Balboa Inn, On The Beach At Newport

Hotels
7.2 (434 reviews)
105 Main Street , Newport Beach , US
+1 949-675-3412

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Paid
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Business center
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Excellent beachfront location and views
Friendly and helpful staff (reported by many)
Great swim area / spa
Easy access to restaurants, bars and beach
Convenient for beach events and gatherings
Cons:
Rooms are dated, worn and sometimes noisy (adjoining doors)
Cleanliness issues reported (e.g., dirt, stains, isolated incidents)
Perceived poor value: booking/upgrade problems and feeling overcharged
AC problems in some rooms
Poor/limited breakfast offerings
Parking fees and some rooms face parking-lot views

Categories

Cleanliness
5.5
Multiple guests reported rundown or dirty rooms (including a report of blood on walls/elevator) and general wear; cleanliness appears inconsistent and a notable weakness.
Service
9
Many reviewers described staff as friendly and helpful at check-in and during stay, though there are isolated reports of rude/front-desk issues; overall service sentiment is positive.
Location
10
Repeatedly praised as right on the beach with beautiful views, immediate access to restaurants/bars and ideal for beach events — the property's strongest feature.
Room Quality
5.8
Rooms frequently described as dated, bare-bones and worn (old furniture, shower/tub combos, noisy adjoining doors, AC not always effective) and sometimes not matching online photos.
Amenities
9
Swim area/spa and beachfront access were highlighted and well-liked; in-room amenities are limited for some guests (missing fridge, basic TV) but public amenities are strong.
Value for Money
5.8
Several guests felt overcharged or 'ripped off' (issues with promised upgrades/room types and perceived pricing vs. condition), though location partially offsets value concerns.
Food and Beverage
4
Breakfast was described as poor (limited continental options, e.g., only cereal) and F&B offerings were viewed as minimal or disappointing.
Overall Experience
8.5
Many guests enjoyed the beach location, views and making memories at the property, but consistent issues with room condition, cleanliness and perceived value temper the experience.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-11-05 14:10

Property Description

Oceanfront Property with Charming Accommodations

Daily Continental Breakfast and On-Site Dining

Indulge in a delicious daily continental breakfast and savor Northern Italian cuisine at The Siena Italian Restaurant, all within the charming atmosphere of our hotel.

Relaxation and Recreation

Unwind in our outdoor hot tub or soak up the sun on our terrace with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Take advantage of our bicycle rentals to explore the nearby Newport Balboa Bike Trail.

Experience the perfect blend of comfort and convenience at the Balboa Inn, On The Beach At Newport. Book your stay now for a memorable beachfront getaway.

Important information:

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card is required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.

Pets are allowed at this hotel for USD 50.00 the first night and USD 25.00 for each additional night.

Parking is available onsite. Guests with standard cars will be charged USD 45.00. Guests with over-sized vehicles will be charged USD 60.00.

All rooms are nonsmoking. If guests smoke in the room, they will be subject to a fee of USD 300.00.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SNA

Location

Guest Reviews

7.2
Based on 434 reviews
Cleanliness: 5.5
Service: 9
Location: 10
Room Quality: 5.8
Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 5.8
Food and Beverage: 4
Overall Experience: 8.5
K
Karina • solo_traveller • us
1
Pros:

Location was cool.

Cons:

Extremely disappointing experience at Balboa Inn. I would strongly recommend staying elsewhere.

During my three-night stay, my room key cards repeatedly failed. I had to visit the front desk more than 10 times just to get new cards because the key reader simply would not recognize them. Thankfully, my room was close to the front desk, but this was beyond inconvenient.

The communication and customer service were equally disappointing. I initially booked the wrong number of nights and contacted the front desk to ask about extending my stay. I was told availability existed and signed a form confirming the additional night at a set rate. At no point was I informed of any additional fees.

When checking out, I was told there would be a $45 valet charge. I explained that this had never been communicated to me and that valet service was not even available for a significant portion of my final evening. I actually had to retrieve my own keys from behind the front desk because no attendant was present. I also had to call someone to open the parking gate because no one was at the desk.

I brought this to the front desk’s attention the following morning, and the employee acknowledged the situation without charging me at checkout.

Days later, I noticed charges and a partial refund on my card. When I called, I was told the remaining charge was a mistake and would be refunded. However, after waiting and seeing no refund, I followed up because I also needed itemized receipts for work-related expenses.

Unfortunately, that conversation made an already frustrating experience even worse. Laura was incredibly rude over the phone, and the manager, Michelle, was equally unprofessional. He repeatedly interrupted me, dismissed my concerns, brought up fees that had supposedly been waived (which I never requested), and ultimately hung up on me. He also mentioned he would not provide the itemized receipts I was requesting for associated with the charges made to my card.

2026-11-04 • via Nuitee
J
Jerry • couple • us
2
Don’t stay don’t go
2026-11-02 • via Nuitee
T
Thomas • solo_traveller • gb
10
2026-10-30 • via Nuitee
S
Sherry • couple • us
8
Comfortable
Pros:

Nearby restaurants etc

Cons:

Ac had trouble keeping up.

2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
L
lynwood • couple • us
1
The room itself is very bare bones and dated. Air conditioning did not work had to keep windows open and they had nos r
Pros:

The staff were very nice and very helpful. Really good

Cons:

Location was ocean ocean view but really the view is parking lot with ocean behind

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
G
Gina • couple • us
8
Would definitely stay here again . Cute place!! And love the location!
Pros:

Loved the location . And the front desk lady was super friendly and helpful.

Cons:

Some of the furniture was to old and worn

2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
J
Jane • couple • us
8
2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
A
Artiga • solo_traveller • us
7
2026-10-08 • via Nuitee
K
Kenneth • solo_traveller • us
5
If you want to stay as close as you can to the beach without booking a beachouse, this is the place. The rooms don’t loo
Pros:

The location was prime

Cons:

The rooms don’t look like how they do in the pictures on the web

2026-09-18 • via Nuitee
G
Gabriela Ioana • couple • us
4
For the money that they charge, the place is BAD!
Pros:

The location is very good and the staff was nice.

Cons:

The rooms and the general aspect of the property is terrible!

2026-09-16 • via Nuitee
Y
Yvonne • solo_traveller • us
9
2026-09-09 • via Nuitee
Z
Zellner • solo_traveller • us
4
Missed the mark on an expensive room/location
Pros:

The location and patio was nice

Cons:

#235 Room had a conjoined door, able to hear the next door tenants speaking and partying. Shower/tub combo felt like the 90s, shower head seemed to be from 80s. Was woken up around midnight from the neighbours partying and playing music from a speaker, got a room swap to #234
It was not an upgrade, as one would imagine even though it said "suite" . Said suite didn't have a working phone, I realised this after I tried calling the front desk for a fridge in the room. There was no fridge, so I went back to the previous room and brought it to the new room.

Television was a basic led TV with no smart TV capabilities, that wouldn't stop displaying the demo/info.

Dated room air controls, we would bring in the outdoor metal chairs for a meal inside the room.

People were friendly but the hotel owner needs to revamp it badly.
I wouldn't stay again unless there was an assurance of change/redemption.

2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
S
Sasha • family_with_children • us
10
2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
B
Brenda • couple • us
10
Every year we look forward to our stay here making memories at the beach
Pros:

We love the swim area/ spa
We love the view
We love the location

Cons:

The bed was uncomfortable

2026-09-07 • via Nuitee
S
Shayla • family_with_children • us
9
The location is perfection!
2026-08-30 • via Nuitee
G
Greg • couple • us
7
Overall a great spot!
Pros:

Right on the beach. Perfect location for our friends 50th party on the beach. Hotel was a little older and some areas looked worn.

Cons:

The ac could use a little cleaning. Bathroom needs some touch up

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
E
Erik • couple • us
8
2026-08-20 • via Nuitee
J
Jacob • couple • us
8
Perfect location for a weekend stay.
Pros:

The location is perfect.
Staff is very helpful
And friendly.
The view is beautiful.
Easy access to food, bars And beach.

Cons:

The parking fees are a bit steep.
It’s a little loud by the pedestrian path.

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
C
Christopher • solo_traveller • us
8
Pros:

Location was great.

Cons:

Not sure what happend but there was blood on the wall and elevator wall for 2 days before it was cleaned.

2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
N
Nico • family_with_children • ch
5
2026-08-09 • via Nuitee