We opted to to a vacation rental by owner. Why? Well, it's definitely cheaper than a hotel and, if you're like us and don't want to eat out EVERY meal, then being able to fix your own food is a plus. Our condo was clean on the outside and inside and right on the sea wall (which you would think would be great). HOWEVER, there was literally NO insulation in the building and we could hear EVERYTHING from the people above us. Literally...I could hear a cell phone vibrating upstairs, toilets flushing, and much more...
So, tip #1? It can be a good idea to pay more for a hotel...
Also, I recommend not staying on the Sea Wall. Sure...it may say "on the beach" or "beach access" or "beach view". But, it's not the beach. You cross an extremely busy street to get there and (depending on where you are staying) you need to drive to get to sand. But, it is definitely a beautiful view...can't deny that!
So, it was cloudy and cold. Definitely not beach weather. So, the second day, we went shopping on The Strand! With The Coco of course!
Despite the chilly temps, it's definitely a fun area! But, another tip: head to Post Office street! It's 3 blocks up from The Strand and is where the locals shop! Cute boutiques, art galleries and antique shops.
After shopping, we wanted to try out a fun place for dinner! Our one meal to eat out! So, we opted for Nonno Tony's on the Pier because they had a dog friendly patio and heaters!! They were VERY nice however, I have come to realize that I am spoiled after living in Dallas when it comes to the service industry...
First, I asked for potato vodka (named some brands) and the waitress went to ask if they had any. Upon returning, she said that all vodka is made from potatoes. Hmmm...might want to read the labels. But, I opted for something else, no problem. Then, I ordered the steak salad...yum! It said it came with goat cheese which was great for me since I can't have dairy. Well, it came out piled high with...BLUE CHEESE! Umm..not only can I need eat dairy or mold but that just completely changed the flavor profile of the salad. Apparently, they were out of goat cheese and just decided to add blue cheese. They were very sorry and brought me out a fresh one. My moms steak...well...it was AWESOME.
Our last day there, we went to get a 90 minute massage at the San Luis Resort...yay! It was going to work out perfectly because our appointment was at 3pm and we had dropped Coco off at doggy daycare which closed at 5. So, we get there early and enjoy our complimentary beverage. Time ticks by...I check my phone and it's 3:15. So, I go up to the front desk and they said they were running behind and asked if we had anything to do after this. Umm..yes...we had to pick up our puppy hence the reason for the 3pm appointment. So, we opted for an hour massage and they gave us a pretty nice discount. Of course they were very sorry and it ended up fine. Plus, we were able to catch a few last minute rays on the beach!
Overall, a very relaxing trip! And, of course, you can't predict weather. But, before doing VRBO...do your research, map it out, and remember to have fun no matter what :)
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