Review Detail

You are so right. It's impossible to get reservations if you're retired. Which has made me HATE fiddlers. Active duty, as you say, can reserve a year in advance AND they can cancel or no-show almost up to the last minute, without penalty. This stinks because some active duty make the reservations whether or not they have confirmed their availability. Many times we have driven through there and have seen several open spots, even on waterfront sites. We ask and the office tells us there is no availability. Which is BS. It's inconsiderate of Active Duty to either not cancel, or cancel last minute, and it's unfair of the management to basically block retirees, pretty much year-round. We can't even park in the parking lot to enjoy a day on the coast. I don't claim to know why someone wouldn't show up, but to hold the spot is rude, rude, rude. I can call every day and there are no cancellations. Further more, there is not even a waitlist. So if there was a cancellation, the reservation would go to the next caller even one has called a dozen times in a day. It's like trying to win a prize on a radio contest. The location is great. We were there one fourth of July and we loved it. I'll be shocked if we're ever get in there again on a holiday or any other weekend for that matter. It was better when it was a dirt lot with dry spaces. Now that it's paved, it's 100% unavailable unless you can go on a Wednesday or if you can park on base and call the office non-stop. Those of us who are retired after having served 30+ years but have started second careers that don't permit 30 personal calls/day, are SOL. Del Mar Beach and San Onofre are getting just as bad. Gee we can still get into Adm Baker's Field if we want to go to a park. Not worth the hassle of getting the rig out of storage to go ride the swings.