Secrets of the Season

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Oregon Coast Lodgings Urge Book Fast for Holiday Weekend

If you're looking to get away from the crowds, the Arch Cape area is a must

(Oregon Coast) – You should’ve booked your holiday rooms a while ago for the Oregon coast, say numerous coastal lodging entities. But you may still find a place to stay hidden somewhere.

It’s a mistake tourists to Oregon’s beaches make over and over again: they wait until the last minute to try and book a room, or they just head out to the coast without reservations and hope to find them.

What many visitors don’t know is that there’s a sizable herd of people that have made their reservations far in advance for high-density weekends like Memorial Day or major holidays like Fourth of July. Reservations for such busy times are getting farther and farther ahead – a year ahead of time in many instances.

It’s why lodging businesses and vacation rental agencies on the coast are urging tourists to book now - or forever hold your peace.

Meanwhile, weekends like this one – just before the big summer tourist season kickoff – hold some distinctive surprises and delights, with nary a soul at many beach spots and hotels.

“For Memorial Day weekend, we have more reservations that were made in February, March and April than in May,” said Peg Leoni, owner of Trollers Lodge in Depoe Bay.

Spectacular beaches near Lincoln City

Carolyn Plummer, owner of Pacific Retreats Vacation Rentals in Lincoln City echoed that, but with numerous warnings – especially for the rather cut throat world of booking a vacation rental far in advance.

“For major holidays such as Memorial Day weekend and the Fourth of July, we recommend making reservations as far in advance as possible, especially for larger homes,” Plummer said. “We have, in fact, heard of people coming down to the beach at the last minute and ending up having to turn around and go home because there were no vacancies anywhere. Yes, we've also heard of people sleeping on the beach or in their cars! Many rental agencies, ourselves included, make the booking process easy with online booking or by calling a toll-free number.”

“We usually get our advance reservations for the Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends around five to six months prior,” said Danielle Emerick, manager of Starfish Point in Newport.

Seaside

In Seaside, Donna Weiss – owner of Weiss’ Paradise Suites - said northwesterners tend to look at the weather and then decide what to do.

“Many people wait until the last minute for Memorial Day weekend because they want to see what is happening with the weather,” Weiss said. “If it is hot in Portland or Seattle, then we fill up. But sometimes if the weather is bad, like rain, it is hard to tell what people will do.”

Terri Ferguson, manager of the Inn at Cannon Beach, said they’ve noticed a general increase at their upscale hotel in the north coast town, getting busier earlier in the year over the last ten years. She advises people to book at least six months ahead of time on major holidays like this one or Fourth of July.

“We have spent many, many nights on the phone calling from Astoria to Newport trying to find rooms for people,” Ferguson said. “We always advise them to have a reservation, do not just drive down.

“We call all the hotels in the area on busy weekends to offer hotel choices rather than having them drive around looking for one if we are full. We have sold blankets to guests because they were forced to sleep on the beach or in their car.”

The practice of booking far, far in advance is increasing. By February or March, Memorial Day Weekend is already booked fairly well at most lodgings. Spring break is usually all booked up by January at most vacation rentals.

Fourth of July, however, is the king of advance bookings, with most rooms gone a whole year ahead of time.

Rockaway

“My advice for both weekends: forget them,” said Brian Hines, at San Dune Inn in Manzanita. “They’re all done gone. Guests leave after the Fourth and book for next year as they check out, regardless of potential room rate changes. So about half the place is sold a year in advance. The remainder are generally gone by no later than March, and we generally end up with a two-page waiting list in case of cancellations.”

Booking Independence Day a year in advance is more common than not, according to most lodgings BeachConnection.net contacted.

“We are completely booked,” said Amy Dunlap, with Sunset Vacation Rentals in Manzanita. “Oceanfront and ocean view homes book at least six months to a year in advance. So book now for next year.”

Dunlap said the trend has been a consistent one for years now, like Memorial Day. She said some smaller, non-ocean view homes may be available in the rental realm for the fourth, but she added, with some humor, the likelihood of where some will be sleeping. “Yes, they will pretty much be sleeping in sleeping bags or in a beach front driftwood fort.”

Dianna Dunlap runs Beachfront Manor Hotel, Starfish Manor Hotel and a few other small rentals and inns in Lincoln City. She says summer means plenty of advance bookings a year ahead of time – but not always.

Lincoln City

“On our beach houses - the ones we have owned for more than couple of years - the holidays do book way ahead of time,” Dunlap said. “This starts almost when guests are here: this year they will reserve their time next year. We do still have our Sunset Cottage, which is oceanfront with a hot tub with plenty of summer openings, since we haven't owned it very long.”

In Seaside, summer means a lot of panicked travelers who didn’t prepare. “I get a great deal of last minute calls for summer dates and people can't believe there is nothing available,” Weiss said.

Leoni, in Depoe Bay, said most out-of-staters book well ahead of time, as do first-timers to the coast from Oregon.

There are other things to look out for when it comes to high-density weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day or the Fourth. Gouging is one hazard the unwary tourist may have to put up with.

Depoe Bay

“Or worse they will have to stay in and pay for something they don't like,” Dianna Dunlap said. “Also the last-minute rates can be high. A lot of hotels adjust their rates up when they only have a few left and they know they will sell out. We do not do that.”

Hines noted there is often a kind of secret underground when it comes to room availability in many areas, much like what Ferguson at the Inn at Cannon Beach talked about.

“People may stumble across a last minute cancellation,” he said. “The vacancy ‘underground’ is pretty good here in Manzanita, and innkeepers keep each other posted when rooms open up for whatever reason. But forget any last minute stuff on the 4th.”

Not everyone is full for Memorial Day Weekend. In Lincoln City, Dunlap debuts a new hotel, which will likely make it a bit of a secret.

“With the Beachfront Manor Hotel just opening on Memorial Weekend, we will probably have openings for the Friday night,” Dunlap said. “But we will fill up for Saturday night and most likely Sunday too.”

Inn at Cannon Beach. Beautifully wooded natural setting at quiet south end of Cannon Beach. Great during winter storms with a new book by the fireplace – or when the sun is out for family fun and beach strolling. Handsome beach cottage-style architecture. Lush flowering gardens and naturalized courtyard pond. Warm, inviting guest rooms. Continental buffet breakfast. Warm Cookies. Family and Pet Friendly. Welcome gifts. Smoke-free. Complimentary Wireless Connectivity. Wine and book signing events. 800-321-6304 or 503-436-9085. Hemlock At Surfcrest, Cannon Beach, Oregon. www.atcannonbeach.com.

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