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Balboa Bay Resort: Traveler Reviews

4.0 of 5
1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663
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Balboa Bay Resort
Ranked #4 of 17 hotels in Newport Beach
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228 reviews from our community

Traveler rating
    132
    40
    35
    14
    7
See reviews for
Families
45
 
Couples
61
 
Solo
17
 
Business
52
 
Rating summary
  • Location
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Sleep Quality
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Rooms
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Service
    4.5 of 5 stars
  • Value
    4 of 5 stars
  • Cleanliness
    4.5 of 5 stars
Date Rating
Squamish, Canada
Top Contributor
71 reviews 71 reviews
25 hotel reviews
Reviews in 31 cities Reviews in 31 cities
67 helpful votes 67 helpful votes
“not bad, not great.”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed February 11, 2013

We were there for a girls weekend. The room is nicely appointed, with a lovely bathroom. Beds were comfy, turn down service nice, but the shutters don't shut well enough to properly keep out light. We sat on our little deck which faced the parking circle and watched the expensive cars come and go. The room was clean. We didn't use the pool but I thought it was kind of too bad it didn't have some kind of a view, it is in the courtyard, and the cushions on the chairs looked like they could use a good cleaning. The members only pool looked quite nice.
All in all not bad, not great. I suspect that if one is a member it would be a lot better.

  • Stayed January 2013, traveled with friends
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
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Ask traveltoes about Balboa Bay Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dieter H, General Manager at Balboa Bay Resort, responded to this review
February 14, 2013
We appreciate you sharing your impressions from your recent stay, and your kind remarks about the guestroom and facilities. We are always interested in feedback from our guests and have noted your comments about the shutters, as well as the pool area. I’d like to assure you we are inspecting the chair cushions and will address the issues you mentioned. Again, we thank you for your review and the opportunity to improve our guest experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
3 hotel reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
“Great Location & Reception Staff, Housekeeping?????”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 10, 2013

The outstanding features of this hotel are it's location, friendly staff, spacious, nicely decorated
rooms. The down side is the per day $20 resort fee and $28 valet parking fee. We were aware
of the resort fee prior to making our reservation, however, the parking fee was quite a shock.
That's $50 per day on top of the room charge, for things that do not enhance your stay.

The most troubling aspect was that although the bathroom was very spacious and every day
the towels were folded as fans, the cleanliness of the floors was a big flaw in my neatness
freak opinion. Upon arrival there were spots right in front of the toilet and they remained there
despite our specific request to pay more attention to the bathroom floors. To assure myself
that they weren't part of the marble design, I successfully removed one with a little scrubbing.
It appears the floors are not part of their daily cleaning routine in any way since dust bunnies
floated on the floor as well. It is a shame that such a small task, could affect the overall
enjoyment of an otherwise lovely hotel. That being said we will probably return as there is
no other hotel right on the bay and in such a convenient location.

Room Tip: Away from highway. Overlooking bay
See more room tips
  • Stayed February 2013, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask Barbara M about Balboa Bay Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dieter H, General Manager at Balboa Bay Resort, responded to this review
February 12, 2013
Thank you for your review and sharing your recent experience. We greatly appreciate your kind comments about our resort, however, I sincerely apologize that our housekeeping staff overlooked this simple task of cleaning the toilet enclosed floor. Each guest room is thoroughly cleaned and maintained daily, and I have addressed your specific experience with our housekeeping manager to ensure that all areas are cleaned and checked. Additionally, I want to make sure you’re aware that as a lower cost alternative to valet parking, we do offer self parking on the resort grounds. Again, we thank you for letting us know about your experience. We truly value your feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to the Balboa Bay Resort very soon.
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Vancouver, Canada
Senior Contributor
25 reviews 25 reviews
10 hotel reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
“They Charge Extra For Their Hospitality!”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed February 8, 2013

Though the staff were extremely pleasant and helpful, I was shocked to receive a bill for "Hospitality Service Fee" of $22.40/day. This is a hotel, where one would expect the whole of their business to be hospitality - so to be given a bill for this seemed either ill-considered by the hotel management, or just downright mean. When I questioned it I was told that this was to cover the use of the pool (which I did not use) and the internet, which I did not need to use as the conference had its own set up. They would not reverse this from the bill but said "mention it next time you stay and we will not charge you". There will not be a "next time".
Why don't hotels wise up that the last impression of a hotel is the bill. With what seem to be "rip-offs" and additions when you receive the bill leaves a very sour taste in one's mouth and spoils what should be pleasant memories of the stay. Having read the other posting about the exorbitant parking fee I think the owners of this hotel must feel that there business is always going to keep coming and that customers don't matter.

Room Tip: Rooms on three sides of the hotel do not look out onto the ocean. Outer rooms face the busy road or...
See more room tips
  • Stayed February 2013, traveled on business
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 6
Ask Onbusiness1234 about Balboa Bay Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Cockfield, United Kingdom
Contributor
19 reviews 19 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
“Nearly flawless”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 7, 2013

I stayed for a week at a conference in a great room overlooking the pool. The hotel was first class; the staff were attentive and friendly, the food was excellent, the facilities were outstanding. I had a suite with a beautiful bathroom, the bed was great too. The hotel is a short walk from some great restaurants like Garlic Jo's and Billy's at the Beach. The AC was too cold though!!!!

  • Stayed January 2013, traveled on business
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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See 2 more reviews by James337 for Newport Beach
Ask James337 about Balboa Bay Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
“Love this hotel!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 5, 2013 via mobile

I have stayed here a few times and love it! Definitely rent a duffy boat -was Soo much fun!! Nice rooms, great location - you can't go wrong! There are a bunch of great restaurants and bars very close -to A Restaurant is fantastic as well as Div bar!!

  • Stayed February 2013
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes
Ask meowkitty1 about Balboa Bay Resort
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about Balboa Bay Resort

Also Known As:
The Balboa Bay Club And Resort
The Balboa Bay Club Hotel
The Balboa Bay Club Hotel Newport Beach
The Balboa Bay Hotel
The Balboa Bay Resort
Balboa Bay Club
Address: 1221 West Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Phone Number:
Region: United States > California > Orange County > Newport Beach
Amenities:
Bar/Lounge Business Center Fitness Center Pets Allowed Restaurant Room Service Suites Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
#2 Luxury Hotels in Newport Beach
#3 Romantic Hotels in Newport Beach
#3 Business Hotels in Newport Beach
#7 Family Hotels in Newport Beach
Price Range: $$$
Hotel Class:4 star (4*)
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
Experience life and style that’s perfectly balanced at the Balboa Bay Resort. A boutique ambiance combined with plush accommodations, sophisticated and personalized service, gourmet dining and unparallel location close to scenic beaches, nearby world-class shopping, restaurants and award winning designed golf courses make it the perfect destination for those seeking the quintessential Southern California lifestyle experience. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend getaway, a large-scale business function, or the wedding of your dreams, the Balboa Bay Resort offers unparalleled services and amenities to suit a variety of needs. Located on 15 waterfront acres in the heart of Newport Beach, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, the four-diamond property sprawls along the bay like a meandering Mediterranean villa. ... more   less 
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