Reminiscent of an Italian piazza, this waterfront resort offers deluxe rooms with a tropical feel. Many of the spacious suites have a fireplace and a fabulous marina view. The central pool area has a sundeck a few steps above with plenty of comfortable chaise lounges to choose from. No marina views are available here but at the two food and beverage outlets there are plenty of seating options with wide open views of the marina and its many luxurious yachts docking within feet of this elegant property.
Smoke free premises. 159 units, some two and three bedrooms. 3 stories, interior corridors.
Pros: Food in bar, patio and restaurant excellent. Blend shop great. Ocean air terrific. Service excellent (room and restaurant). Location great and setting with yachts outstanding.
Cons: Made reservations thru booking.com. When asked for extra consideration due to acute disabilities...only response from booking and hotel was "do what we can." A non-response!
Booked standard room but asked for quiet. Not so. First room was over driveway. Then told me then that all standard rooms over highway or driveway. Also asked to be close to elevator... first room...so so.
Called front desk and let them know unsatisfactory... within 1/2 hour changed rooms to courtyard setting --- was perfectly satisfied regarding noise and elevator. I am not sure but do not think they charged me for upgrade.
Still pricey....but had a great time and enjoyed the lap of luxury, bayside, views, air, food, and mood.
10.0
Angela
Exceptional
young couple
09-08-2016
Pros: Outrageously amazing
Cons: Not a thing
6.3
Suzanne
Pleasant
young couple
08-31-2016
Pros: Room was clean and comfortable
Cons: A&O restaurant dinner .... The halibut in a bag was terrible. The fish was very over cooked and clearly sat in the kitchen. The fish disinigrated in your mouth. Disappointing.
The view of the pool from our courtyard room was also disappointing. While the hotel was clean and the staff friendly and helpful, the resort itself felt like a venue.
10.0
John
Exceptional
mature couple
08-26-2016
Pros: All around facility and employees were above expecting!
Cons: Food and service at happy hour were below expectation
9.6
Mary
Exceptional
mature couple
08-23-2016
Pros: Rooms and bathrooms were large and nice
Cons: if I had to say anything it would be to place room service orders before 10pm. After that it is a fairly expensive cold sandwich and fruit cup.
9.2
Spencer
Wonderful
family with older children
08-20-2016
Pros: When we received room we had booked.
Cons: Having to move rooms due to vending machines sounding like a helicopter and being put in other building which was for club members.
6.3
Ailsa
Pleasant
mature couple
08-19-2016
Pros: Good location for the area. A two mile walk to the centre. On the water front if you want to take a paddle board out.
Cons: When we arrived our room had gifts in it for someone else.
9.6
Dan
Exceptional
young couple
08-16-2016
Pros: Gorgeous views and service.
Cons: pet fee was steep
4.6
Ray
Disappointing
young couple
08-14-2016
Pros: Friendly staff, clean hotel
Cons: Walls soundproof not too good, we woke up on sound of people in the corridor. No toothbrush nor toothpaste although it's supposed to be a 5star hotel, they charge more than what was agreed on in booking.com, the location is not that amazing, their beach is full of yachts, not good for swimming. Their pool is small, and they have only one person to take ur orders and serve you at the pool.we were sitting at the balcony, and the maid started pouring water on us, while cleaning the upper level.
7.9
William
Good
mature couple
08-09-2016
Pros: Staff & Spa
Cons: Room could you an update.
10.0
Dewitt
Exceptional
young couple
08-09-2016
Pros: Great location and view of the bay.
Cons: The waterline restaurant was good but overpriced for what it was.
7.1
Kay
Good
family with young children
08-06-2016
Pros: Room and decors are nice. The interior is clean and new but exterior needs some clean up. The bed is very comfortable. It's close to the beach, restaurants and shopping mall.
Cons: It's way over priced for the value. We spent $500/night and still got a room over look vallet parking space. We could have stayed in other 5 stars hotel for the same price. Exterior of the building is dusty and underwhelming for a 5 stars hotel. We checked in on Tuesday and there was no room available until 4pm which was find since that's what the policy is for guaranteed room at 4pm. We came back at 5pm and exhausted, went to our room expecting to clean up and get ready for dinner. We waited 30 mins for our suitecases to be brought up to the room. That was very frustrating when the suit cases were right next to the front desk and we could have done it faster if we were to bring them up ourselves. When we asked the bellman who brought our suitcases up if we could get some ice. He pointed us to where the ice room is instead of offering to get the ice for us. This was not what I expected from a 5 star hotel service.
5.4
Anette
Fair
family with young children
07-26-2016
Pros: The pool
Cons: Booked a bay view, arrived and they were sold out. It's a members only beach. We paid $520 a night and couldn't go on the beach. If you're not a member service is terrible. Very disappointed with booking.com and the resort.
8.3
Shona
Very Good
review category group of friends
07-16-2016
Pros: Fantastic pool and lovely large bright room. Great bathroom. Missed having somewhere to just get boiling water for my green tea. Nice view over to pool from our balcony. A really spacious comfortable hotel.
Cons: Didn't like the bed sheets. The bottom sheet didn't cover the bed properly and there was no duvet cover - bit too contemporary for me! Also lots of added costs with various tax and expensive parking. Walk into Newport was 30min along a busy road.
7.1
Laverne
Good
review category group of friends
07-14-2016
Pros: Location is key. Amenities very good. Easy check-in and out. Offered Self-Parking. Food was good.
Cons: Service to me is very key and it lacked service. The previous ownership new about service and that is why I kept coming back. The new ownership and the "young" set they cater too don't care. Their service staff is young and very inexperienced; I rate service poor. The A & O Bar was dirty behind the bar, was not impressed. I will not be returning. There are other reasons, but lack of good service is enough for me.
8.3
Maria
Very Good
family with older children
07-13-2016
Pros:
Cons: Balboa Resort was 'prohibitively' expensive. With the $30 parking fee, the $28 resort fee, and the hotel taxes, a double room ran us $600. The LA traffic was insane, and we ended up getting to the hotel from Santa Barbara in 5 hours. We checked in close to 6, so the day was pretty much over. It was a shame to spend that much money on a hotel we were barely at. The restaurant food was terrible and expensive. No restaurants within walking. It was nice to see the boats right out of our balcony, but there was no beach front to walk on,. it was like having a parking lot of boats right in front of the hotel with no room for pedestrians nor sandy beach or water access. I would have been better off to get a Best Western for a third of the price. Never again.
10.0
David
Exceptional
family with young children
07-11-2016
Pros: The rooms were immaculate...the complimentary shampoo+conditioner were seriously the best smelling grapefruit scent I've ever smelled...the staff were incredible and even made a framed welcome sign for us since we were celebrating our tenth anniversary.
Loved their on-site cafe and gastropub...each were totally of the moment in terms of their menu options and decor.
Cons: They could update the pool chairs and lounges to match the rest of the hotel which has been renovated.
10.0
Laura
Exceptional
mature couple
07-10-2016
Pros: Everything was great
Cons: Just didn't get my deposit back
10.0
Shirley
Exceptional
mature couple
07-10-2016
Pros: The outdoor fire tables and view of marina was so beautiful and relaxing for our family reunion. The staff were so accommodating and friendly. We stayed only one night at BBR and stayed second night at Pelican Hill Resort. We regret not staying at Balboa Bay this second night as the service and accommodations were so much more making you feel welcomed and valued as a guest. We have decided next visit to California another stay at Balboa Bay Resort will definitely be on our itinerary.
Cons:
10.0
Jin
Exceptional
mature couple
07-05-2016
Pros: Very comfortable bed, free wine in nice place, clean and luxury room, and very friendly staffs.
Cons:
10.0
Scott
Exceptional
mature couple
07-03-2016
Pros: People/Staff
Cons: Couple of broken items in the room but promptly attended to
9.6
Patrick
Exceptional
mature couple
07-03-2016
Pros: Close to everything we needed, but not if you are walking
Cons: Nothing, great property
10.0
Pardis
Exceptional
family with young children
07-02-2016
Pros: Great pool and great restaurant next to the marina.
Cons: Light controls are near the door when they should be near the bed. The snack store blend closes at too early at 7pm.
8.3
David
Very Good
mature couple
06-30-2016
Pros: Lovely hotel, fine location,a little expensive, loud banging and loud music spoiled the daytime pool experience. But the hotel did give us a much better room that was quiet and knocked a night off because of the bad pool experience. We had a fab time and once the managers replace loud music with frank sinatra and the building work is finished, and groups of teenagers that come from the club next door are banned! It's a complete winner. Management need to act though !
Cons: Loud music at pool all day every day.
8.8
Anastasia
Excellent
family with older children
06-29-2016
Pros: Beautifull view, great breakfast but a la carte only. Can take a self riding boat without any license.
Cons: We had a room above the restaurant and in the evening it was very noisy. Also you can hear everything whar happened in the hall. Noise isolation is very bad.
9.6
Kevin
Exceptional
mature couple
06-28-2016
Pros:
Cons: Very expensive.
9.6
Tim
Exceptional
mature couple
06-23-2016
Pros: Clean ,great location , good food and bar
Cons: Resort fee
7.0
Shannon
Good
Business Traveler
06-12-2016
Pros:
Cons: The hotel was overbooked, which ultimately is the fault of the hotel. They did make several concessions for this but the hotel they put me in for one night was definitely not on par with their level.
9.2
Marielle
Wonderful
young couple
06-06-2016
Pros: Left my Rolex. They returned it. Beds are amazing. Beautiful view of the water, upgrade to water view is key!
Cons: Breakfast wasn't great.
10.0
Happy
Exceptional
family with older children
05-31-2016
Pros: The room had been recently remodeled and everything was like new. The beds were really comfortable.
Cons: Safe didn't work when we arrived but the staff repaired it night before we departed.
9.6
Kathryn
Exceptional
review category group of friends
05-31-2016
Pros: beautiful property, the free wine. Dinner and service was great.
Cons: breakfast service was slow and inattentive, $30 parking fee, $25 per night "spa fee".. included 2 bottles of "free water", $50 2 hour late checkout fee. LOUD rap style music around pool all day and into the evening
10.0
Karl
Exceptional
mature couple
05-28-2016
Pros: Everything
Cons: Couldn't fault it
9.6
Peter
Exceptional
family with young children
05-22-2016
Pros:
Cons: The servis was perfect in the outside bar!!! The food was very nice and great value.
5.8
Loren
Okay
mature couple
05-18-2016
Pros:
Cons: WE paid for a KING suite bay view, paid and checked in online ~ got there they ONLY had a handicap room the heater didn't work woke up in a 61degree room ~ then had to move to another room BUT still did not get what I paid for feel that we should receive a refund.
8.3
Clement
Very Good
mature couple
05-04-2016
Pros: The room was superb and possessed a beautiful view. Staff were extremely friendly, kind, personable, helpful and eager to accommodate our needs. Very, very positive on the personnel score.
Cons: Ordered breakfast in the room... just once. Very poor quality. Eggs and beacon served cold. Eggs watery and looked to have been made from powdered eggs. Breakfast was a surprisingly disappointing yet expensive experience.
And then there was the guest next door that intermittently slammed doors and shouted vitriolic obscenities throughout our stay. We found it odd that staff were seen to take notice but did nothing to abate the problem.
10.0
Rocio
Exceptional
young couple
05-03-2016
Pros: Everything
Cons: The pool had floating tissue looking things at the end of the night
8.3
Tammy
Very Good
mature couple
04-28-2016
Pros: Very comfortable bed !!
Cons:
9.2
Khalid
Wonderful
young couple
04-28-2016
Pros: Friendly staff, service and location
Cons: Sound Insulation in rooms
7.5
Hooman
Good
young couple
04-26-2016
Pros: Hotel was nice but everything closed earlier than advertised. Service was OK, not great.
Cons: Delivery charge to eat by the pool because the food came from room service. AND gratuity on TAX!
The valet staff were rude.
8.8
Sean
Excellent
young couple
04-25-2016
Pros: Room was fantastic, beautiful resort
Cons: Resort restaurants were poor
4.6
Luis
Disappointing
young couple
04-24-2016
Pros: GOOD LOCATION
Cons: FOR THE MONEY YOU DONT GET WHAT YOU EXPECT
8.3
Lisa
Very Good
review category group of friends
04-20-2016
Pros: The room was big and the beds like a cloud
The breakfast was excellent! Loved the patio.
Cons: The prices a little high
8.8
Pardis
Excellent
solo traveller
04-16-2016
Pros: Renovated room is beautiful. Bathroom products by Fresh are very nice. Bottle of wine is a nice touch.
Cons: Room service menu is boring - should carry some items from A&O restaurant. The controls for lights should be bedside not by the entry door. A TV channel listing would be helpful.
10.0
Kari
Exceptional
family with older children
04-15-2016
Pros: Love this place we have stayed here many time. At least for the last 13 years and have always enjoyed it.
Cons:
6.7
Frequent
Pleasant
mature couple
04-12-2016
Pros: Location, room and physical facilities were great
Cons: Staff appear unhappy with management and the underlying tension spoils atmosphere. Food very poor in bar, mediocre in restaurant.
8.8
Tako
Excellent
mature couple
04-10-2016
Pros: All new rooms and very friendly staff
Cons:
8.8
Amy
Excellent
mature couple
03-27-2016
Pros: Great service. Fun bar area to watch NCAA tournament. Had super bloodys and burritos.
Cons: Room was a little dirty. Dust in the corner, chrome on faucet not shining.
7.0
Verified Hotel Guest
Good
Traveling as Couple
03-22-2016
Pros: The view from restaurant. Comfortable bed, clean great decor.
Cons: Noisy at night (upper level). Our room location was bad next to entrance. Slow check in and checkout. Limited marina walkway.
6.7
Rory
Pleasant
solo traveller
03-15-2016
Pros: Great restaurant for Breakfast; Convenient Newport Beach location; Spacious rooms; Good restaurant staff and valet.
Cons: HUGE problem: My room (345) faced out across the highway, the window insulating is not great, so that meant that until around 10pm-11pm at night the road noise was so loud I couldn't sleep. I was jet lagged so was trying to sleep at 8pm, without ear plugs AND noise cancelling headphones there was just simply too much noise to sleep.
Other Noise Problem: The hard floors in the hallway and gaps under the doors let lots of sound pass from the hallway into your room. You will hear all the intimate details of the conversation of anyone walking past - and they will hear yours too.
Other problem: The shower has a design flaw in that the shower head is too low, meaning if you are over around 5ft 8" then you will need to crouch down to wash your hair. I would not expect this sort of design flaw in a premium hotel.
Minor problem: They recently remodelled the whole place, the rooms were a lot more comfortable and homely before the remodel! I last stayed here in 2014 and it was a much better experience as they had shutters on the windows too, so that blocked out the road noise from the PCH. These have been removed now.
OVERALL: A nice hotel, but way too noisy which disrupts sleep notably. As such I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere, there are a lot of nice places in the area, no need to compromise and take an uncomfortable place - especially not at this price point of $300 / night.
10.0
Diana
Exceptional
review category group of friends
02-28-2016
Pros: Loved everything! I stayed many years ago when it was private. It was great then, but even better now after the remodel!!
;detailController.handleFacebook('SEO','Balboa Bay Resort', '127487', 'ACCOMMODATION', '4', '', '', 'http:////aff.bstatic.com/images/hotel/max500/532/53296662.jpg', 'Newport Beach', '', '', '', '');){kind=link}
;detailController.handleTwitter('SEO','Balboa Bay Resort', '127487', 'ACCOMMODATION', '4', '', 'http:////aff.bstatic.com/images/hotel/max500/532/53296662.jpg', 'Newport Beach', '', '', '', '');){kind=link}