Apr 13 2019 I've owned a unit in this resort since 2006. It is top notch. Marriott takes good care of their resorts so you are never surprised. The layout of the unit is very functional and very large. It can sleep up to 8 people because there is a Master bed, a queen sofa sleeper in the living room and a sofa sleeper and bed in the second bedroom. There is also a balcony with ocean view. The resort itself has several pools conveniently located throughout the property as well as outdoor games like basketball, shuffle board, etc. The newest additions have been the many firepits scattered throughout, generally by the BBQ stations. The location is close to Newport Fashion Island (free shuttle), Laguna Beach (free shuttle), and Crystal Cove (free shuttle). Disneyland is not far either. I am guessing a 15 minute drive. My family enjoys coming here at least every other year. It is like a home away from home.


51255 Patm99 - owner

Jan 18 2019 Over 700 villas are in this resort. Many pools etc. Ours was beautiful and fully equipped. Our ocean view was spectacular for a sunset especially. Lots of things to do in the area. Parking was free and under our building. The staff were absolutely the BEST. 73 highway is an electranic toll road among others. It was easy to get the charges set up so they were paid directly by us on our credit card instead of going to our rental car company who added a high service fee for them tracking our toll bill. We'd stay there again for sure.


50606 Granny Heidi

Dec 2 2018 Based on TUG recommendations, we flew into SNA (John Wayne Airport) and found it very convenient to the resort. The signs to the rental car lot were not very clear, however, and we walked farther than we needed to before we got there. Even with the correct directions on our return, however, it was a long walk from the Southwest terminal.


I requested a top floor ocean view. Received an email a few days before my arrival advising me that I was assigned to an “upper floor (not top) and with an ocean view. I was disappointed when I arrived and found out I was on the second floor, but I did have a nice view of the ocean if I looked over the other buildings and their parking lots. The resort is laid out so that most units second floor and above would apparently see the ocean.


The balcony, with a table and four chairs, was nice for sitting to enjoy the view or just soak up the sun. The kitchen was well supplied. Everything was clean. The sofa was not at all comfortable for sitting. We did not try the sofa bed. The bed in the master was comfortable, the bedroom large, and the linens adequate. There was no mid-week tidy. There was a room for garbage and recycling on each floor.


It looked like the parking lot had recently been repainted and there were no designated handicapped spots marked at the buildings. The only place I saw a few was in the check-in parking. The activity center was not an easy walk from most units, especially with the hilly terrain. There was little parking near it, but we usually found a spot not too far away. We went to a welcome meeting, where they had coffee, juice and pastries. We also went to the wine and cheese tasting one day and a sampling of bar-b-qued meat another day (held indoors due to inclement weather). Our final morning, we joined the kids for pancakes in the playroom. Other than the chairs being tiny for grown-ups, it was a pleasant way to end the week. The majority of the resort staff were very hospitable, though we encountered a couple who were sort of testy.


We drove to Disneyland two days. It wasn’t a bad drive either way, though we left right at rush hour one day and took about an hour to get back to the resort. We had marvelous weather for the most part, but a nasty rainstorm hit one of the days we had planned to go to Disneyland, so we had to rearrange our schedule. It was a relaxing day at the resort watching it rain and catching up on some cable television shows (we don’t have cable at home).


We enjoyed day trips to Laguna Beach and Huntington Beach. We also took the little ferry over to Balboa Island and then drove back to the resort, taking the scenic route. Balboa Island is really a peninsula, so you can easily make the trip without the ferry, but it was a quick (and cheap) trip across after we found the ferry. GoogleMaps took us on a couple of unnecessary circles before we found a sign and turned off the not-so-smart phone. We parked on a street after we exited the ferry and walked around the residential neighborhood looking at the Christmas decorations. We also stopped in town, where parking was a little more limited, to eat and check out a free museum. Food was pretty expensive for the most part. We limited out meals out by cooking at the resort most days.


There were several holiday events going on in the area, but our schedule only permitted us to see a couple of them. The majority were on the weekend or starting right after we left the area. One neighborhood event that was advertised online apparently was not happening in 2018, because we went to the location and there were just a few nicely decorated yards. Nothing as advertised.


This was a nice respite from the cold weather back east, and it was wonderful seeing all of the beautiful flowers at the resort and everywhere else around. We could have stayed a lot busier than we did, but we were happy to relax and have a laid-back vacation, other than the long, hectic days at Disneyland.


At arrival, we were sent over to the “welcome desk” to get our parking pass. We were ask if we had exchanged in and, when we answered affirmatively, we were not offered an “owner’s update” or any other sales presentation. No subsequent call to the unit either. I’m not sure whether arriving late in the evening influenced this or we didn’t look affluent enough to bother with. I would have probably agreed to attend had I been ask, since we had already seen that one day of our week was going to be a wash-out weather-wise.


50587 sfwilshire

Aug 15 2018 Beautiful setting with pool overlooking ocean. Marriott amenities very nice as always. Good restaurants close by. An awesome wine and cheese party.


50397 DougSchrank

Sep 14 2018 A week at this resort and we wish we had more time there....the 2 bedroom unit was very large, clean and comfortable....the staff vKoery gracious, even when we refused the "let us bring you up to date on your ownership", AKA a sales pitch....went to several restautants recommended at sign in, and the "Beachcomber" was a winner...also pleased with the bar and grill service by the pools...the shuttle service was excellent, and we used it for trips to Laguna and the Beachcomber...this resort just a few small notches beneath the Marriott Ko Olina at Kapolei, Oahu (the best we have ever experienced)...




50252 MarcWalpole

Sep 3 2018 We met my son and his fiancee here and stayed for 4 days. Beautiful room, great view of the ocean, and a very nice property overall. I’m not a big fan of LA, but we took the kids to do touristy stuff one day and getting there and back was surprisingly easy to do. Mostly we toured the Newport Coast area and ate in local eateries up and down the coast. The pool here is very nice and we lounged there in comfort and (mostly) quiet. We really enjoyed our stay here and expect to return in a year or two.


50246 FMR

Sep 20 2018 Spent 7 nights in mid-Sept., escaping high temperatures ln California’s high desert. Really enjoyed the temperatures in the 70’s but still sunny afternoon’s. We mostly sit on the balcony, watch the ocean and eat some seafood. Truly relaxing. Typically great facilities and service.


50242 dmgatlin

Dec 9 2017 We stayed at Marriott's Newport Coast for a week to visit Disneyland with our kids and grandkids. As always, Newport Coast is absolutely the best place to stay for that purpose.


We spent 3 days at Disneyland, and the drive is about 35 minutes door-to-door. It's nice to return to this beautiful and comfortable resort after a 12-hour day at Disneyland.


The view we had from unit 2232 was of the ocean. Our three-year-old granddaughter absolutely loved the balcony. She easily managed opening the door.


The beds are so very comfortable at the Marriott resorts, and this one was no exception. We absolutely loved the big bathtub, as we always do. The second bedroom had a queen bed and a sofa sleeper for an additional four people.


The kitchen is well equipped. We enjoyed cooking and eating every breakfast in the unit.


We never use the sofa sleeper in the living room, but our son said the one in the bedroom was quite comfortable because he slept there when our granddaughter couldn't sleep and wanted to be in the big bed with Momma.


People actually tell me how really odd it is that we drive that far from Newport Coast to Disneyland, but it's such a pleasant drive and easy with the carpool lanes. Don't let that stop you from staying at the Marriott. The ride is not that bad. We used to stay in Carlsbad to go to Disneyland.


I rated this resort a 9.0 because it really is good for 1) location, 2) quality of the unit, 3) top amenities (like pools).


We stay there anytime we can. We do wish we could get the resort for July, when our older grandkids can go, but it's never going to happen, even with Marriott preference. We just haven't had that luck.




44344 rickandcindy23

Apr 8 2017 Just a great resort and a great location of Southern California. Easy Access to Laguna Beach and great restaurants. Walking distance to the Beach. Great shopping and entertainment. Great weather and amenities. A must visit resort.


42029 Newport1 - owner

Feb 4 2017 Had a 3rd floor villa facing the northwest above the golf course. Nice view of ocean, although obstructed by some trees. Accommodations are always top rate, and the exercise room, pool, jacuzzis, and poolside cafe make time around the pool relaxing. It's also close to the Crystal Cove state park with walking trails and the cute 50's community.


41937

Apr 2 2017 We traded into Newport Coast and got the same dates as our daughter who is an owner there, as a result we had 2- 2BR units

in the 4500 building. We own at Shadowridge in Palm Desert and prefer the 2BR lockoff size unit there..

Newport units are not lockoffs so the Master side is not as big as our SR unit...toilet/bath area is open so not much privacy compared to usual 2BR lockoff. But it was spring break and we had the whole family together as the 2 units slept 16 bodies!!!!

Very nice property, well maintained as are all Marriott's...but this one is all on a hill and 4500 is near the top. Walking down is OK, but the trip back up not so good.....parking provided for one car at the unit but additional cars need to park in central under ground garage near main check in building...again a walk up to 4500 building.

As mentioned in other reviews Newport has all the amenities and a great place to just hang out. Traffic in the area is .....well its LA.... so you just get used to it. Local restaurant's are very good but with 16 for dinner get expensive.

Overall very enjoyable, but probably will not return as we like less activity in our old age...




41647 pumbug

Jun 30 2016 Large resort. Isolated. Large rooms with all the amenities. Well maintained, newish and staff is responsive and helpful. Ocean views (in the distance) from most units Superior gas grills near all units. Many activities and restaurants on site. Three miles to beach and must pay to park but resort has a free shuttle that runs every thirty minutes. Nearest shopping center with casual restaurants and grocery store is about five miles away. Corona del Mar is about five miles north and has many fine restaurants. Newport Beach is five miles further north.


40417 Shoola - owner

Dec 26 2016 We just spent 4 night/5 day vacation at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas as part of a Marriott Encore package deal. Overall, this resort is nice with a great pool and view overlooking the Pacific Ocean but it is not ocean front, which is why I didn't think it merited a score of 10. To get to the beach, the resort offers a crowded shuttle for guests to get to a very famous beach, Chrystal Cove State Park, just across the Pacific Coast Highway. The traffic in Newport Beach is super busy, but we ventured out for dinner in town and enjoyed a tasty Mexican dinner for a reasonable price at El Chollo Restaurant. When driving around this area be sure to stay off the toll roads as they are very pricey. My daughter and son-in-law followed google maps for directions and it sent them right to the toll road to get to the resort.


The rooms in the resort are large and spacious, similar to other Marriott resort layouts. Our room was updated, modern and featured great sleeping accommodations for everyone, including a really comfy sofa bed. I appreciated the free parking with 2 parking passes (1 underground) plus additional guest parking and free in room internet. Every day the maids knocked on the door to offer us lots of clean towels and soap. This was quite unexpected. My daughters enjoyed the free exercise classes and said they were quite challenging. My grandchildren enjoyed the children activities. Every day we took up free taffy kept in large bowls in the lobby and we enjoyed the nightly music by pool bar. We stayed in building 2900 which is fairly close to the clubhouse but backs up to the main road. Our patio off the living room overlooked the resort entrance so I didn’t enjoy it as much because of the constant traffic.


As part of our stay, we were required to attend a sales presentation on the Marriott Vacation Club. Our sales guy was totally professional and so informative about the intricacies of the Marriott Vacation Club and the trust in which all unsold Marriott properties are a part of. He cleared up a lot of questions I had about how that all works and he kept us on time, which I appreciated. In the end , Marriott offers a great product but if I want another timeshare, I would definitely shop on the TUG website. This a really beautiful resort in a pricey part of California and except for the crazy traffic, we had a relaxing time.


40218 kgsanchez4

Oct 21 2016 Traded our Cypress Harbour unit for a unit here October 21-28, 2016. Have been to California several times before, but have never stayed in this area.


Arrived late Friday evening after our flight and received a unit in one of the buildings we had requested, Building 3700. Perfect location! Could not have been more convenient--the checkin area, fitness center, main pool, and marketplace were all a 1 minute walk directly next to our building. I had requested a top floor, but we received a third floor (5 floors in this building). Our unit was directly above the sales presentation for the villas. All was good-you could see the ocean from the living room and master bedroom, and we were very happy with our unit assigned for the week.


My husband loved the comfortable large couch. Each bedroom has a large television as does the living room. Full sized washer/dryer next to foyer, queen bed in one bedroom and king sized bed in master bedroom, and large dining table.


We only had one vehicle and did not find parking difficult to find near our building.


There is a lot to do in the area--one day we took the ferry over to Balboa Island and then took a guided boat tour of movie star homes. Another day we went to Long Beach, had Sunday Brunch at the Reef Restaurant, took a harbor tour, then rented bikes and biked along the beach for a couple of hours-busy day. Got back in our car just in time as a heavy shower appeared.


Went for a taping of The Price is Right. Easy to get there, traffic brutal after the taping was done to return to the resort.


Spent one day just lounging at the pool--nice day with pleasant weather.


Drove one day south along Pacific Coast Highway a little past Dana Point. Beautiful ocean views and homes!


My husband was like a kid happy going to In N Out Burger, and I enjoyed Ruby's Diner.


A nice week and, and we will return again--a beautiful resort with lots of things in the area to do/explore.





40027

Oct 16 2016 We exchanged into this resort. Overall it is a great resort and would exchange into it again. The property is very well maintained and clean. The rim was very comfortable and clean. There is a poolside restaurant/bar on site with the usual poolbar food. Drinks were good, bartenders friendly. The rest of the staff was likewise very good.

The location of the resort is somewhat isolated. You will need to drive or take a taxi just about anywhere you want to go. The room was nice but we didn't have any view. We had a ground floor unit and we could hear the people upstairs walking around, somewhat annoying.

I would go back to this resort and would recommend to others.


40013 bubfn

Oct 2 2016 We own two weeks and come both spring and fall, two of the most amazing seasons at this resort. We used to visit Hawaii from our California home for our "tropical" vacations, until we started coming to Newport Coast. It has the best of all worlds: a beautiful resort, with its pool area overlooking the ocean, fantastic sunsets, a coastline of close cool towns to visit, and amazing restaurants within 5-10 minutes.

The staff is amazing a very accommodating. It used to seem strange to consider vacationing in our home state, but now, we can't wait for the six months between visits to pass!


39982

Jun 10 2016 We live in a suburb of Los Angeles to the north west. When we visit Newport Beach it is a different city altogether. The facility is magnificent. Numerous swimming pools, numerous barbecue grilss. Plenty of parking. The rooms all have a kitchen and washing machine and dryer. From the check in desk you can see the main pool and beyond that the Pacific ocean. The main pool has a snack bar whee you can have food and drinks to consume in the hot tub. We are able to split our week so we can have the weekend and the week days separately.


39678 GG - owner

May 22 2016 Short version: We had a wonderful week, and will probably go back at some point in the future.


Last year, we ended up with 300 points left over that I banked into 2016. That, plus the points from the Oceana Palms week that we own, were just enough to book a week at Newport Coast Villas. It's been on my list, so this was the right opportunity. Since all they have are 2-bedroom units, we invited a couple of friends to go with us.


This is our 11th MVC destination since we bought in 2009, and it's one of the better ones. Large, well-appointed unit, beautiful landscaping, great pools and hot tubs (the smaller one was hot enough for me, and I like 'em hot!), and the usual great Marriott service. We were in 3351, a renovated unit near the lobby and main pools. (One of our group had a hip replacement a few months ago, so minimizing walking was more important than having the perfect view.)


When we arrived the first day, flying in from Michigan, we opted for lunch at the pool bar/grill. It was fine, but there are so many good options in the area that I probably wouldn't choose it again. More likely, we'd take the shuttle down to the Beachcomber, where we had one lunch and one breakfast in the course of the week.


And the Beachcomber wasn't even the source of our best meals. We had wonderful dinners at Fig & Olive, Javier's, and Modo Mio in Newport Beach, and at Brussels Bistro in Laguna Beach. And the pizza from the Marketplace isn't bad at all. ;)


There's a tremendous amount to see if you're willing to travel a bit. We did spend about half our days enjoying the resort and the beach, getting photos of the life in the tide pools. But we also did a day at Universal Studios, a day at the San Diego Zoo, and another trip into L.A. to have lunch with friends and visit the Griffith Observatory. The one downside of the trip is that traffic in L.A., especially on I-5 on a weekday, is horrendous.


One other quibble: While we enjoyed a lot of Universal Studios, they really like rides that throw people around, including the Studio Tour tram. By the end of the day, we all felt a little beat up.


The weather was cooler than we'd expected, with highs in the high 60s all week, but that was OK with us.




39512 markbernstein56

Sep 17 2016 Newport Coast Villas is a huge sprawling resort of many buildings set on a hillside overlooking the Pacific and Pacific Coast Highway. Higher floors in most buildings have fantastic views. Check in was fast and the staff is super friendly. There is a small convenience store in the lobby with snack etc.


Most buildings have views of the ocean its quite a long walk to get to the actual beach. We chose to drive and pay the $10 parking fee at Crystal Cove beach rather than take the resorts shuttle. Crystal Cove is terrific with hiking paths down to the beach. Its not really a beach for swimming as its very rocky but great place to hang out and relax or walk.


We were in a two bedroom unit top floor in the 4000 building which is centrally located in the large resort. The resort has a large outdoor pool area with a bar/restaurant next to it. The food is generally pretty good as is the service. There are many activities around and near the pool area, including ping pong, volleyball, basketball and a putting green.


Our unit was beautiful. Living room, dining room with table for 6 and a full kitchen with anything you could need. Master bedroom had a king bed with a beautiful bathroom and a huge shower with multiple shower heads. Second bedroom had a queen bed and a high quality sleeper sofa. Each bedroom had a flat screen TV. Balcony had a table/chairs for 4 with a beautiful view of the ocean over the golf course. U

nit also had a washer/dryer in a laundry closet.


The resort is centrally located to many sites in Southern CA. A must see is Heisler park about 15 minutes south on Pacific Coast highway. Beautiful views along the coast with many areas with walkways down to the beach with tidal pools and its fairly easy to spot sea lions along the rocks by the water.


Disneyland is less than 30 minutes away and Santa Monica pier, Beverly Hills etc is about an hour but much depends on time of day and traffic. The traffic headed back to NCV is brutal in the afternoon/evening and just plain bad at many other times.


San Diego Zoo and Sea World are about 90 minutes south.


Plenty of restaurants in the area. We love to walk around Laguna Beach and check out the shops/restaurants.


Its a fantastic resort to use as a base for visiting the area. You definitely need a car if you are going to explore the area and the driving is well worth it to see the sites.









38984 gmarine

Jun 6 2015 We recently returned from our third trip to Marriott's Newport Coast Villas. Once again we had a great experience. The room and amenities were all in great shape and we saw many improvements from our last visit in 2011. Among the changes we noticed included larger TVs (probably 55-60")in the living room and master bedroom, new lobby, new activity center in the main building, new movie theatre, streaming movies to your room (three different movies each day) and more benches and chairs throughout the property for sitting and relaxing.


We participated in several activities in the activity center including Build a Buddy for $16, caricatures for $7 and ice cream sundaes for $4. We felt the prices of activities were reasonable, except the ice cream was a little expensive but the proceeds go to charity, so we can't complain. There seemed to be a greater selection of activities this visit than they have had in our past visits.


We utilized the shuttle several times both onsite and to go to Crystal Cove State Park. The shuttles were very convenient especially considering the size of the resort and the amount of hills. We were in building 5000 at the top of the hill and the shuttles made it very easy to get back from the main building.


We went swimming almost every day in the salt water pool closest to our building. It was quiet and the water was comfortable. We never went to the main pool as it was always much more crowded and I heard several people say the water temperature was colder.


Overall we had a great trip to Newport Coast Villas and we definitely plan on returning. We love the area and the resort.


38163 mash84121

May 29 2015 This was my second exchange to this property. While my initial request was for a top floor, I was told they couldn't give me that, but gave me a partial ocean view, which turned out to be on a first floor. The view was excellent and the room was above the parking garage. While it was a "partial" ocean view, it had much more of an ocean view than many "full" ocean view units I've had at other resorts. My only complaint about the room was that my Tmobile cell service did not work in the room. I could get it to work if I walked out of the building, but it didn't work in the building/hallway at all. Eventually, I set my phone to wifi calling and it worked fine in that way.


The property is beautiful in an excellent location. It would be even better if it had a full service restaurant. There are some food items for sale in the convenience shop - at resort prices. It isn't a far drive to buy groceries or to dine out and the resort has a regular shuttle service that goes to several different shopping centers. The shuttle also goes to the beach every hour and the resort has all the beach items you could want to rent or check out.


The staff here was very friendly whenever I passed any of them, which happened anytime that I was walking around outside. Previously, I stayed in the 1200 building and hardly ever saw any staff. After I checked in, the "concierge" came running after me to offer me coupons and stuff and I said I wasn't interested. He accepted that and didn't try to talk me into the sale pitch. I appreciated that after being hounded by sales so much at Worldmark properties. It's nice to know that Marriott still has some class in this area.


As much as I loved the resort overall, I probably won't be returning. My husband has some chemical sensitivity to something that Marriott uses. We don't know if it is in the bedding or if it is cleaning products or bug spray.... all we know is he gets severe joint pain and fatigue whenever we stay at a Marriott timeshare. We brought 2 air purifiers this time and it helped a lot, but after a couple nights, the pain was a bit much to deal with. He doesn't have this issue at any other timeshares that we stay at, but has had it consistently at Marriott timeshares. Sadly, that will keep us from returning.


38117 presleytug

Aug 10 2013 Beautiful property located in Southern California right off of the famed Pacific Coast Highway. No complaints except the trip was too short.


38015 NYFLTRAVELER

Apr 10 2015 We arrived anxious to spend time relaxing and enjoying the resort. Check in was a breeze and we were immediately welcomed with warm smiles and a crew that was anxious to make sure everything was taken care of. We were given 3 parking passes. One is for the parking lot that is located next to the rooms. The other two are for the general parking garage for guests. My recommendation is to make sure to display the parking passes clearly or you will get a large red sticker attached to the drivers side window alerting you that you are in violation of the parking rules. Parking fills up quickly for the spots near the rooms. No problem with general parking in the garage.


The room was clean and inviting. The furniture was a bit worn but was told by the front desk that the resort will be updating the furniture and the 4500 building was scheduled to be updated in the near future. The kitchen supplies are ample. There is enough coffee to get started (3 pots) and enough filters. Dish soap, laundry soap, tissues, the usual all enough for 1 week. Everything was clean and ready to use.


Bring binoculars to enjoy the ocean view! We saw whales, sail boats and all kinds of ships. The balcony is on the smaller side but we made it work. No sunsets from this view and it was cool in the evenings due to no sun after 4 pm.(sun sets on the other side of the building) We had a view of the golf course and ocean. BBQ's are well kept and ready to use. Close to the building and everyone was eager to talk and enjoy the evening when cooking. There are tables to eat at while BBQing and enjoying the view. The pool was clean and lots of things for the kids and teens to do. The pool isn't close but within walking distance. Lots of places to relax and covered tables and chairs. Towels were readily available. Well taken care of and clean! The main pool was crazy busy with lots of families -- we chose to use the pool that was close to our building so it was slightly quieter. Starbucks and small store inside where check-in desk is located. Newspaper, too. There are several computers to use in the main building.


Took the free shuttle to Crystal Cove and loved the convenience. A must visit! Don't pay to park there…… use the free shuttle. Just down 101 is a shopping center with Trader Joes and several restaurants and shops. We spent time in Newport, Huntington Beach just enjoying the life.


Check out was easy but early. 10 am is check out. The front desk employee, Joanie was a highlight of our stay. She took time to ask about our stay, answer any and all questions and went over and above to make sure we were pleased. Joanie is the front desk star!

We will be back and can't wait to see the updated furnishings. Resort is located within driving distance of Disneyland and San Diego. It's a 5 star resort. Oh! Free internet and speed wasn't bad. The only negative we had is that with a 7 night stay we didn't qualify for a free tidy room service. Apparently you must stay 8 or more nights to get the free tidy service. They offered to "run up clean towels" during our stay but you won't have any cleaning provided so plan accordingly. (unless you pay extra) Put your trash out in the morning and it's collected and disposed of. Put it out at night and critters will tear into the bag -- messy! The week was relaxing and nice. Enjoy!




37882 Leah19 - owner

Aug 14 2014 We love to stay at Newport coast villas but would love to be able to dine on-site for breakfast and dinner. Of course, you can go to the little store and get things. The spa is through the gym and is just for massage and facials. For complete spa services we went to the Marriott Pure blu near fashion is,and. You can spend the whole day at these facilities. Newport Coast Villas has beautiful vistas, lovely pools and grounds. Lots of families having great times. There are great restaurants nearby and the ncv bus will take you and pick you up. Relaxing and comfortable. They are beginning to remodel from the Italian decor to more current. Odeon feel.


36905 BIG TUNA

May 4 2014 This is the 3rd visit to this resort for my family. We live in the San Jose, CA area, so it is only about a 6 or 7 hour drive. You always

want a car in Southern California, as most of you probably know.

This is my first review, as we are always happy with out Marriott stays and usually exchange our home unit of Hilton Head for places in

Spain, Arizona, etc. Sometimes we use reward points.

This time around we were happy with the resort and all its many nearby places to visit such as the Getty Museum, Grammy Awards Museum, beach towns, etc.

Our main problem was the noisy neighbors we got on the 3rd floor above us. For about 4 nights in a row, all we would hear at night was apparently little kids running around thumping the floor, and rolling foot stools, etc. The parents obviously were not concerned.

We called the front desk and they claimed to have sent security and even stayed outside later to listen. We did that twice with no change.

It would get quiet for a few minutes, then start up again. I spoke to the manager on the second day of this and she basically acted like there

was not much they could do unless it got so rowdy and other people complained.

My feeling is that this family should never have been given the 3rd floor in the first place. Apparently home base owners get that floor

for the best ocean view.

I will write to Marriott directly soon. This spoiled what was otherwise a typical good Marriott experience. Perhaps TUG members who go there will

request a top floor!


36555 garyofsanjose

Jan 12 2014

Thanks to TUG reviews and Marriott forum we did receive one of the ocean view buildings requested. Villa 4422 was second floor, with a lovely straight on unobstructed ocean view. We were able to see the whale watching boats pause, helping us spot a couple of whale spouts, and several sightings of whales or dolphins breaking the surface. Don't forget the binoculars, as the distance makes it difficult to distinguish without them! The only minus to the view rating would be that in January, the sun sets to the far right of the view, putting the sun sinking behind Catalina Island directly behind the center bell tower of the building below. However, as the grilling terrace is right around the corner on our left, it was also a great place, glass of California wine in hand, to gather to see the sun completely disappear behind the Island, and watch the golden colors deepen and bleed across the sky.

Our two bedroom villa was obtained using 3000 Shell points deposited in II, when, several months ahead of check in while browsing online, I came across probably 6 or more January/February weeks online. This January proved to be a warm (70-80 degrees) week with brilliant blue skies and ocean. The Glendora fire contributed to the firey sunsets, as the smoke drifted West, and did cause the brilliant blue to fade a bit, but never came far enough South at the coast to impact breathing. Though we loved the warm weather, we are Californians and in desperate need of rain, so hope our normally rain producing months of January/February return!

This was to be a relaxing week, so we stayed close, just having lunch at Harborside Restaurant (historic building, on the marina, fresh opakapaka good, just OK atmosphere though...too many other better choices) after taking my husband on his first Balboa Island Ferry crossing, catching another spectacular sunset while strolling the Laguna Beach cliff walk, and making a couple of trips to Crystal Cove. (one with the Marriott Shuttle, and a self drive sunset dinner run at the Beachcomber Cafe) Both methods of transportation worked great, and the $15 parking charge is waived when exiting the parking lot with a Beachcomber Cafe receipt.

One night we grilled steaks at the terrace right next to our building. Everything there was in excellent condition, as was the villa interior and balcony. We picked the steaks up at the Pavillions market up the hill, and they were excellent, as was their produce and wine section. Alhough Trader Joe's is a favorite, and is just down the hill in the very attractive Crystle Cove Center, I only popped in to check on flowers, as Pavillions had already met all our needs. There are farmers markets in the area, but most seem to be on Saturday, and our arrival was Sunday, so timing didn't work out.

My husband is not a shopper, but one of our friends living nearby (with whom I taught at a DOD school in Germany) convinced him we would just do a "kaffee und kuchen" stop at Cheesecake Factory before we headed down to Laguna Beach, so I did get a walk through. It is huge with lots of enticing shops and restaurants.

As I grew up in San Diego, and have taken my Southern California plant addictions with me, next trip will include some succulent garden and nursery visits. The landscaping at NCV only fueled my attempts to make agave attenuata thrive in our sometmes too cold in winter Northern California climate!

NCV seems to have something for everyone. All three pools were attractive, and not crowded when we were there. From our villa we walked to the main pool and the Canyon pool in about 5 minutes. The lower "Tide" Pool, or "Grotto" pool, by building 1000 is probably a 10 minute walk from 4400, and is the only one that does not have a clear ocean view, though the landscaping was beautiful.

They provided two guest parking passes for our visitors, as well as our own pass. Visitor passes are only to be used in the garage near reception, but to simplify, when we expected our friends, we parked our car in the garage with the guest pass, allowing our friend's car to park directly in front with our blue pass. Also, as my mom had planned a day visit and needs a walker, this simplifies for anyone visiting with mobility issues.

We really loved our week at NCV, and will definitely return. Off season is fine for us, and after Timber Lodge it is the closest MVCI property to us, so makes driving a good choice.






36199 Ann in CA

Dec 22 2013 Unit: Beautiful and up to date...except the kitchen does not have stainless steel, but very functional. The non-stick pan was not good since everything kept on burning in it. Other than that, everything was great in the unit.

Condition of Property: Still very new-ish and updated. Love the view and the facilities!

Activities: Tons of great activities for my kids. They did most of the activities offered. They enjoyed checking out the games and there was a wide selection to choose from.

Misc: We got the refillable mugs and thought it was a great value. $14.99 for unlimited coffee and soda refills! We utilized it to the fullest. The shuttle service to nearby places was perfect. Only wish they would add Corona Del Mar to the list of stops! Fashion Island, Laguna Beach, Crystal Cove, Crystal Cove Shopping Center covered all of our needs. There's so much to do around the area, so our time went by fast!

We have been here 3 years in a row and haven't gotten tired of it!


36158 bird2730

Jun 23 2013 In and of itself, Newport Coast is an amazing location to spend a week!

Unit Features - all units are two bedroom dedicated units. Our family of 4 had an ample amount of space to relax and enjoy the amenities comfortably. Our unit was on the first floor, which provided limited natural light. However access to the grass area behind us was a nice feature. Kitchen is well stocked and had most all supplies we needed. One item of note - our oven took a significant period of time to preheat to 350 degrees - more than 30 minutes. However I am sure with any future unit updates, this will be addressed. Master bathroom shower and toilet area is a bit tight, but adequate. In room laundry is a convenience, as well as being walking distance to the main pool, which had a great view of the Pacific Ocean.

Resort Amenities - great views of the pacific ocean. Scheduled shuttle service to Crystal Cove beach is great. Children's areas and activities are abundant in the summer, as well as a great play area that includes a fun grassy area, sand pit, basketball court, and putting green.

For those with electric/hybrid cars - they noted over the phone that there is a dedicated charging area for this purpose. However, that is incorrect. There are wall outlets in one part of the underground parking structure, however they are not dedicated spots, thus there is no guarantee that any level one charging is available.

Overall, this is a great location to enjoy the beauty of the resort and its surroundings. We will visit again.


36028

Sep 26 2013 This Marriott is different. It sits on the hills of Newport Beach with beautiful ocean views. The many buildings are scattered on different levels of the hills. Between the Marriott and the beach is a golf course. The pool areas have ocean views as well which is really enjoyable. The pools are on the large side and have 2 hot tubs each. We skipped the main pool because most kids where there but enjoyed our quite pool on the top of the property and the best views. The lobby is by far the prettiest I have ever seen for a Marriott. It is very fresh, bright and modern. I felt like entering a tropical island resort on Hawaii. I wished other Marriotts would embrace this more clean look to their resorts too. Unfortunately the room was furnished as they usually are but all was great. We had a little turtle sitting on the bed made from towels. We had a great balcony overlooking the ocean and the 30 Mio.$ homes on the hills. This resort is all about view!

The beach is quite a walk down. You need to use the street. We took our car down to the lowest parking lot and walked from there which worked really well. That saved us at least 15min. of steep walking in the Marriott resort. We wanted to do our walking at the beach and not be dead by the time we got there. There is no free parking at the beach an only daily fees. The state park beach is very pretty but you need to be able to walk down a steep paved slope to get to it. You can also hike on top of the cliffs on many different walk ways. The beach is below the beautiful cliffs. We walked to the left to where the old houses from the 1920s are that were reconstructed and under protection by the state. There is a cute tiny little restaurant right at the beach and one above the cliffs by the highway. We did not eat there though but it was always crowded.

My recommendation is not to rent a bike right by the Marriott but rent it where you actually want to ride it (like in Newport Beach). You need to ride along busy Highway 1 in order to get to Newport and Balboa. On Balboa Island we were glad we didn’t have a bike because the walk around the island was so nice that we would have missed a lot zipping by those cute homes by bike.

A great location to do all sorts of stuff!




34764 picasso

Sep 6 2013 We recently stayed at Marriott Newport Coast in Newport Beach, California. This is a very large facility with 41 buildings. The property was in wonderful condition and parking was easy and plentiful. Check-in was the quickest we have ever experienced. However, when you check-in, you have to ask the concierge for brochures such as “Visitors Guide to Newport Beach” etc. These books/maps are not displayed in the lobby.

We had a 2 bedroom, 2 bath unit in Building 5100 on the top (3rd) floor, which was the location we had requested. Wireless Internet was free. Our location was perfect with a view of the ocean. The fog burned off most days by 10:00am, which was great. Our balcony overlooked an outdoor activity center (shuffle board, billiard tables, and ping pong table) all of which were adjacent to the Canyons pool and spa and a gas B-B-Q area also. Another larger pool (Catalina pool) is closer to the main Clubhouse/Reception, which has the Marketplace, The Shack (teen lounge), the Galaxy Arcade, and one of the Fitness Centers. There is no restaurant on the premises. At the Marketplace you can order pizza from Pizza Hut for delivery to your room or drop by for carryout. There seemed to be lots of activities for families with children.

The accommodations were lovely and spacious. The master suite had a King size bed, whirlpool tub and shower stall with double heads (one on the left, and one on the right, two people could shower at the same time :o) The guest bedroom had a Queen bed, sofa bed and full bathroom. The kitchen was full size with cookware, and tableware for 8. There were 3 televisions and a DVD player, also a utility room with washer/dryer.

There was mention of complimentary shuttle service to Crystal Cove (Shopping and Restaurants), Laguna Beach, and Fashion Island Shopping Center, (1.5 millions square feet of retail space). We did not use the shuttle, as we had a car. Along Coast Highway, you can find many wonderful places to eat. Avoid Laguna Beach on Saturday and Sunday, as the traffic is terrible. We did eat at a beachside restaurant on Wednesday night in Laguna Beach with no traffic problems. The location of the resort was such that we drove to San Juan Capistrano and toured the Mission. We also went to Dana Point and the Long Beach Aquarium. Other “things to do” include catching a ferry to Catalina Island from Newport Beach, Whale watching safari from Dana Point, Balboa Island with all it activities and South Coast Plaza with over 250 designer stores.



We all had a wonderful time and would definitely go back to Newport Coast.

V. from Vegas




34599 trailblazer

Dec 2 2012 This was our third trip to NVC. We arrived Dec. 2, 2012 and stayed for one week. The weather was "okay" most of the week but overcast, with maybe 2 hours of sun during the day. In advance, we were given the opportunity make a preference of building and we got what we asked for; however the ocean view was hindered by the overcast clouds.

We attended the dolphin and whale presentation which is really a sales promotion for a whale and dolphin viewing boat trip. We decided to splurge and signed up for the trip for about $100 for the two of us. We hoped to see hundreds of dolphins as presented in their movie, but there are no guarantees and we only saw a couple of whales and no dolphins. Still the trip was beautiful and it turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon on the water.

The room at NVC was nicely appointed, clean and pleasant. The bed was comfortable but the smoke detector had a bright little light that bothered me at night, so I covered it with a little stamp and foil. It looked like other residents had the same idea because there was a sticky substance around the light.

Check in was fast and friendly. The week we were there, they were remodeling the lobby and offices so that was closed but it did not cause us any inconvenience.

I also attended a complimentary introductory yoga class and enjoyed it. It was educational and fun and I recommend the exercise classes.

Our preschool grandkids were there for the weekend and we took them to the complimentary scavenger hunt and pirate party. The four year old loved it while the two year old enjoyed the toys in the play room.

This exchange came up a Flexchange at II. What a wonderful treat! This is a great resort for families and couples of any age (as long as you can handle the uphill walking.)




34117 cyndiegran

May 11 2013 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)




33893 KauaiMark

Mar 17 2002 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!


33701 tiger1210

Feb 23 2013 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!




33666 jdirago

Feb 25 2013 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!




33627 ladyshay

Oct 20 2012 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.


33100 mjm1

Sep 21 2012 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!!!


33027 fredward

Jul 22 2012 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!




32786

Mar 16 2012 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.


32228

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


32127 dmgatlin

Jan 8 2012 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.




32113 atkinsge

Nov 1 2011 We have just returned from a great week in Newport Beach. I phoned ahead and asked for a unit that was close to the lobby and easily accessible for our friend with a disability. We were very happy to be given a unit in the 3600 building, and as a bonus we had a lovely ocean view. There is so much to see and do in the area that we were not around the resort to enjoy any of the numerous activities offered. We took a day trip to Catalina Island and another one to visit the Huntington Estate and Gallery. It was a treat to see the original Blue boy and Pinkie. The unit was very large and comfortable, with every thing we needed in the kitchen. The weather was perfect for day trips to Laguna Beach and further up the coast. This is a beautiful resort with attractive grounds and friendly staff. There are over 700 units there now, and that means you could get a unit way up the hill or further down the valley. I would be happy to return ant time, but I would ask for a unit that was near the reception area.


31697 Victoria

Sep 18 2011 We finally returned to Newport Beach, CA after about 5 years. We figured mid-September should be ideal as weather, near summer average temps, and peak travel season over.

We checked-in later in the evening as we were visiting family in San Diego, staff was friendly and efficient. We were told we just missed a herd of arriving guests and things finally quieted down at the desk.

Well, we underestimated about occupancy and I found the parking lot of Bldg. 4300, and beyond, near capacity, few open spots available at 8pm. NCV was anything but sparsely occupied for this time of year. We saw quite a few families staying for the week too. Seemed most were preschool or younger children but certainly some of school age, but not attending for whatever reason. The pool was obviously the location were the families spent a lot of time, and the lounge chairs were quite full in the afternoon with guests of all ages.

Another unexpected surprise during our stay was the daily and persistent “marine layer” that cast a pale over the immediate coast for much of the week. A few miles inland and it was clear blue skies and beautiful conditions. We simply made the most of it and utilized the main fitness center in the morning, took walks, and enjoyed the general area, despite the cool mist and overcast sky at the resort.

The new “Ultimo” pool was nice but again, several families occupied the area. Parents accompanied young children in either the hot tub or the pool so it didn’t seem like an “adult” pool where you could read and relax quietly. The fitness center near the pool there was quite small with very few machines compared to the main fitness center located below the main lobby/check-in desk. However, the recently renovated main fitness center also seems relatively small considering the size of this property. Another large fitness area would be a nice addition.

The new Marriott spa at NCV is located right off this fitness room. Instead, we visited the spa across the street at Pelican Hill, reserved a duet massage there, and it was a magnificent facility.

Our villa was on the fourth floor, villa was in very good condition with a great view of the ocean and Crystal Cove Park. We found it quiet at night almost all week, some noise emanating from below us for a couple of hours one night by inconsiderate guests. But what else is new?!

Minor complaints- I noticed that the dual-head shower in the newer building seemed smaller than the original building we stayed in 5 years ago. One wall of the shower is angled so it is not as long. Also, I wish Marriott didn’t install those cheap aluminum frame shower doors and instead used frameless heavy glass doors or at least something that felt hefty, not flimsy. (I know, construction cost savings have to be found somewhere!) I also found the bed pillows somewhat uncomfortable but the mattress is firm and comfortable.

Overall the NCV is a beautiful property and although not directly on a beach, still a great location, near enough to shopping and the coast. And now with construction completed, a very expansive, popular resort that can be crowded at times. Minor issues we encountered didn’t discourage us at all to return again soon.




31517 jaym

Jul 15 2011 This resort is one of the best in the Marriott system. You would swear you are in the the Italy or Spain. Pools are great and no resort in California has better views. The area is extremely upscale. Wish I could live aqt that resort.


31451 disnefile - owner

Apr 2 2011 We really spent most of our time offsite. We left in the morning and returned late in the evening. We didn't participate in any of the planned resort activities and we didn't use many of the resort amenities

We didn't go to concierge desk to get the local restaurant listing and discount card because by the the time we got through the check-in process I just wanted to get away from the craziness in the the registration area. I guess we could have stopped back later in the week.

From a location standpoint there are no real attractions in the immediate area.

Similiar to Four Seasons Aviara, you're in a beautiful residential community a distance from the ocean.

It was my nephew's springbreak. We went to the San Diego Zoo, Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Petersen Automobile Factory, The Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, Mission Del Rey, The Museum of Making Music and the Taylor Guitar Factory Tour.

Minor Problems Encountered

Inadequate parking near the check-in/registration area. The check-in area is not big enough for the number of units. It was very busy around check-in time. There was a queue at the check-in area. Marriott seemed to be aware of this and had staff inside and outside directing folks. I still found it very stressful and frustating. I just wanted to get out of there as soon as I could.

The Business Center only had two computers. My husband needed to print off his tixs for Six Flags. One computer had a sign that it wasn't working. The printer for the other computer didn't work.

We requested a high floor in a quiet section. A high floor was more important to us than a view of the ocean. We were assigned a room on the first floor in building 4700 with a view of the hill. Thankfully it was very quiet section and we had very limited bugs (an occassional small bug found in the bathroom every other day).

Overall, I would highly recommend this resort for those would want to visit this part of California. They offer free WIFI from the rooms. Nice large living room space, functional kitchen area, nice double sink in the master bathroom area with a very large shower area.

alwysonvac


30762

Jan 1 2011 This is our second time to visit NCV. Both times we have visited this resort the first week in January and we were generally pleased with the weather and beautiful views. In 2011 it was a cold an rainy just one day.

I was impressed with the pre-vacation contact by the management. We received a form by email asking for any special requests or reservations we wanted to make. As it turned our I requested a specific room because it was near the children's play area and we had our grandkids with us. We received the same ocean view room that we had last visit. We arrived a bit early and our room was not ready so we strolled the property and explored the new facilities up the hill. We received a call our room was ready about 45 minutes later.

The room was generally clean and well stocked. I did notice some hand mark smudges on the doors and the baseboards could have used a bit of cleaning, but my own home is probably no better. There are nice new flat screen TV's in both bedrooms and the living room.

This was the first time we used the King Triton kid's play room. It was fantastic for the baby and preschooler on the rainy day. Later in the week I brought my 7 year old granddaughter and she made some bead jewelry. The older grandkids also loved the basketball court, putting green, and pools.

I appreciated the free internet access. They have other activities that you can participate in but most cost money (like crocheting a scarf or making jewelery) and some cost a lot of money (for example the photography class).

We took the older kids (12 and 7 years) to LegoLand (about 40 miles away) and they loved it. Check the reduced winter schedule before planning a trip to LegoLand.


30512 cyndiegran

Jul 11 2010 My family visits Newport Coast Villas every summer and we always request occupancy in the first-built sections. For us, there are many advantages to being in the area closest to Pacific Coast Highway. We always walk to Crystal Cove, the Beachcomber or the Shake Shack. No need to pack up the car or pay the parking "donation" at Crystal Cove. We are an active family, and being nearer to the main entrance of the resort means that leaving on bicycles or heading out for a run is that much easier. Yet, in these lower buildings, we are far enough removed from the resort traffic that we don't see or hear it. There is a lovely, quiet pool just outside the villas.

It is true that the televisions in these units have not been updated, they are truly low-def, but we don't go on vacation to sit in front of the t.v. anyway. The kitchen has standard white appliances, sometimes showing a bit of use, but always in working order. Utensils and kitchen supplies are unremarkable. I have learned to pack for any cooking possibility, usually bringing my own measuring devices and storage containers.

The first built buildings do not have a view of the ocean but instead are buffered by the vegetation of the Pelican Hill Golf Course. Occasional club/ball interaction can be heard. Also, the landscape crew at P.H. does their work in the early mornings, and I have heard others complain about the noise. This sort of work would be short in duration and not daily by any means. In general there will not be much large scale tree cutting, just lawn mowers. It would be advisable to ask whether NCV has any knowledge of major work at P.H. if you are concerned about it.

There are many activities near the main building. In addition to the pools, there is a bar, a lunch restaurant, ping pong tables etc. Children through older teens could easily be occupied for hours here.

The new pool at the top end of the resort is lovely. There are beautiful views, a large grassy area for lounging, and staffed towel and snack areas. It is at least a 20minute walk from one end of the resort to the other. This pool is quiet because there are not many occupied units at this point in time. If all the newer sections are occupied, I would anticipate this to be a busy place.

We enjoy NCV and all that the surrounding area has to offer. We will continue to request the older area, although I am a bit curious about the newer furnishings!


29626 sea&ski - owner

Jul 17 2010 This resort is absolutely perfect for people of all ages. To get to the nearby beach you can use the Marriot shuttle, drive or take a healthy walk. We walked down to the beach every morning and it was beautiful. The neighborhood is extremely upscale. You can see Kobe Bryant’s house on the hill above (it's the one with 7 chimneys) and Tiger Woods is building a home (is 35,000 sq feet a home?) up there as well. When you see the views you will understand why this is some of the most sought after real estate in California. Crystal Cove Beach right below the resort is a protected California State Park. We say quails, rabbits, Red-tail Hawks and a Road Runner on our walk to the beach and had a great time exploring the tide pools. I understand it is a great place for Whale watching in the Fall and Spring. Make sure you take the time to explore it but do not take any shells or plants.

Although it only has one restaurant on site and it does close early, the Pelican Resort next door offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in a great setting (it is a must see). You can also go down to the Crystal Cove beachfront restaurant where they serve breakfast lunch and dinner as well. It is right on the beach and the food was great. The Marriott Shuttle will take you right there. The Market on property is well stocked and actually not as expensive as othe resorts.

The Villas are a perfect 10 like most Marriotts. We did have three FLat Screen TV's and the kitchen was fully loaded.



The grounds are Lovely with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. The main pool area has three huge pools one of which is called the quiet pool. It also has 2 great big Jacuzzis. There are two other pool areas on the property and they are perfect if you want less crowds and more quiet. You have to check out the two Fire Pits on the property. Great for roasting marshmallows while watching the sunset.

All in all it was a great week. The kids had a blast in the kids club, the arcade and at the pool while the adults relaxed at the pool, at the beach and explored some of the most exquisite shopping in the world. I have stayed at 9 of the Marriott properties and this is on the top of my list.




29505 timjaneen

Jul 4 2010 We just returned from California and had a great time in Newport Beach. The resort was very nice and this is our second time there in the last three years. We probably spent most of the day off site and did things in surrounding areas every day. We usually got up, had coffee and left for most of the day and then returned and cooked out and had dinner at the resort. We went to the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, Balboa, Laguna, and Newport Beach.

As I said in the title the resort is beautiful. The views of the Pacific Ocean and surroundings are stunning. The grounds are amazing and everything is clean and well maintaind. However, once you get past the scenery and weather, you realize that there are some obvious flaws with the resort. The first is that it is very difficult to get from one part of the resort to another. There is approximately 100 feet of elevation change from one end to the other and the only way to get around is to take very steep stairs or climb steep inclines. Conversely you go down hill a lot too. You could always call for a shuttle to pick you up, but it's a real headache. The other thing was obvious was that you are much better off if you are in the five or six buildings surrounding the main area. If not, you are very far from other things (pools, tennis, marketplace). The marketplace was very small and overpriced for everything other than the Pizza Hut items. There is only one place to have a drink on site and it closes early. There is no restaurant. I found this to be the most disappointing part of the resort. For it's size and the fact that there are no other restaurants nearby, they should have one, even if it is very casual.

We stayed in Villa 2525 and had a good view of the ocean. The unit itself was very nice and being an end unit, we could open the windows and get great cross breezes. The highest temperature we had all week was 75. The unilt was large and had two sleep sofas which was very good for our group that included three teenagers. The furnishings were nice enough, but were aging and the TVs were the older variety.

The staff were all very friendly and helpful. I was very impressed with this.

All in all it was a good home base and served the purpose. I wouldn't go there expecting a resort atmosphere given the lack of a restaurant, shops, etc. You will get some great photos and the weather should be good most of the time. I would say it has a resort rating of 8.5 and would be higher with a restaurant or expaned marketplace.


29393 Big Matt

Jun 4 2010 We just got back from our week (June 4th-11th, 2010). We had a great time. The units are large and well furnished. The location is great. The grounds for this resort are VERY LARGE. So, just a warning...if you are going to take more than 1 car, get a unit near the Check in desks as the Garages are close to there (they only let you have one car close to your unit, the other car must park in garage). We were in building 1800 which is pretty far from the garage, so I had to walk 5 minutes each day to my car.

Otherwise, the pools were nice and well heated. The TV's are not Flat screen yet, but they worked fine. The beds were great. The kitchen worked perfectly (we like to cook). They give you enough laundry soap for one load and enough dishwasher soap for several washes. The view from our unit was good (ocean view) but they have a LOT of trees there so don't expect a completely un-interrupted ocean view. We had about 45 degrees of Ocean view. Since it was June, it never really cleared up, so the view was not as important. If you want to have a great view....avoid May (May Grey) and June (June Gloom). The world famous Pacific Ocean Marine Layer is very strong here.

The location was convenient to tons of restaurant and they even give you a card from Marriott that saves you money. The card saves you $20 every time you eat at Tommy Bahamas, regardless of how much you spend. One time, we got a soup, a salad and a sandwhich, and paid $8. You will need to take the shuttle to the beach as it is across PCH. The 73 toll road is quite close so that you can jet down the freeway to San Diego, or up to Long Beach/Los Angeles quickly.

The best Units for View are 4000, 4100 and 4200. They are so high on their hill that they see right over the Golf Course into the Ocean. 3800 and 3900 are nice also. Most of the others are fine...they just have some trees and other things that partially block the ocean view, but you will still get one. Just request upper floors.


29283 reddogsd

May 14 2010 We have had our time share at Newport Coast for about 5 years. They were past just beginning construction when we first were able to occupy. The units were just as we saw in the model and we were well satisfied with the stay. Over the last few years they seem to have completed construction of the all the buildings and grounds and it turned out very nice. The newer buildings don’t seem to be occupied yet. My guess would be as in most places the outside is complete and the insides are still empty. We have, however, come to expect that the promises made would be fulfilled.

First I would recommend that when anyone purchases these time shares to be better informed about the true costs of owning year to year. The salesmen technique of estimates and ‘about this and that’ should be more exact. The Newport Coast Sales staff are very dedicated to making a living for themselves. Our costs for taxes and

Concerning the resort itself it is very nicely designed. The buildings are appealing and the property Is well laid out. There are enough pools and and such to satisfy anyones needs. The property is not flat. it is built on a slope so there are pools at the top middle and bottom. It is a large property so it is pretty spread out.

The units are very large, about 2,000 sq. ft. with no lock outs. Full kitchens are included. The furnishings are a little modest if your plan is to just hang out. No flat screen TV’s. The beds used to be the Marriott standard but recently have been downgraded again. We will really miss that. The property is well suited to families. This visit we used the resort bus to go to Laguna, a shopping and beach place. We could have taken it to the Fashion Island Mall. We could have also taken it to the Crystal Cove State Beach also. It was convenient and very nice too. If you would like to go to Disneyland you’ll need a car.

There are really no close restaurants and driving to them entails some planning. Parking at the ones in Newport Beach is usually a chore. So if you are a breakfast lover bring food or buy it at one of the markets near there. We were told that a restaurant would be coming 5 years ago. We are still waiting. For now a small poolside bar/food operation is available. In the main building the small shop offers pizza and sandwiches but it is not a complete restaurant.

Parking is a little tight and if you plan to have more than one car it has to parked in the garage which isn’t near most of the buildings.

Hope this helps. We did trade for the Marriott in Poipu Beach Kauai this last year and really like it.




29149 JimnDee - owner

Jan 23 2010 This resort is excellent to look at. The Pool facilities and gym are excellent. Towels provided at pool by just taking what we needed. It is a fairly new resort and is in excellent condition. My review is negative because the room we were assigned (3820) had severe drawbacks. It was on the second floor on the end next to about 12 very noisy air conditioners and another “humming” machine that produced a very audible noise at times thru the day and night. I cannot imagine how people on the first floor felt.

The floors between the apartments act like “drums” and transmit noise very well. When a herd of elephants (actually small children) is above you it makes the vacation a little less desirable. For an excellent resort they should have built it so it was sound proofed- surface quality is fantastic but engineering and long term attention to detail leaves me in doubt. Aside from these issues the resort is fantastic. In the right room (not ours) you have fantastic sunsets along with ocean views.

The room has a fully equipped kitchen, stove, full size refrigerator, micro wave (with low power output) and a washer and dryer, two bedrooms and 2 bath rooms. One bedroom (the master) has a very nice King bed and the other has a queen bed with a pull out double bed only suitable for children. The couch in the living room makes into a queen size bed. The deck is nice for breakfast and evening sitting- no lounge chairs nor room for them.

The resort is about 35 minutes from Disneyland using commuter lanes and about 1 hour from Lego land. Great base for visiting those parks. They have a pass to the state beach available for a $2-$5 donation and that is very nice. We did not participate in the planned activities but several were cancelled while we were there.

The staff was very friendly and helpful. When we called to complain about the noise from upstairs about 2 ½ hours later it did get quieter.

No extra fees were charged for the basic resort. Nice gift shop well equipped with essentials. Good prices for a resort- very fair.

Great for family but not very large rooms. Deck is only large enough for 4. Great for partying if you don’t mind upsetting your neighbors.

No problems checking in or out. Staff very friendly and everything was very well done.




28642

Oct 16 2009 Traded our one bedroom Bronze Summit Watch week for a Two bedroom. We really loved NCV and cannot say anything negative about it. The grounds are beautiful, pools are great,. Six of us stayed including my 6 year old granddaughter. First night went to the angel playoff game, got tickets from the very friendly and helpful concierge (Sue) We landed at LAX and didn't find the drive to be bad at all. NCV is at a great location, went to hollywood, Beverly Hills, Disneyland twice, LaGuana Beach, Hunntington beach, Venice Beach and Balboa beach. All were great my favorite was Hunntington. Also went the the San Diego Animal Park. Our Unit was near the pool with a nice oceanview. The unit itself was excellent,everything you needed for a great vaction. We found the staff to be great, and will return Soon!!!!


28151

Aug 1 2009 This is a great resort with something for the whole family. We have stayed here twice and loved it both times. The beach that is 1/4 mile away, Crystal Cove, is fantastic for families. I recommend this resort.


27638 wags

Jul 1 2009 We had a wonderful stay at NCV in early July. Villa was what you would expect from a Marriott property. Highlights included trips to:

Long Beach Aquarium-go to the visitor booth to the left of the aquarium entrance and get the local magazine that has discounted tickets. We got adult entrance at the child price. Ate at Boston’s Restaurant next to the aquarium for lunch.

Mission San Juan Capistrano-go on the walking tour with the audio player to get information about the Mission.. Ate at Sarducci’s near the mission/train station for lunch.

Petco Park for a S.D. Padres game-beautiful ballpark. Purchase your expensive $20 parking pass online and you park right next to the stadium. Ate the 5 for $5 for lunch at the ballpark. 5 = hot dog, popcorn, cookie, coke, peanuts. This was a great bargain.

Balboa Peninsula-nice beach with good waves. Highly recommend the early bird special ($15.95) at Harborside Restaurant with good service and great food. Also, Harborside is on the Marriott Grazie card so you receive an additional discount. Took the 45 minute boat tour where we saw sea lions and some expensive real estate. Would not recommend the nautical museum.

Balboa Island-fun place to walk around. Parking on the main street is limited to a 2-hour time limit, but we parked on a side street with no time limit. Note when the street sweeper is coming by. We then walked to the ferry and rode as a pedestrian to Balboa Peninsula, which is a cheaper price and quicker since only three cars can cross at a time. Ate lunch at Wilma’s with slow service and good food.

Mariners Church-large church nearby that has many services over the weekend. We attended the Saturday night service and had a wonderful visit.

Dana Point Harbor-ate dinner at Proud Mary’s with a water view. Good food with excellent service. Recommend the sea bass and cordon bleu for dinner with coconut rice (c. rice only on Mon/Tues).

Pool time at NCV-pool water is chilly, but the kids didn’t seem to mind (wish they would select one of the 5 pools and make it warmer). The two pools on the ends of the property were not very crowded. Main pool area had most of the people. Get a fruit smoothie to cool down in the afternoon.

Mama D’s restaurant near Balboa Peninsula-great service and good food. Fun place to go, just get there early or you will wait 30+ minutes on the comfy couch. Wait time includes eating yummy bread and meatballs. The service was outstanding.

Fox Rental Car is located near the airport, just a short shuttle ride away.We saved over $100 for the week by using Fox Rental Car vs. major rental car companies. The car was a mid-size Dodge.

Overall a very nice relaxing trip to California.




27455

Jun 21 2009 This is a huge, beautiful resort inside and out with great ocean views and lovely landscaping everywhere.

All units are 2 BR and very clean everywhere. There is no mid week clean but asked for extra towels and was brought a large bag. Kitchen is well appointed with very high class pots, pans and dishes -- great storage items too. No problems at all. Called for more dishwashing detergent and was brought quickly.

Wine and cheese party was a "member info" session on how to trade with Interval.

BEautiful heated pools.

Very convient to area. Went to San Diego Zoo which is one of the best in the world and spent the day. To Hollywood racetrack for the day and to the Mission at Capistrano.

Many great restaurants in area --Five Crowns, La Brias and Cannons in Dana Point which had a GREAT happy hour and food. Highway 1 has good views of the Pacific and beaches as you drive along.

Very suitable for all ages and no added fees.


27358 wrbshoe

May 30 2009 The units are very spacious with the typical Marriott layout. There is plenty of room for six if 4 share the second bedroom (with hide-a-bed). It was fully equipped when we arrived except for laundry soap, which was supplied when requested (versus paying $6.50 for a single load box at the Marketplace store). A new set of bed linens was supplied at no charge when new family guests came.

Check in was extremely crowded by 3:00 PM so try to come earlier. The main problem is difficulty parking then, although the parking garage is close by. The desk staff was hassled and “sharp”. Later interactions with staff was much more pleasant.

We were assigned a ground floor in the 4600 building and did have a view from the sun porch of the Pelican golf course and the ocean. Units 4200 through 5000 (4800-5000 almost completed) and the ones just under them should all have nice views.

The property is very large, but once you figure it out getting around is not difficult-about a five-minute walk to the main building and pools. Shuttles are provided but we did not need them. The Marketplace (in main building) is quite small but did have a few supplies, sandwiches and pizza.

They list five pools, three at the main building the other two at the extreme opposite ends of the resort.

Both Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are close by. There are ample grocery stores and restaurants in each. Trader Joe’s is on the way to Laguna, Pavillons/Safeway two miles away from the coast highway.

We experienced the typical June Gloom weather for three days but the last part of the week was increasingly sunny and warmer.




27258 douglasgage

May 23 2009 After hearing so many good things about Marriott's Newport Coast Villas we wanted to experience it for ourselves. It lived up to it's advance billing as far as the location and the amenities go. The complex is quite large and located on a bluff overlooking the Pacific ocean. Next to the development and across the street is an upscale community with a golf course. ($275. for a round of golf) Beyond the golf course is the Pacific ocean. It's not visible from some of the lower units because of some of the golf course landscaping. We didn't really care about the view.

There is a beach across the busy Coast Highway as part of a state park. If you're interested in swimming forget it without a wet suit. The water is cold and a little rough. It's fine for walking and evjoying the view. We did not participate in any of the resort activities but they seemed to have a nice pool. The units had a layout typical of Marriott and were nicely furnished. We had a few bugs in the closet but no big deal. (We're from Florida.)

Several shopping centers were within driving distance. (You definitely need a car here.) We were there over Memorial Day weekend and it was crowded. Every parking space was taken by 8:00pm. In talking with people at the resort, I realized that there were a lot of Californians staying or owning there. Some from less then 50 away. I figured that it must be a great place if they stayed so close to home.

They have several high quality outdoor gas grills for the use of guests. While there was sometimes a little wait to use them, I enjoyed talking to other guests, all of whom were very cordial. Perhaps the only negative thing I could say is that the key card used for entry to the unit kept being erased for an unknown reason. After this happened a few times it became an annoyance to drive to the registration building (The place is pretty spread out.) and get the key refreshed with the proper code. When we checked in we refused a ground floor unit because there was no elevator in the building. In some of the buildings you enter from the second floor level. I think if you are an owner there you will get a better location.

They held a mass meeting for all guests and had tour representatives explaining their tours. We went on a tour by boat of Newport Beach harbor. It was excellent. Several other tours sounded interesting. The tour operator told us that Marriott was going to charge them $75 a meeting to sell their tours starting next month. I see this as a problem that will only limit the number of tour operators and cause higher prices for guests. On another subject, the charges for daily cleaning at NCV are outrageous. They wanted $58 for a tidy clean and over $100 for a full cleaning.

All in all NCV makes for a great vacation but you have to drive to everything. There are a lot of attractions in Orange County. You won't be disappointed with NCV.


27243 kjd

May 24 1931 This property is wonderful! The location is ideal, close to beaches, Southern California attractions, great shopping and restaurants. Upon arrival, we were told our unit was in builing 2800. We've stayed at the property before (we're owners)

but we did not expect to get a room (2834) with a full oveanview from our patio!!! We loved it.

FYI...if you grocery shop at Pavillions, don't ask for a NCV discount, because there is not one. You get the discounts with Pavillions/Safeways savers card.

Be sure to check out the Las Brisas Restuarant in Laguna Beach, go for the happy hour ,sit outside and enjoy view of the ocean. Parking in Laguna Beach is metered, so bring change.

If you decide to enjoy a meal at the new Beachcomber Restaurant, be sure to make reservations (we could not get in for breakfast on Saturday, the place appears to be very popular!!!)




27172 chessietwo - owner

Apr 25 2009 We just returned from a wonderful week in Newport. The resort is one of Marriott's most attractive. The landscaping and architecture are lovely. We enjoyed visiting the Getty Center in LA and the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. The walkway at the Treasure Island Park on the beach in Laguna is not to be missed. We also loved seeing the sunset at Crystal Cove Park in the evening and lunching at Crystal Cove's Beachcomber Restaurant by day. The Crystal Cove cottages, which are an historic restoration of 1940s era beach bungalows, are not to be missed. Hats off to the preservationists who have made this site a reality - they are doing a terrific job. Be sure to meander along the streets of Balboa Island - just turn left at Jamboree off the PCH. The homes are charming and the island had adorable shops, perfect for tasteful souvenir shopping. When it comes time to food shop, make a beeline to Pavilions, the store is great.


26986 cmacken

Mar 19 2008 We traded a week from Arizona thru interval/marriott.

The resort is beautiful, very new. The unit was very nice, with all you need. Stunning views of Pacific from balcony.

The pool has no slides but ping pong, pool, giant chess board, also stunning views of Pacific.

The resort is about 1/4 mile inland from Pacific Coast Highway, traffic on PCH can be brutal thru towns.

Easy to get to Laguna Beach and Crystal Cove state park.

Can't say anything bad about it, except it requires a lot of driving, can't walk anywhere nearby except CC park,

Rented a bike from SportsRent and biked on PCH, awesome.


26743

Dec 26 2008 We arrived late Friday night on the day after Christmas. Check-in at 10 PM was uneventful and we were assigned to a second floor unit in Building 4400. We were pleasantly surprised to find that it had a very nice ocean view. We weren’t sure what we would be assigned as we were not owners. We obtained our week through a Marriott Gift of Time promotion for $699. This was Week 52 which is called Platinum Holiday at NCV and carries a premium if you were to buy it through Marriott. Building 4400 is one of the most recently built and our unit was in great condition.

I had spoken with someone in onsite sales back in October and when he learned of our upcoming stay, he offered to make a view request on our behalf. We also called a couple of weeks prior to arriving and left messages for the Room Controller with our view request but never received a return call. I’m not sure if these room requests had any influence but we had several nights of great ocean view sunsets until the fog started rolling in each night.

The furnishings were very nice with flat panel LCD televisions in both bedrooms and the living room. Wireless Internet access was free and worked well. We swam in the main pool one day. The water was lukewarm and bearable but getting out was an adventure.

On New Year’s Eve, we celebrated by cooking ribeye steaks on the gas grills outside while the fog swirled around us. We shopped at the Albertson stores in Newport Beach unaware until the last evening that there was a Pavillions up the street. This market put the small Albertson stores to shame. It is double the size and features a bakery and even a sushi bar!

We were supposed to receive a mid-week cleaning but housekeeping kept trying to do a tidy each day. We put out a Do Not Disturb sign to keep them from coming in but on the second day, they took away the sign. We called the Front Desk to tell them that we shouldn’t be receiving daily service and to make sure that we weren’t be charged but housekeeping continued to come.

The only complaint that we had was that we could hear muted sounds from the adjacent units. Otherwise we would have rated this resort a perfect 10.




26631

Jan 5 2009 Taking a week in January here is a bit of a risk, weather wise, but the sun shone brightly for us the whole time! We were in Unit 3614 - a wonderful unit as it is downstairs and very close to the reception area. Check in was very well organized, and that is good because it is such a large resort. We had a two bedroom, ground floor, and there was plenty of room for us and the rest of the family. It is about a thirty minute drive to Disney, and about an hour and a half to the San Diego attractions. The unit was clean and comfortable with good equipment. There is no mid week clean or towel replacement. The free unit internet connection was much appreciated, but the cost of any phone call is excessive. There was a welcome breakfast on Monday, and we did not have time for any other activities! The swimming pool is large and was not busy while we were there. Building is progressing on the new section, and then they claim it will be the largest timeshare unit anywhere. It really is too large! Parking os difficult, and many buildings are very far from the main lobby and pool. We did not experience any crowded areas. This is a great location for visiting this part of California, but now that we have been to Disney, I will try and head further south for our next visit.


26442 Victoria

Jan 4 2009 NCV offers only two bedroom suites. This size is very adequate for four to six. We had up to six for two nights with two kids on the living room sofa bed. I found the kitchen easy to work in, which is important because we usually eat in. The appliances worked well. The granite counters are a nice feature even if the color was not my personal preference (mustard gold and black). We arrived at 4:29 and were told our room was listed to be ready at 4:30. It was ready as we arrived but the empty dishwasher was completing its cycle. Check in was smooth. We parked in the local lot near our villa (2nd floor, #2122 with ocean view). Our kids arrived later and used the garage permits. Our comfortable bed provided good rest and once we figured out where to set the air conditioner, we slept great. There are TV’s in both bedrooms and the living room.

WIFI is free! Only one little bottle of shampoo is provided in each bathroom so bring your own conditioner and lotion. One pack each of reg and decaf coffee is provided. Lots of packs of dishwasher detergent were under the sink and one little box of Tide was on the washer. We easily traded out for fresh towels and sheets when our second daughter’s family arrived and the first left. But there is no housekeeping or freshening up during the week.

There were lots of MAZE activities but we did not take part in any. We took the shuttle to the tide pools at Crystal Cove beach and really enjoyed them. We hiked home which is not too bad unless you are with a five-year-old. Crystal Cove state park is a beautiful place to hike and explore. We drove a little way south to Laguna Beach and enjoyed that as well. The highlight for the kids was our trip to Disneyland which was less than ½ hour drive each way in easy traffic. Our room was near the tot lot (but noise was not an issue during this off season), basketball court, putting green, sandbox complete with sand toys, and barbecues which we used one night. The little up hill hike to the gorgeous pools and hot tubs was worth it. My grandson loved the giant chess set and the ping pong tables.

Newport Coast will suit families well and provides a great place to relax, explore or play. But it is huge and hilly. Not all rooms are equal in view, noise, or proximity to amenities. We lucked out with a great location even though we made no previous request.

I would rate this a 10 but we have been to Four Seasons Aviara and that is still our best yet. But NCV wins out for beautiful local beaches and free WIFI. I could not be more please with Marriott Newport Coast.




26254 cyndiegran

Dec 29 2008 We loved this property! Unfortunately we had to postpone our trip 3 days due to snow in Portland; we couldn’t get off the hill and to the airport. We arrived Dec. 29 instead of the 26th, so check in was a breeze since it was just our family. I had called 2 weeks prior to request an ocean view, close to the pool. We were in Bldng. 24 and loved it. Bldng. 24 is next to the lobby, overlooking the pool area. We had a corner unit looking over the top of the poolside grill. We had a great view of the ocean and Catalina Island, with incredible sunsets(only 2 nights because the fog rolled in). There was construction right below us as they are building a pool bar area. We weren’t bothered by noise. My kids loved the quick access to the pool, and the marketplace in the lobby. I’m guessing during the summer the pool area is much louder and this room might be a little too close to the pool noise.

The grounds and buildings were beautiful and well maintained. Next to the lobby is a koi pond and a beautiful fountain. The lobby is near the top of the hill and overlooks the pool. There are stairs to get down to the pool or to the units on the lower part of the hill. We were so close to the pool and lobby that we really didn’t have to do much walking, but other people did. Our unit was very spacious, nice furniture, full kitchen, and a flat screen TV in the living room as well as both bedrooms. The master had very comfy bed, soaking tub and large shower with 2 shower heads. The 2nd bedroom had a bed, fold out couch and table. The couch in the living room was also a fold out. We could all spread out and relax. Only cooked once or twice but everything worked, plenty of dishes etc.

They had lots of things to keep the kids busy; ping-pong, giant chess and checkers, basketball sport court, mini golf putting area, play structure, arcade and of course the pool and hot tubs. The main pool was heated, there were 2 smaller pools in the pool area which were colder. The hot tubs were crowded at night, but still had room. There were also planned activities for children, adults and families. Because we arrived later than planned, we didn’t get a chance to participate in the activities, but several sounded interesting. There was a GPS scavenger hunt, campfire, card games, aqua exercise, steel drum band etc. I was concerned that there is not a restaurant on property-but between the grill and the marketplace there was plenty of food if you didn’t want to cook. All of the personnel we talked to were very nice and helpful. The kids loved this place and want to go back.

During our stay we went to the Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza malls, and explored the beach towns up and down PCH. I think they were Laguna, and Corona del Mar. Went to the Balboa pier-which was old and rickety-never made it to Balboa Island. We went to San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park, which is about 20 minutes off the frwy. from Oceanside. The park was fun and relatively uncrowded. We had planned on doing Disneyland, but didn’t want to fight the crowds. There were many things to do in the area, but we didn’t have much time. Would definitely like to go back to this resort, and enjoy the full week there.




26245 thmom

Dec 22 2008 We are owners at NCV and stayed here Christmas week on the Gift of Time promotion. The property is beautiful, but very large and hilly – getting from one end to the other is more than a casual stroll.

I called two months prior to arrival and again two weeks before check-in with room requests wanting something in buildings 4000, 4100, 4200, or 4500. When we arrived I was disappointed to find we were given a room in 4400. The front desk clerk was not concerned and said “well, we try to accommodate everyone’s requests.”

The room was spacious and well-appointed. The kitchen had everything we needed to prepare the meals we ate in. The couch (that doubled as a fold out bed) was not very comfortable, but we did not spend a lot of time in the living room. The balcony had a round table with four chairs that was great for coffee in the mornings!

We did not use the facilities other than the Teen Shack. My 17 year old said the room had 2 Playstations and 2 televisions, which was enough to keep him amused. I did go to the activities center to pick up a parking pass for Crystal Cove – only one per villa that has to be turned in at the end of each day. Only one vehicle can be parked in front of the villas. My grandmother has a disabled placard and the front desk said she had to use the primary pass to park in one of the handicap spots by the villa. I decided I needed the hike to the parking garage after all the Christmas goodies. The wifi was on the blink for about 24 hours and when the front desk was made away a voicemail was sent to everyone to advise they were aware of the problem and were working on it. When it was fixed another voicemail was sent to let the guests know. Construction is still going on and could be heard during the daytime hours, but we were not around enough to be bothered.

I cannot add anything else to the other reviews. NCV is a beautiful property and we look forward to returning.




26189 Danette - owner

Dec 20 2008 The folks at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas have nailed down the 'home away from home" theme with this Villa Resort. I've never felt more at home than I did at the NCV. My family and I are Marriott Owners and this was a great vacation.

The Good:

Pretty much everything!!! They have free WiFi, King Triton's Cove, (MAZE for all you Marriott experts), for the little ones was fabulous, as was the arcade and teen area in the main building. Just below and off the main building, there is a little park with a playground, putting green and basketball court. There was also a tennis court but it wasn't in this area. The Marketplace served Starbucks, Pizza Hut, it's own signature Subs and some other grocery items Many, many awesome views are seen throughout the grounds as words just can't say enough about this property.

The Bad:

Not much.. The only thing my wife and I noticed were no drawers for stuff in the bathrooms and they didn't supply units with lotion. I know, nitpicky,, but that was all we could come up with.

I think we ended up with one of the older Villas, becuase we had 3 older model TV's. But, this in no way had an impact on our stay.

This is an A+++ Resort with upside, upside, upside written all over it. Enjoy your time here,,,you won't want to leave!



The units are all a traditional 2-bed, 2-bath villa model with, I'm guessing, maybe 1300 sq ft, and feature the following: Full Kitchen, table and chairs, washer/dryer, 3 large TV's with entertainment centers, 1 DVD player, 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed, 2-pullout sofas, walk-in shower and large tub,in Master, patio w/tables and chairs.

I would recommend for Romantic getaways, families and tourists. Didn't see many older folks, (70's and 80's), but they were probably around.

Bottom Line, if you get a chance to go here, DO IT!




26141 hulkstillrules - owner

Oct 10 2008 We had a conference in Anaheim and it was Winter Break so we spent a week at NCV. I can't really add anything to the reviews. They are pretty consistent. The service is pretty darn good. The furnishings will vary a little depending on when your building was built but overall I think it's above average. We were in the 4700 building (relegated to non Marriott owners with a nice view of - the hillside. From the edge of the balcony we could see the houses and the ocean below (see photo). The staff was responsive. We tried to get in a little early but with 95 percent occupancy nothing was moving fast and I suspect this will almost always be the case. Clearly this property is about location. Many activities for all at the resort. The one complaint I would have is this resort is HUGE. Fortunately they would send shuttles to ferry you back and forth to the pool, otherwise it must have been a $15 cab ride! (just kidding). When I say huge I mean number of units and acreage. There is still one more phase to go before it's built out and it will be nice to have some facilities in that area of the resort. What more can I say, it's a gorgeous area, home to the rich and affluent and, as close as we'll ever get.


25812 nightnurse613

Nov 1 2008 we own 6 Marriott timeshares, were very excited to come to the Newport Coast, based on pictures, what a let down.

We were given rooms basically on the highway, with a view of the ocean, over the parking lot and other buildings, not too nice

the TV in the master bedroom didn't work, it was about 20 yrs old, the blow dryers went off every 5 minutes, no shampoo, conditioner,

maid service, restaurants. Having just flown in from the East coast we just wanted to hang out on the premises for dinner and entertainment, not possible....it doesn't exist.

As my hiusband and I said, we wouldn't even do the tour for the $150, totally convinced we would never come here again, let alone buy!


25798 ire

Jul 18 2008 I’m a newbie here writing my first review. I haven’t had the opportunity to read back on all the others so forgive me if this is redundant.

We spent our first week as owners here July 18 to 25, 2008. We arrived early to check in about 2:45PM. There was no wait. Our room was not available so they took our cell number and we headed up the road to Pavillions. We no more than got there when they called to say our room was ready.



I was very nervous about our room assignment. I called a few days prior and was told that it was too late to request any room preferences as our room had already been assigned. I was told that I should have called at least 2 to 3 weeks before check in. They wouldn’t reveal the room # or even the building. They said they would take a look and see if there was anything they could do. I wanted a top floor ocean view. I didn’t get the impression that anything would really be done. I guess I was right because I was very disappointed to hear that we had been assigned a unit in one of the original buildings over the parking garage with a partial ocean view. I had heard that they take care of owners, so I expressed my disappointment that we would be given such a poor room for our first visit to the resort. We had booked a year in advance. The desk clerk made a phone call and within 10 minutes time they had done some shuffling and offered us a top floor unit in the 4500 building, one of the newest, which has a great view of the golf course, hillside and ocean.



I still had a little trepidation as I had read some reviews about shoddy construction, poor insulation between rooms and ant problems in the new units. My fears were unwarranted. Everything was in good working order, noise wasn’t an issue, and I only saw one or two ants here or there. The kitchen was well stocked. The toiletries were lacking compared to what I am used to in Marriott hotels, 1 small bottle of shampoo and 2 tiny bars of soap in each bathroom. Overall though, we were extremely satisfied with our room. There was construction going on just up the hill from us that began at 7 AM each morning. Thankfully, you couldn’t hear it in the master and my daughter in the 2nd bedroom is a sound sleeper. It would have bothered me, but she was unfazed by it.

The resort is very hilly. It was quite a walk to the pool from our unit, but I saw it as an opportunity to walk off all the extra food and beverages. We enjoyed daily morning walks as well and appreciated the workout the hills gave us. We had a Sunday picnic on the lawn near the sales office with our extended family in the area. There is a nice park like area with a basketball court, putting green and lawn. The barbecues there were monopolized by the same group all weekend, so we had to head back up to our building for dinner. The barbecue area near our building was way too tight with no tables or even a bench or chair. Some of the areas were much nicer than ours. There appeared to be room for some seating and to spread the 2 BBQs out a little, so I don’t know why they didn’t do it.

We enjoyed the pool daily, especially the late afternoon live music, but it was difficult to find chairs even during the week. The wait staff was pretty poor. They didn’t approach you. We had to go out of our way to get their attention. Our one order was forgotten, but they offered me a free drink for the inconvenience. The taquitos are great; the nachos, not so much.



I understand that we went in prime season, but I am concerned that they have built/are building too many units for the property, given the already overcrowded main pool area and lack of parking. My daughter could not find anything within about 2 blocks when she returned after midnight a couple of evenings.

All and all, it was a great vacation that ended way too soon. The location is central to so many beaches and attractions, the units are spacious and accommodate large groups, and the views are breathtaking. I highly recommend it.




25149

Jul 4 2008 Let me start by saying that I just had a great time in Newport Beach. The weather was great and the sights were awesome. I spent most of the time exploring the area.

I've stayed at a lot of Marriott timeshares and this one was not in my top five. On a positive note, the grounds were beautiful. The villa (1733) was nice and fairly large, but was showing a lot of age. We had a wonderful view of the ocean. The only real negative for the villa was the stacked washer and dryer. It would have been nice having a larger set. I did a lot of laundry.

Now for some things to watch out for. The resort is set on steep slopes and walking is a work out just to get from one end to the other. Be careful what unit you get, especially if you have older or younger guests in your group. There is no restaurant other than a walk up counter at the main pool. The marketplace was small and lacking some of the things I've seen in other Marriotts. There is no security of note on the property. There is an on site spa, and outside guests come and go as they please. Additionally, there are lots of locals who come into the pool area. You are given wrist bands to identify yourself at the pool and to get towels, but it isn't enforced every day. The staff were all very nice, but even some basic help was hard to get. Getting directions and advice on getting to things in the area was not easy and most of the time incorrect. This was from the desk staff and concierge. The maintenance staff and housekeeping folks were very nice and helpful. I had a couple of minor items and both were taken care of immediately.

Overall, I'd give the resort a 8.5 rating. It was beautiful, but missing the mark on some things you'd expect from a Marriott resort in ne of the nicest places on earth to visit. I'd definitely return to the area, but would probably pick a different place to stay.


24979

Apr 18 2008 We stayed at NCV last week, April 19 through April 26, 2008. We exchanged through II using our Sheraton Vistana Village 2-bedroon unit.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The view of the ocean from NCV is beautiful, the resort is attractive, and the nearby beach at Crystal Cove State Park is quiet and fortunately underused.

This was our first visit to California from our home in NJ, so we were not interested or even considered resort activities. However, with an entrance to the San Joaquin Hills Toll Parkway (CA-73) nearby, and the Pacific Coast Highway just down the street, getting around to area sights was easy with a car. We were vacationing with our two teenage daughters and found much for them and us to do using the resort as a base. Visits to Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Disneyland, San Diego, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Venice Beach more than filled our time.

Check-in was fast and easy at 5pm on Saturday with even an outside express check-in available. As exchangers through II we didn’t expect to get a unit with a view, and we didn’t, but our first floor unit in the 2100 building was more than sufficient. Everything was in very good condition, worked well, and as expected. The large living room TV and DVD were more than adequate, but the bedroom TV’s were a little small. The Sheraton VV 2-bedroom units have a similar layout except that the large tub is actually a whirlpool, a feature we missed at NCV. The only other feature we missed was the mid-week maid service that Sheraton provides – that didn’t happen at NCV. After Wednesday we started rationing bath towels until we found a cart outside the room one morning with extra bath towels. Our only substantial complaint had to do with parking. A car is required to get anywhere from this resort, and during our visit the resort seemed close to full occupancy. Consequently parking spaces were at a premium, and arrivals back to the resort after 9-10pm required long hikes from where a parking spot could be found back to the unit.

We went to one of the 90-minute presentations, got our 15,000 points, and left. But if we considered buying another timeshare, NCV would be on our short list of candidates.




24494 jdent1

Jan 5 2008 My wife and I stayed for a week in early january, on an II trade. We exchanged a lockout studio in Marriott's Beachplace Tower (Ft. Lauderdale) for a 2 bedroom here in Newport Beach.

The resort is located just south of Newport Beach, in a beautiful coastal area right across the highway from Crystal Cove State Park. The location is excellent, but you must have a car. It is about 2 miles south of the trendy shops and restaurants of Corona Del Mar and five miles north of Laguna Beach. It is just 10 minutes from Orange County airport and from the big stores at Fashion Island. You can walk downhill to the beach in about 15 minutes, or drive in 2 minutes and park in the beach parking lots.

There is a lot to do in the vicinity, but the amenities at the resort are limited. The main pool is large and nicely heated. It is big enough to serve the existing resort guests, but will be overwhelmed after the completion of phase II. The two tiny gyms and three tennis courts are inadequate given the number of guests. The marketplace store is also too small and has a very limited selection of merchandise.

Marriott is currently building out phase II, which looks like it will double the size of the resort. They are offering $150 in coupons or 15,000 points to attend the 90 minute sales presentation. We declined the offer.

Our unit was on the ground floor with a limited view. The clerk at the check in desk told us that she could not give us a room with an ocean view because we are exchangers, even though we own 3 other Marriott timeshares. Other than the lack of a view, our room was satisfactory: quiet and convenient to the pool. . Decor was dated and a bit run down, particularly the sofa beds which were uncomfortable to sit on (God help anyone who tried to sleep on one of them). The kitchen was fine. All of the appliances worked properly and the marble countertops were in good condition. The room was clean. The beds and TV were the old Marriott standard, and it is not clear when they will be upgraded. The free internet worked well. The bathrooms were satisfactory but like all Marriott timeshares had a peculiar master bath with no wall or door separating the tub and sink from the bedroom. I can't believe that any guest prefers that layout, except perhaps for the most ardent sportsfans who want to be able to watch football games while soaking in the bathtub.

In summary, this is a nice place to stay if you like to have space and want to spend time in coastal Orange County. But there is not much to do at the resort itself, It was fine for us, but might be disappointing for families with children or people expecting a luxury resort experience.


23636 jlepstein

Aug 15 2007 We to have stayed at some really top notch resorts, and would rank this among the nicest vacations we have had as a family. We enjoyed the multitude of things to do in the area, but for us the highlights was the Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters,,,,,The Balboa tour was great also..

The rooms were definitely up to Marriot standards in all regards, It was spacious , clean, and up to date. The pools and facilities were great and we ( my family includes a an 18 and 21 year old ) appreciated that there was a seperate adult pool section,My grown

The walk to the beach was delightful, when you are expecting a walk. I enjoyed the exercise each morning and got to see the dolphins on my early morning walk. Its also a quiet stretch of beach which was great. If you go down to the left theres a great lunch/ breakfast spot at Crystal Cove and the historic homes are great. The morning walking tour from the Marriott was a nice intro to the area and to some of the other vacationers as well.

I wouldnt consider it a destination resort in itself but it was a terrific home base to have while touring the area.

In planning this vacation each one of us got a day to plan , so we ended up with a great variety ofthings to do and not enough time.

All in all it was a great place to stay and would return again in a heartbeat!




23543 dmorea

Sep 4 2007 I don't have a lot to add to what has already been posted, but to get a feel for where we are coming from, my wife and I have stayed at some wonderful resorts, including the Marriott in Maui, Hyatt in Maui (not a timeshare) and the Royal Islander in Cancun and I would have to say that this is just as nice or nicer. We enjoyed the multitude of things to do in the area, but for us the highlights were the walk around Balboa Island that was mentioned in a previous review as well as the harbor cruise. We went with the Fun Zone Boat Company on Balboa for the boat tour and it was like touring Beverly Hills, except of cours it was on the water. The cost was only $17 for 2 - 45 minute tours of differnt parts of the harbor (one went out to the ocean).

We used Soul Surfing Rentals to rent a wetsuit. We spoke with Rob several times about the conditions for snorkeling and he was quite helpful and ended up dropping off and picking up one wetsuit for us at no additional charge beyond the $15 for the wetsuit for the day. No pressure from Rob to rent his equipment.

The concierge who helped us at the Marriotte, Carol Sue Hilborn, was extremely helpful and gave us several ideas about what to do and where to go to do them.

We had requested an upper unit with a view about a month ahead and was able to get one. The view from the patio looking out over the ocean was incredible. The unit itself was spacious and well appointed with beautiful furniture and pictures.

The walk to the beach from our unit was quite a bit further than we thought it would be. It took over 30 minutes to get there - it looks a lot closer when you start out!

About the ants.......we ended up with ants in the laundry area a couple of days before we left. This is surprising since we were on the third floor. A crew came up within 30 minutes of our complaining and cleaned the area, which helped quite a bit. They wanted to spray ant killer, but said that we would need to leave the unit for most of the day. Since the next day was our last day, we decided against doing that .

All in all it was a great place to stay and would return again in a heartbeat!




23296 kbuckmaster

May 18 2007 We are a family who is a real test for resorts because there are 13 of us and we need 3 units. Our stay at this resort was wonderful! The units were beautiful. The kitchens had granite counters and were well equipped. They had washer/dryers in them - a necessity for vacationing with lots of children! The kids, from 1 year to 13 years, loved it. It had play ground with a kids putting green, basketball court, sandbox and lots of pools including a Koi pond. We had fabulous views of the Pacific. The Corona Del Mar beach is a short drive away but was perfect for us. We, of course, did Disneyland because it was close. There is so much to do in the area and not enough time. The staff was very helpful. They provided us with 3 units together which some resorts don't even try to do. They even returned a personal item I forgot there when we checked out. We would return any time but summer is best for the pools and beach. This is an excellent family resort but quiet and relaxing enough for couples, too. Yup, we agree it is a 9.5!


23102 huskynikblackabby

Jul 21 2007 Visited Jul 21-28 after a week at Four Seasons Aviara. Perhaps that parly explains why I give this resort an 8, but by the definitions of the resort ratings on the input form, it is an 8 to me in any case :)

Check in went smoothly, had requested an upper floor view unit and got one (2700 building). View lovely, but traffic noise from Coast Highway a deterrent from sitting out on the balcony.

SoCal climate wonderful (we are from Cayman, so came to cool off). Proximity to Crystal Cove beach a plus for relaxed beach walks, plus my wife runs every mornign and enjoyed running along that area.

Trader Joes and Starbucks two minutes down the road on Coast Highway, Pavilions three minutes away to the North. Highly recommend Zpizza for take out pizza, close to Fashion Island mall, so 5-10 minutes away.

I was amazed how easy it was to get to Disneyland using the HOV lanes on 55 and I5, under 30 minutes door to door (left the condo about 9am to avoid the worst of rush hour). Also went to Discovery Science Center (just before Disney on I5), excellent day out for kids of all ages... some great exhibits.

Avoided the main pool area as it was terribly crowded, but the lower pool was fine, if heated a little too cold for our Caribbean tastes ! Only glitch with the lower pool was the first night we went there (about 5:30) nobody had been to see to the towels, the whole area was scattered with wet towels, and there were no clean towels to be had.

Never used any other resort activities, preferred to explore the area.

Unit was nice, new bedding on the beds was a positive. Furniture and kitchen a little tired, but maintained in good condition. WiFi was free, but I would have preferred to have paid for it if it would have meant higher speed. WiFi speed was very low in the evenings as I guess everyone logged on then.

Basically a good location and nice units in an area with good climate.


22395 TomCayman

Jul 16 2007 We stayed at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas as part of the Timeshare Preview Package. We arrived about 12:30pm and surprisingly they had a villa ready for us. I had called 1 month prior to request bldg. 3800 and a top floor being a light sleeper. The front desk clerk said he didn't have any rooms available like this. I figured we would be fine. Villa was great, having stayed here before on an exchange we knew what to expect. Very spacious and clean. We went straight to the pool where we ordered fruit smoothies ($5) and nachos ($6) for the kids. The prices at the pool bar actually seemed reasonable to me for a 5 star resort. A little of jockying and towel moving was needed through out the week at the pool. Lots of chairs but there are always people who leave towels on chairs for hours. We need chairs close to the pool so we could watch the kids, hence abandoned towels found their way to the dirty bin. Staff was friendly throughout the resort. Day 2 we took the shuttle to Crystal Cove State beach, what a convenience!! Great driver. The Work out room is average, there was of course, a guest who had the 10, 15 and 20lb dumbell sets in her corner for her sole use. Common courtsey is just lost on some people, but not Marriott's fault. We used our Fashion Island Gift card from the timeshare preview for 2 nites of dinner for 4, books, coffee, ice cream etc. The sales rep was generally polite and low pressure, we knew the Marriott system and wanted an EOY in the desert for less then she could give us. Now, the nightmate...The noise from the room above us was horrible!!! All day and past midnight. I don't think they people upstairs were noisy, but I think there is a design flaw with the rooms that allows the littlest walking above to sound like stomping down below. We asked the front desk for ear plugs on the 2nd day, they said they would send them to our room, none ever sent. Even our young kids complained of waking up to heavy footsteps above. I left the bathroom fan on, turned the cieling fan on and shoved cotton balls into my ears to try to drown out the heavy traffic. On a lighter note I can say that the bed was very comfortable and the price was right for our trip hence a 9.0 rating.


22331 Quimby

Feb 3 2007 We exchanged into the Marriott Newport Coast Villas. We had spent a week in Kauai at the Shearwater and wanted to break up our trip before returning to the east coast. Newport Cost is wonderful. The rooms were large, clean and well furnished. The beds had the new “revive bedding” – So comfortable!!! We were fortunate to receive a unit with an ocean view. The kitchen was fully equipped.

We ate out at several really good restaurants, Maestro’s Ocean Grill, The Five Crowns, and had Sunday brunch at the Ritz Carlton at Laguna Niguel. We drove to San Diego one day. It was quite a long drive but worth the trip.

The Newport Coast area has terrific shopping, dining and area attractions. Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Sea World are an easy drive.

I recommend this resort for families or couples there are plenty of things to do for everyone.




22295 helen6833

Jun 13 2006 This is a first-class resort in a terrific location. The units and grounds are immaculate and beautiful, extensive and almost lavish. Comparable to our home resort of Desert Springs I , but different in style. Service was excellent all around. You do have to cross the road to get to the beach, but once there (10-minute pleasant walk) it is exquisite. Newport Beach is a great town (10-minute drive) with many restaurant options. L.A. is a good 1-1.5 hrs away so do not expect to be going in and out of the city much. This area can be foggy but when the weather is clear it is truly magnnificant. We went in June and it was crystal clear. We will go back.


21924 JMF

Mar 23 2007 I purchased without seeing the resort. I went by reputation knowing the area. I am very happy with our purchase. The resort lived up to all the information that was provided. One month before the visit, I requested an ocean view, in a new or recently renovated unit, next to the children's activity area. All were accomodated. The view was beautiful. There were three pools by our unit.

I have a 2.5 year old and a 4 month baby. Disneyland and other attractions (I recommend the Discovery Center for little ones) is close by, as well as other beaches in the area.

The unit was nicely furnished. The staff was friendly and helpful on places to eat and how to get around in the area.

No problems and no complaints, other than there were a few broken tiles in the bathroom that made loud sounds when you walked on them.

There were lots of families with children, but I think as a couple, it would be great too.




21245

Mar 4 2007 Upscale 2 bedroom units with all the bells and whistles. Unit was about 1200 square feet so it was quite comfortable. Everything was in great shape and the view over the valley to the ocean was very nice. There are some minor design things we noticed : long way to the main pool; lots of stairs; and the outside entrance areas to units were not attractive but overall this was a great place. Kitchens were large and fully equipped. No problems with check in and a convenient "express" check out. Surprised that there was not a more upscale restaurant on site ... the pool side grill was fine for lunch but doesn't work for a nice dinner. There is lots to do in the area for a week besides just enjoying the nice pool and ammenities right on site. Hard to beat!


21013 rohn

Aug 10 2006 Brand new, 2 bedroom villas, meet all expectations, fully equipped kitchen washer dryer. 4 pools, Newport hasmany many choices of dining, enetrtainment. Dinner cruises. Disney about 45 mns away. Special deals on all sport activities. Very friendly staff. Shuttle service to Suncoast one of yhe largest shopping centers in Orange County. Easier to move around if you rent a car. Spring and summer best season.


20591 jbf0804 - owner

Oct 21 2006 We always enjoy our stay here, but this time it was the best ever! Great villa with an awesome ocean view ,beautiful well kept grounds and wonderful weather. Check went smoothly and the staff was friendly and helpful. Make sure to go to recently opened Beachcomer Restaurant (which is on the beach) at Crystal Cove State Park. The front desk at the villas has a limited amount of free day passes to Crystal Cove. There is an area at the park where you can park and either walk to the restuarant or take a rstored1933 Chevy school bus to the restuarant /beach at a cost of $1 per person each way.


20203

Jun 16 2006 Awesome resort! Incredible Marriott quality in spacious unit, with lots of storage as well as lots of linens. The unit was well decorated with marble and granite throughout. The landscaping, common areas, and pool area were gorgeous. The resort was very well maintained and clean. At the pool, towels were readily available. Both food and drinks from the poolside café were good.

We traded in via II using a 1 bedroom unit from Marriott Desert Springs. We requested a high floor, way from the construction, which we did receive. Not being an owner in the high season, I didn’t even try to get an ocean view.

We attended the welcome orientation continental breakfast, which presented many opportunities for fun, as well as a variety of door prizes from the local vendors. The owner/exchange wine & cheese reception was typical. We received 15,000 points for attending a purchase presentation and a beach towel for 8 potential referrals. When we explained we thought highly of the resort but had enough timeshares, our decline was accepted after a few attempts to overcome our objection.

There were many enjoyable activities at the resort including arts & crafts, sports, spa treatments, a magic show, morning beach walks, a jazz performance, and pool games. A Polynesian Revue was held poolside. It was extremely professional and entertaining. I definitely recommend attending. Get there early as the lounges and chairs filled up early.

We headed to Laguna Beach most often, as well as Newport Beach and Crystal Cove. There was lots of shopping, art galleries, and sights to be seen. A highlight of the week was our visit to Crystal Cove State Park. Exploring the tide pools, walking along the shore viewing the bungalows being remodeling and the height of the cliffs, and admiring the natural vegetation.

Dining was excellent. We enjoyed breakfast at Coyote Grill on the ocean view patio, located in Laguna. We lunched in Laguna at the Beach House and Ruby’s/Crystal Cove Shake Shack (both on ocean view patios) and Zinc Cafe, as well as Tutto Mare (an Italian seafood restaurant in Newport Center). For dinner, we had great sushi at Bluefin Restaurant in the Crystal Cove Promenade, upscale dinner at the Ritz in the Newport Center, and Italian at Sundried Tomato Café in Laguna. Enjoyed seafood dinners with overviews at both 21 Oceanfront Restaurant in Newport Beach and Splashes in the Surf & Sand Hotel at Laguna Beach. Had cocktails at the Montage Resort and enjoyed the resort setting. We did use the Barbecues, which were conveniently located between the buildings.

Although overcast in the morning, we used this time to sleep in and enjoy our room. Our first night, the sprinklers spotted our just washed and polished car. When we expressed our dismay, Mark at the front desk, not only offered to have the sprinklers checked and adjusted, but also gave us a voucher for a local carwash. How nice to be taken care of. After that we parked away from any sprinklers, knowing that the breeze would move the sprinkler spray. The staff from the concierge to housekeeping always greeted us. They were extremely friendly and helpful.

This was our first time spending an entire week at a Californian beach. There was plenty to do at the resort and in the local area. Or you could do as little as you like and just relax. We will definitely return.




19458

Jun 2 2006 We arrived for a 4 PM check-in, and had to wait about 20 minutes for our unit to to be ready. All units are two bedroom. It was very large and tastefully decorated. Master bedroom had a very large bath facility. Wireless, complimentary high speed internet access in the room. Kitchen could have had a few more supplies - there were no baking dishes or pans. We cooked several meals in the room. There is a grocery store (Pavillions) less than a mile away that gives a discount to Marriott residents. Unit was on the second floor and had a view of the golf course. The property was immaculately landscaped - some of the best we have ever seen - Italian Tuscany motif. There were three swimming pools. The pool area was not crowded the times we visited it. There was a snack bar on site with lunch fare. Each set of villas had a BBQ area with two gas grills - they worked fine. The resort had planned activities - an owners breakfast and a wine & cheese social. We did not attend either. The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to greet you and make you feel welcome. Express ckeckout - no additional charges unless you charge food to the room.

We vacationed with three young adults - age 17-21. The resort was perfectly located for sightseeing throughout the area. We attended an LA Dodger baseball game, Knott's Berry Farm, the Queen Mary, Catalina Island, and the San Diego zoo. No more than a 90 minute drive to any of the locations. We did not eat at any local restaurants, as we were always on the road. One place I would recommend is the Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach. There is a toll road near the resort for quick access to the freeways. If you use it, make sure to have a supply of quarters as it is unmanned and the change machine does not always work. There is a state park adjacent to the resort with beach access. It is about a 1/4 mile walk and you have to cross the Pacific Coast Highway. There are plenty of other nice beaches a short drive away both north and south of the resort.

The last day we attended a sales presentation. it was very low pressure. For attending, they were giving out $150 gift certificates for the Fashion Island Mall in Newport Beach. That took care of souvenier shopping. The only negative was that for 4 of the 7 days the weather was cool (~ 70) and foggy. The locals call it the "June gloom". All in all, and excellent vacation experience.


19263 brobinso

Apr 22 2006 This is the third time we have traded our Marriott Beachplace, Fort Lauderdale for Newport Coast Villas. We love the area and it is beautiful both in the spring and the fall. Our check in was smooth and we were given Unit 2833 which I believe was one of the older buildings away from the pools and down the hill from the lobby. It was about a three or four minute walk. The unit was looking tired, although it was very clean. It appeared the furniture had been cleaned once too many times as well as the bedspread. We never use the whirlpool tub, but the big shower in the master was nice.

The first thing that went wrong was the a/c. It was freezing in our unit. We tried everything to get it to shut off and called down twice to the "AT YOUR SERVICE DESK" to get a maintenance person to come up to adjust the temperature. It took several more calls but they finally came and fixed the problem. The second problem that occured was the mattress in the master bedroom. It was soft and dipped in many places. We slept or tried to sleep the first night and then in the morning called and asked for help. The "AYSD" said that they did not have any other mattresses to replace this one. That was the first call...we called again without any help and then the third call, I asked to have "at least" a bed board. They said they would send up a maintenance person to bring a bed board. When we came back a board was under the mattress, but it was still a major sag. I called and request another maintenance person to come to see about the problem and the "AYSD" said they would put a board under the sofa bed so we could sleep. The maintenance person came...took one look at the mattress and went and got a new one to replace it.

At the Owner's Meeting, the leader took pride in saying that all the mattresses in NCV had been replaced. When I told her later that we had a problem, she said that she would look into this matter, but we never heard from her again. They wanted us to go to the presentation, but we declined. Other than having pizza one evening, we only used our villa as a hotel apt. and ate except for breakfast most of our meals in restaurants. We love both Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. At the first coffee, the water color teacher, who is so nice, told me about the tide pools and where to park and how to get down to see them at the south end of Laguna. Well worth the effort...the flowers along the walksare beautiful as well as the beach and the tide pools and sea life are so interesting. We walked in Crystal Cove park across the street and went to Heisler Park in Laguna. We also drove down to Carlsbad to see the Flower Fields. It is near the outlet mall so we walked the fields and then went to lunch at King's Seafood and then to the Outlet Mall.

The Newport Film Festival was going on last week so we went to the movies several times and saw some new and interesting movies. It was a nice R and R week for us.

Marriott suggests that they are a five star property. My wish would be that they had at least one or two complementary maid services instead of nickle and diming for service. That they would have large bath towels instead of the flimsy ones that are not really nice and robes in the master closet for our use. They have put in wi fi and that is new since last year. That was great because last year we had to go to the lobby to use the computer.

All in all it was a good week and will probably trade for NCV again just to be in the area.




18927

Apr 14 2006 My wife, two teenage boys and I stayed at NCV during the holiday week. We are owners at Marriott’s Grande Vista in Orlando and found this resort to be very comparable. The units are smaller, which shows in the dining, lack of a pantry closet in the kitchen and any storage closet, but the living room and master bedroom is quite roomy. The grounds were beautiful. We stayed in unit 2520, which was an end unit. It had a nice view of the ocean and it was quiet. I would mention that the unit has no immediate parking, so we parked near another building and walked. No big deal for us, but for anyone with an ambulatory problem it could be an issue. For that matter, being located on the side of a hill like it is, the whole NCV complex would be difficult for anyone who does not do stairs very well. Complex is close to Newport Beaches. We went to Corona Del Mar Beach, which was very nice. I will note for others that the bathrooms at this beach are being renovated, and there was no sign directing one to the portables tucked around back. We did not see them until we were leaving the beach for the day. Our unit was located about half-way between the main pool, which is where the bar and only on-site restaurant was located, and one of the smaller pools, which was very quiet. My wife and I preferred the smaller, quiet pool, while the boys went to the main pool

Only maintenance issue I had was with the gas grill. I could only get one burner to light and the other one near our unit was in use. I called maintenance and someone came within 5 minutes with a hand lighter and got the burners lit. Those auto-sparkers on gas grills never work for very long anyway, so I don’t blame the resort.

I would recommend renting a small power boat or electric boat at the FunZone to see Newport Harbor ($65 for 90 minutes). We saw amazing homes and yachts. Another tidbit for members is to call Bandara’s Restaurant in Newport Beach for one of their rotisserie chickens and the sides. It easily fed the four of us for $30 and was absolutely delicious. For groceries, I would recommend Pavilions up the hill a couple miles vs. Albertsons down in Newport Beach. Much newer, better selection and if you tell them you are staying at NCV you get a significant discount.

I had one complaint about the resort staff. The concierge desk is manned by folks who also sell time shares. While not high pressure, their interest seems more attuned to making sure you attend the sales pitch than helping with more typical concierge tasks. For example, the day before we were to leave we were on an Hollywood Tour for the day. We asked the concierge at the desk that morning to go online at 1:00 P.M. and print off our boarding passes (we were flying Southwest and wanted to be in the A boarding queue). He agreed and said we would call my cell to confirm. As the day went on I never got a call, so I called him. I was informed that he had gone home early. I asked the person that answered if they could take care of it for me. They agreed, and said they would leave the passes at the desk. We got back from L.A. early evening. No boarding passes to be found anywhere at the concierge desk, the registration desk or the sales office. Basically, nothing had been done on our behalf, so we got our boarding passes that evening ourselves, and wound up queued in B.

All in all a very nice place to visit, excellent resort and well located to attractions in L.A. and San Diego. We were very pleased with our visit.




18879 cornbread

Nov 19 2005 We traded to this location with another Marriott unit. We were assigned unit 1120 upon check-in around 8 pm or so. This unit is in one of the buildings that is pretty far from the main pool (building 1100). We did not get an ocean view but a pool view (not the main pool but a smaller one). We had a tiny view of the ocean if you looked through the trees. We had a ground floor unit. The balcony had a huge wall around it. So when you sat on the balcony you stared right at a wall. This was quite a disappointment for us since we love sitting on the balcony in the evenings. This definitely made the unit feel like an apartment more than a resort. The unit was large but as others noted the 2nd bedroom was small (and definitely would be too small for 4 people). Also, the 2nd bedroom did not have a view of anything but the hallway. Since we were on an end unit we had extra windows in the master bedroom. We thought the room decor was boring. We liked the decor much better at Waiohai & Williamsburg. The resort itself had great amenities as far as swimming, putting green, basketball court, larger than life checkers, pool tables, game room, exercise room, etc.... The marketplace was definitely an after thought. We didn't buy anything there. The lobby area was gorgeous with the sweeping views of the ocean. The main pool also has a great view of the ocean. The unit itself had all the amenities that you needed including Wifi access. We were lucky the weather was great this week and we were able to use the pool. Even though the resort was full we did not hear our neighbors at all. With all the building spread apart it was fairly quiet.

We did not participate in any of the activities. However, we did ask for recommendations for Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, they recommended the Ritz Carlton. However, at $50 a head for a child (yep you read that right) we felt it was a bit out of our price range. The adult price was $90. Little did we know that we should have gone there. Anyways, then, they recommended the Marriott in Newport Beach that served a Thanksgiving Buffet. We went ahead and called. They told us that their restaurant was closed for renovations and recommended us to another Marriott hotel in Newport. We made reservations there. To our surprised it was a plated dinner where they bring out one plate of food to you. No choices at all. The couple next to us had made the same mistake. At that point they had gotten up a left before they were served once they figured out the meal arrangement. I'll have to say it was one of the cheapest meals we ever had. $18 per adult and $8 per child. Anyways, we stayed because of the children however, next time we will go with the Ritz's. I was disappointed that the second Marriott recommended this place as a replacement since it definitely wasn't a buffet.

There is plentity to do in the Los Angeles area. We did the usual stuff like hanging out on the beaches, going to Disneyland, San Diego Zoo & Seaworld. The mall near the resort is great lots of great stores. The coatal towns are very cute and quaint. While the area was great, we probably would not go back. We just didn't feel relaxed in the area. The traffic was unbelievable. Parking was horrible. Restaurant waits were amazing unless you made reservations. We even showed up at a popular restaurant around 4 pm and were told the wait was 2 hours. I'm sure this had a lot to do with the holiday week. On Sunday we waited 45 minutes for a table at a Seafood restaurant in the middle of the afternoon around 3 pm. We just don't enjoy doing that. This definitely put a damper on the trip....



Overall, the resort had a great amenities except the marketplace.... We didn't love the location but to others I'm sure it would be fine. We had spent 2 days at a Disneyland hotel prior to checking in here. I'm glad we did because the drive to and from the resort was long around 30 to 45 minutes depending on the traffic. I think we'd go back again without the kids or when the kids are teenagers and could handle the traffic and long lines, etc...




18865

Feb 3 2006 We stayed in NCV in Feb, 2006. It is a great resort, excellent location. Check in and out is very easy. Onsite Pizza Hut is great and cheap. $15.00 for medium pizza. The swimming pool is cool even though the weather is in mid 70's for the week. We only went in the pool twice. My toddler loves the Bella Vista Park especially the sandbox. The sand is very soft and inviting. The kid playground is good for 2-7 years old. We have fun at the basketball court.

We stayed in unit 3131. It has a view of the ocean. We have problem with the bathtub plug. The repairman came within 10 minutes. We requested a crib and highchair. That was provided to us at check in. The drive to Disneyland is easy - 20 minutes (car pool lane & $1.50 toll road).

My only complain is that it does not have mid week cleaning, no new towels,etc. I would definitely go back to the NCV.


18255

Dec 24 2005 Our first stay at NCV. The location was exceptional for a family of four. Corona Del Mar, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach have a lot to offer. Pelican Ridge world class golf just across the street. Easy walk to the beach. Coast was pristine and beautiful. We walked 1/2 mile along the ocean to Crystal Cove. A little historic town right on the water that's being rennovated as a State Park. Impressive!

The unit was as expected. Spacious, comfortable, beautiful view of the Pacific. Our expectations were high and the entire experience and new discoveries far exceeded what we had anticipated.

So much to do in and around this location. Excellent restaurants. 10 minutes from the airport. Kids (college age) loved it.


18213 - owner

Oct 22 2005 Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas

We stayed the last week of Oct 2005 at the Newport Coast Villas. Check in was smooth and easy. We were assigned a second floor villa with a full ocean view, which was a surprise since as a non Marriott exchanger, we expected a non view unit. According to the staff, approximately 75% of the units will have an ocean view when the resort is completed. They said that most of those units will be going to the owners and then to Marriott exchangers, so non Marriott exchangers will be lucky to get an ocean view unit.

The resort complex is large, with approximately 20 completed buildings and another 15 or so left to be built. The main club house has a market place store/deli with most grocery items needed till you can get to the store. We ordered pizza from the deli the first night and would recommend the food. It also has a coffee - espresso stand.

There are two pools, the main pool complex overlooks the ocean and has two large pools and a couple of hot tubs. There are also huge chess and checker boards were you must step onto the board to move your pieces. Also an outdoor pool table and ping pong table. The main complex has a pool side restaurant with drink service. The other pool is the standard resort pool with a just large pool and hot tub. Towels are provided at the pools.

The units are in 2 - 4 stories buildings with elevators. Few of the first floor units will have a view but most of the upper floors have views. All the units are two bedrooms, two bath units. They are large and beautiful done. The living room and master bedroom both face the ocean. The master bedroom also has a fancy master bath with a soaking tub in the bedroom. The master bath also includes double sinks and a large shower with two shower heads. The second bedroom is on the back of the unit and has a queen bed and a queen sleeper sofa. The kitchen has full size appliances and granite counters. The unit also comes with a stacked washer-dryer (bring your own laundry soap).

We did do the TS presentation. They clearly did their homework as it was customized for us. They knew we knew about TS and didn’t try to sell us on timesharing, but tried to tell us all the reasons why we should buy from the developer. Spent a great deal of time talking about Marriott reward points and the fact they you can redeem your NCV every year for points. He talked a lot about maximizing your points on travel overseas. Also talked a lot about buying multiple weeks. He went on about how high the real estate is in Newport and buying a month or two at NCV made sense, when the price of condos in So Cal was so high. I tried to talk to him about the difficulty of reserving in the summer but couldn’t pin him down.

Overall a great resort, hope we can go back soon.




15896 Bill4728

Sep 17 2005 These units are a little smaller than the usual units of Marriott. However, they are nicely appointed and the decorations are tastefull. Nice granite countertops and great two headed shower in the master suite. We had a party of eight with a couple of small children, the room was adequate for all of us. We made numerous requests to obtain a crib (never received) but we did receive a high chair within minutes. We also encountered a small problem with ants in the unit but this is a common problem along the coast. The resort was in great shape and basically new. We had a nice view of the ocean from the 3500 building directly across from the registration office.

The amenities were plentiful and well cared for and clean. Not much activities during the off season. Pools were not crowded either!!! The staff were friendly and always greeting the guests. This resort is about 25 miles from Disneyland and very convenient to the freeways and local attractions. Great grocery store (Pavillon's?) just up the hill from the resort with great selections and a preferred discount if you mention you are staying at the Marriott. This is a great family location with beaches just down the road. Downside of resort not on the beach but its other attributes make up for this shortcoming. Would stay here for any trip in the Southern California area. Strong 9.


11922

02/2005
We visited Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas Feb 19-26, 2005. We own at other Marriotts and exchanged through Interval. This property is under construction and about half completed; we were not bothered by the construction at all.

The 2- bedroom unit was not as large, as other Marriotts, the second bedroom especially was small, a queen bed and a sofa. The bathroom in the master bedroom is especially cramped—we kept laughing about the best way to get out of the shower (and it is a NICE shower) with the bathroom door closed. We would suggest not more than 6 people in these units. The master bedroom and the living room may have a partial view of the ocean, but the property is not on the beach. It’s several hundred feet up a hill. The second bedroom has no view to speak of. This is a dissapointment based on other Marriotts where both bedrooms face the same direction.

It rained a lot during our stay, but we did get to use the hot tubs and they were nice. Other people were using the regular pools, which were heated. They had signs in a couple of places about “quiet areas”, we thought this was a nice idea, to provide quiet places for those wanting to read or really relax. We hope it’s a trend.

The kitchen was a full kitchen, with a full stove, There was a breakfast bar and a table too. The living room area is large enough but there is also a lot of furniture in the space. The patio outside the living room is nice, but with the high cement walls you cannot see anything sitting down.

We had two "complaints" regarding the thin walls. First, the TV in the living room is next to the Master bedroom door, so even if turned down to a low volume, the sound comes right through to the bedroom...Second, we could hear the TV and snoring (yes) from the Master bedroom next to us, and the people above sounded like elephants. We have never had this problem in any timeshare anywhere, and we have exchanged at least 15 times ove the past several years.

The unit was in excellent condition. Everything worked and the kitchen was well equipped with a no-stick fry pan too!


There were activities scheduled each day, but the bad weather forced them to cancel quite a few. However, there is so much to do in Orange and LA Counties, that we never lacked for activities nor dining. Also, the resort is close to Fashion Island, a huge mall with restaurants, activities and of course, stores. Pavillions, an upscale foodstore is also local.


We would rate it a 8.5 out of ten, especially when compared to other Marriotts.


11940

01/2005
We had a wonderful stay at this resort. The architecture, decor, and landscaping are all extremely well done. The setting is gorgeous - high on a hill overlooking the blue Pacific. I have visited Italy, and this resort truly evokes a feeling of being in Tuscany. It's very romantic. The main swimming pool complex is stunning, and the main pool is heated.

Newport Beach is a wonderful coastal community. I really enjoyed walking along the bluffs at Corona Del Mar, visiting the shops on Balboa Island, visiting the piers and boardwalk on the Balboa pennisula, and exploring Crystal Cove State Park. Even though you're near the heart of Orange County, the traffic in Newport is fairly light and the city seems very removed from the fast paced tempo of Los Angeles.

A couple of restaurants I would recommend are the Rusty Pelican and the Five Crowns. We enjoyed excellent dinners at both. If you use the Experience card that Marriott gives you free at the welcome breakfast, everyone in your party will receive a free dessert at Five Crowns. (The card also entitles you to discounts at a variety of other restaurants, shops, and attractions.)

For grocery shopping, we found Pavillions (owned by Von's) to be the best. It's located up the hill from the resort at the intersection of Newport Coast Drive and Park Ridge. There is an Albertson's on Pacific Coast Highway in Corona Del Mar which isn't bad, but it's a small store with much less selection. Having read about Trader Joe's here on TUG, we originally intended to shop there, but it turned out to not be our type of store. As non-drinkers and not being into organic foods, it really had very little to offer us.

There was one flaw with our villa which did detract from our stay somewhat. The thermostat is located close to the kitchen, and the heating/cooling system cannot be turned off, nor can it be set to just heat or just air conditioning. The only control you have is to choose the temperature you prefer. The system will then switch back and forth between heat and air conditioning in order to keep it at that temperature. It sounds okay on paper, but it was very annoying. Anytime we cooked anything, the air conditioning would come on and the villa would become much too cold. Then, if we turned up the temperature, the heat would come on and stay on too long and it would get much too hot.

We called maintenance, and a guy came out to check the system. He advised us to simply leave it set at 72 degrees. He said there was nothing we could do to keep the air conditioning from coming on, even though it was winter and we didn't want or need it. In the end, we resorted to switching off the circuit breaker whenever we cooked anything or any other time the a/c happened to come on. We'd leave it off for a few hours and then turn it back on before bed. We got by, but it was a nuisance.

The marketplace was closed for renovation while we were there, and the poolside grill was also closed for the season. As the resort is somewhat isolated from restaurants, we missed having at least limited food service available on site. It would have been nice to have had at least one or the other open for business.

Despite these items, we had an awesome week at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas. I rate this resort a 9, and I look forward to visiting again.
Steve T.



11941

10/2004
Greatly enjoyed recent stay at this property. Excellent location with beaches, San Diego and Anaheim in close proximity. Overall condition of resort is superior with some new construcion underway. Fully stocked with attractive furnishings and had excellent view of Pacific Ocean. A few units somewhat close to roadway.

Check-in very pleasant, staff very enthusiastic and helpful. Experienced no problems at all during the week.

Spa and fitness room undersized but eventually will be upgraded as property is built out. Restraurant and shops apparently on the drawing board but again will not be in place for some time. A few activities on property included morning welcome breakfast (with few "prizes"), very informal/small evening BBQ,Yoga, talks on Interval ownership and investments.

Local area offers very good dining and entertainment options. Feel this is a more adult oriented property. Several hillside levels make it a bit difficult for on foot navigation if one pysically challenged.

Rate the resort a very solid "9".
Bruce A. LoBuono



11942

06/2004
A wonderful time was had by the Owen family on a California beach and in a beautiful Marriott Resort! Our family of five (three teenagers) fit comfortably in our two bedroom villa. The guest bedroom had a queen bed and a sleeper sofa couch. My two teenage daughters shared this room and got along about as best as one could expect. My son slept on the sleeper sofa that was located in the living room area which was a typically apportioned Marriott living area. The kitchen was well stocked with the necessary items needed to feed the masses. The master bedroom was very nice equiped with the "seldom used" whirlpool bathtub and had the "never used" two person shower(which was an "interesting" feature for a Hoosier). Our room was located on the third floor and we had an excellent partial view of the ocean. No ants were found!

The resort was itself was simply beautiful. Although there was construction going on, it did not get in the way of our having a good time and enjoying ourselves. The pool area was wonderful. We spent many an afternoon by the pool enjoying the views and soaking up the sun. Although the beach was quite a walk from the resort, it is easy to get to a number of wonderful beaches with just a short car drive.

I would recommend the many resort activities. The activities staff was excellent and the campfire on Thursday and the beach walk were my family's favorite activities.

We went to L.A. two days. The first day we took a grayline tour that lasted all day, hiting all the highlights of Hollywood, Venice Beach, Dowtown LA, and the Historic District with a lunch stop at the Farmers Market. I would recommend this highly. We then on the second day went on our own and revisited many of the areas that we liked from the original tour. It takes about 1 hour to get to L.A. from the resort.

We also went to Six Flags Magic Mountain, which was quite a drive 11/2 hrs, but my kids love rollercoasters and this place has 'em!

All in all we had a wonderful time in a wonderful place and we met many wonderful people at the Marriott Newport Coast!
Steven Owen



11943

05/2004
This is a typically beautiful Marriott resort. An earlier reviewer mentioned the problem with trees in unfortunate places, which is true. We were lucky enough to get a unit with a "partial" ocean view. It was enough to make our balcony a very nice place to be. Apparently, many units lack an ocean view and this leads to frfequent complaints from guests assigned to viewless units. As this is a rather new resort, everything is in pretty good shape. The bar-b-que grills provided were nice nad frequently used.

The oly problem we had was a plumbinmg problem, which resulted in a flood into the bedroom. We were put into the unit next door, where the view was basically missing.

Since we were all adults who had been to LA and Disneyland before, we opted to focus on relaxation while at the resort. The pool area is lovely. We attended the Root Beer and Bingo and won a free cocktail. (I know that is corny, but I always manage to talk to people at such functions and learn about other resorts where they own or have traded into.) There is a Starbucks in the on-site MArketplace shop, but the baristas are not up to usual Starbucks standards. Cappucino really resembled latte.

We spent a lot of time in Laguna Beach, a few miles south of the resort down the Pacific Coast Highway. Lovely little town, lots of shopping and restaurants, a fine art museum, and the beach is right downtown next to Main St.

We also spent time at Newport Beach (north of resort a few miles on Pacific Coast Highway), which seemed a bit less glitzy than Laguna Beach. For seeing how the rich live, it's hard to beat Balboa Island, between the resort and Newport Beach. You can walk around the whole island in 20 minutes, enjoying views of the water, the many sailboats, and the lovely homes. The cheapest house we saw advertised was $1.8 million. But it's fun to dream. Great breakfast at Wilma's on Balboa Island, and fun shopping in little stores.

Overall, a good experience. I would go back. I'd give it a 9.0.
Donna L. Richter



11944

05/2004
We arrived 4 hours earlier than the 4 p.m. check in time – they registered us, but the room wouldn’t be ready until 4. So we drove around to get our bearings and have lunch. We were very pleased in building 3300, with our 6th floor room facing the ocean and main area near check in and Marketplace. Indoor parking right in our building was a treat. The complex is already huge, with a lot of lower level construction going on. The Marriott website map is really out of date and shows about 6 buildings when in reality there are many more. There is one main pool area at the place you check in, and only one other pool in the lower levels where there is construction. There are no ‘real’ restaurants on site – but plenty a short drive away – this is California where cars reign supreme - but don’t slow them down gawking at scenery on the Pacific Coast Highway or you’ll hear about it from all the speedy Mercedes, Bentley’s and the like. You need a car for this resort.

The suite was pretty much a standard non-lockoff 2 bedroom for new Marriotts which are getting smaller all the time – these are about 1200 sq ft., about 400 sq ft smaller Desert Springs Villas 1 in Palm Desert. The location is great – near beautiful scenic coastal vistas, good restaurants, upscale shopping, and local artworks. Everything is quite lush. I read the average price of a home in Newport Coast is over $1 million now.

Be careful using the balcony doors - they locked behind one person in our party and he couldn't get back in until we returned! I wonder if any parents (or kids) have been locked out too - they should warn you. We were afraid to close the sliding doors behind us all week, even though we figured out how to guard against the automatic locking with a special lever.

Perhaps I’ve been spoiled with my own Marriott Marketplaces open to 10 p.m. each night, but here it closes weeknights at only 7 p.m. and 8 on weekends – not late enough in my opinion. La Vista Pool Bar & Grill is only open to 4 p.m. – great hamburger, hotdog & fries though - but if you want a late evening pizza you're out of luck!

There is a big, deep, almost square but odd looking soaking tub in the Master, without Jacuzzi jets unfortunately - not really one you could stretch out in and read. The master shower was huge, with two shower heads – one at both ends – let the fun begin. The mattresses were about 8 inches thick, and very light – we found it almost a foot off the side of the bed in the morning – I wouldn’t rate it as good as other recent Marriott timeshare visits, but slept fairly well on it. The air conditioning in the unit was terrible - we couldn't get it adjusted for a constant temp and were too cold part of the time and sweating the next.

Beach access can be costly at $5 parking each time. Marriott only has a shuttle to Laguna Beach 4 times a day – not the beaches down the street. It’s free if you want to walk almost 2 miles down the hill (and back up again).

For dining, we enjoyed Five Crowns for roast beef so much we went back a second time. For Mediterranean food, you’ll enjoy Café Panini (they give Idine frequent flyer miles). Down the road just past Laguna Beach, the Ritz Carlton has a great, relaxing lunch area called The Terrace with an incredible view of cliffs, beach, and surfers – their $15 sirloin hamburger was the best I’ve ever had. Roy’s has a great price fixed $30 meal with 3 courses and 4 entrée choices. Trader Joe’s (turn left to the first mall on Pacific Coast Hwy) has terrific yuppy groceries. Balboa Island was fun. Fashion Island, not an island, had the big named stores and restaurants. Scenery around Laguna is tops. Nights can be cool - it would have been nice to have a cozy fireplace like at Desert Springs.


11945

05/2004 This was our first visit to NCV. Even though this property is on the coast, it is not beachfront so if you have to be on the beach you will be disappointed. The property sits on a hill overlooking Pacific Coast Highway. Also, if you are the type who has to have a view of the ocean I would guess that about 50% or less of the rooms have what I would call an ocean view. The location gods did not smile on us this time and we were placed into a ground floor unit. If you orientated yourself just right you might get a glimpse of the ocean between the trees and the roof tops of the building in front of you. I suspect you would have to be on the third floor or higher on most of the buildings to guarantee an ocean view.

The rest of the amenities are very typical of a standard Marriott property. This is not a lock off so if you get a trade into here you get a good size 2BR unit. The unit we were in was clean with no insect problem. There was a hair dryer in both bathrooms with a large oversize shower in the master. There are (so far) two pools on the property. The main pool has three sections to it with whirlpools on the side and offers some of the best view of the ocean on the property. The smaller pool was close to our unit and even though it didn't have any ocean views it was nice in that it was never crowded.

We found the staff to be very friendly and helpful, especially the concierge people. My only caveat would be to avoid owners wine and cheese party it was 100% Marriott sales presentation and a very poor one at that of their timeshare program and points system.

Newport Coast is roughly an hour's drive from LA and about the same to San Diego so there is more than enough activities in the area to suit anyone's tastes. We took the Hollywood tour recommended by the concierge. It was well done, but as is usually the case, half the fun were the rest of the people we went with.

All in all we had a good week here. It would have been nice to have a better unit location but that didn't stop us of enjoying the week.

The temps were unusually warm for this time in southern Cal (80s on the beach and close to 100 in town) but coming from the icebox of the Nation I appreciated the warmth. I don't think I would own here but I wouldn't mind coming back for another visit.
Mark Svobodny



11946

04/2004 (Owner) We've owned here three years and finally stayed a week, having traded or rented out before because we live nearby. It was a family spring vacation, and we had 8 adults, 5 kids and a baby (but not all at once!) in and out during the week. Busy, but I guess we kept the noise down ...

We stayed in 3151, on the top (5th) floor of 3100 building. You surely can't go wrong with the top floor of 3000-3100-3200 buildings, and the next floor down (4th, but actually 3rd above ground) is fine too. In about ten years, some pine trees may reduce the view from some of these rooms.

The sofabed in the living room got passing grades from the 60-pound kids, and "ugh" from adults. No specific complaints about digging or poking, just "not comfortable." The sofabed in the second bedroom is only "double" size; two small kids will fit, but only VERY friendly adults.

The windows in the master bedroom open just a few inches (they crank open on a vertical axis ) because of the "Italian" pseudo-railing across them. It can be a little stuffy if you don't run the air conditioning, which is very effective and very quiet.

Everything else was great. No ants. Cool but reasonable weather, with overcast some days. Local calls 75 cents; no charge for toll-free ones. They supply salt, pepper, a roll of paper towels, and coffee filters. Satellite TV now via Dish or Directv, I forget which, but they just switched from local cable.

Construction is now at the south end of the property and was not apparent at all. Apparently most of the parking is already done, as there was plenty of free space even though the resort was (as usual) full.
Dave Donnelly



11947

03/2004 This was our 2nd visit to this resort in 6 months, and we loved it both times. We stayed in building 2800 on the 2nd floor this time with a beautiful view of the Pacific ocean. The weather was so fine for the first half of the week that Catalina Island was clearly visible from our deck. Both times we've stayed here, it has been quiet and peaceful.
We trekked in to Los Angeles 5 days in a row. We have found that travel into town isn't too bad if we leave after 9:15 a.m., use the HOV lanes, and don't try to return to the villa until at least 8 p.m. Only once were we caught up in a big traffic mess, and that was our own fault for trying to leave the Getty Museum at 6:45 p.m. We should have found some place to eat dinner before getting on the freeway.
Los Angeles seems to be about the most inexpensive city in which to rent a car. Less than $150/week for a full size Avis car! Get something you like to drive if you intend to travel in and out of town. It's an hour drive to Hollywood, the Getty, Farmer's Market, etc. Here are some of the things we did that week: walked around Venice Beach on a warm Sunday afternoon (crazy/zany!), toured the Kodak Theater, saw a movie at Grauman's Chinese Theater, became audience members for Jimmy Kimmel Live, spent a day at Universal Studios, toured the Getty Museum, had lunch at the Farmer's Market and spent a little time at The Grove, enjoyed being audience members for the taping of Everyone Loves Raymond, and spent a day at the
Wild Animal Park, which is part of the San Diego Zoo. There is much to do in Los Angeles and San Diego. The next time we visit this resort, we'll go w/o our teenaged son, and we'll spend more time visiting the areas nearer to the resort.
Final word: both visits - no sign of ants!
Linda Abrahams



11948

03/2004 We called ahead and requested an ocean view villa that allows smoking. When we arrived we found that they had no smoking villas available. Our ocean "view" would better be described as an ocean "peak", as most of the view was blocked by trees. They did allow smoking on the porch, which solved that problem for my wife. We were in the #1200 villa and parking in that area was limited. On some occassions we got the last open spot. As some guests arrive in multiple cars, and none of the handicapped spots were used this week, parking could be a serious problem for anyone who arrives home late in the evening.

A note in the villa warned of a possible invasion by ants and this was correct. We had them spray the unit midweek and by Saturday the little critters were back again.

Once the cold and wet weather moved out, we enjoyed many attractions in this area. We took a Hollywood Tour in a six passenger van that picked up at the resort. We drove to San Diego and visited their fine zoo and saw the Pandas. We also took an interesting harbor boat ride. The amount of wealth concentrated in this area is unbelievable. There is one house in the harbor that was puchased for $9 million because the dock would accomodate the owner's boat. As he didn't want to live in this house, he leaves this one vacant and he purchased another one in the harbour for $18 million and then tore it down to build his current home. One of the biggest yachts (that cost about $5 million, reportedly is rarely used except for the annual Christmas boat parade.

I am rating this resort an 8.5. Although it is in a nice location, I don't think the size and decor of the villas was anything special.

Although I enjoy visiting Southern California, I'm always glad I don't live there. Life is too short to spend it driving in the
traffic on their expressways and breathing their badly polluted air. Their Sunday newspaper has a map with a record of the past week's earth tremors and their Richter Scale numbers. I think I'll stay here in Arizona and when the "big one" hits California, I might then own ocean front property.
Jerry Krueger



11949

02/2004 We traded our Marriott Ocean Pointe Silver Week efficiency for a 2BR Marriott Newport Coast Villas for my wife and I and our two children, ages 4 yrs and 15 months. My parents traded a Marriott Manor Club at Ford’s Colony efficiency to come with us. Both trades were made within 60-days of check-in, the first around Christmas and the second in mid-January for 7/8 Feb check-in (one was Saturday, one was Sunday).

The resort is fabulous. It is well kept, the units are spacious and fully stocked for 8, including all dishes, silverware, cooking
supplies, coffee maker, blender, towels, sheets, etc. There is a king bed in the master bedroom, a queen bed and pull out sofa in the second bedroom, and a pull out sofa in the living room. The dining room table comes with six chairs and there are two chairs for the kitchen counter. In the living room, in addition to the sofa and two chairs, there is a nice ottoman that fits under the coffee table and pulls out for more seating. The master bath is great with double sinks, a two-headed shower (one of the best showers I’ve ever had!) and a large soaking tub. The other bath was nice, too, especially since it connects to the second bedroom for some privacy. Kitchen and both baths were done in marble. Also, the TV’s were really easy to hook our portable DVD player to, which was nice for the kids.

We had units 3021 and 3023. Both had great views of the pacific and some great sunsets. I would recommend the 3000 building. Based on the resort layout, if these ground-floor units had great views, every unit in this building must have a great view.

The resort grounds were immaculate. Every day we noticed groundskeepers taking care of some of the landscaping and the
grounds and views were amazing. There were some great fountains by the front office (with fish for the kids to watch). The swimming pools were great looking and great to swim in. The largest is heated (I think to 82 degrees). It was very comfortable swimming in it just before sunset on these high-60/low-70 winter days. There are also two hot-tubs, one kept warmer than the other. Pool towels are provided and there are plenty of them.

The resort is less than half completed. We were not bothered by the construction at all. However, they were repairing some of the existing sidewalks with a jackhammer, which was very annoying when the patio doors were open. When closed, you could barely hear them - great soundproofing! This only happened on two days.

The only bug problem we had was that we wanted to schedule a mid-week cleaning. I was surprised when the lady at the front desk informed me that it was included. After Wednesday came and went with no cleaning, we called and were told it was only included if we stayed more than one week. Also, onsite dining is limited. The only onsite options are the Marketplace, which sells coffee and pastries in the morning and sandwiches the rest of the day, and the poolside grill, which is open weekends-only in the winter. However, there are many great restaurants within a short drive. Finally, on the last morning, either the condo next to us or above us was noisy, with banging drawers and running around. That was the only time we noticed that.

The only resort activity we attended was the owners breakfast, which was packed and had good information on the other activities. According to the handout, in addition to the breakfast, the resort offers beach walks, t-shirt coloring, bingo, a table tennis tournament, a scavenger hunt, lawn games, free temporary tattoos, a water coloring class, a yoga class, an owner wine and cheese social, a private night at a local artist gallery, candle making, an estate planning seminar, a magic show, a sea shell
picture frame making class, and a toddler playtime (where the parents can have an afternoon together). At the breakfast, they
mentioned a golf package deal they have with a local course. Also, the famous Pelican Hills course surrounds the resort (but is much more pricey).

We spent two days at Disneyland, which was an easy 30-min drive and one day at Seaworld which took about an hour to get there and an hour and a half on the return. Both were big hits with the 4-year old and tolerated by the 15-month old. We had originally planned to see the rest of our favorite LA places (we lived here a few years ago), but found the sunny, upper-60’s/low-70’s weather so pleasant that we spent two days on the beach at Laguna Beach, one of our
favorite places. It a short drive (less than 10 mins) south on PCH. Mid-week parking was very easy. In the afternoons, we usually caught an hour of swim time at the pool before sunset. The weather was great while we were here with no rain and great sunny days leading to great sunsets.

As far as local restaurants go, we ate a lunch at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach, which has good Mexican-style seafood and great views (which you pay for). It has always been one of our favorites and we were pleased that the food and views were as good as we remembered. We also ate at Carmelo’s, an Italian restaurant a short drive north on PCH, which was good, but a bit pricey. My parent ate a Five Crowns the night before we arrived and enjoyed it a lot. We shopped for breakfast food, snacks, a couple of dinners and our liquor/wine at the most upscale Trader Joes we’ve ever seen, which was less than a mile south on PCH.

We really enjoyed this resort and this vacation. We will definitely be returning to this resort, which is surprising since it wasn‘t
high on our list before we traded for it. We give it a 9.5 out of 10.
Rob Bongiovi



11950

02/2004 We just returned from our stay at Marriott's Newport Coast Villas. A little background. My husband and I have lived in Orange Co. most of our lives so we are very familiar with the area. (My parents lived up the hill from this resort several years ago.) With that said this is a beautiful property! I'd say it compares to the Ritz Carlton down PCH. We had a 1 bedroom getaway week that was about to expire and we really needed to "getaway". This unit became available two weeks ago on the II website and we snatched it. All units are two bedroom. No lock-off feature available.

The villas are decorated beautifully, but as mentioned prior, the furniture is VERY uncomfortable. I called as soon as we got the
exchange and requested an ocean view room. We were in unit #3130, oceanview. This is listed as the 3rd floor, but is actually the 2nd floor from the ground. (Underground parking being 1st floor.) The view could be absolutely stunning if not for a eucalyptus (sp?) tree right in the middle of the line of sight. You could easily see around it, (the tree is still young), but in future years it will be a much larger obstruction.

In fact there are many landscaping flaws throughout the property. At the pool, around the perimeter fencing, are bird-of-paradise plants. They are young and small now, but in a few years they will be huge and completely block the view. Why have premium views of the beautiful ocean if they are going to be blocked completely by plants. Because the resort is on a hill, privacy and noise are not an issue. This may seem trivial to some, but if I were an owner at this resort, I would be very vocal about it. (Now I'll step off my soapbox.)

We enjoyed wonderful weather this last week, very unusual for Feb. in SoCal. The sunsets were STUNNING!! Other than the above complaints, this is a wonderful place to stay. Lots to do in Orange/LA/San Diego Counties. It is also a great place to do absolutely nothing! Upscale area, excellent service, beautiful property.


11951

11/2003 We had a 2BR/2BA oceanview unit. It was well-stocked and well-furnished. The pools are fantastic. The entire resort is first class. I would go again anytime. The views were outstanding, especially the sunsets. Good location for day trips.
Overall rating = 9.5.


11952

07/2003 We traded our Marriott Maui Ocean Club 1 bedroom unit 1-year in advance for this property. The trade came through in about 2 weeks. The property is located between Newport Beach (about 10 minutes) and Laguna Beach (about 5 minutes) in a fairly new area called Newport Coast. The property sits about 1-block east from the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) on a hill overlooking the ocean (a distant ocean view) of the Crystal Cove State Park. It is partially bordered by the
Pelican Hills Golf Club, but, views of the golf course won't play much of a role until the entire property is completed. The main pool area has 3 large, heated pools, and the entire area has a distant view of the ocean. Nice pool location. It also has 2 hot tubs.

The property and Newport Coast area itself are drop dead gorgeous. The Villas are surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. As mentioned, PCH is only about a block away from the entrance of the resort, and provides a nice place to start a scenic drive. Heading North on PCH, you'll run into Corona Del Mar (5 minutes) and Newport Beach-Balboa Island (10-15 minutes). Going South on PCH takes you to Laguna Beach (5-7 minutes) and Dana Point (15 minutes). There are plenty of quaint shops in all of these areas. However, during rush hour & weekends, the traffic in/out of Newport Beach & Laguna Beach can almost grind to a halt.

The Newport Coast Villas property is definitely upscale. There are about 250 units completed in about 10 buildings, with plans to increase the resort to about 700 units. In the tour, they mentioned it won't be complete until 2009. There are plans to add many more buildings, a 10,000 s.f. fitness center, additional swimming pools, volleyball courts & tennis courts. It should be spectacular when complete. Inside, the units are not as large as some of the Marriott units I've been to, but, they are about as nice as any I've visited. The kitchen and both bathrooms are done in marble (stone?). The kitchen has granite countertops, oven/stove, microwave, full-sized refrigerator & toaster. It has most of the utinsils you'll need except a griddle.

The Master Bed has a king-sized bed with its own bath. The bath is done in the same marble-granite formation as the kitchen. Even the double-headed shower in the master bath is done in marble. Very nice touch. The M.B. also features a soaking tub. The living area has a pullout queen-sized couch, tv, 2 chairs, 1 ottoman, coffee table and 2 end tables. It also has a VCR. The dining table has a stone base with a glass top. It comfortably seats six. There are 2 stools at the breakfast bar. There's a balcony off the living area. If you want any kind of view at all, request a room higher than the 1st floor of rooms...in our case (bldg 3300), this means floors 4, 5 or 6. Floor 3 was the "ground" floor (although it was about 1 story high) and the balcony had a 4 foot wall around it that you couldn't see over when seated. It appeared this is only the case on the 1st floor of units.

Personally, I didn't worry much about our location on the property, because the entire property is beautiful, and it's not as if you
could hear the surf crashing against the beach anyway. The property is probably a good 1/4 to 1/2 mile away from the ocean. In the sales presentation, they only gave us prices for Platinum level or Gold level...no mention of "ocean view" or "garden view"...probably because selling an ocean view at an increased price would be a misnomer.

In terms of resort activities, we took advantage of some of the offerings. We attended the continental breakfast for guests. I
strongly recommend going on the bonfire activity. It is held at a bonfire pit at Big Carona on the Carona Del Mar Beach. It was $7 a head for hot dogs, chips, drinks and smores. There's really nothing like a bonfire at the beach. The kids (ages 5-11) went to the Crytal Cove tidepools on a day trip (10a - 4p). The cost was $45 per person. They made their own T-shirts & a shell picture frame. They ate lunch at the beach and learned about ocean life. They said it was OK but not as good as the bonfire. We also took advantage of the face painters one day.

Most of our activity was simply going to the different beaches. We went to 3 main beaches. Newport Beach - This beach is very, very wide...huge. Like all the beaches in the area, it has soft gold sand. Newport had large waves (6-8 feet) that often crash right on the beach. Younger swimmers should be careful, but, for older kids (and adults)...it's a blast. One area of Newport Beach is called "the wedge" down by the Newport jettie. The day we went there it had about 10-15 foot waves. There were about 30 expert bodysurfers bobbing up and down in the surf. Don't go in unless you're confident about your swimming and body surfing abilities. Incidently, "the wedge" is located directly across from Big Carona, where the bonfire is held.

Laguna Beach was our favorite beach. Like Newport, it has large waves that break on the beach -- good for boogie boards. But, beware, the ocean was angry the day we went my friends -- and proceeded to chew me up and spit me out. I finally cried uncle. Like Newport, the beach has a nice slope down to the surf for skimmer boards. However, unlike Newport it has plenty of shops to keep you busy when you want a break from swimming...lots of local artists and unique jewelry shops. Also, unlike Newport, the area is quite nice (I found Newport Beach to be a little rundown). Lastly, unlike Newport, Laguna has a number of small coves that are popular for snorkeling. We didn't snorkel, but, saw people that did.

The last beach we went to was Aliso Beach, about 5 minutes South of Laguna. It wasn't nearly as crowded as Laguna. It was a nice, change-of-pace beach, but the surf still pounded the younger swimmers who tended to be content to run at the edge of the surf. These beaches are almost a 180 degree difference from the Hilton Head Island beaches. The HHI beaches are flat, grey and hard. The ocean is also grey and bathtub warm. The beaches in the Newport Coast area have soft, golden sand...the kind of sand you dig your little piggies into. The ocean is a deep blue and...let's just call it chilly...with large crashing waves. HHI is a toddler/young person beach and Newport is a teenager/thrillseeker beach.

I'd strongly suggest driving to Dana Point and renting a waverunner for an hour (seats 3 for $125/hour). It was a highlight of our
trip. In the area are many sea lions that lounge on the big buoys. You can get within 8-10 feet of them. We just slowly approached them so we wouldn't scare them (not that it appeared that they would care) and just watched them for a while. They lazily kept one eye shut and one eye on us. This is a must-do activity for parents with children. We ate at a number of good restaurants, but, I'll only strongly recommend one: Rubio's. It is an inexpensive psuedo fast-food place that serves unbelievable fish tacos. Go...you won't regret it.

Once completed, this resort will rate a 9.5+. Even today, only partially completed, it rates a 9+ IMO.


11953

06/2003 We just came back from Newport Coast Villas yesterday. The information that I would pass on to everyone is that don't get your hopes up for a good ocean view as I did. I had read all of the TUG reviews, booked 1 year ahead with my 2 bedroom Marriott Ocean Point in Palm Beach, FL, called one to two weeks ahead and asked for an unobstructed view of the ocean. We arrived at 4:00 pm and they were people all over the lobby waiting for their room to be cleaned. After two visits back to the front desk to see if our unit was ready, we were given a ground floor unit which overlooked a roof of the building with a peek at the ocean in the upper top corner. It was in building 2700.

We called down to the desk to ask if there was another unit available and explained our request. They said nothing else was
available. Before dinner I went to the front desk and spoke to someone else who offered another unit. I went to look at it and it
was also ground floor except worse with a wall and flood light blocking the view in 2800. I told them I would stay where I was.
The next day I spoke with a young lady at the front desk and told her how dissapointed I was. She said that there were a lot of
owners in the resort this week and that there weren't very many good ocean view units and all of the good ones had to go to the owners, especially the multiple week owners. One man was staying for 6 months!

At least, somone finally tried to give me an explanation. She also said that she didn't want to work on Friday, Saturday and Sundays (Check in days)due to all of the complaints about lack of ocean view. The location of the resort (on a hill overlooking the ocean) is fabulous. The materials they used to build it are very high grade. Management at the resort was not the best I have seen at Marriotts. We had a good trip, after getting over our dissapointment with the unit.


11955

06/2003 We enjoyed our stay here. The location, as others have pointed out, isfabulous. Within 10 minutes, north or south, you have access to world-class shopping and dining, the state beach is excellent for walking, and the toll roads make it easy (if a little pricey) to get around. We were in an end unit on the 3rd floor of Building 2800, with a spectacular view of Catalina Island and the ocean. The construction was ongoing but not obnoxious. Road noise, however, was excessive. I would try to get a unit further from the road next time.

Others have covered the resort well. I'll add these comments:
The master bathroom layout is bizarre. In order for a normal sized person to get into the shower, the door to the bathroom must be open, which in turn means that whoever's using the sink nearest the bathroom has to move out of the way. The architect who designed this simply wasn't thinking straight.

We had a videocassette recorder in our unit, not a VCP.

The couch had to be one of the most uncomfortable pieces of furniture we've ever sat on.

The hot tub was enjoyable when it wasn't full of screaming kids (even at night) and the views from the pool are spectacular.

Stop for groceries at Trader Joe's (a few minutes south on the Coast Highway) first, and then get whatever they don't have at the Von's in the Pavilions.

Although you could theoretically squeeze 8 people into this unit, we don't recommend it for more than 4 adults. At 1100 sq ft, it gets crowded.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable stay. We'll be back.

Ed Bott



11956

05/2003 This was our first time to visit this area, as well as the resort. Extremely nice resort. We were in the 3200 building, which had a nice oceanview. We also overlooked the construction, which was somewhat noisy. Units are very nice, staff very friendly. We attended the Monday morning continental breakfast where Marriott gives you an overview for the week. If you are planning on visitig this resort, make sure to do the breakfast, which is one of the best we have attended. Starts at 8:30, make sure you are there at 8:15. One of the planned activities that I would highly recommend is the 3 mile ocean walk that Marriott offers free of charge. This was wonderful. Very interesting. Another activity we did in the area was the Dolphin Watch, where you are taken out in a boat to view dolphins. This was nice. Resort is great for all ages. Rate it a 9.
Susan May


11957

05/2003 Four of us stayed at the Marriott Newport Coast Villas for a week, May 17-24, 2003. Our two bedroom villa (2822) was on the second floor of the 2800 building. Not much of a view from the dark terrace. The than furnishings and amenities were clean and in "new" condition. Still cannot understand why Marriott chose to have an "open" bathroom in the
master bedroom. The sinks and jacuzzi bathtub do not have any privacy whatsoever.

Although the weather was "May Gray" for most of the time, we very much enjoyed the surrounding area.

Three must-do activities:

(1) The wonderful hiking on and around the beach at Crystal Cove State Park. Just a few steps from the villas. Go during low tide when you can see various marine anuimals in the tidepools. The beach is not for swimming, which is why it is almost always clear of people. The villas schedule a free guided hike in this area a few times a week. Or just go on your own, which we did several times during the week. A great free attraction.

(2) Dolphin Safari. We signed up for this $40 per person activity after the weekly welcome meeting. The catamaran sails from Dana Point Harbor, about a half hour drive down the coast. During the first hour the twenty-or-so people on board were disappointed that all we saw was fog and a few seagulls. Almost miraculously, our captain sighted a pod of dolphin. More than a hundred of these lovely creatures. They swam around, under and besides the boat and cavorted for almost an hour.
Very, very special experience. The captain said they have a 90% success rate for seeing dolphins.

(3) Montage Resort. This is a new, very elegant resort on Pacific Coast Highway, between Dana Point and Laguna Beach. The resort is quite spectacular. What is most magical are the views from the oceanside promenade. Just follow the path and enjoy several hundred yards of exceptional vistas, lovely flowers and towering cliffs. The outdoor grill near the pool (Mosaic), is an excellent place to have lunch.
Joel Hochberg



11958

04/2003 (Arrived: April-19 / TUG direct exchange) We drove down Interstate 101 with another couple from Northern Calif.
We arrived a little after 6:00pm. Check in was easy but the only villas available were in the 2800 and 2600 building. We chose the 2800 building 2nd floor as the best available. It's the first building on the right as you turn onto the property. It is a short, level 3min walk to the main pools area and the lobby. The building units are located at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Newport Coast Drive. The property slopes uphill away from the PCH and the buildings are located at different levels to provide an ocean view to most of the units of every building. Our view from the 2nd floor of the 2800 building was 1/2 ocean view above the roof and tree line of the 2600 building directly below us. The ongoing construction was hardly noticeable the entire week we were there.

The layout of the villa for two couples is very good for privacy. Each BR has it's own bathroom. The guest bath has two doors and doubles as the visitors bath also.

The master BR is at the "ocean view" end while the guest BR is at the "hallway view" end and on the opposite side as the master BR.

Both bedrooms have 5-blade ceiling fans and additionally the unit has A/C. Very well appointed with 3 TV's. There is one TV for each BR and a larger one for the living room. There is a video tape player for the living room TV. Don't expect to tape your favorite "JAG" episode while you're out at the Disney parks. It's a player only, not a recorder. Marriott should really replace these with DVD players.

The master BR has a king size bed and the bath has a "Jacuzzi sized" bathtub (no jets) and separate large shower with dual showerheads. The vanity has two sinks and is nicely appointed.
The bed in both BR's has the thick foam matters and we found them very comfortable. No complaints from either party.

The guest BR has a queen-sized bed and a hide-a-bed couch. The bath is standard tub/shower combo with a vanity.

The kitchen seemed fully stocked for 8 persons and had a full range of appliances and utensils. The only odd thing we noticed was the salt/pepper shakers were filled with about 6-10 of those paper packets of salt and pepper. Had a devil of a time snaking them out the top and ripping them open and them re-filling the shakers for our steak BBQ. Even then, we had only about enough for the four steaks we cooked that night. A call to the desk, had someone at the door with a handful of additional packets to add to our stash of salt and pepper.

There was a notice posted about the "ant problem" and how to help minimize it, but we didn't see nary a one of the little pests the whole week we were there.

The living room has a circular glass topped dining table with six chairs, a hide-a-bed couch with two comfy chairs, coffee table, and a large ottoman for the Disney weary feet to rest on.

Each building seems to have 1, 2 or 3 gas fired BBQ's at one end of the building. The 2800 building has one. The igniter was broken on ours, so we used matches and paper to get it going. Marriott maintenance was working on it the next day after we reported it, but it still wasn't working correctly later in the week.


The main pool area has three heated (80F) pools fronting the main building and two Jacuzzi (110F) spas located at each end of the larger main pool. Access to the pool area requires your room card key. There was no shortage of towels and lounge chairs anytime we were there. The views from the pool area of the Pacific are fantastic.

There is a snack shack for burgers, hot dogs, and drinks poolside, but it was posted to be only open during the summer months. This may change when the resort is complete, but it wasn't open during our week there.

Crystal Cove State Park is directly across the PCH from the Marriott. It's an easy walk to the entrance using the crosswalks and lights across the PCH. Getting DOWN to the beach from the cliff is very steep but the walkway does have iron hand rails to use grab onto. I can't imagine lugging beach chairs, coolers, and beach toys back up this steep path. There is an alternate entrance to the beach about 1/4 mile south on PCH. Parking is $5 and the walk to the beach is through a tunnel under the PCH. There was a stream running through the tunnel, so bring your "water shoes" if you chose to go to the beach that way.

We bought steaks at "Trader Joe's" located about 1-2 miles south of the Marriott just off the PCH. There is an upscale version of Albertson's in Newport Coast just north of the Marriott (3 mi.?). Lot's of restaurants in Newport proper. For a kick, try "Ruby's" in town. Old style shakes, burgers and fries. Also good is "The Salt Creek Grill" located south about 1/2 way between the Marriott and Dana Point.

For non-denominational churchgoers, try the Mariner's Church located at the other end of Newport Coast Drive from the Marriott (less than 10 mins away). We were there for Easter services. Very friendly, large choir, and good speakers.

The Marriott is pretty well situated for our tours of Disney California Adventure, Universal Studios, Balboa Island, Fashion Island and the Raintree Café as long as you have a car.

We all had a great time and would visit this resort again if the opportunity presents itself.

[Mark Perry, TUG volunteer]