I managed to pick up a cancellation during winter break for Cottage 32, known as the Painter's Cottage, for three nights. Crystal Cove recently opened their new commons area (a museum like space with lots of outdoor seating to comfortably relax and read or watch the ocean). The Commons and the Beachcomber and other public buildings were lit with Christmas... More

Here's an update from my initial review of May 23, 2011. As others have mentioned, don't expect luxury accommodations. You'll get soap, but no shampoo. You'll likely use the same towel for your same visit. No one's going to make your bed unless you bring mom with you. But there are few, if any, other places where you step back... More

On a whim I went to Reserveamerica to check out the Crystal Cove Beach Cottages. We had been looking for a place in Laguna and the prices weren’t dropping enough for a last minute get away. Low and behold, I found an available cottage and booked it without checking anything out, I just thought this is the hardest place in... More

...so Crystal Cove is closer to camping than staying at the Ritz down the coast. Most of the cottages are rustic, decor is quirky, and the furnishings are vintage. But staying the night in your own cottage, hanging over one of the state's most beautiful - and least populated - beaches makes up for a lot. My only complaint is... More

Two of us stayed in #37, Fisherman's Perch for 2 days in September, and why I can see why so many are in love with this place, but it's not for everybody. Our cottage was old (of course) and really needed some work. Rusty bathroom sink, leaky kitchen sink rotting the wood kitchen counter, missing window glass in one bedroom,... More

We just got back from a weekend at Crystal Cove. I felt very fortunate to get a cottage in this "sought after" historic district. The cottages are right on an amazing beach in the Newport/Laguna area. We stayed in cottage #32 (painter's cottage or "hi-de-ho"). I chose that cottage because we are a family of five (3 kids ages 7,... More

We happened upon a night at this beautiful place. After finding an available room (38B dorm style), I immediately searched Trip Advisor for some unbiased reviews. While I found each review helpful, I would have liked some additional photos to base my decision of whether the dorm style room would be good fit for my family. (Hence the additional photos... More

I've stayed at Crystal Cove Beach Cottages 5 times in the last 3 years. If that doesn't let you know how I feel about the place, I'll be blunt: this is one of my favorite places to stay, and I only live 20 miles away. You are not going to find a place like this anywhere else - rustic cottages... More

Though it took 3 months before I secured a spot, it was definitely worth it. The Painter's Cottage, #32, was perfect for a family of 5. The kids loved the bunk beds and the day bed. We loved the sounds of the waves and the croaking of the frogs. The vintage refrigerator was also cool. The beach and the ambiance... More