READERS RESPOND

I tried unsuccessfully for about an hour (beginning at 8 a.m.), using the ReserveAmerica.com website and the speed dial on my phone, to reserve a cottage. I had my dates and preferred cottages selected. The website wouldn’t even let me register and kept showing “website busy, try again later” and the phones were repeatedly busy. I had work to do, so I tried again at about 10 a.m. and finally got through to an agent on the phone; while he was trying to book me into a dorm cottage for two (I needed five) on dates I did not prefer (that’s all that was available through the end of August), he lost the reservation to someone else and said, “Sorry, everything is gone for the summer. Would you like to consider dates after October?”

I gave up at that point.

It would have been nice if they at least would have had a mail-in lottery or something where you felt like you had a chance! I really want my family to have the Crystal Cove experience at some point ? there’s a lot of history there.

PATRICIA NANCE

Newport Beach

I was able to rent a cottage for a week in July. I got my reservation online at about 8:05 in the morning. Our dates were flexible, and we were willing to take any cottage so that might have increased our chances.

LISA JONES

Newport Beach

I was able to book a reservation at Crystal Cove for an individual cottage for one week at the end of August. I got the reservation online at about 8:10 a.m. I did not have any problems with the online system. However, I tried the ReserveAmerica phone number initially and it was constantly busy, even though I had it on automatic dial.

We are absolutely thrilled to be going on vacation to Crystal Cove. We will have three children with us from two families, ages 9 through 12, and I am sure this will be a lifetime memory for them, playing all day on this incredible stretch of beach. The stay is very affordable: $160 per night for four ($30 per person). We checked out bungalows to rent in San Diego on the beach at Paradise Island and the cost is $350 to $600 a night, depending on dates. Our cottage has one bedroom and sleeps six, with a pull-out sofa in the living room and a trundle bed. It has a small kitchen, a porch and ocean views throughout.

Many thanks to the Crystal Cove Alliance for making this happen for everyone.

DONNA BIGI

Newport Beach

I’m one of the thousands of people who tried unsuccessfully to sign up to rent one of the Crystal Cove cottages as soon as the reservation system opened at 8 a.m. on April 27, and I take issue with some of the comments that complained about the process. Yes, I was bummed I wasn’t able to secure a reservation, but I’m very glad that it was completely on a first-come basis and that nobody was able to get special treatment. The website did have some difficulties, but that was due to the large volume of people trying to use it at the same time. And frankly, I was not surprised.

But, all in all, I thought it was a fair and reasonable way to handle the reservation process.

SUE BLUMENKRANTZ

Newport Beach

I was online right at 8 a.m. and went through the process to find that the cottage I requested was “available” for the days I had requested. I clicked on “choose my site” only to be advised that I had to register. This required setting up a password and indicating if you wanted promotional materials e-mailed to you. This took about four minutes and when I returned to the page to choose my site, they were no longer available! Why did we have to register to reserve? It cost us the opportunity to stay at Crystal Cove. Not the end of the world, but definitely frustrating.

JOE NEDZA

Newport Beach

Did you know that at other California State Park campgrounds, the last years’ renters have priority for the next year’s reservations? Many people go year after year after year to the same campgrounds, simply because they get first dibs over any new people that might apply.

Does that mean that this first crop of renters for the Crystal Cove cottages will have them regularly for the coming years, excluding those of us who didn’t call in time?

MARGIE SEEGMILLER

Newport Beach

I tried for more than an hour, beginning at 8:01 a.m. I expected it to be difficult, like buying in-demand concert tickets. But the way the process was set up was really frustrating. I would see a certain cabin was available at a certain time, and hit “book it.” Each time, I had to log in again. I must have logged in 50 times. Of course, this slows it down.

Then, it started taking a long time to process the “book it” task. Sometimes I had to wait five minutes for the next window to open (and I have a fast computer). Each time, I then got one of two messages: Either the dates I had just selected were no longer available or the system was too busy and I was asked to try again later. Fat chance.

Anyhow, the cumbersome setup of the computer ordering system was frustrating.

Also, although I read all the rules, somehow I did not ever see that dates were only going on sale through October. Unfortunately for me, I spent my first precious minutes trying to get dates in November for my mom’s 70th birthday. The weird thing is, when I first logged on at 8:01 a.m., it showed the first half of November as available, but not the second half. This made me think I could get dates.

I wish the computer process were easier and faster.

LISA DELANEY

Newport Beach

After 2 1/2 hours on redial I reached the State Crystal Cove rental system, and we were blessed with a reservation at No. 39 where my husband and I had lived for 10 years until we had to leave in 2001. This will be great fun for our family and friends.

PEGGY OGDEN

Newport Beach

I had a horrible time trying to rent a cottage at Crystal Cove. I started at 8 a.m. and repeatedly tried registering at ReserveAmerica.com. It kept saying that it was too busy and to try again. Then online reservations shut down. The website said to call and that cottages were still available.

I finally got a live person at 11 a.m. That person told me that cottages had been sold out since 9:30 a.m.

CHRISTINE MACDONALD

Newport Beach

I was among those who did not get a cottage reservation. It is quite odd that calling 10 minutes after the reservations opened, there were none left, and the website also blocked my registration access.

I found hope in the Daily Pilot that the month of November would be open on May 1. I started calling at 7:30 a.m. and the same thing happened. How is it possible that all the rooms were booked by 8 a.m.? Seems like something very fishy is going. We are all very disappointed. It would be great for you to investigate this further.

JAMIE LOOP

Yorba Linda

dpt.04-mailbag-BPhotoInfoGR1QJMP620060504iypolgncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)The recently renovated cottages at Crystal Cove were completely booked on April 27 about four hours after reservations were made available online and by phone.