Newport Beach Marriott Bayview, CA [Master Thread]
 

There doesn't appear to be an appropriate thread for the Newport Beach properties (which now include the Renaissance Duke, formerly Fairmont). So here goes.

Just spent a night at the Marriott Bayview, which I had not visited in some time. The location is convenient to SNA/John Wayne and also central to most of Newport, Irvine, Costa Mesa, and Santa Ana. It's in a quiet area of business parks and residential; you really need a car here.

The rooms are all called suites, though they would probably more accurately be called junior suites. There's a sitting area with sofa, and glass paned doors which separate the bed. I was "upgraded" to a bay view room with a partial view of the back bay and a full view of Jamboree, which is extremely busy. Traffic noise was substantial (though it did not interfere with my sleep).

I think the key in terms of room selection is to score one of the rooms at the far west end of the building (30s and 40s) as those will have both the best view of the back bay out to the ocean and no noise from Jamboree or Bristol.

Room and bed were comfortable. Furnishings were in decent shape. Water pressure in shower was weak, likely due to flow restrictor.

To me the best feature of this hotel is its easy access to the trails on the back bay. This is really excellent running.

My AAA rate included parking (normally $28) and a full breakfast (and was still $1 cheaper than the cheapest MR Member rate). The buffet was mediocre. I was told that the Gold/Plat breakfast benefit would have included only the continental. Those options were poor. The breads and pastries were supermarket quality (i.e., not at all appealing).

Service was very friendly and accommodating. I was pre-emptively offered a 4 pm check-out on arrival. I would stay here again, though I would want to be sure I got one of the rooms on the west side of the building.

Thanks for the update. Much appreciated.

Cheers.

My boss gave me the choice with either the LAX Marriott or the Newport beach Bayview for 3 days during the work week....Thoughts????I'm a LTP.... I'll have no car and doing Uber everywhere...never been to Newport Beach, only drove through.

Where do you need to be?

The LAX Marriott and the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview are 40 miles apart -- and the traffic on the San Diego Freeway (I-405) is often awful.

Well I rarely get upgrades at the LAX Marriott (the Renn is usually the same price and is in the same blocks). They are standard airport hotels with little to do around them other than walk to the N' and Out.

The Newport Beach Bayview is a much nicer hotel and often upgrades. There is a nice upscale mall within walking distance.

But as Horace said ... there's a major distance between them that will always take an hour and regularly two. If I need to be in San Francisco, I don't stay in San Jose -- or vice versa.

But as Horace said, they're a long way apart.

well...the rate is the same and my boss gave me a choice....no car so I'll be Ubering....flight home doesn't leave until noon so gives me plenty of time to get back to LAX.....I don't have to be at a specific location so Newport sounds like a winner.

The Marriott with the upscale mall across the street is the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa -- not the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview.

The Newport Beach Marriott Bayview is at the north end of the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, near Orange County Airport. It was originally branded as a Marriott Suites property.

That seems like an odd choice. There are many full-service Marriott properties in the Los Angeles-Orange County area. Some are usually more expensive than the two your boss picked, and some are usually less expensive. Considering that location does not seem to be a factor, I'm puzzled.

If you pick the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview and your flights are not yet locked in, it would be much more convenient to use Orange County Airport (SNA) than LAX.

Horace ... thanks. I've stayed in both and guess I had them mixed up. The Bayview is nice too.

But for the OP, that's a really long Uber ride if you're flying in/out of LAX. The Beverly Hills Marriott and the Manhattan Beach Marriott often have rates comparable to those two hotels and they are much closer to LAX. There are nice places to eat and drink within walking distance of the BH Marriott. There are nice places to eat and drink and walk near the beach in a 5 minute Uber ride.

Heck ... if I was flying out of LAX, I'd stay in the LAX Marriott. It's not as nice as the Bayview but in the 2-4 hours you'll spend roundtrip in an Uber from there to LAX, you could be having dinner and a lot of drinks near the water.

A strange choice indeed if flying in/out of LAX. The San Francisco vs. San Jose analogy is apt, except more so. I like Newport and staying on the Back Bay, but not if I need to be in Los Angeles.

The Marriott Bayview itself is meh (in need of remodel, and lots of traffic noise if your room faces east or south) but the Back Bay location is awesome if you're a runner.

Any recent stays at the Marriott Bayview?

No remodel yet? Are all suites virtually the same layout? What are breakfast options for Platinum members? Thanks in advance!

I stay here whenever I am in Orange County for work. The rooms are being upgraded currently and are all junior suite rooms. I am "upgraded" every time I stay at this location. The parking is expensive ($33 a night) and the basic buffet for Platinum+ is meh. The upgraded buffet (which is approximately $8 more) is very good. I do think the service at the hotel is very good and enjoy the location thoroughly. I am an Ambassador so YMMV on the upgrades, etc.

Thanks for the info! Trying to choose among a few hotels in the area. If I may ask, how does your experience here compare with other hotels in the area? Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, Renaissance, Irvine Marriott?

The Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa is very close to the Fashion Island Mall, walking distance actually. This makes getting dinner, lunch, shopping, etc. MUCH easier than most of the other locations. It is a little dated and the rooms are small. They have a concierge lounge at the hotel but it is in one of the towers and kind of a pain to get to. Otherwise, not a bad hotel.

The Renaissance, I have not stayed at and therefore cannot speak to. The Irvine Marriott was a standard Marriott.

One thing I forgot to add about the Newport Bayview is that it is right off 73. This makes getting into and out of the hotel and onto the highway system a breeze. 55 and 405 are right there as well.

Just spent the night here. The rooms appear to have been lightly refreshed. This was not a complete remodel - the decor still feels dated, but everything is relatively fresh and clean. All benefits honored, including upgrade, breakfast (continental), welcome gift, and 4 pm checkout. The continental buffet suited my tastes, with decent fruit, boiled eggs, and oatmeal. But the breads and pastries looked like they came out of a plastic bag. Service was excellent all around. Parking charge is ridiculous ($33.95). There's free street parking a block away on the south side of Bayview Way.

Room recommendation: 646. Corner suite with view to the west over the back bay, nobody on top because the building is staggered. FDA told me it's her favorite room and I understand why.

Parked on Bayview Place to avoid the ridiculous $35 charge. It's a little complicated on Fridays due to street cleaning.