We’ve visited the Newport Coast/Laguna Beach area annually for several years but this was the first time we’d stayed at the Balboa Bay Club. And with any luck, it will not be the last. It is without question the best value we have found in its four star category. (It actually has a 5 Diamond rating and I would certainly have given it every one of them). We are I Prefer members of the Preferred Hotel Group. This loyalty program, like that the Leading Hotels of the World, rewards its members up front with early check-in, room upgrades and, in this case, a very good rate which included valet parking ( a 28.00 saving) and a $40.00 daily breakfast ‘allowance’ which could be used in the Restaurant or for room service.
The Balboa Bay Club is a wonderful example of Southern California style: This is what singles the place out in a way no chain can match. Sunny colors, a roaring fire in the inviting lounge, wonderfully cheerful rooms with enormous bathrooms and impeccable service on all fronts made this a really relaxing and pleasant place to be. There’s no area where the hotel didn’t excel. From the welcome greeting at the front desk through every encounter with housekeeping, room service, the dining room staff, the service is simply superb and thoughtful. We requested a corkscrew from room service and they delivered same with two wineglasses we hadn't even mentioned. Our room overlooked the pool. It was quiet and peaceful and the sound-proofing is remarkable: There was a large Dinner Dance and silent auction going on there one evening and not one word could be heard with our balcony door closed.
The hotel is also a private club and appears to be a community stalwart hosting a lot of local events. Breakfast on the terrace was a pleasure each morning. In short, I can’t think of a better place to stay in Newport Beach.

Balboa Bay Club has an amazing Honeymoon suite; it's spacious and well appointed. I highly recommend any of the water view rooms and they decorate beautifully for the Holidays.

Recently attended a meeting here and was most impressed with the beautiful room and bathroom. The bed was the most comfortable I've ever slept in, with magnificent pillows and linens. Never got a chance to sample the restaurant, since all our meals were planned. I'll definitely return, since the club reciprocates with my club at home. I'm sure the rooms with a water view are nicer, but I wasn't unhappy with mine at all. The windows have elegant plantation shutters that look terrific if you don't like the view. Wish there were more places with history and character like this.

Unless you are over 50 and fond of brass buttons I would give this hotel a wide berth. We arrived having spent the day at Universal Studios in LA and were quite taken by the place, but on entering reception were not made to feel in the least welcome - largely due to the rather stuffy dress code that the hotel has in place for their public areas - which i might add was not alluded to anywhere on our booking. Due to my lack of appropriate footwear, we were forced to head out to find a restaurant for our evening meal and the reception staff seemed to think this would be unlikely at 9pm on a monday night. there was little to no nightlife in the surrounding area and we didn't stay for breakfast.

It was our honeymoon and we'd decided to splash out on our final few hotels. this worked a treat at the Pacitic Terrace in San Diego and we were treated like royalty, but i guess we're just not posh enough for the Balboa Bay set. the friendliest person there was our bellboy Emilio. As a result of the stuffiness i didn't find my stay remotely relaxing and the fact that it was the last night of our trip put a bit of a dampener on things.