Newport Beach CA recommendations?
 

Wondering if anybody can shed some light on the different Marriott brand hotels in the Newport Beach area. We (three adults and a baby) are going in the middle of January for a visit and I have been given the task of obtaining a hotel room. I have found that both the Suites and the Tennis Club hotel have a come out and play rate for that weekend.

Thanks for any feedback.

Stayed at the Newport Beach Marriott Suites for 3 nites in August. There is also a larger Newport Beach Marriott Hotel, close to the ocean. NBM suites are quite nice, but about 3 miles or so from the beach. Ask for a room up high, overlooking the lake. Nice view.
NBM Suites have a nice pool area, and are located right off the freeway, so it's pretty easy to get into and out of.
There is an additional charge for parking. I think it was $9/nite.
If you have time, take the scenic boat rides (there are 2 of them) around the Balboa Island Harbor area. Beautiful homes and yachats on display, including John Wayne's home when he lived there.

What about the fairly new Vacation Club there? The photos I have seen make it look especially nice. Any one know about this property?

I would still love to have input on the Newport Coast Villas. Has anyone stayed there? How long would you estimate the drive to Disneyland to take? TIA!

Newport Marriotts
 

I have never seen the rooms in the suites or the Marriott Fashion Island. I have only given seminars in conference rooms, but both hotels are quite nice. The Suites is located in a more isolated area off the freeway/toll road, but close to the airport. The Marriott is actually less than 5 min away towards the beach. It is adjacent to Fashion Island a nice high end outdoor mall in Newport. From either of these you would have to drive to the beach or Balboa Island. The time share villas are located further south, past Corona del Mar, between Newport Coast and Laguna Beach. I had relatives out about a year ago stay there and they ended up buying one of the timeshares. The resort is very nice as well as the rooms. It is a fairly new propert and maintained well. It is next to the Pelican Hill Golf Course. Very upscale. I do not think you could go wrong with any of them, and would have to depend on the costs. I think the villas are they nicest due to the resort like feel, but then again I've lived in the area my whole life so take it for what it is worth.
Driving to Disney will vary depending on the time of day. Figure up to an hour in the morning rush, 30-45 other than that. From all of the hotels, take the 405 north, to the 55 north, to the 5 north, right to the DisneyWay exit. Carpool lanes will help tremendously.

We've stayed at the Newport Beach Marriott a couple of times and really enjoyed it. Great location, very nice lounge, and friendly staff.

Bruce

We have two intervals there and have visited twice. The tennis courts should be done by now. You can see pictures which I took during our February trip here

They are still building more units and will be, slowly, until around 2010. If you don't decide to stay there, at least stop by and walk around. The place reminds me of Hearst Castle. Simply breathtaking. The 3000 (#) buildings, over and adjacent to the parking garage, have some of the best views. We were in the 2600 building last trip, second floor. The 2 story units don't have elevators, at least not that I saw. The taller ones do.

If you have any questions about NCV, contact me privately. I haven't gone to Disneyland from NCV, but it's about 35 minutes to Knott's Berry Farm on an average weekend day. Newport Coast is close to the action but removed from the hustle/bustle and gets those fresh ocean breezes. It's about a half-mile walk down from the resort across PCH to Crystal Cove State Park and it's lovely beaches.

Another property to consider for great ocean views and access is Laguna Cliffs (SNADP) in Dana Point. It's about 25 minutes south of NCV. Beautiful views and grounds and the harbor is right below for whalewatching, jetski rentals, etc. plus there are beaches nearby. Relatively easy to get on Priceline for 50-60 per night. Marriott also has some packages there right now too. D50 or D59 is the code I think.

The other Marriotts in the area, while nice hotels, don't really compare in ambience.

Enjoy your trip!


Pat

we are going to the Newport Coast villas end of October. Anyone have an idea how much time it will take to drive to LA or Hollywood? Pictures look great. Any hints about which building to ask for that would be near pool with a good view? can you walk to beach?, can't really tell from website.

Depending on the traffic, it will take a minimum of 45 minutes to an hour. At rush hour, which now seems like all the time, it will take up to 2 hours to L.A. and 2 and a half to Hollywood.

You might mention the 2200, 2300 2400, or 2500 buildings, upper floor. I can't recall if the 2300 and 2200 are completed (I think they are) but 2400 and 2500 are right next to 3600 (2500 is farther away), which is the administration, check-in, etc building. I don't recall if 3600 had any units, but, if so, they likely would go to owners. All are adjacent to the main pools (short to moderate walk). I recall seeing a smaller pool out near our building (2600), but we didn't use it and I don't recall if it was finished (in February 04). Remember, NCV is designed like an Italian village and is built on a hill so it is pretty spread out. I'll have to get a scan of the landscape design plan I have up on my web site so people can get some idea. Marriott should have this on their MVCI and main sites but don't. It would be especially valuable to people with disabilities. We did a lot of up and down walking while touring NCV. It's not flat by any stretch. The beach can be walked to (about 3/4 mile), down Newport Coast drive and across at the stoplight on PCH, but it is all uphill coming back. I wouldn't recommend it with gear.

Pat

Marriott Newport Beach, and Irvine Marriott.
 

I think that is the correct name - thought it had 'beach and tennis club'. In any case, the one I'm talking about is right across from Fashion Island.

Anyway, I stayed here a TON for work awhile back - probably close to 2 years ago, so I don't know what it looks like today as it appears from the website that a rennovation is going on, plus I think the catagory of this hotel jumped from 3 or 4 to 5.
When I stayed there I'd say the place had great positives, but some big negatives too.
Negatives: the rooms were really really old. Only one wing had fairly decent rooms, I think it was the 'tower' (south?) - the tower with the conceirge lounge. The other wing had rooms circa 1970s or something - very poor. Rugs old, closets were like 1/2 closets, etc.
Positives: location is terrific, especially if you're going for a weekend. Walking distance to a huge, and very upscale/nice, shopping mall (mall isn't a fair term for it either). I also liked the location as it's a quick drive to the beach areas. Another positive is that the hotel has a great pool. It looks like a lot of families come here, and I can see why. Also some nice tennis courts.
Basically, the hotel sorta feels like a 'this used to be an amazing property back in the day, but we haven't touched it since because we know it still sells well'. However, with a renovation going on, maybe all the negatives are gone, in which place this is a terrific hotel. I do also remember some rooms having great views of the nearby golfcourse, and then past it, the ocean.
Anyway, few other things: I can tell this is a VERY popular hotel for wedding groups to stay at - in fact, I think unlike a lot of other hotels, this hotel is busier in the weekends than the week (!).
Oh, another nice thing: they have a free shuttle from the nearby airport, and there is a Hertz counter in the hotel, so it's sometimes much cheaper to rent a car from there than the airport.

Marriott Irvine: For business/during the week stay, I think this place is great. It feels very new and I thought the rooms were really nice. But if you're with family/kids, and staying on the weekend, this wouldn't be too fun to stay at. Nothing much to walk to.

It's definitely not a 4/5 - your description is still pretty right on. I would suggest the Marriott Suites on the Back Bay - much newer, larger, nicer rooms.

I've stayed at both the Marriott Suites and the Marriott near Fashion Island, albeit it was a few years ago. The Marriott Suites had nicer rooms and was closer to the freeway. The Marriott at Fashion Island had the outdoor mall nearby. Sounds like they have fixed up the Marriott recently, so maybe the facilities are more equal. You might look to see what people over at www.tripadvisor.com have to say about it.

Newport Coast Villas
 

Just returned from stay @ Newport Coast Villas. All units are 2 bdrm. Evidently had to be done that way due to parking places that must be allotted to rooms. If you have 2nd vehicle or guest coming, be sure to ask for GUEST PARKING PASS when checking in. These vehicles must be in the garage area after 1800. Stayed in room "way away" from the ck in area. Can't think of the #, however, follow the drive all of the way around, turn right, and then to the next to the last building. We wondered @ ck in about its distance, however, the view was beauiful. I overlooked the golf course, and ocean. Got to watch the sunset every evening. It was worth the remote location. With the washer and dryer being avail in the room we overpacked, washing and wearing the same things the next day. 2nd bedrm has pull out sofa and queen sized bed. The sofa in LR also pull out. Service for 8 of everything. There is a short cut path for walking to the main building if you struggle with the hills.

Had no phone calls regarding Time Share Sales of anything of that nature. Didn't get newspaper one day, when went down to retrieve none avail, so was advised to go to gift shop pick up and bill to front desk. Very Friendly and accommodating. Concierge helpful in researching our wants.

If plan on going to Crystal Cove, there is parking fee, so can stay parked @ Marriott and then walk to the beach @ no cost. We headed out and purchased some items @ Trader Joes. If you desire, VONS will deliver groceries to the Resort, up to five times with no delivery fee.

Resort very nice. If want trash picked up leave by door by 10AM. If no pick up, there is area for dropping it off on each floor.

Was a convenient location for exploring Newport and its surrounding areas.

Most of the beaches in and around Orange County (and the greater LA metro area) in general charge for parking but for a quieter, more secluded, and free beach, try Corona del Mar, just south of Newport Beach and just north of the Newport Coast Villas (Newport Coast). Parking in the communities (Irvine Terrace, Cameo Shores, etc) isn't allowed, but there is plenty of free street parking available on the side streets with just a short (two blocks maybe) walk to the State Park (versus the parking fee at the state park). Being less touristy than Laguna, Newport, or Huntington Beaches, finding parking on these side streets is a lot easier.