Marriotts Newport Coast Villas

We have a trip planned to the Marriotts Newport Coast Villas in June and I heard about some major construction work going on there. Does anyone know the extent of the work and how it might affect our stay? Noise around the pool, in the rooms etc?

Otherwise I hear that the Villas are very nice. Any inside info on the Villas and what we can do with 2 little ones (3 and 5) as well as grown-up nights out would be great!

Marriotts Newport Coast Villas

I just wrote you a really long reply and then lost it before I posted it. Don%26#39;t quite have it in me to re-write especially since your post was from a few weeks ago and I%26#39;m not sure you%26#39;re still interested. But if you are, reply to this message and I%26#39;ll tell you about the Marriott and advice on area.

Marriotts Newport Coast Villas

Hi There, Thanks for your message. I%26#39;m definitely still interested in any advice you can give about Marriotts Newport Coast Villas and the area in general. Originally from the UK we are quite excited about our first visit to Newport Beach! We were also somewhat concerned to hear about the construction going on at the Villas.

Look forward to any information you have!

They have been building extensively with new wings for the past several months. The buildings appear to be up and probably they are working on interiors. If you can call to get a plan of the property directly from the reception maybe they could mark where the construction is happening further along Newport Coast Drive. The closer you are to Pacific Coast Hwy the less likely you will be impacted.

There is major dirt moving however across Newport Coast Drive from the main entrance to the villas and Pelican Hills Road is temporarily closed so avoid rooms in the back of the property. A major development going in there.

Since you are from the UK originally, you may enjoy dinner or Sunday Brunch at Lawry%26#39;s Five Crowns just a mile or so north on Pacific Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. Make reservations but still be prepared to wait on weekends.

I have seen staff with guests%26#39; childrens at the beach at Crystal Cove State Park across the highway, so I imagine if you call the concierge, you can find out in advance what they have to offer.

We just returned from a week at this resort. We had a great time. The construction going on, in my opinion is not bothersome. It is no where near the main pool complex. We were in building 2200 (2226) and have a great view of the ocean. We never even knew there was construction going on until you actually left the property and saw it from Newport Coast Drive.

The units are very very well appointed and the whole entire complex is beautiful.

There is alot to see and do. We travelled with our two boys (6 and 9). There is a shopping center before you get to the villas (Pavillions) lots of great restaurants and the Pavillions grocery store. You do get a discount if you mention you are staying at the Marriott you need to give them their phone number (most of the cashiers know the number). All the restaurants we tried in the shopping center were great - Sharky%26#39;s (best fish tacos), there is a sushi place (best sushi we have ever eaten) the pasta restaurant was great (great kids menu) and the deli was great for our first breakfast out before we went to the grocery store.

We went to Disney and California Disney one day (approx 30 min without traffic) and to Universal another day (2 hours with traffic YUCK!!) Balboa Island, Laguna and Dana Point all great areas to walk around and take in the sights. There is also Fashion Island, beautiful upscale outdoor mall with lots of restaurants PF Changs, Cheesecake Factory. The Crystal Cove state park is right at the end of the Newport Coast Drive. We are big foodies, even our kids and we can%26#39;t complain about any of the places we ate.

The pools are heated and there are also pool tables, ping pong tables, large checkers and a game room near the pool.

We ate at Roy%26#39;s (Fashion Island) one night - great food most expensive kids menu ($12) but very good quality food - grilled salmon, pasta, etc. etc and they bring the kids as soon as you sit down a cheese quesadilla and crudite plate and a great sundae after dinner.

Enjoy your stay and you won%26#39;t regret staying at this property. I wouldn%26#39;t worry about the construction!!

Hi! Thank you so much for the 2 messages. Very helpful - I really appreciate all of your advice!

One last question - I read somewhere that there was a children%26#39;s playground or %26#39;play area%26#39; within the resort. Does anyone know anything about that? Is it swings/slides etc? Very important issues for a 3 and 5 year old!!

Thanks again.

Just drove by the villas, and, as I thought, the new buildings are up so heavy construction should be minimal to zero, as they do interiors. Lots of guests walking down to Crystal Cove State Park. The bluffs there are gorgeous at the moment. We had late rains, so they are still green and the wild yellow mustard is a sight to see. Totally invasive and non-native plant which is on every vacant lot, but it gives one a sense of the countryside before all the development in Irvine and Newport in the past thirty years.

Cannot help with playgrounds but if you are here for several days and tire of ';June Gloom overcast '; hanging over the coast right now, you might go over Newport Coast Drive to Irvine - Bonita Canyon becomes Culver Drive , then right on to University Drive and visit William Mason OC Park. Lakes and kids play areas.

It sounds beautiful. Glad to hear the construction is quiet. We%26#39;re not heading out there till the end of June - how long does the %26#39;June Gloom%26#39; last? Also is it just a morning thing - or does it stay all day?!

Thanks too for the park tip!

June gloom is early this year. When it is hot inland that pulls moist marine layer onshore. It is unpredictable, and just a couple of miles inland, the sun is shining. We always hope it will burn off by mid morning but Mother Nature is in charge. It usually clear by late June/ early July but each year is different.

You may want to take the children to Little Corona State Beach that is operated by the city of Newport Beach for a fee. Family friendly. Take Marguerite west of PCH in the middle of Corona del Mar, and when you reach Ocean Avenue, you will see the road going down to the parking area.

Sorry I took so long rewriting this message but here it is.

My experience at the Marriott was about seven months ago and at that time I stayed in a suite far away from the construction and did not hear any noise. I am very sensitive to noise but it’s a very big property. I did not use the pool and that would be closer to the construction, however, I doubt that the noise is a major issue.

As you probably know, this is a timeshare property. They give preference in suite assignments to the owners. So, for example, you may not be able to get a room with a view. It might be a good idea to call ahead to try to make sure you can get assigned to a building far away from the construction.

As far as activities for your 3 and 5 year olds, foremost would probably be the beach. There is a lovely beach with tide pools just across Pacific Coast Highway from the Marriott at Crystal Cove. (My mom was the leader of the movement to save this area from development and open the beach to the public!) At Crystal Cove there are guides who give tours of the tide pools at certain times. Slightly north, there is Little Corona del Mar Beach also with terrific tide pools. Next to Little Corona is Big Corona and at the north end of that strip of beaches is (I believe it’s called) Lookout Point just where the channel leads from Newport Harbor out to the ocean. There is a beach with no tide there. If you go south from the Marriott, you will come to the town of Laguna Beach where there are many little beaches and coves, as well as the main beach. In June the weather can still be gloomy and chilly so you may not actually want to be getting in the water.

The kids would also probably enjoy the Fun Zone on the Balboa Peninsula. They’ve got a ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and a video game arcade. It’s got a sort of carnival atmosphere. There is a little ferry there that makes about a ten minute trip across the harbor to Balboa Island. There is a pier on the Balboa Peninsula at Newport Beach and you can walk out to the end and get a hamburger at Ruby’s. There are bicycle rentals around but that probably wouldn’t work out for the kids. Also in the Back Bay area, there are kayak rentals and lots of waterfowl but probably your kids are too young for that.

For the adults, there are lots of terrific restaurants for evenings out. Pascal and Pavilion in Newport Beach, Amelia’s on Balboa Island, and Zipangu in Costa Mesa are some of my favorites. There is a nationally renowned theater in Costa Mesa as well as the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

If you have any other questions, I’ll be happy to try to answer them. Have fun!

OOPS, I should have said BIG Corona State Beach. Little Corona Beach where the tidepools are is at the south end of Ocean Avenue about a mile away.

Great tips in the last post. Enjoy your visit!