satisfied. For $100 per night, you could find a much better choice elsewhere.

S.W. left this review using the Directory software: - Camp is almost empty on the date. the beach front sites are very nice.

I'm rating the RV location only. I have used this location many times over the years and the price is the highest of ALL military campgrounds. I wonder what they do with the $40 plus dollars a night. They sure can fix, upgrade the bathrooms which are old and rusted. They can at least replaced 30 amp and 50 amp plugs that are so loose your cable will fall out by gravity. They can at least control and manage large tent groups from not running all around others trailers. They can repair all the leaking water valves that look like they were there in the 1960's. I love the location. I love the base! But this is the biggest ripoff in the nation and they should be ashamed. Where is the money going? Take some time and invest in maintaining and upgrading and we may come back.

We stayed in the second row ($40/night) the end of June/early July and it was a disaster. We have been going to Del Mar for about 8 years and this was the worst experience we have ever had. The site next to us had four sleeping tents and a cook tent with at least 10 teenagers and another site had an RV and 3 tents with 12 people. The staff is not very helpful and they don't enforce the rules. The bathroom and shower facility were disgusting and did not appear to be cleaned very often. The dumpsters were overflowing and not emptied often enough. The so called "Resort" is not worth the $40/night and we don't plan to stay there again.

Location is the only positive about this RV Park. Bathrooms are disgusting, showers only have cool water and very little privacy. Staff are not easy to deal with, very short. There are no so called amenities at this "resort" other than water, sewer, electricity. $50 a night for front row, $40 for all other rows. We camped over the holiday weekend and the place was a zoo. Rules were not adhered to and no one was checking on the sites. Many sites had RV plus 3 or 4 tents. Rules state only 8 people per site. Site across from us had at least 16 people each night. If they are going to call themselves a Resort, they have a long way to go.

Awesome place, especially the sites right on the beach. Ridiculous price with reservation restrictions and automatic charging of credit card 2 weeks prior. All but one night can be refunded. We normally just go down there for the day and return home.

I have gone to these cottages for a few years now and have consistently watch the price go up, the cottages get changed every few years to make you think your getting something for your money, but it is a joke. This time when we went we could only get one cottage on the beach side the other was in the back 616B, cost $85.00 a night. What a dump! The back area was filled with trash all over the place, sand had not been ranked in who knows how long, my grandson went to open the back door and the door handle came off, tried to wash the dishes but had no soap, only one TV in the sitting area none in the bedroom, back table was filthy with sticky syrup all over it. Your neighbors are right out for everyone to see what everyone else it doing. The view, well you get to look at a lot of old fencing materials that have just been left there and the electrical equipment that they are trying to grow a plant around. And they have the nerve to charge $85.00! Next night we got to move into the $129.00 room. Whoopeee! The room was fine, but no coffee, and as you walked out the door you could smell the sewer, very nice. The prices for both rooms was ridiculous. First off the young military men and women cannot afford this and they need a place that they can get away with their families. Whose ever idea this was it stinks. Everyone is out to make a buck. And on top of that when did we start letting civilians use military services another joke, yes especially when their families and the ones who work in the offices save spaces for them that hard working military members deserve! I have no intentions of going back until the prices go down. A resort? Really......head to Oceanside or Carlsbad I bet you could get a "Real" resort for that kind of money!

We spent 5 nights. June 20-25 2011. Stay was nice, used space 48 close to bathrooms for kids. Showers in the bath house need a remodel and update, I have seen it cleaner. We stayed in sec 4 one nite, it now has fire rings. The rocks/gravel in spaces 92-105 are very very hard on the feet. They are working on making the area a "resort", so there is hope for the bath house and sec 4. The cottages are finished and very nice, maybe now they will work on the camping end. Overall had a great week.

Holiday weekends book quickly. Active Marines get a two week head start, followed by the other services, on down to retirees. The RV sites range from very nice (beach front) to rather disappointing (section 4). Other reviews mentioned the bathrooms; I agree they're substandard- probably the only real downside to this otherwise enjoyable campground. The beach has recently added some nice cabanas with furniture and electrical hookups. They also sponsored a number of activities on Memorial Weekend.