Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort (Carlsbad, CA)
Kidznfun Review

by Tammie Thompson

The Carlsbad Inn is centrally located at the heart of Carlsbad Village. Poised on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, the proximity to the beach, plus the short walk to restaurants and shops, is a plus.

We loved the family atmosphere at the Carlsbad Inn. There were kids everywhere. Hanging out at the pool. Scooting around the sidewalks, tossing Frisbees on the green, at the activity center, so many opportunities to hook up with other children and families.

The resort has 62 hotel rooms plus 132 privately owned timeshare condos (some are available for weekly rental). They are tastefully furnished in the Queen Ann style; some have fireplaces and refrigerators; most have patios.

We had a nice room overlooking the pool area. The patio was a big plus as I escaped to read a book while my daughter took a nap. The condos, though somewhat small, offer full kitchens, a must for longer stays.

I loved the landscaped courtyard. It's the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of wine and catch the sunset (while the kids run wildly). It is also convenient to Fidel's Restaurant, so you can hangout waiting for a table, or dismiss the kids after their dinner so that you can enjoy the rest of your meal in peace

The resort is a bustle of activity. Amenities include pool, playground, Activity Center, even video rentals! At the Activity Center you can pick up towels; sign out boogie boards, sand and pool toys, bikes, baby joggers, and board games. They also have several family activities throughout the day. We got a preview of the sand dollar and ceramic painting. Beach visor and t-shirt design were ranked number one by most kids. But it was the root beer floats, Karaoke, and family movies that caught my attention. Evenings never looked so good. The center also organizes extra trips and tours (sailing, So. Cal and Ensenada, Mexico tours).

The beach was a little bit of a walk. Just across a residential street, and down some stairs, to the beachfront cabana. You can get beach chairs, mats, balls and sand toys there. During our visit the city was reconstructing the beach, moving sand around to widen it. So by now the beach should be pristine!

The Carlsbad Inn makes every effort to make your stay pleasurable and family friendly. They offer a Monday morning welcome breakfast to provide you a head's up on all the activities the area offers. They also offer a Monday night Bingo Pizza Party to acquaint you with other guests. This gets the week off to a good start and prompts the kids to make new friends.

Would we go back to the Carlsbad Inn? You betcha! Check out their website for frequent specials (flower field tickets, biplane packages and more).

Info: Carlsbad Inn, 3075 Carlsbad Blvd, Carlsbad, CA. 760-434-7020 or toll free: 800-235-3939. Web: Carlsbadinn.com.