Before you Arrive

Please take time to review both our orientation video and our policies as this will help expedite the pick-up of your VW. Also, after a reservation booking has been completed you will receive access to our Rental Agreement via our online booking system - please review this as well, as this is the document that will be authorized with your signature before hitting the road in your vintage ride. In addition, bring a copy of your auto insurance documents (if you haven’t purchased auto insurance via our online booking system), we will need a copy, and a copy needs to travel with you in your VW. Bring your valid drivers license and remember that if there are going to be 2 drivers then both need to be present upon collection of the VW.

Airport Shuttles

If your flight arrives at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) you will need to take a shuttle from the airport to our location in Costa Mesa. We recommend 3 shuttle companies, Prime Time, Super Shuttle or Shuttle2LAX. Shuttles can be reserved in advance, or you can walk out to the curb at the airport and find a Super Shuttle or Prime Time attendant (red cap or blue cap) and tell them you need a ride to Orange County. Super Shuttle and Prime Time Shuttles are either private or shared rides. If you prefer a private ride then a reservation will need to be made. Private rides are less cost effective, but faster. You will need to reserve a shuttle at least 8 hours in advance for returns to LAX. The shuttle company will let you know what time they will arrive to pick you up; this depends on flight information that is requested by the shuttle company. We are 45 miles south of LAX and it can take 2 hours to arrive at our location.

Prime Time Shuttle

Super Shuttle

Shuttle2LAX

If your flight arrives at SNA (Santa Ana John Wayne Airport) we are a 10 minute taxi cab ride away. Taxi cabs are standing by at airport.

Our address is 760 Newton Way, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

Another popular way our visitors come and go is via UBER or LYFT. Their respective apps need to be downloaded to your SmartPhone and an account established before using this mode of transport.

Hotel Recommendations

Many of our travelers choose to stay the first night or last night of their vacation at a hotel that is near our location. Here are a few that we recommend...

If you prefer to spend your arrival or departure eve nearer LAX we recommend...

Here are a few hotels that our guests have supplemented their VW experience with...

Destinations

These links will help you plan your vacation itinerary in sunny Southern California

Discover California

California Destination Planner

California Redwoods

Surfing Guide

Surf Board and Wetsuit rentals are available at The Board Club

The Board Club provides a wide range of over 200 high-quality surfboards from old school logs and mid-lengths to high-performance fish and shortboards. We have something for everyone! Our staff has over 40+ years of surfing the Orange County area and can help any surfer find the best waves for their skill level. We look forward to meeting you!

Killer Surf Links

Surfline

Insider Info

PLACES NOT TO BE MISSED

Cayucos

Just north of Morro Bay is the small beach city of Cayucos. Here you’ll find 2 places not to be missed, a fish taco joint seaside and a cookie bakery.

Park outside of Ruddell’s Smokehouse (free parking here) and grab a smoked Albacore Tuna Taco for $6.50. They’re served in a soft fried tortilla with apple, celery, and lettuce. You’ll need to eat this taco with their Cayucos Hot Sauce. Head across the street to the beach and enjoy your taco with a view or grab a spot right outside of Ruddell’s, they have a few tables outside their establishment.

You’ll need to eat this taco with their Cayucos Hot Sauce.

You’ll need to eat this taco with their Cayucos Hot Sauce.

We recommend you pop into the corner market next to Ruddell’s and buy yourself a refreshing beverage to accompany that Taco. Try a Radler Grapefruit or Lemon can of beer. BTW I can’t take credit for either of these (taco + beer) recommendations… our good friend @thebucketlistrip turned us onto the R+R mix.

Follow your taco fuel-up with a visit to The Brown Butter Cookie Company - it’s within walking distance from Ruddell’s, you’ll see the sign, trust me ;) Try a Tower Special, it’s a combo pack of Chocolate Chunk, Snikerdoodle, Oatmeal Raisin, Lemon Sugar and Cocoa… AND remember “Butter makes everything better!”

• Ruddell’s Smokehouse

• The Brown Butter Cookie Company

OFF THE BEATEN PATH CAMPING in PIONEER TOWN [JOSHUA TREE]

LE HAUT DESERT AERIE

Located on 40 acres, surrounded by 100's of acres of pristine wildlands, the Aerie offers long views from Mount Gorgonio to the Eastern Mojave and a supremely sublime refuge from the stresses of urban life.

Offering private campsites for the VDub that you've just hired from us and/or safari tents, and classic airstream trailers... Le Haut Desert Aerie has it all! The property boasts a swimming hole, community kitchen, outdoor shower and restroom as well as options for breakfast meals. Abundant hiking trails too!

CONTACT [be sure to tell them we sent you] : liz@desertaerie.com

Other points of interest in this area are:

Pioneertown - The town started as a live-in Old West motion-picture set, built in the 1940s. The set was designed to provide a place for the actors to live while using their homes in the movie. A number of Westerns and early television shows were filmed in Pioneertown, including The Cisco Kid and Edgar Buchanan's Judge Roy Bean. 

Joshua Tree - Viewed from the road, this desert park only hints at its vitality. Closer examination reveals a fascinating variety of plants and animals that make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the attraction of this place. Come see for yourself!

Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace - The legendary Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace has been delighting locals and travelers alike since 1982, with its mesquite barbeque, live music, dancing and friendly service. There is also a long history here. In 1946, Pioneertown was founded by a group of Hollywood investors with dreams of creating a living movie set - an 1870's frontier town with facades for filming and interiors open to the public.

Integratron - This historical structure is a resonant tabernacle and energy machine sited on a powerful geomagnetic vortex in the magical Mojave Desert.
The Integratron is located in Landers, California, 20 miles north of Joshua Tree National Park. Its creator, George Van Tassel (1920-1978), claimed that the structure is based on the design of Moses’ Tabernacle, the writings of Nikola Tesla and telepathic directions from extraterrestrials. This one-of-a-kind 38-foot high, 55-foot diameter, all wood dome was designed to be an electrostatic generator for the purpose of rejuvenation and time travel.

The Wildlands Conservancy - The Aerie is surrounded by 100's of acres preserved by The Wildlands Conservancy, that owns and operates California's largest nonprofit nature preserve system. This preserve system includes 12 magnificent landscapes spanning over 145,000 acres of diverse mountain, valley, desert, river and ocean front properties. The Wildlands Conservancy also funded the largest conservation land gift to the American people in U.S. history - over 560,000 acres. Operating exclusively with private funding, TWC purchases and restores landscapes and builds national park quality visitor facilities that are open to the public at no cost. Over the past ten years, TWC has been California's nonprofit leader in providing free outdoor education programs for school children. 

Joshua Tree Farmer's Market - This market has come a long way from the beginning and keeps getting better and better!! Beautiful sprouts, honey, dates, Greek Guy with great Olive Oil, pita, feta and more, Gail with her yummy dog biscuits, and the fact that it's not far to get to! Saturday becomes a day around the market and a great way to run into locals and old friends that make time to get down to the market to buy some veggies and fruits. Saturday 8am - 1pm in downtown Joshua Tree village! Open Every Saturday 8:00 am to 1:00 PM