Hello from Villa L'Auberge - Del Mar, CA

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

Lawren,

Happy to hear your enjoying your stay in the golden state.
I hope you can get by a Jack in the Box and get some jalapeno poppers
Have fun and enjoy the rest of your stay.

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[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Sounds wonderful. Have a great time. shaggy

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

I am glad that you are enjoying your stay at this resort so much and that the weather is decent.

I'll bet that the power wires have been put underground by this city. I wished they would do it everywhere like they did in Switzerland eons ago. Every little town will look so much nicer then.

Well, I definitely see power lines in Walt's pics. I had to chuckle over this being a detractor. I have lived here all my life (So Cal) and the current house where I live (we built it) is the only place I have ever had underground utilities. There was an extra fee to connect in the contract to build-but I remember thinking "WOW! I will have UG utilities" It's just "normal" to see the lines.

I also grew up with a train and a raceway in my "backyard" so none of that would ever scare me off.

It looks divine!

Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy!

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

Lawren.....The place looks and sounds wonderful! With an obscured view of the water, what difference do a few power lines make?

Hope the weather stays good for you. Enjoy!!!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I'm so glad that this place has turned out to be a great trade for you on this trip! KWIM I've become an exchanger to particular resorts lately rather than to just locations. This one will now be on my radar. I hope the whole week turns out fantastic foe you. Will you get a chance to see Marcie?

Question - you mentioned only a few unts are TS - are the rest full ownership condos or a hotel?

Cloudy and a bit breezy today but that is fine as I am going up to TPI headquarters to visit and have lunch. Then a few minutes further up the road to visit Dad.

There are 2 large structures that are the 5* hotel. Two buildings that are wholly owned condos and the 2 buildings housing 12 timeshare units on the property.

We ate at Jake's last night and Walt was right the calamari appetizer was to die for! I will have to watch out for sister restaurants when in Hawaii over the summer. Thanks for the tip!

4A please check PMs for my cell or PM me yours as I expect I'll be spending a couple/few of the days left up closer to you in Laguna.

Perhaps we really lucked out as there are no power lines from our balcony

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

Lawren,
Looks and sounds like a great place. Have a wonderful vacation!!
Walt, nice pics.
The power lines would cause me no problem at all. lol
enjoy!!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Cloudy and a bit breezy today but that is fine as I am going up to TPI headquarters to visit and have lunch. Then a few minutes further up the road to visit Dad.

There are 2 large structures that are the 5* hotel. Two buildings that are wholly owned condos and the 2 buildings housing 12 timeshare units on the property.

We ate at Jake's last night and Walt was right the calamari appetizer was to die for! I will have to watch out for sister restaurants when in Hawaii over the summer. Thanks for the tip!

4A please check PMs for my cell or PM me yours as I expect I'll be spending a couple/few of the days left up closer to you in Laguna.

Perhaps we really lucked out as there are no power lines from our balcony

We really like the Hula Grill on the beach at Ka'anapali and will have an early dinner there tonight after we have visited some TUGgers at the Westin this afternoon. They have a little get-together there. We also like Kimo's on the waterfront in Lahaina but enjoy California while you are still there, Lawren! Hawaii will be here soon enough as it is only a few months away!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

What wires? There are no stinking wires!



Looking back at Villa L'Auberge from the beach. Unit 612 is the upper left top of lower building. No steps for me!



Our "private" lap pool. We only had company there once. This is behind Walt's tennis courts. There is another pool up at the hotel but we liked this one best.



Sunset from balcony of 612. Again no power lines.

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

Very nice. How does it compare to LS? or is it comparing apples and oranges?

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Very nice. How does it compare to LS? or is it comparing apples and oranges?

That's like asking me to pick which of my 2 cats is my favorite. They are different and I love them both.

How can you not love Laguna Surf? One of the very few beachfront properties in one of my favorite towns and a mile from my Dad. I have been lucky enough to stay on the beachside there and would never turn it down with those huge decks and Weber Grills.

There is no pool and I'm not going in the Pacific at any time of year as it is always way too cold. Luckily Dad is also beachfront and has a pool. There are also no trains.

Villa L'Auberge is a very class act. The hotel and staff is 5*. Two pools, two tennis courts and right in the heart of downtown Del Mar with all it's shops. Not beachfront but spectacular views and there is a path down to the beach through the property. Not like others in that you have to cross the PCH or use a walkway over the train tracks like at Riviera Beach & Spa.

Both you can hear the waves from your unit.

My only problem is getting back into either of them ASAP!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

PS I'd also like to try out Wave Crest in Del Mar and the WorldMark Pismo Beach (although that is really getting central coast to me). I need something to bridge onto my July Montery (Pacific Grove trade).


Me picky? NEVER!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Sunset from balcony of 612. Again no power lines.

A lovely view and no power lines either. To me, that would be a BIG PLUS. I just read that you are going to stay at the Pacific Grove. We stayed here once many, many years ago. The condo 2 BR was large and very comfortable when we were there as we had Peter's family with us. I remember a fireplace in the living room that was also visible from the bathroom right next to the Jacuzzi. That was fun!

I don't remember if it was a private condo or a timeshare. It's close to the beach but you have so much to see there, that you will never be in the condo except to sleep. Even a drive to San Francisco for a day is easy to do. Just park your car and walk or take the trolley. The coast is more beautiful here than in southern CA.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

A lovely view and no power lines either. To me, that would be a BIG PLUS. I just read that you are going to stay at the Pacific Grove. We stayed here once many, many years ago. The condo 2 BR was large and very comfortable when we were there as we had Peter's family with us. I remember a fireplace in the living room that was also visible from the bathroom right next to the Jacuzzi. That was fun!

I don't remember if it was a private condo or a timeshare. It's close to the beach but you have so much to see there, that you will never be in the condo except to sleep. Even a drive to San Francisco for a day is easy to do. Just park your car and walk or take the trolley. The coast is more beautiful here than in southern CA.

Emmy My exchange is into Pine Acres Lodge in Pacific Grove for July 2010. I am looking forward to it as we did a few daytrips to Monterey when we stayed at San Luis Bay Inn in Avila Beach. I will be trying to bridge something on in that general area. Yosemite or a beach week or maybe San Francisco.

PS Faust I did get my Jack fix and had breakfast at my all time favorite greasy spoon in Laguna as well.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Yosemite is absolutely beautiful and you have beaches at home. I know where I would go.

San Francisco is very different from NYC so that would be my second choice. Just a recommendation from a west coast gal.

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

Lawren, I stayed at Pine Acres Lodge years ago with my mom and sister. Very funky place. I think it's one where there is no "standard" size unit. We were in a one-bedroom that was huge. The living room had two fold-out couches. The only other thing I remember was that my sister and I (who were sleeping on the couches) froze at night.