Choose this resort after depositing our Starwood/Westin timeshare in Kauai into Interval International. Marriott's Newport Coast Villas are comparable to Westin Villas 2bdrm/2 bathroom Villa overall with the exception of the villa's finishes and kitchen appliances. Some of the common areas needed sprucing up some, but the general appearance of the resort was nice. The decor in the villa was pretty dated, but everything was clean and the villa contained everything it was supposed to - kitchen was stocked with dishes, flatware, pots and pan. We are a family of 6, so we made multiple trips to the nearby Pavillion's , Albertson's & Bristol Farms. We also spotted a Trader Joe's nearby and a Whole Foods at Fashion Island Mall.
Check-in was quick and easy. You get one parking stall next to your villa's building. My husband joined us two days into our trip, so we were instructed to park his car in a parking structure in the center of the resort. It wasn't exactly clear where we were supposed to park, since his car was not ticketed or towed- we assumed the car was fine where he parked it.
The resort offers a shuttle service to Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, Fashion Island Mall & Crystal Cove Shopping Center. We had a car, so we did not use the shuttle service. There is only one restaurant on site. We didn't try it. The Market Place on site is tiny. We...Choose this resort after depositing our Starwood/Westin timeshare in Kauai into Interval International. Marriott's Newport Coast Villas are comparable to Westin Villas 2bdrm/2 bathroom Villa overall with the exception of the villa's finishes and kitchen appliances. Some of the common areas needed sprucing up some, but the general appearance of the resort was nice. The decor in the villa was pretty dated, but everything was clean and the villa contained everything it was supposed to - kitchen was stocked with dishes, flatware, pots and pan. We are a family of 6, so we made multiple trips to the nearby Pavillion's , Albertson's & Bristol Farms. We also spotted a Trader Joe's nearby and a Whole Foods at Fashion Island Mall.
Check-in was quick and easy. You get one parking stall next to your villa's building. My husband joined us two days into our trip, so we were instructed to park his car in a parking structure in the center of the resort. It wasn't exactly clear where we were supposed to park, since his car was not ticketed or towed- we assumed the car was fine where he parked it.
The resort offers a shuttle service to Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach, Fashion Island Mall & Crystal Cove Shopping Center. We had a car, so we did not use the shuttle service. There is only one restaurant on site. We didn't try it. The Market Place on site is tiny. We grabbed some Starbucks drinks one morning there. There are many dining options in Newport & Corona del Mar that we took advantage of daily, but we also prepared at least one meal in the villa daily. The villa's coffee pot came with coffee filters! Sometimes you have to run to the store to purchase those immediately because they only supply you with one or two, but we had more than enough for the entire week's stay. Free Wi-Fi...you're given the password upon check-in. People who do not frequent these villa/timeshares are not aware of the fact that there is NO daily housekeeping included. If you'd like fresh towels daily, you can wash them yourself in the villa in your stacked washer/dryer or you can pay for a "tidy" or a "full clean". I pack or purchase a small bag of detergent pods and some dryer sheets and throw a load of towels in the washer before we head out each day. Then dry them when we return (washer & dryers are very quiet- by the way!) We were given a listing of Resort Activities. There were things going on at the resort like Ice Cream Socials and Ping Pong Tournaments. Some were specifically for children & many cost a few dollars to participate in while others were free.The schedule changes daily. Our gang didn't find any they wanted to participate in...
We visited nearby Balboa Island- There is a ferris wheel and some coastal tours. We took a 45 min. boat ride and saw a few sea lions lounging on some docked boats. Homes of famous people are pointed out on the tour. To get to Balboa Island, you have to take a Ferry where they charge per person each way. We were there during the week, so it was a buck a person there and then back. Daughters all wanted to visit the psychic on the island, so they each had a reading done for $10. Try a famous chocolate dipped banana on the island. They were fantastic!
We also visited nearby San Juan Capistrano Mission. It was a very beautiful day trip. The mission is "The Jewel" of the California Missions and is very large.(Visit the Mission's website for admission discounts!) There are lots of restaurants and cute little shops near the mission within walking distance.
Our 4 daughters are 18-22 years old, so they spent a great deal of time at Fashion Island. It is a lovely mall with restaurants and shops overlooking the ocean. We ate at PF Changs and Cheesecake Factory while at Fashion Island and had ocean views while having lunch! Our kids were so busy shopping they did not bother to play tennis at the resort, though the courts seemed nice.The pools are large. Had we visited this resort when they were younger, they never would have wanted to leave the pools!
We were not bothered about attending a time-share presentation. It was mentioned only once upon check-in! They said that you would get a $150 American Express Card if you attended the 90 min. presentation. We did not take them up on their offer. The villa has 3 flat screen tvs with DVD players. Local markets have Red Box rentals for a dollar if you're looking for a movie. There are nearby movie theaters- I remember spotting 3.
I would recommend this resort to people looking for some beautiful California Coastal weather. You can drive to nearby theme parks (Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm) or you can just enjoy what the resort has to offer and let the kids swim in the pools or visit the beach. We live 1.5 hours away from Newport and enjoyed a quiet week waking up to the lush green landscape and the view of the ocean.
The only noise we heard was very early...you can hear people walking or shutting closet doors above you at times. Most guests seemed to be out of the resort daily pretty early.
No fireplace in the villa. It was cold and windy a few nights we were there.
At some of these timeshare resorts you can opt for a single unit. I didn't see that option at this resort. Two bedroom/two bathrooms is a nice option for us with our large family. The girls don't love sleeping on the pull out sofa's, but they can handle it for a week.
I would visit with grandchildren or my own kids again possibly. If you've never visited California Beaches, this property has lots to offer. You just really should have a car to get the most out of your visit!More
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