August: Last Chance for Summer '07!

Here's info you'll need to beat the odds and get through on the camping lottery:

Date, time to call—Thursday, Feb. 1, 8 a.m. (Pacific) It's not a bad idea to start calling a few minutes before the hour.

Phone number—(800) 444-7275. Get your redial thumb ready. Please try to hang in there for 15 minutes. After that it's safe to say the group site (and most of the decent sites at our backup, South Carlsbad State Beach) has been reserved for the weeks we are going after.

Online—You can also try the online registration system at www.reserveamerica.com. If you choose this route, make sure to set up an account with the site ahead of time, so you can act quickly on the morning of the sale.

If you get a ring and it's answered—The first thing you will hear is a recording telling you to wait for the first available operator. Make sure you don't freak out and hang up. You might wait 10 or more minutes before an operator picks up.

If you get to an operator—Ask to reserve the GROUP SITE AT REFUGIO STATE BEACH in August:

First choice: 7 nights starting Friday, Aug. 10

Second choice: 7 nights beginning Friday, Aug. 24

Important—Make sure that the operator understands that you want the group site at Refugio. If they say there isn't one, insist that they double-check.

If you hit the REFUGIO jackpot—If you get the site, the operator will ask you a series of questions. Here is how you should answer:

Type and Size of Equipment—We'll wing this, because we don't know yet, but you must indicate something, so say two motorhomes of 27 feet and one trailer of 25 feet—you MUST include lengths of the motor homes and trailers and they can't be any longer than those lengths.

Number of People Who Will Occupy the Campsite—75.

Method of Payment—You'll need your VISA, Discover, or MasterCard account number and expiration date. (The site costs $180 a night… if you don't want $1,260 on your credit card bill, let John or Martin know and we'll arrange to get you reimbursed before your credit-card payment is due).

Other stuff—Don't worry about conflicting reservations. It costs only $7.50 to cancel and if by the very slim chance we get so many reservations we can't sell them, we'll reimburse you. If you get through and get a reservation, call Martin's cell (714 227-2407) or John's cell (949 291-4086) so they can start calling people to tell them they can stop hitting the redial button.

If you get through and Refugio REALLY isn't available—DON'T HANG UP! Single sites at South Carlsbad State Beach are nice consolation prizes. Please reserve two spots if you can get them. At Carlsbad you pick your spot (here are our recommendations):

Best—between 179-169 (the closer to 179 the better)
Second—between 185-196
Third—between 206-214
Fourth—between 156-162 (long trek to the ramp)
Fifth—Any site

If Carlsbad is full, you can also try nearby San Elijo State Beach.

Good luck,

John and Martin
The Refugio boys

Not Totally Shut Out

It was a tough morning for campsite fishing, but Martin managed to land three sites at South Carlsbad for five nights starting Sunday, June 24. Got one through the website and two by phone (started talking to the reservationist at 8:18 after 10 minutes on hold).

We can fit about four or five more families on the sites after the Becks and Weylers; let us know if you are interested in joining us.

Of course, call, email or post a comment here if you were able to score a spot.

And remember, we've still got a shot for a summer in Refugio. We'll be on the phones again Tuesday, Jan. 2.

Calling Instructions

Here's info you'll need to beat the odds and get through on the camping lottery:

Date, time to call—Friday, Dec. 1, 8 a.m. (Pacific) It's not a bad idea to start calling a few minutes before the hour.

Phone number—(800) 444-7275. Get your redial thumb ready. Please try to hang in there for 15 minutes. After that it's safe to say the group site (and most of the decent sites at our backup, South Carlsbad State Beach) has been reserved for the weeks we are going after.

Online—You can also try the online registration system at www.reserveamerica.com. If you choose this route, make sure to set up an account with the site ahead of time, so you can act quickly on the morning of the sale.

If you get a ring and it's answered—The first thing you will hear is a recording telling you to wait for the first available operator. Make sure you don't freak out and hang up. You might wait 10 or more minutes before an operator picks up.

If you get to an operator—Ask to reserve the GROUP SITE AT REFUGIO STATE BEACH in June:

First choice: 7 nights starting Friday, June 29

Second choice: 7 nights beginning Friday, June 22

Important—Make sure that the operator understands that you want the group site at Refugio. If they say there isn't one, insist that they double-check.

If you hit the REFUGIO jackpot—If you get the site, the operator will ask you a series of questions. Here is how you should answer:

Type and Size of Equipment—We'll wing this, because we don't know yet, but you must indicate something, so say two motorhomes of 27 feet and one trailer of 25 feet—you MUST include lengths of the motor homes and trailers and they can't be any longer than those lengths.

Number of People Who Will Occupy the Campsite—75.

Method of Payment—You'll need your VISA, Discover, or MasterCard account number and expiration date. (The site costs $180 a night… if you don't want $1,260 on your credit card bill, let John or Martin know and we'll arrange to get you reimbursed before your credit-card payment is due).

Other stuff—Don't worry about conflicting reservations. It costs only $7.50 to cancel and if by the very slim chance we get so many reservations we can't sell them, we'll reimburse you. If you get through and get a reservation, call Martin's cell (714 227-2407) or John's cell (949 291-4086) so they can start calling people to tell them they can stop hitting the redial button.

If you get through and Refugio REALLY isn't available—DON'T HANG UP! Single sites at South Carlsbad State Beach are nice consolation prizes. Please reserve two spots if you can get them. At Carlsbad you pick your spot (here are our recommendations):

Best—between 179-169 (the closer to 179 the better)
Second—between 185-196
Third—between 206-214
Fourth—between 156-162 (long trek to the ramp)
Fifth—Any site

If Carlsbad is full, you can also try nearby San Elijo State Beach.

Good luck,

John and Martin
The Refugio boys