Before you book a vacation - do they have air conditioning?

If you're heading on a coastal vacation during a heatwave here's a warning! Check to make sure the accommodations you booked have air conditioning—no kidding.

The daytime temperatures along the coast between San Diego and Santa Cruz this week range from the upper 80s to low 100s. It's a heatwave. Most the time the coastal climes are pleasant —just the place that everyone wants to pack up and move to, in fact. Whether global warming is a real phenomenon caused by humans, or a cyclical event of nature, it doesn't really matter when nature turns on the heat.

Several years ago I reserved a fantastic beachfront condo at Dolphin Bay Resort in Shell Beach, Calif. The weather was hot, around 98 degrees, even on the Central Coast. I checked into my gorgeous place with the top of the line kitchen, granite countertops, hi-def electronics, washer & dryer, and patio deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Wonderful! But it was hot and I couldn't find the air condition switch to cool the place down. I called the lobby and they made a comment about never needing such amenities on the Central Coast. OK, it's 98 degrees and you don't need air conditioning? Nope, don't need it. Well I do!

The bedroom was situated next to the parking lot/street not far from the I-101 exit and although there was a window that could be left open to try to get air circulating through the room, it was a security risk to leave it open all night. I paid more than usual to stay at this luxury resort but it was really uncomfortable. With more & more travelers using services such as airbnb or booking condos and vacation rental units, ask about air conditioning if that matters. In my case I have begun asking that question and have discovered a surprising number of lodgings that don't have it.

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