Family Friendly Beach
Vacation Condo
The Perfect Family Friendly Beach Vacation: A Comfortable Condo in a Secure, Hawaii-lush Complex on Two Great Southern California Beaches
This lush resort-style complex is great for family beach vacations with plenty of amenities that are perfect for family reunion activities.
Click here for a photo tour of Beach Breaker.
• Plum oceanfront location; a family friendly beach vacation condo steps from Oceanside harbor and a lifeguard beach
• Great views from master and living room balcony
• Expansive landscaped tropical interior reminiscent of Hawaii
• Resort-style amenities -- perfect for family beach vacations with plenty of amenities that are perfect for family reunion activities
• Underground parking; secure, gated premises
• Complimentary beach towels, chairs,
boogie boards and welcome treats
• Great guests rates for events in on site clubhouse
A condo is not my first choice when it comes renting a vacation home. I just can’t get excited about chain hotel-vanilla units stacked egg carton-style in a could-be-anywhere surrounding. For me, the typically bland trio of amenities (pool-spa-game room) falls short of a memorable experience. But, I do love to be surprised. Beach Breaker turned what I thought I knew about condos on its head. I chose this family friendly beach vacation condo for its location -- steps from two prime Southern California beaches. I loved hearing the surf from my bed and the unobstructed view of Oceanside’s pretty harbor from my private balcony. What I wasn’t expecting was the tropical oasis at the heart of the complex. Paths meander though picture-perfect gardens. Wooden bridges cross trickling streams and pass by rainforest-style waterfalls splashing into ponds stocked with koi. It’s easy to forget where you are, California or Hawaii? That’s what makes Beach Breaker a gem -- family friendly beach vacation home. If the weather is gray or the kids are beach-weary, hang out by a gorgeous free-form pool. Or refine your putting on the sloping green with a view of the ocean. “People come here with plans to do San Diego and decide not to leave,” says Melinda Kruse DiPerna, who manages about a dozen one- and two-bedroom condos in the complex through
Better Vacation Rentals.
Her dedication to adding personal touches -- a welcome pail with snacks and water, boogie boards and beach towels -- takes the renting experience way past vanilla. The gated grounds are secure, with regular patrols and 24/7 video surveillance, making this a reassuring choice for a family friendly beach vacation. And if you're looking for fresh family reunion ideas or graduation celebration ideas, check this out! Guests at Beach Breaker (or any other condo on the complex) can rent the very cool clubhouse (with soaring ceilings, a stone fireplace and a large deck) for a song -- making this a sweet deal for group events ranging from wedding receptions to birthday, graduation and anniversary celebrations.
Beach Breaker … in a nutshell
Perfect for
This family friendly beach vacation condo also works well for one couple (including babymoon vacations) and singles
Unit Configuration
1 bedroom/1 bath (sleeps 4)
Price
Per night
From $160 in the low season (May and September through October) to $325 during the peak summer months (mid-June to mid-August); three-night minimum
Per week
From $800 to $1,600
Per month
$2,000 to $5,400
Additional fees:Cleaning $85-$100; Non refundable damage waiver $45
Kids?
The gated condominium complex is patrolled by a security staff and is studded with video surveillance cameras. The pool, game rooms and koi pond (with coin-operated feeding station) will keep kids occupied when you’re not at the beach.
Legoland
is 10 minutes away. Other must-see attractions -- such as Sea World and Disneyland -- are easy to visit on day trips, giving this condo high marks as a family friendly beach vacation destination.
Pets?
No
What it’s like to stay
The weather was in full “May-gray” mode when I checked in at the clubhouse. But I hardly noticed after my short stroll through grounds that could easily be part of a botanical garden. The clubhouse is only halfway into the paradise setting, so I had yet to see the free-form pool, barbecue/picnic area, the koi pond, or the generous slope of putting green offering a glimpse the Pacific Ocean through giant swaying palms. Checking in, you have to park in a temporary space, walk back to the rental office, then return to your car and navigate to your assigned parking space. This is a mammoth complex (more than 500 units), so it pays to note landmarks on your way from the garage to your unit. Beach Breaker is a one-bedroom condo with plenty of space for four -- although it makes a vain effort to puff up to twice its size with mirrors covering one entire wall from the living room to the dining room and the wall facing the bed in the master suite. With its rattan and flower-print beach house furniture and glass tabletops, Beach Breaker is a bit dated. But you have all the modern conveniences, including a large flat panel TV and Wi-Fi. Unlike the typical condo-tel, Beach Breaker is clearly someone’s home. The bar is full of fancy cocktail glassware to dress up sunset celebrations and there’s selection of mystery novels on the bedside table. BETTER Vacation Rentals adds the finishing flourishes to this family friendly beach vacation home. You can’t miss the welcome treats -- popcorn, trail mix and bottled water -- in a beach pail on the kitchen counter, alongside two beach towels. The welcome book has advice on restaurants and local sites, phone numbers, directions and even discount tickets from local
California Welcome Center.
Plenty of space and a view of the ocean and harbor
And the origami “puppy,” fashioned from hand towels and a whiffle ball, stole my heart. Turns out, the Better Vacation Rentals concierge fashions a different origami creation (from her portfolio of a dozen or so) for each guest.I spent my time at Beach Breaker watching the surfers ride the waves near the river jetty where the San Luis Rey River meets the ocean. (The sandbar creates a good surf break.) A better bet for a family friendly beach vacation is the broad stretch of sand called Breakwater Way to the south. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer and beach volleyball and beach bonfires are popular. And the garden grounds -- blooming with tropical flowers, ferns and carpets of impatiens -- are made for long, meandering strolls.
Lots of personal touches make this different than a typical condo-tel.
Lay of the land
Beach Breaker is a second-story unit conveniently close to the elevator that takes you to the common area, laundry room and parking garage. With an open plan -- one big room blending the living and dining areas -- it lends itself to a damily friendly beach vacation experience. The couch doubles as a queen-sized bed and there are two easy chairs -- plenty of room for everybody to kick back in front of the flat panel TV or browse a vintage National Geographic magazine from the stack in the bookshelf. The corner gas fireplace is great for chillier weather. There’s also plenty of room for four around the table. Don’t plan to make gourmet meals or holiday dinners in the kitchen. It’s just big enough for one person and fully equipped with appliances including a microwave and dishwasher -- great for whipping up casual meals. Kids will love hanging out on the bar stools at the counter. The spacious master suite continues the beach theme in white wicker. A king-sized bed with pillow-top mattress faces yet another mirror wall and a smaller flat panel TV perched on a wicker dresser. The vanity area is open, separated from the tub/shower and toilet by a door, making sharing easier.
Upscale amenities and a great location make a great family friendly beach vacation.
Amenities
• Flat-panel HDTVs with cable in the living room and bedroom
• DVD/CD and VHS players
• Wireless Internet
• Roomy ocean-facing balcony with bar-height table and chairs
• Gas fireplace
• Small, but fully equipped kitchen including microwave and dishwasher
• Ironing board, hamper, laundry basket and cart; laundry facilities on the ground level
• Full access to pool, spa, game rooms, putting green, fitness center and two gourmet BBQs adjacent to picnic area
• Secure access to ocean and beach from three gates
• 24/7 security patrols and surveillance within complex • Assigned parking in underground garage
The very best things
• Plum oceanfront location for a family friendly beach vacation, with easy access to the harbor and a lifeguard beach; one of the best values on the Southern California coast
• Great view of the beach and harbor from master bedroom and roomy private balcony
• Expansive landscaped tropical interior with winding paths, streams and waterfalls, reminiscent of Hawaii; palms, ferns, bird of paradise, impatiens and many other flowers and plants.
• Resort-style amenities in a secure gated environment
• Roomy living area and master with lots of personal touches
• Underground parking; secure gated premises
• Complimentary beach towels, beach chairs and boogie boards
• Welcome sand pail with microwave popcorn, chocolate chip cookies, fruit crisps, trail mix and bottled water; welcome book with maps, telephone numbers, directions, discount tickets
• Great guest rental rates for events in the clubhouse; access to recommended wedding/event coordinator on request
What’s not perfect
• This is a mammoth complex (more than 500 units) and the maze of hallways can be daunting at first. It pays to note landmarks the first few times you travel from your assigned parking spot to your condo.
• Checking in, you have to park in a temporary space, walk back to the office, then go back to your car to navigate to your assigned space.
• You can hear people moving around in the condo above
• The style is a bit dated and with mirrored walls can be distracting; if you want something more up to date, explore your options with Better Vacation Rentals
• With fold-out couch, this is a better option for a family friendly beach vacation than for two couples
• Small (one person) kitchen
• No laundry facilities in the unit
• No pets allowed
In an emergency
Better Vacation Rentals is accessible 24/7 access; maintenance issues are handled by North Coast Village.
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Why not add a weekend at another California Beach House?
Click here
to see what's available in La Jolla or Santa Barbara.
Beach Breaker: Manager’s Favorites
Dominic's at the Harbor Pizza Walk north across the bridge to reach Oceanside Harbor. The best place for people- (and boat) watching is in the outdoor seating area -- the perfect family friendly beach vacation night out. The best thing on the menu? Well, I love the calzones, but my daughter says, 'Forget the pizza!' Melinda say. Her favorite is the New England-style clam chowder.
Jitters Coffee Pub
is my "virtual office." Free Wi-Fi, great coffee, chai and tea, baked goods made fresh every morning -- and it's locally owned with friendly service. Jitters has a cool vibe, but it's not intimidating. Great for a family friendly beach vacation.
Dasani Blue Bike Program
Oceanside was designated bike-friendly city in 2008. So visitors are invited to pick up a free bike at City Hall (within walking distance of Beach Breaker)io weekdays and take on 14-mile (round-trip) trail from the beach to Mission San Luis Rey.
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