Mandalay Shores Resort

The ocean views were great, the sand was plentiful, and there was enough to keep the kids busy. The rooms were well supplied, and it was a fun place for them. It’s a nice break from Los Angeles, just a hop, skip, and a jump away. We’d go back in a heartbeat.

We spent most of the week eating in, thanks to the full kitchen and large dining table, and parking on the street right in front was convenient. The beach was just down the street, and the neighborhood felt friendly and safe. Fresh air through the open windows kept us comfortable. We had a comfortable two-story, two-bedroom, two-bath condo with everything we needed. Upstairs were a queen bed, two twins, and a full bath with a jetted tub and shower behind sliding glass doors. Getting in and out of the tub was difficult because the door tracks left nowhere to sit on the edge. Downstairs, the full bath had a nice walk-in shower. The stackable washer and dryer in the kitchen worked well once we put the selector switch in the right position, as shown in the photo. We never used the pool or gym. Everyone at Mandalay Shores Resort was friendly and helpful, especially Olga in the office across the street.

My uncle lost his apartment in the California fires, and his wife was hospitalized with smoke inhalation. I left my home in Virginia to care for them. During the nine days, the unit had no heat. I called property management several times, but they said I wasn’t pressing the thermostat button correctly. I’m in my mid-40s and know how to set one. They never sent anyone to fix it. It was about 50° and felt even colder right by the water. The staff were inattentive, and we were left with only three dishwasher tabs. At checkout, despite having no air or heat, I cleaned the Airbnb thoroughly: dusted, washed and put away the dishes, and washed and folded the sheets on the beds we used. I leave places better than I find them, as an Eagle Scout and former Marine, and this went beyond the booklet’s rules. Even so, Mandalay Shores Resort charged us an extra cleaning fee. If you need somewhere very cheap in Oxnard and don’t care about having heat or air conditioning, I might consider it below $75 a day. Anything more feels like price gouging.

The condo was clean and had a private deck with its own hot tub. The kitchen was nice and had all the expected utensils, pots, and pans. The staff were professional and friendly. It’s a nice spot right by the beach, and I’d stay again.