Mandalay Shores Resort

Got to spend a week at this "resort". It looks as if it has 8 townhouses to rent. We had a one bedroom that was 3 levels. It had 2 bathrooms, with one being on the bottom floor along with a washer/dryer and entryway. There was a garage level here also. It had it's own little patio area with a table and four chairs for sitting outside. The middle level featured the living room and had a very adequate kitchen with microwave, dishwasher and usual kitchen items. There was a dining table along with stools along the bar separating the two. The one bedroom and bathroom was on this level also. The jetted bathtub was really not easy to use, so we just used the shower on the lower level. The third level loft had a bed and trundle which meant that we had to be quiet if someone was sleeping up the stairs. It is located half a block from the ocean and park area. We could even see the ocean breaking over the dunes. We could not use the swimming pool area and the office since there was a propane leak during the week we were there.

We are two couples sharing this apartment for 10 days. It is modern, clean, comfortable furniture including beds and with a fully equipped kitchen. It is located on a beach block. The staff was courteous and helpful and actually knew their way around town and Ventura, nearby. This was perhaps one of the most reasonably priced rentals we could find and have enjoyed it thoroughly, as a base for our touring. It is located between the Oxnard and Ventura harbors, and convenient to shopping. We took day trips to Ventura, Ojai, and Santa Barbara. We have not found a bad restaurant in this area. The weather cooperated and we had some lovely walks on the beach and around the Mandalay Shores park up the block. Try it.

We stayed here recently for a long weekend. Although the location of the hotel on the beach is spectacular and the outside grounds of the hotel are well kept, the interior spaces are shabby and in disrepair. Our room was quite outdated (carpet, paint, wallpaper, furniture - you name it) The toilet paper holder was falling off the wall and one of the bathrooms had floor tiles that were broken and not glued down to the floor. The room overall felt quite dirty. We did not get a chance to use the pool or jacuzzi but they seemed nice and were quite popular with families. The hotel lobby has displays of the planned upgrade, scheduled to occur in early Oct 2011. I believe the hotel will be quite nice after the upgrades and would then be one of the best hotels in the area. Until then, I recommend you go somewhere else. One other disappointing tidbit is they charge $15/day for self-park. Really?

My husband and I took a last minute trip to the Camarillo/Oxnard area to take care of our teanage daughter who was getting her wisdom teeth pulled while at college. We wanted a place that had more space and was relaxing. As we own a timeshare, we decided to see what we could get as an exchange. While nothing was available, we did call a few in the area to see if there was space available not through exchange. Mandalay Shores had availability. The unit we rented was 3 levels, the garage and entry (with 3/4) bath on the first floor, kitchen, living room, bedroom & full bath on the 2nd floor, loft with twin bed and trundle bed with fireplace on the 3rd floor. The unit was reasonably priced, was 1 block from the beach and had all the amenities we needed for a nice 3 day weekend. It also had enough space for us to host college kids during the day. As it was a timeshare, we understood no maid service, needing to take out the trash, etc. However, was a little surprised the last day when reading the check out instructions that there would be a $25 charge if the dishes were not all washed and put away prior to check out. This is the first timeshare I've stayed at where this has been a requirement. (And considering there was no dish soap for handwashing items, it was a little strange).

Older property with out-dated furnishings that could use some replacing. Master bedroom has small TV set on top of a dresser in the closet. TV set in loft is a 12". Kitchen could use some brighter lighting. Only a double sized cheap bed in the master bedroom. No end-tables on either side of the couch. The pluses? 1/2 block to the beach, a garage for parking, a washer and dryer in the unit, downstairs batroom near the entry to wash off sand. Not sure if I would return but seriously, they need to up-date and up-grade the furnishings and paint.

This place is very nicely located within 500feet of the ocean. Although the location is amazing the rooms are par.

Mandalay Shores Resort may be the world's smallest time share facility, but it has to be one of the nicest. We've stayed here several times in the past 10 years. The ocean is just a half block away. The only noise we ever heard were sea gulls! The units are cute and sleep six. The loft units don't have a private second bedroom, but our daughter loves the loft--up the stairs from the main floor. One thing we like espeically, is that all the units have garages. Salt spray and blowing sand can do a lot of damage to vehicles. We rarely eat out because the kitchens are great. Whiel the stove is small, we've actually cooked Thanksgiving turkeys here. In the past couple years, we've noticed a lot of changes. New, queen size beds, better sheets and blankets, non-stick skillets, new flooring. I think the place is slowly being upgraded. We like to go in summer--late summer when the days are perfect and the crowds are gone. We've also stayed there in the winter for Thanksgiving and after Christmas. It's just an hour's drive for us. Any time of year the sunsets are spectacular--we've got a treasure trove of great sunset pictures. We don't use the pool much. We did when our daughter was younger. It's small, but adequate. The hot tub is great for sore muscles and rarely crowded. The management is wonderful--friendly, helpful, and available. If you check in late, your keys are available in a lock box. They make a real effort to tell you about all the things going on in Oxnard and Ventura. But, frankly, we just enjoy quiet walks on the beach and the solitude and restfullness of the place. If you're looking for peaceful, quiet beach time without all the hype and crowds, you'll like this place. We do.

The Mandalay Shores Resort is a timeshare in Oxnard. We were very lucky to get a reservation through RCI just 2 months before our trip to California. Upon our arrival however, reservation in hand, we were perplexed and upset by what we found... we arrived at 8 pm at night and learned the office was closed until the next morning. Other guests had come and were waiting in their car for the arrival of the resort housekeeper to let them in their unit. When she arrived, she could not find our reservation, but thankfully gave us a key to a unit and said to check with the office in the am about the mix-up. Meanwhile, we called an assistant manager who said she would come in 35 minutes to straight things out--she never did--instead she called the manager. 15 minutes later the manager called, told us not to unpack and that because he did not have our reservation, we were probable at the wrong resort. We managed to convince him otherwise and we did clarify things in the morning when the office opened, but please, how unprofessional and unfriendly! The manager blamed RCI for not booking the reservation and RCI stated they did. Who to believe? The resort is only 7 units, so we understand why there is not a manager onsite, but it would have helped to have this information, with office hours in our RCI packet. Poorly organized. The resort itself is nicely situated in an area of private homes, feet from the ocean--but don't even think of swimming there--the riptides are brutal. The pool is not well maintained. There was a couple of ducks who seemed to think it was their own private pond. The hot tub was nice, but is on an hour timer, so plan to fire it up on your own an hour or two before using. The unit is a cutsy beach colored motif, cheaply furnished. The queen-sized bed in the master bedroom is only a full, and is way too soft with low quality bedding. The towels are paper thin, but plentiful. The television in the living room is maybe a 20 inch older set, poorly appointed in slightly lopsided rattan shelving. The tv in the master bedroom is, can you believe, on a bureau in the closet, and is a 15 inch set. I realize these are not major issues, but compared to other timeshares we have stayed in, these accomodations were definitely sub-standard. Still, I would return here for the solitude and the beauty of the surrounding area. There is so much to do and see, we had a blast. So if you are considering a timeshare trade here, go for it. Just remember: Check in before 6 pm, pack some good linen, and appreciate your own bed when you get home!