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Great base location for southern Calif
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Date Of Visit -
May 11, 2013
Date Of Review -
May 13, 2013
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Room Unit -
5040
Internet -
Free - In Room
Room Size -
Two
Interval Type -
Exchange
Parking -
On-Site Free
Laundry -
In Room
Deck Balcony -
Yes
Convenience Store -
On Site
Visitor Fees -
No
Kitchen -
Full
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Marriott Newport Coast Resort (NCV)
Date of visit: May 5-11, 2013
Our home resort and vacation preference is near the warm water beaches of Kaua'i,HI . That said, airfare, air connections, additional baggage limits/charges, car rental, II exchange fees and...(list goes on) is just getting too tiresome to deal with. Last year we opted to join Marriott's Destination Club that allows to exchange our Kaua'i Beach Club for DC points and access to other convenient vacation destinations.
We were able to use DC points for a Sunday to Saturday vacation at NCV. We live in the San Francisco area of California. NCV is about 400miles to the south of us and about a 6hr drive depending on traffic, so for about the same travel time, we save on car rental and about $900 on airfare and (for both of us). We used the resort as a great base to visit the LaBrea Tar Pits museum, a couple days at Disney, a day at Crystal Cove Beach just across the highway from the resort and some time at the resort to decompress.
We requested a preference for a high floor, ocean view in the newer 5000 or 5100 units near BBQ's and pool. I didn't want to be near the big party pool in the middle and was hoping that being the farthest out would be the best bet.
We were assigned unit 5040 which is the top floor, end unit condo with a veranda view of the ocean, directly above the BBQ area and only a short walk to the pool and two Jacuzzi..(jacuzzies?, jacuzzs?) It was a perfect location for us. Thanks Marriott room assignment person(s)!
The condo is huge. The master king bedroom had double sinks in the bathroom area, a large two person glass and tile shower with separate shower heads at each end. The master also had a large, deep two person-soaking tub.
The second queen bedroom had the typical single shower/tub set up and one sink. There are two sofa beds. One in the guest bedroom and the second in the living room that theoretically could accommodate eight people total. There are large swivel, flat screen TV's in both bedrooms as well as the living room. The living room TV can be viewable from the table and chairs on the veranda if you move the TV table out a bit from the living room wall.
The kitchen is fully equipped with oven, microwave, dishwasher, full sized fridge and dinner ware for 6 (8?). A small condo sized clothes washer/dryer is in the closet by the front door.
The only thing lacking is onsite dining out options. You'll need to drive.
Be sure to use the resort shuttle to visit the beach if only to avoid the $15/day parking fee. In fact, $15 parking seems to be a standard down there--Laguna, beaches, Disney, (Tar Pits was only $10). One word of advice - get a good GPS with updated maps to navigate the LA basin. Without it, we'd still be wandering around on the crazy freeways down there.
...Mark&Claudette Perry (TUG ID: KauaiMark)
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KauaiMark
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1
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Nice Stay
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Date Of Visit -
Mar 17, 2002
Date Of Review -
Mar 25, 2013
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We had a week during our spring break. The weather was cool and overcast during the morning hours. The Marriott Newport Coast is a beautiful well-maintained vacation experience. The grounds are beautiful with wonderful trees and plants everywhere. The pools are great and always clear and well-maintained. We stayed in unit 1722, the west end (closet to the ocean) on the second floor. We did have some view of the ocean but there were some trees in the way. It is better to have the third floor but we did not get that even after a request. It appears they changed the bedding on the beds. They used to routinely have wonderful mattress covers that made the bed more comfortable but it seems now they are less thick, consequently the beds are not as comfortable as before. But, we called housekeeping and asked for the better mattress covers and that did the trick. I am sure they don’t use the heavier covers because of the maintenance and washing, etc. They no longer have a reception each week. I can tell they are really watching their budget. We had a few maintenance issues in the unit but they were quickly resolved. This was our third spring break stay and the Marriott is always on top of any unit problems. Newport Coast is a beautiful resort and you will not be disappointed to stay there. I much prefer spring because the summer is really a zoo. I believe this is one of Marriott’s best properties with a great location. If you go out to eat you might like the Beachcombers on the south end of Crystal Cove State Beach. It’s right on the beach and has good meals. Enjoy!
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tiger1210
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2
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Great Resort in a Great Location!
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Date Of Visit -
Feb 23, 2013
Date Of Review -
Mar 17, 2013
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Newport Coast Villas is a great resort with many great amentities in a great location.
We were located in the 3700 building adjacent to the main building above the two main pools. It was a great location, but the "third" floor was really only the second floor and our ocean view was partially obstructed by the roof line below.
The property is immaculately landscaped and well maintained. Theree are additional pools on the far ends of the property. The views from the main pool area is incredible. Beautiful palm trees and gorgeous sunsets. The villas are about a 15 minute walk to the ocean and located just a couple of miles north of Laguna Beach. Corona del Mar is just up the road as well as Balboa Island and Huntington Beac. A really great location to explore the Southern California coast!
The 2BR unit we had was ample size for 5 people. The master BR has a king sized bed with a large bathroom suite. The other BR has a queen bed with a full size sleeper sofa couch. There is also a queen sleeper sofa in the bedroom. The unit is very clean and everything functioned well.
Kitchen features full sized appliances but is a little smaller than others in the Marriott brand. There are not a lot of cabinets for storage of food, but enough unless you do a lot of cooking in the unit. It has all of the necessary pots, pans, dishes and utensils that you will need.
No problems encountered with check-in and our room was waiting. I do feel that the registration desk person could have spent a little time providing some basic info about the villas and amenities. She breezed through the process in a couple of minutes. There was no one at the welcome desk when we checked in around 7:30 pm on Sat and we were never called about a time share presentation. A little unusual and we were even interested in listening to one!
We did have an issue with the toilet during the stay and housekeeping responded promptly. All resort workers were very pleasant. On Friday early evening they provided a cocktail and appetizer for all guests, which was nice.
We participated in a planned resort beach walk, which was 3 miles and went to the ocean and back with a little history tour. That was a very good activity. There are also plenty of grills, a putting green, basketball courts and tennis courts on the property. The resort also hosted ice cream parties and plenty of activities for kids. I would have like to have seen a few more adult oriented tours and activities offered.
There are terrific restaurants near the villas, although the restaurant does not have one, which is a little surprising considering its size. The Marketplace is also very small for this size resort, but does offer pizza delivery. I highly recommend Garlic Jo's Restaurant, about 5 miles north of the villas and the restaurant located right on the Pacific Ocean in the park below the villas. We had a nice meal there and saw a gorgeous sunset.
Convenience to Area Attractions - Disneyland about 45 minutes northwest. San Diego attractions about 1 1/2 hour south. The most important thing is it is close to scores of beautiful southern California beaches. The area is filled with gorgeous homes and beautiful views.
Suitability of Resort for couples, families, relaxing - We were there at the end of February and early March and the temperature was in the 70s to low 80s - FANTASTIC! The resort had many families and a nice blend of young and old.
This was a great experience and we will absolutely go back again!
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jdirago
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3
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FABULOUS, BUT DON'T LEAVE THE RESORT
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Date Of Visit -
Feb 25, 2013
Date Of Review -
Mar 06, 2013
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My husband and I live only 90 mi. up the coast from Newport Beach. I submitted a “Request” for this resort and we were fortunate to get it. We own an annual week at the Kona Coast Resort in Hawaii. February in Southern California is typically cool and often rainy, but this particular week was unbelievably warm and sunny . . . we were SO lucky! I walked on the beach every day and was sorry to have to leave when the week was over, it was SO beautiful!
About 3 weeks before our arrival date we received an email where we were able to express any preferences we might have. I requested ocean view, top floor, quiet, no pool, no traffic noise, and bldg. with an elevator. A return email confirmed that we would have an ocean view, upper (not top) floor, and elevator. Our unit was on the 3rd floor and had the ocean view and elevator, and was blessedly quiet. We are not Marriott owners so it was surprising that we were given the opportunity to say what we wanted, and then we actually got it . . . fantastic!
Check-in was simple, friendly, and expedient. I arrived an hour early and had to wait an hour until their 4 o’clock guaranteed time, but it’s so lovely there that I didn’t mind waiting. Checkout couldn’t have been simpler . . . dial a number, wait for the beep, hang up. . . done.
The 2 bedrm./2 bath unit was like a roomy apartment, I could live there. Everything was clean and in excellent condition; however, the living room furniture was not all that comfortable for watching TV or just sitting and reading a book. Comfortable beds, good lighting, fantastic view of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island (we were in Villa 4930). One call to Maintenance was handled in less than 15 minutes.
There were daily activities, many of them for children. The only thing I took advantage of was an employee-led 3-mi. hike to Crystal Cove which was delightful. We did go to Balboa Island for an afternoon, and one other trip was south to San Clemente. The traffic any direction was horrendous and took away from the joy of driving along the beach.
We would love to return to this resort but if we do we will figure out how NOT to be driving anywhere except inside the resort. Unfortunately, the only place to eat there is the pool bar which is only open during warmer weather. We did go one evening to Zov’s where the food and service were good, drinks not so much. If there were restaurants at the resort we really would never have to leave!
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ladyshay
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4
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Great Resort but Room Needs Some Updating
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Date Of Visit -
Oct 20, 2012
Date Of Review -
Oct 28, 2012
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We are Marriott owners, but not at this resort. This was our first visit to this resort and we would definitely return.
The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. We enjoyed walking around the resort and enjoying both the feeling of the buildings, the landscaping and the views. Plenty of heated pools, a nice fitness center, tennis courts/basketball hoops, and a spa.
The staff was very friendly in every aspect. Check-in and check-out were both very smooth.
The lobby is very inviting and we noted that they will be upgrading it this winter.
The location of the resort is very good being just south of Newport Beach and Fashion Island mall, and just north of Laguna Beach and then Dana Point. We also drove to Disneyland one day, which was approximately 25 miles away. We left at 6:40 am on a Tuesday morning and had a very smooth drive. Very fun day at both parks.
You can either drive or walk to the beach. It took us about 20 minutes to walk there and we enjoyed that since the weather was in the 70's. Very comfortable for late October.
The resort also provides a free shuttle to Fashion Island. We didn't use it, but it was a nice feature to have available.
We ate lunch at La Vista, the pool side restaurant, one day and enjoyed the food. The price was reasonable for a resort.
We had an end unit on the third floor and had a nice view of the ocean. The unit itself was plenty spacious, much as we have experienced at other Marriott resorts. The walls were clean and the paint looked very nicely maintained. A couple of things we didn't expect were a couple of tiles on the kitchen floor, which were loose and raising up. If someone wasn't watching, they could trip on one of them in the middle of the floor. We watched ourselves as we didn't want to report it during our stay. However, we did report it upon check-out so they can take care of it for the future guests. We also noticed that the finish on some of the kitchen cabinets was worn, however, these may be due for upgrade too.
As expected, the kitchen was well- supplied. A couple of things regarding some disposable items that my wife was surprised by was the low quality of the paper towels and toilet tissue that were provided. These may be minor things, but weren't the quality expected of a Marriott resort.
Overall, we really enjoyed our visit and will plan to return again some time.
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mjm1
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5
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Absolutely Lovely!!
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Date Of Visit -
Sep 21, 2012
Date Of Review -
Oct 07, 2012
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This resort is perfect to include family or friends. The 2 bedroom layout allows for plenty of privacy but also has a comfortable living area feel. We liked the fact that the units have a standard range and microwave unit- which is perfect for those of us that don’t work well with convection microwaves. We like to have pizza in the villas as late night snacks or lunch and the logistics of preparing pizza in resorts with only a convection microwave have been disappointing. There were plenty of reasonably priced, tasty restaurants in the area, many of which could be reached on the resort’s complimentary shuttle service. We couldn’t come up with any real negatives except for the lack of any free midweek tidy services. We did launder the towels ourselves once, but probably could have called for additional clean towels. No big deal. We can’t wait to go back!!!
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fredward
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6
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Impressive!
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Date Of Visit -
Jul 22, 2012
Date Of Review -
Aug 05, 2012
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Having not written a review for the last few years, I feel it is time for me to contribute again. The good news is I am very thorough in my reviews. The bad news is that makes for extremely long reviews.
When driving into Marriott''s Newport Coast Villas for our first visit to Southern California the one word that came to mind was IMPRESSIVE! The grounds are immaculate and resort is huge. What a beautiful property!
We arrived at about 4:20pm and our room wasn''t quite ready. The front desk immediately apologized for the delay, checked us in and, due to our “inconvenience,” gave us $25 of complimentary services at the resort. This was quite an unexpected but pleasant gift as we had not been upset or complained at all about the delay. What a great way to give us a first impression! Our room was ready in a very short time and they called us on the cell phone to notify us that we could pick up our keys.
So our introduction to Newport Coast was extremely pleasant EXCEPT for the “greeters” from sales in the lobby who were quite persistent in wanting to set up a sales meeting for us. They caught us as we were walking in the door, again on our way out, and then stopped us again when we came in to pick up our keys. They stopped us at least three other times during our stay when we happened to walk through the lobby. We began to avoid the lobby so as not to be accosted. They did not want to take “we will think about it and make a decision later” as an answer. They really wanted us to schedule a meeting immediately. By the way, we did call in our 2nd week to schedule a meeting because we were interested in new information and this was at our convenience.
Villa assignment – Excellent! We were in building 3800. We were in villa 3820. It was a perfect location. Being on the 2nd floor in this building is just as good as 3rd or 4th floor. We had a full view of the ocean and really could not even see another building unless we walked out onto the balcony and looked down or to our right. There was only one set of about 20 steps between us and the pool (I think if you went through the lobby there is even an elevator so you could get there without any stairs, if needed.) As we drove and walked around the resort I tried to make notes of other buildings that would be great assignments. In my opinion the best villas for views (and less climbing up and down of stairs) would be 3700 (3rd & 4th floor – sales is on 1st & 2nd), 3800, 3900, 2400, 4000 and 4100. If you have small children and got an UPPER floor I think 2200 and 2100 would be ok as they are near the Activity Center and the Playground, however there are more stairs to climb here. It does look like the views on the bottom floors of 2200 and 2100 would be questionable. I will say that there are probably other villas with amazing views, but they are further from most activities and require longer walks or plenty of stairs. As an example, there are 50 steps climbing from building 2200 to the main pool area.
Villa – the villa was very nice. As mentioned, what a view! As always, the Marriott beds were luxurious! There was plenty of drawers and closet space for our family of four. The villa was a perfect size and I liked that the two bedrooms were separated so that the kids had their side of the villa and we had ours. The chairs and sofa were only so comfortable. We normally don''t spend as much time sitting in the den, but with the Olympics to watch in the evenings, we got a little uncomfortable in those chairs. The washing machine is tiny, tiny…but tiny is better than none so I can''t complain too much. The master bathroom area where the shower is located also has the toilet. It is a little oddly configured, so that the door to the shower hits the toilet when opened. The shower is very roomy and wonderful, but the room is quite small. The kitchen had everything we needed except a potato masher and an ice cream scoop. Their skillet is a little small so if you cook for several people, you might want to bring your own. The safe does not have a keypad lock, but rather an old-fashioned key entry. They have a large keychain on the key and it is rather cumbersome to carry around with you.
Parking – We had 1 car so we did not need the remote garage. We did do quite a bit of site-seeing so we had to come back looking for parking spaces quite often. We were always able to find a space in front of either building 3800 or 3900.
Amenities – They are numerous, so I will only comment on the ones we used.
Catalina Pool (main pool – 3 pools really) – It is heated, but still on the cool side. There were plenty of chairs every day that we were at the pool except one. Even on that day, we were able to find chairs at one of the smaller of the 3 pools in the main area. They have lots of activities going on at the main pool. Towel pick-up and drop-off are both located at the pool. The hot tubs were pretty crowded and lots of kids in them, so not quite as enjoyable as a hot tub area might normally be.
Fire Pits – they have a Smores activity a few nights a week. We actually purchased our own Smore ingredients and went several nights to the fire pit. If you do this, you can either rent skewers from the Activity Center ($3 for 4 skewers) or bring your own skewers or wire hangers.
Concierge – The concierge came in handy several times. 1) We bought our Disney tickets through the concierge since we were only doing 1 day there. We saved $7 per ticket. Since it is next to impossible to get discounts on single day Disney tickets, I thought this was pretty good. 2) She also gave us driving directions (toward LA) so that we could avoid the toll road. Basically take Newport Coast Dr to San Joaquin Hills Rd and make a left then turn right on MacArthur Blvd and that will take you to CA-73 North where you can get on for free. 3) We got ideas for whale watching tours from her also. She did try to talk us into the more expensive tour (I will say their boats and online information did look really nice) however we were trying to do several excursions and so we were trying to save money. She then suggested the Whale watching tours through Dana''s Wharf. We actually book through them. They have a Tuesday 1/2 price on all tickets. The boat was clean, the travel out and back was smooth (I didn''t see anyone even acting queasy), and we saw whales. We were close enough to hear as they spouted through their blowholes.
Activity Center/King Triton''s Cove (we have a 5 year old) – our daughter participated in some of the activities: 1) Snow Cones ($3 each for large snow cones); 2) Princess Tea Party – this activity was pretty lame really. They really need to get the kids involved in an activity like a princess parade or something. 3) Pirate Party and Treasure Hunt – much better than the Princess Tea Party. She enjoyed walking the resort looking for the treasure beads and then picking out a prize. 4) Olympic Torch lighting – took pictures with the “Olympic Torch” they lit by the pool. 5) Koi Fish Feeding – my daughter loved this, but it only happens once a week and there are several kids and not much food. Each child gets to throw in about 4 pieces of food. 6) Fun with Beads – my daughter enjoyed making a bracelet. 7) Crafts – $2-$4 – I thought these were a little cheesy. We have visited other resorts where even the small children can paint ceramics at a reasonable price and have them fired. They do have a Poolside Pottery, but it is geared more toward adults at $18-$25.
The Shack /Teen Center - Although we did not participate, it appeared that the Activity Center had several activities scheduled for tweens and teens, especially geared toward the Olympic Games. We walked through the The Shack one day and were not really impressed, however, I did overhear 4 teen girls talking at the pool one day about going to get dressed so they could go to The Shack later and they were talking about how much fun it was.
Galaxy Arcade – We walked through there a couple of times and there were very few kids in the arcade. By now, Marriott has probably paid for these games, so why not make them very inexpensive (like .25 each) so that activity is better utilized and not a money-making scheme. Truth is they would probably make more money with many kids playing at small fees than letting it sit empty with no one playing the games.
MarketPlace – For a resort this size, the MarketPlace is miniscule. This is the largest Marriott property we have visited and the smallest MarketPlace. Since the property doesn''t really have much in the way of a restaurant, I would have thought the MarketPlace would have been larger and better stocked.
Pacific Park – This area has a full basketball court, a small putting green, a sandbox, two tether balls, a fire pit and playground. This is a FABULOUS area and it was being used at all times. Everyone there looked like they were having fun. Our villa overlooked this area and there were kids and adults there from early morning until late night. You might think this would be an issue due to noise, but it wasn''t at all. You could hear that there were voices, but they didn''t carry much and never bothered us at all. The only issue we had with this area is that the plants surrounding the playground were VERY attractive to bees. They really need to think about pulling up those flowering bushes next to the playground and planting something that does not attract bees. Also, I hope they will look into putting a path between the 3800 and 3900 buildings down to Pacific Park. You have to walk quite a way around to get the park that you overlook. Due to this, we saw many kids and teens cutting through the bushes and plants. It would also be nice to put some swings throughout the resort like the ones they have at Barony Beach so that you could just sit and enjoy the view.
Grill Areas – There were several grill areas throughout the resort. The one near our building was very clean. We actually saw housecleaning the area and specifically the grills a couple of different times.
Shuttle – We took the shuttle for both Crystal Cove and to Laguna Beach. It is very convenient. It is much better than driving and trying to find and pay for your owning parking space.
Trash and Recyclables Pickup – If you bag your trash and recyclables and put them outside your door early in the morning, the housekeeping staff will pick it up for you.
Offsite information:
Pavilion Grocery Store – It is only a couple of miles away and has very reasonable prices. I thought the prices would much higher in California than Texas, but they aren''t at the grocery store. Be certain you have a Pavilion/Safeway/Tom Thumb card in order to get discounts. If you don''t have one, take a minute and get one. It saves about 20% off of your grocery bill.
Sightseeing:
Disneyland California Adventure – See concierge notes above for directions and tickets. Parking is $15/car. Tips: Get in the FastPass line for Radiator Springs as soon as you get there! The wait was 180 minutes for the ride. We got our FastPasses at 9:20AM and they were for 10:00-11:00PM!! All FastPasses for the day for Radiator Springs were gone by 9:30AM!!! The new Luigi''s Tire Ride is not worth the wait unless it is a very short wait. Beware of the swinging cars on the Ferris Wheel. Suffice it to say they provide barf bags!
San Diego Zoo – I can check it off my bucket list now, but I can''t see ever going back. It was ok, but I have been to other zoos I thought were much nicer and had better habitats/exhibits. Tips: Ride the Guided Tour Bus first in the morning. They stop at many of the exhibits while the animals are still up and about. Take the Skyfari to the “top” of the park and walk down one lane then take it back to the top and walk down another lane…continue to do this until you have seen all you want to see. Wear tennis shoes!
Hollywood Walk-of-Fame – Another one to check off of my bucket list, but can''t see going there again. It was crowded and a huge tourist trap. It was fun to drive through Beverly Hills, down Rodeo Dr. and past the Hollywood sign, but I can now say “been there, done that.”
Sea World San Diego – What a pleasant surprise!! Very clean! Very entertaining! Every member of our family enjoyed this day. The exhibits for the penguins and polar bears are far nicer than the San Diego Zoo. Even the prices in the shops were relatively reasonable. Much nicer merchandise than Disneyland (and I am a huge Disney fan) or San Diego Zoo and at better prices. If you have kids this hour-plus drive is worth it. Tips: The Sea Lion and Otter Shows are very entertaining. Get there early so you don''t miss the Pre-shows. The Wild Arctic Area is very nicely exhibited! San Diego Zoo should take a tip from Sea World on this one. We really enjoyed the dolphin show at Dolphin Point too. Wear tennis shoes!
Now final notes on Newport Coast…
We did go to the sales presentation. We were assigned to Marty. He is new to the Marriott Sales team. He really listened to how we travel and what our timeshare needs are. He took his time to give us all of the updates that have happened since our last presentation and, as would be expected from him since it is his job, he tried to sale us on several different options with Marriott. Since we currently have more timeshare time than we have vacation time (two non-Marriott timeshares we are hoping to sell in the near future plus 3 Marriott deeded weeks and Destination Points with Marriott), we were not in the market to make a purchase. Two of his managers came in to “visit” with us. I do not know their names, but his male boss, never even looked us in the eye. You could tell he was just reading our “Marriott Bio” to see how they would be able to talk us into something. After he left, the other female manager made us a very nice offer, but as mentioned we are currently not in the market to take it. We were then offered something from the Encore Team which was to purchase a week at Marriott Newport Coast to use in the next 18 months in exchange for meeting with Marty again at that time. It was a really good price, but we are 24 hours from Southern California and don''t expect to be back that direction within the next couple of years.
It was a wonderful 2-week vacation. The weather could not have been better! I don''t think we ever saw above 75 degrees. The front desk associates and the “at your service” phone team were very friendly and very helpful. We had a few questions/requests and we were always met with a smile and a willingness to help. We had no maintenance issues in our room or anywhere in the resort that we saw. We will definitely visit Newport Coast Villas again some time and we would recommend them to everyone!
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7
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Good resort. Great location.
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Date Of Visit -
Mar 16, 2012
Date Of Review -
Mar 22, 2012
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We stayed at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas on an exchange thru Marriott. On the whole, we were very pleased. The resort is built on a hillside, and many, if not all, units have at least some view of the ocean. It’s a Marriott, so the property is beautiful and the units are very nice. It’s just off the Pacific Coast Hwy. with all of its coastal towns full of shops and excellent, albeit expensive restaurants. I thought at first that our 2BR unit was was a bit small by Marriott standards, but my wife pointed out that out that it was just oddly shaped. I don’t know it they’re all like that or not. The furnishings and appointments were all fairly new, very clean, and tasteful. We had no problem with the check-in. There was a teen center and poolside activities. There was a welcome meeting on Monday morning that we didn’t get to a major snafu on the staff’s part, but it’s too tedious (and boring) to go into here. I will say that I was disappointed in the resort’s accommodation for the handicapped. While I’m sure that they meet the letter of the Americans with Disabilities Act, I don’t think that they met its spirit.
Kitchen: Well-appointed with dishes, pots, coffee maker, tea kettle, toaster, cleaning supplies, full-size fridge, stove/oven, microwave, lots of cabinets, and washer and dryer. Included dish soap, dishwasher soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, and other cleaning supplies. Included “starter packs” of coffee, but not tea (which I drink). Dining room: Round, glass-topped table with 6 chairs. Living room: Sleep sofa, 2 upholstered chairs, 30+” TV, and DVD. Sliding glass door to balcony. Master BR: King-sized bed, closet, an upholstered chair, a TV (about 30”), jacuzzi tub, and vanity with double sink in the bedroom. It had a separate, small-ish bath room with toilet and shower. Sliding glass door to patio. Also, had a safe in the closet, but it was a joke. It was small and vertical and had a lock that wouldn’t have stopped any of my granddaughters! Second BR: A bit small, but it had a queen-size bed, TV, closet. Its bathroom had 2 doors, so it was accessible from the bedroom and the main apartment itself. Linens: Kitchen, bathrooms, and BR's had sufficient linens, with extra blankets and pillows. Pool towels were available at the pool. Maid service: None, but I’m sure that if we needed anything, we just needed to call. Other: In-unit brochure provided basic info about the resort and what to do in the area. Both bathrooms included 2 small bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Free wi-fi in the room! Outside: Well landscaped and maintained. Parking was readily available in a garage across the street, but the resort is so big, that there must have been other places to park. We didn’t have a need to look. 2 large, heated pools. Hot tub. Gas grills scattered throughout the resort. Things to do: About an hour from San Diego and LAX. We went to Catalina Island for a day and also to the Nixon Presidential Library (which wasn’t as bad as I feared!).
All things considered, we'd highly recommend this resort.
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8
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This was a tyically excelant Marriott resort.
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Date Of Visit -
Date Of Review -
Feb 27, 2012
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We had villa 2742 which was located on the 4th floor of Bldg 2700. It had a great sunset view over the ocean, It had been very recently refurnished. In fact, reurbishment was on-going while we were there so most units were unoccupied. Appliances were better then most, especially the microwave and refidgerator. The furniture was new, at most 2-3 weeks. Staff was typical Marriott, very friendly and helpful. Market place is minimal- Starbucks and newspapers and not much else. However, Trader Joes and Vons are quite close so not a real problem.
Went to the presentation as we are recent Discovery Club members and wanted more info. Learned quite a bit, didn't buy any more points. No pressure to buy, generally pleasant experience.
2 Monor problems: I like a paper in the morning and they have suspended delivery to rooms. The in-room book said you could refuse delivery and get a $0.75 credit. Not so. Since they probably would only deliver USA Today, its no real loss and the walk to get a paper every morning was good for me. But.....
The WiFi was free and strong. However, it did not require a password and my e-mail account was hacked! Don't know if that contributed but I think so.
We will definately return. It's a 2 1/2 hr drive for us and a nice area, especially in a era of high gas and airline fares.
I'd rate it a 9 for the units and location
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dmgatlin
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9
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A Great Resoert
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Date Of Visit -
Jan 08, 2012
Date Of Review -
Feb 23, 2012
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We stayed at the Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas January 8, 2012 thru January 15, 2012. This was an Interval International trade for another Marriott (Shadow Ridge, summer week…pretty weak trade). I was surprised to get the two bedroom unit at Newport Beach, but of course, it was a bit “off season"….our best travel time. Several weeks before our arrival; the resort sent an email asking for our “preferences.” I checked the TUG reviews and building 3800, top floor, was recommended by a Tug’er. That’s what I requested…and got it! Unit 3800, 4th floor, unit 1. The view of the Pacific was fantastic! We were close to the registration area…that’s were the morning USA Today was found. Our unit was very nice and well equipped. Check in was a breeze…we were recognized as a Premier Marriott Rewards member and received points for our stay.
The size of the unit and the condition of the resort property was very good. There were no problems with check-in (except my wife rather harshly refused the "Presentation.”…we’ve had enough of those…Marriott can’t offer enough points to tempt us to waste 90 minutes…I wish they would quit the hard sell). The resort activities were probably good, but we didn’t take advantage of any of those. The staff was very friendly and helpful. One disappointment was the market…it was pretty “minimal.” I think Marriott needs to learn that the “Market” is an important feature of any 10 rated resort. The Markets at Cypress Harbor, Orlando; Shadow Ridge, Palm Desert; and Ocean Watch, Myrtle Beach are good examples of what a “Market” should be. The one at Newport Coast, California, is an example of an “inadequate” market. Like the one on Hilton Head, they may as well forget it.
Newport Beach and surrounding area is, of course, wonderful. Laguna Beach, San Clemente, Costa Mesa (with the huge mall), and all of Southern California is fantastic. Dining in Newport Beach was very good; visiting the piers and the beaches was enjoyable. We enjoyed our stay and, except for the market, would rate this timeshare a 10. The Market was a downer…I’m going to 9.0. But I would certainly return to this resort…the vista from our unit, 3841, was priceless.
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atkinsge
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10
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