Aquamarine Villas, Oceanside....unit recomendations? what is it like?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

We have a chance to stay at Aquamarine Villas, Oceanside at the end of July...we would love to hear some of your opinions.

Can one request specific units? Which one's are the best that are possible for a last minute exchanger to get?

Any other issues.....I heard no A/C and not enought breeze so it is hot....is this true or does it depend on the unit?

How is the pool?

What is the current condition of the units?

I know the beach nearby is not as nice as further north in Oceanside...but its ok?

How about the neighborhood and the noise?

My wife is leary....we just spent a week in a 2 BR at SCBC in Oceanside and she will kill me if this is a big step down.

[nanomug Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close nanomug]

We stayed there last summer during mild weather and it was much to hot. The units were well worn including linens having been mended many times. The management was nice and mean. The toilet didn't flush when we arrived and they expected us to wait for the problem (which wasn't caused by us) because they didn't have anyone on duty that night.

[skimble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close skimble]

We drove by the complex. I don't like the location at ALL. There's an element there that makes me think it might not be real safe to take evening strolls on the beach.
The 3 closest stores are all liquor stores, and you need to pass through at least 3 gang territories to get to them.
I'm not inclined to stay there.

[CaliDave Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close CaliDave]

We stayed here.. and all your comments as well as others are on track.

Didn't walk outside the gate at night. It does have that element as skimble says.

no A/C and too far from the beach to get a good breeze.

The beach wasnt bad.. it was small.. but it worked.. I only need 6' 2" of samd to be happy

I would stay here again on a last call, but I wouldnt exchange in.

yes, it's a big step down from SCBC.

units are VERY worn.. the kids loved the pool.. but it was a typical backyard type pool

[BarCol Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BarCol]

I disagree with almost all the comments you have said about AV, but being an owner I'm sure my ra ra talk will be dismissed. We bought AV sight unseen and stayed there last April for the first time. Contrary to the comments, the units have all been redone and the decor is really very pleasing - soft yellow wall colours, furniture is newish, fireplaces and decent though not extravagant kitchens and bathrooms. The "resort" is in actuality a townhouse complex, so if you are going expecting resort type amenities then you will be disapponited, but I think after seeing the other 3 timeshares in Oceanside (So Cal, Blue Whale and Worldmark) AV stacks up nicely. Really, the beach is the thing you're going to Oceanside for (along with convenient locations for both San Diego and southern LA) , but AV has a quite nice heated pool (So Cal and Blue Whale don't have one) and while it's close to the railway tracks everything in Oceanside is close to the tracks and Worldmark is close to the Freeway.

The General Manager of the resort Dee is really great as is Stacy and I believe the staff are working very hard to make this a good experience for owners and exchngers. Not once did we have complaints and if we had questions they were answered promptly. As far as the area being rundown or dodgy (how do you know it was gang territory??) - sorry folks but I think this is a pretty typical beach community (and that's based on observations in both the US and Canada) - some good parts, some not so good and most in transition with small beach bungalows rented by the week sitting beside new condos that owners have paid hundreds of thousands of $$ for. As far as the safety of the neighbourhood is concerned, I expect it's no better and no worse than many neighbourhoods - if you go out unaware of your surrioundings you are asking for trouble..
We enjoyed AV and will go back in a few years after visiting a few toher places this great little trader gives us opportunities for....
Just my $.02 worth.

Barb

BTW if you want some pics of the units (and we stayed in unit 10 a 1 bedroom) then send me a pm

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

I'm heading down there and will be staying next week. Barb was kind enough to send me some pictures and it has put my mind at ease greatly, but we're pretty laid back and don't really care for lots of amenities - clean with a pool is fine for us.

I'll give a report as well when I return.

Bev

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Aquamarine Villas or Winner's Circle????

Hey Bev,

Did you do a report/review on this place? Would you mind posting it here?

We are trying to decide whether or not to stay this New Year's week at AV or Winner's Circle (both last min cheap rentals) if we cannot work out getting a week at Grand Pacific Palisades or Carlsbad Seapointe Resort via RCI last minute exchange (with some help).

I would imagine the type of people in the Oceanside area is different during the winter vs. the summer.

Any input or reviews from all sides is appreciated.

We still have not convinced ourselves to stay at AV yet.

[bevvy5 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bevvy5]

Sorry I missed this post. I just got back from Florida on the weekend and have been catching up with work.

I haven't done a review - shame on me. We enjoyed our stay there. The unit was very spacious and quite nice. No real balcony to speak of and the front door fronts onto the pool area. A block from the beach.

Frankly, we were not that impressed with Oceanside itself. But we really just hung around the pool for the week and did a few day trips down to San Diego.

The one thing that was quite annoying were the trains. They really do go by all day and night. Some of the middle of the night ones were polite in that they gave a quick toot as they went by the crossing - some seemed to take perverse pleasure in laying on the horn for a long time. I wouldn't say it ruined our holiday but would impact on whether or not we would stay there again, along with the fact that Oceanside was just not that nice a place - no restaurants much, not much shopping, etc.

Just drop me an email or PM if I can let you know anything further. I might have the pictures that Barb sent me still kicking around somewhere - I could forward them to you.

Bev