There is a scene in Top Gun when one of the young pilot's wives sees their living quarters for the first time at Miramar-with disappointment etched over her face,she knows that they are going to have to "make do" for the duration of their stay.Sadly,this is how we all felt when we first arrived at the Harborside Motel in August this year.
Whilst true to the reviews,the host Merle is cheerful and forever helpful in directing us around the area and giving us advice on the beaches etc,but the Motel is dated in all respects,and needs a significant investment in it's infrastructure in my opinion.
The room that we stayed in had very dated furniture(it all looked second-hand to me),an old CRT TV, a rusty fridge in the kitchenette area,and a woeful lack of cutlery,dishes,glasses and mugs(there was one).This,for a room to sleep four people.You pay for the room for the week "up front" upon arrival,and we could see why. We read great reviews of this Motel prior to booking,some from repeat guests-and there was evidence during our stay of repeat guests checking in-so it must hold some charm for them,but not unfortunately for us.The prices for a week are very competitive for peak holiday time there,and I guess that that is part of it's attraction to many.
On the plus side,apart from Merle and her welcoming demeanor,the grounds are kept tidy and swept daily,and the pool area was clean,private, and well-maintained,though the poolside furniture was very dated.
The location of the Motel is ideal for restaurants in the evening-only a short walk away,and Merle provides guests with beach parking passes for the area-a welcome(free) service,as the local fines are steep if you don't have one.
I'm always honest in the reviews that I post,as many reviews in the past on Trip Advisor have helped us choose some great holidays. Even though we were disappointed with The Harborside's general standard of accommodation (it fell far short of what we were expecting and came as quite a shock after a superb stay in New York) it's location is good and Merle is a pleasant and helpful host.