Oceanside, CA vs. Carlsbad, CA Opinions Needed

I need some opinions from the So-Cal members! I am going to be on a TDY trip to Camp Pendleton for close to a month in June and am looking for a nice extended stay hotel to stay in. Some co-workers said Oceanside wasn't the nicest, and that Carlsbad was the better place to stay. Is that true? I'd like to get a decent place in a nice area close to the water, if not on the water, that offers Government rates. I'll be driving out from AZ in my Taco and want to be sure I am staying in a decent spot.

Any suggestions on hotels in those areas and which area you would suggest?

 

i would go with carlsbad, oceanside is nice but carlsbad is a lot nice. plus theres a bit more to do in carlsbad. i know when my friends and i go to the beach we'll take the extra time/gas to go to carlsbad.

i vote carlsbad

 

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Carlsbad is much more nice. It will be worth the extra 5 minute drive.

 

Depends on what they are giving you for Hotel expenses. Carlsbad is going to be more on the expensive side as compared to Oceanside. Have you tried the Ward Lodge on base?

Where are you going TAD to?

 

Oceanside has some nice places the town has cleaned up over the years, if you stay in Carlsbad you will have to deal w/ the traffic on the 5 which can be a $%@@#%.

 

I'll be at MCTSSA running a test event on some new communications equipment they are trying to field. I get $147/night for a hotel, so I'm sure I'll have to call around and see who will offer per diem rates. I'd rather not stay on base only because I grew up on the ocean back east in Maryland, and now that I live in Arizona I really miss it. So, for this trip I'd like to be near the water so I can enjoy it!

What about San Clemente? Good, bad?

 

San Clemente is going to be a pretty substantial drive
every morning, it's pretty far North. I believe MCTSSA is
in the 31 area which would mean you would want to enter
in the "Main gate" off from the 5. If it's ocean that you
want, really anywhere between Carlsbad and Oceanside
will enable you to get easy access to many beaches. Here's
a Map link for you.

http://www.acu5.navy.mil/Site Documents/map.pdf

 

I live in Carlsbad. It is a nice place and I am sure you can find a ton of hotels here. You should try searching beach cities like Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar of you want hotels near the beach. But anywhere off the 5 free way would work. Oceanside might be cheaper and still close to places. I live off the La Costa Exit and I can get to Camp Pen in say 15 mins. Good luck.