San Clemente Cove

It is indeed a great location, but if you are not a timeshare owner and make a reservation through the central reservation system, which requires full payment in advance--watch out. I made a reservation in early November for a "one bedroom, one bath, sleeps 4" condo through the central reservation center (Winner's Circle Resort Management) for the week of February 6, 2005. I was assured by the reservation agent that the condo would have an ocean view.

It was with considerable surprise and dismay then to find when we checked in on February 6 that we had been assigned to a non-ocean view room that faced an intersection and that had a no-privacy patio only inches from the public sidewalk. To make matters worse, the entire first floor with the exception of our unit and one other was under renovation with signs warning of construction noise all day long. Winner's Circle's website now mentions the construction, but no such warning was on the website in early November, nor did the reservation agent tell me of the pending construction when I made the reservation. Seems to me that once the construction plans were made, I should have been contacted and given the option to change or cancel the reservation. I felt that I had been deceived when I made the reservation and, at the same time, I felt trapped because I had been required to pay in advance for the entire week.

I expressed my dissatisfaction to the desk clerk who told me there was nothing she could do as the Cove was fully booked. Nevertheless, later in the evening, she found a "sleeps two unit" with an ocean view on the third floor. While cramped for our family of three, it seemed like the better alternative so we moved. No sooner were we in the room, then the clerk called again to say there had been a mistake--the room had already been given to someone else. By this time I was nearing my wit's end, but somehow the clerk resolved the situation and we remained in the room for the rest of our stay.

After the trip, I wrote Winner's Circle Resort Management two letters regarding my experience-- they didn't even have the courtesy to respond. What an outfit.

As I said, the location of the Cove is ideal and it is a nice place. But given our experience, I would not make another reservation.

I have owned my week at San Clemente Cove for 40 years. It's on the beach across street from the pier and sea food restaurant. You can hear the ocean waves from any room (or close the windows). All vehicles are able to park secure in the subterranean parking. Down town San Clemente is with in walking distance or parking is provided. Beach walking trails start just outside the Cove.