We planned to have dinner at the Shake Shack, but as we walked by the Beachcomber had free tables on Halloween, so we walked in and ate heavy appetizers there. Although the weather forecast was cloudy all three days, we got a couple of hours of sun, so it’s good to check so you don’t miss the sun when it appears. Since it was still Daylight Saving Time, we had a few hours of sun before the gorgeous fall sunset.
We checked in around 4:30, unloaded our car into the extended golf cart where a driver takes you to your cottage. So it's best to plan to stay put and enjoy the cottage and the beach. It’s a $1.50 shuttle ride for adults, or a 15-minute walk through the tunnel under the highway back to the cottages. No cars are allowed, so after check-in you must park across Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in a pay lot, but you get a validation pass. The cottages are rustic and restored, not renovated. For first timers, it’s important to note that this is more like beachfront camping than a hotel. One thing we missed was that there is no kitchen sink, so we got water from the spigots in the bathroom. So we packed our coffee maker and easy breakfasts, planning to eat out the rest of the meals. Due to the pandemic, they no longer provide paper plates and plastic flatware or coffee at the check-in desk, but they did supply toilet paper, paper towels, and bath towels, along with bedding. There is no phone, no usable wifi, no hairdryer, no toiletries, or TV, which suited us fine. 19B is a small, ground floor studio, beach front unit with a full-size bed, and only a microwave and small refrigerator. I searched for information on the cottage and found someone had done a YouTube video so we knew what to expect. Be aware that if you cancel in less than a week, you’ll need to pay for the first night. Reservations and cancellations are difficult to get, so if you see one that’s not set aside for handicapped guests, take it.
I logged in and booked cottage 19B, a downstairs studio right on the beach.