Balboa Inn, On the Beach
About Balboa Inn, On the Beach
A short walk from the Balboa Pier, this Newport Beach hotel has a daily continental breakfast, on-site dining, an outdoor hot tub and a terrace with views of the Pacific Ocean. Featuring comfortable and relaxing accommodations since 1929, every room at the Balboa Inn, On The Beach At Newport has cable TV, plush furnishing, a fridge and tea and coffee-making facilities. The rooms with private bathrooms are decorated with neutral creams and rich wood accents. The Siena Italian Restaurant serves Northern Italian cuisine in a casual atmosphere at the Balboa Inn, On The Beach At Newport. Its menu features specialties such as chicken marsala, filet mignon and fresh fish. The hotel has bike rentals for those who want to take advantage of the Newport Balboa Bike Trail located a short walk from the inn. A variety of restaurants and shops are a 5-minute walk from the property.
Amenities
- On-site parking
- 24-hour front desk
- Meeting space
- On-site dining
- Valet parking
- Bar / lounge
- Café / coffee shop
- Concierge
- Dry cleaning
- Self-service laundry
- Luggage storage
- In-room refrigerator
- Pool
- Spa / sauna
- Pet friendly
- Family friendly
- Wheelchair accessible
- Smoke-free property
- Elevator
- In-room safe
Reviews
The hotel's location is its strongest asset, being close to the beach and various dining options. However, the rooms are often described as outdated, small, and in need of maintenance and cleaning. The staff is generally praised for their friendliness and helpfulness.
- Excellent location near the beach and restaurants
- Friendly and helpful staff
- Rooms are outdated, small, and not well-maintained
- Cleanliness of rooms and facilities is inconsistent
- 2/5
Parking was not free if want Vallet parking had to pay $55.00 for suv free per night and had to park at the public beach parking for. $45.00 a night per vehicle we had two vehicles
- 5/5
Balboa in our place for a relaxing beach retreat staff is very warm and friendly and the food is delicious here The Location in the staff
- 3/5
The staff were very friendly and helpful. The location was perfect right near the beach and walking distance to the fun zone and shops. The Continental breakfast was ok. The room itself was clean but , was very hot and noisy at night. I think this hotel is geared towards a younger crowd but definitely worth a visit.
- 3/5
Position First bedroom we were offered was not good, had to pay 200 dollars to “upgrade”
- 4.5/5
Superb
- 5/5
The public parking for the beach was forty five dollars for twenty four hours on a standard car. You'll need a credit card and your vehicle plate number to get a permit from a digital booth. Or you could use the valet which is about the same.
- 5/5
Breakfast was perfect There was no pool
- 5/5
Room was clean, staff very helpful. The view was spectacular from our room. The hotel is a Historical landmark, probably very old, but owners are keeping it very nice.
- 4/5
The location is fantastic, we didn't take our car out once. Very walkable everywhere on the boardwalk to The Wedge Park, took the ferry over to Balboa Island and walked around the whole island, the Pier is there with Ruby's restaurant at the end, a lot of food options around, a park next door. All of the staff were so helpful and friendly. The hotel and area is also very dog-friendly so we took our dog everywhere with us. The property itself is a little dated, could use some new furniture and bathroom fixtures. We had an issue with our room card keys, which became an inconvenience, but staff resolved the issue. Valet parking was only $10 more/day than the public lot across the boardwalk, in a covered and secure garage, so it was worth it for us. Overall, we really enjoyed our long weekend stay and would definitely stay again if in the area.
- 5/5
We were upgraded to a corner balcony with a perfect view of the Entrance to the Balboa Pier and a beautiful Full moon that shown on the water! Also, it was Prom Night and there were gorgeous Ball Gowns on all the lovely young ladies with there very handsome and well-behaved young men!
- 4.5/5
Superb
- 5/5
Exceptional
- 5/5
Exceptional
- 2/5
Rooms were clean but very small. Website says sleeps 3 but only 1 bed and no couch or pop up bed. Was disappointed when we saw the room.
- 5/5
First off the front desk employee I didn’t catch his name but he was the gentleman there the evening 5/16. He was absolutely amazing like top notch service. He went above and beyond for me and my daughter. Our room over looked the ocean and wow it’s was incredible. We had the hot tub to ourselves. Everything was great. I had the best time and would highly recommend this place. The gentleman at the front desk literally made our trip so much easier and nicer. Thank you very much and the kindness you gave us will not be forgotten.
- 5/5
Exceptional
- 5/5
Easy parking, amazing beach view!
- 5/5
Hotel very close to the beach great location
- 5/5
We had a slight view of the beach from our room but it is literally a 2 minute walk to the sand. Didn’t need a car because you can walk everywhere. Room was clean, staff was amazing, and location is the key!
- 1/5
Our particular room was so noisy, the doors slammed, the walls are paper thin. We had a view of a parking lot and had to pay $60 to park. All this for $400. Not worth the money at all. We’ve stayed here before and it was wonderful because we had one of the nicer more expensive rooms. Just know if you get the standard room, you’ll be
- 5/5
The location and proximity to all. The restaurant was amazing, make survey o say hello to Marcelo. I look forward to staying soon and many more times in the future. Balboa Pier was walking distance from our the location. The restaurant.
- 5/5
Proximity to beach and restaurants. No complaints
- 5/5
Proximity to beach and restaurants. No complaints
- 5/5
The location and proximity to all. The restaurant was amazing, make survey o say hello to Marcelo. I look forward to staying soon and many more times in the future. Balboa Pier was walking distance from our the location. The restaurant.
- 5/5
Exceptional
- 5/5
There is nothing I didnt like, everything was great!
- 5/5
Staff was amazing, the room was clean, and the bed and pillows were so comfortable. Great area close to so much! The whole facility was clean and beautiful. And valet parking was great. There is nothing I didnt like, everything was great!
- 2/5
They had clean sheets, clean towels and the mattress was clean. The gentleman who brought the refrigerator was kind.
- 4.5/5
We loved the location on the beach and walking distance to bike rental and breakfast shops. The hotel with 24 hour check in worked well for our late evening check in’s. Ken and front desk crew were very welcoming. We enjoyed a front balcony room watching the beach and boardwalk immensely. I really liked the various lighting options in the room. Loved the walkways, flowers, overall feel of the hotel. Continental breakfast was disappointing for the price, muffins in plastic bags. Could have been presented better.
- 4.5/5
We loved the location on the beach and walking distance to bike rental and breakfast shops. The hotel with 24 hour check in worked well for our late evening check in’s. Ken and front desk crew were very welcoming. We enjoyed a front balcony room watching the beach and boardwalk immensely. I really liked the various lighting options in the room. Loved the walkways, flowers, overall feel of the hotel. Continental breakfast was disappointing for the price, muffins in plastic bags. Could have been presented better.
- 4/5
Beach view is nice. Parking is convenient. The property just needs some paint and fix some water damage on the walls in the bedroom. The bathroom has absolutely no counter space, which makes it hard to get ready. If you want location, location, location, this is a great place....however, a little overpriced for the age of the property.
- 5/5
I loved the location and the exterior looked amazing Needs alittle bit of work done inside the rooms paint was chipping off the hooks to open windows were very loose
- 5/5
I loved the location and the exterior looked amazing Needs alittle bit of work done inside the rooms paint was chipping off the hooks to open windows were very loose
- 5/5
Very nice cozy place by the water and Pier. The staff was amazing! We will definitely will be staying here again for our next trip
- 4/5
Fantastic location and great friendly staff but they should really fix the holes in the bathroom door - otherwise nice place to stay-
- 1.5/5
Poor
- 5/5
This beautiful, historic hotel delivered a wonderful experience from start to finish. Location is everything here, and while parking is an added cost you'll want to budget for, the overall experience is absolutely delightful. Rooms are well-appointed with all the basic needs like a comfortable bed, mini fridge (albeit a noisy one), coffee/tea maker, side tables, desk with office chair, and TV. As a wheelchair user, I had the extra perk of a private balcony above the lobby's marquee, which was a lovely touch. At check-in, Kenny was absolutely phenomenal for going above and beyond to help me get settled after arriving to SoCal battling a terrible flu. The following day, manager Laura was equally fantastic, handling my extended stay with patience and grace. Yes, it may be pricier than newer, more luxurious options in Newport Mesa but you simply cannot beat this location. Their rooftop Jacuzzis (2; both large and standard) are clutch, and the on-site restaurant and bar are open select days. And even when they're closed, there are three dining options open 7 days a week within the same block. 10/10 ... I'd book again in a heartbeat. So if you're heading to Catalina for a day trip, this is the perfect spot to pregame your adventure or unwind afterward. I'd recommend a minimum two-night stay to truly soak in the local amenities and surf town charm.
- 3/5
The person helping with the checking was great, very nice. There was no beach view from our room and we were placed right next to stairs so it was loud with people coming and going. There is no self parking for the property but there is for the beach and that was not too difficult to try and find a spot.
- 5/5
Very nice hotel. Laura at the front desk was very helpful and accommodating! Parking is a little tough in the area if you dont valet.
- 5/5
Lobby was noticeable, got greeted, gave us our card, very nice gentleman. Showed us where breakfast was, our room, schedules. Room was beautiful 😍 clean, bathroom was clean, the shower water slowly gets hot but can't make it cold but its okay i dont mind a hot shower. So convenient being beach front, walked all over newport was nice to get back to our room and rest. Morning breakfast was small but i liked their coffee, muffins and orange juice 😋 will definitely stay again and recommend.
- 2/5
Yes
- 4/5
Great location- ridiculous expensive valet and pretty tiny rooms with no views dirty floors
- 3/5
There is no security locks on the main doors to the open area. This is not acceptable.
- 5/5
Pleasant staff easy parking through valet
- 5/5
The staff were extremely friendly! Upon arriving I realized that I did not add our children and we ended up in a room that was too small. The staff immediately switched us to another room and accommodated our needs! We are extremely satisfied with the staff. We will definitely return!
- 5/5
Views were great. They just happened to be remodeling the large jacuzzi & one of the two elevators did not work. But otherwise a great property.
- 2/5
Staff was friendly. Rooms are tiny, in rough condition and very crowded with unnecessary items.
- 3/5
Didnt have hot water, although they still booked the room. But the manager did a great job making it work out.. But not having a Hot shower when paying over $350 for. Room (basic room) is crazy..
- 5/5
Nice hotel with great location with a lot of restaurants and things to see in close walking distance.
- 5/5
Pool and hot tub were down but staff were very accommodating and very clean
- 1/5
The property is rated as 7.8 and if it was not by the beach the rating should be way lower Mold in the bathroom all over, the Headboard to bed was filthy, the desk looked like a hammer was beat on it. The mini fridge just sitting on the floor like it was just brought in from outside. We checked in and left to another hotel immediately after seeing room.
- 4/5
Location is amazing. Staff is very nice. Room is good beach room.
- 5/5
Great experience
- 5/5
The politeness and helpful treatment. They answered our questions when we called them. The provided a cork screw for our wine. They helped with parking. They helped us understand that the bath spa has been shut down. The room clean and perfect.
- 5/5
best location on the beach hands down
- 5/5
So convenient to everything walking distance to the pier I highly recommend
- 5/5
Location
- 2/5
But for the price i.e. $350+ per night, the room was very poor. Stained and dirty carpet throughout. Chipped paint on walls. Old weird couch in middle of room I guess classifies it as the advertised “suite” Would not stay again.
- 5/5
We love staying at the Balboa Inn. You are right on the beach and you can also walk to the Catalina Island Ferry.
- 3/5
Clean room and great location. Quite dated but served the purpose. Great if vacationing in the area on a budget
- 1/5
I’m not gonna go there any more
- 1/5
Dirty linens , cracked paint on furniture and walls . The toilet ran for 2 hrs after flushing, felt like a one star TJ Mexico motel !
- 1/5
Purchased a deluxe room. The bedside draws kept opening due floors not level. We got a view of a roof next door that was falling apart.
- 5/5
Great experience
- 4/5
Enjoyed our stay there.
- 5/5
Best & friendly staff ever! Beautiful location, easy access to ferry & island & freeway…❤️
- 5/5
The location, updated room, and staff were great and just what I wanted. I will stay there on my next visit.
- 5/5
Clean newly remodeled room. At check-in the front desk was kind to give us rooms close to each other. The stay comfortable and super easy to walk to everything.
- 4/5
The bed was super comfortable and the overall ambiance of the room was quite fitting for the area. For being a historic hotel, the cost is extremely reasonable especially considering the location and convenient surroundings. I will definitely be returning.
- 3/5
Hot tub never worked and the pool was really cold. Didn’t get to use those at all in our 3 nights. But Laura was very nice to let us park our rental in the garage. After we had gotten citations for 2 nights from the city, a misprint. Hoping to appeal and I get out of it.
- 5/5
Staff was friendly and helpful
- 3/5
Overall, the staff were exceptional and went above and beyond to ensure our comfort with a portable heater. However, due to the age of the building, there were noticeable gaps and lack of proper sealing, at least in room 208. The toilet bowl flushed but the knob would go into a complete circle, so you had to be careful not to push too hard or you would have to stick your hand in the back to fix the chain. While I will consider returning in the future, I would avoid staying in room 208 until updates can be made. Additionally, parking is $45 per day, but right next to the building, they have parking options that proved to be more cost-effective for us.
- 5/5
The room was nice! The location was excellent! Very loud oustide because of the 2 bars across the street. But overall a great place to stay!
- 2/5
Toilet didn’t work when flushing, we had to use bathroom on the first floor, the bathroom door was uneven, curtains were strange, bed is was comfortable.
- 4/5
Great location within a few minutes' walk of the beach, restaurants, the Catalina Flyer, the ferry to Balboa Island, and a public overnight parking lot (we paid $28 for 24 hours). Two buildings make up the Inn, a south building and a north building. Go for the south building. Can't vouch for the rooms, but the setting is much nicer. We were in the north building, with no view and basic accommodation. Very friendly staff. Breakfast consists of packaged, pick-up-and-go items and hot coffee. There are no other hotels in the immediate area or within walking distance that can beat this location.
- 5/5
Very nice
- 4/5
The Staff was very helpful and accomodating. The room was a little dated, some missing paint, missing knob on the shower door and below averaging lighting for the room. The property has a great location and once again, the staff is really friendly and helpful.
- 5/5
Great location, friendly staff, great room
- 5/5
yes, and SUPER NICE front desk.
- 4/5
Nice location
- 4/5
Definitely paying for the view which is well worth it. The room was so so the service was good $40 a night parking irritated my soul.
- 2/5
Room was quite rough, perhaps some are better than ours, but was not what you would expect at this price point. Very few plugs in the room. I missed the "resort fee" of $30/night which doesn't really get you anything best I could tell even after I asked twice. Parking is $45 or $60/night depending on car size. Easy to find parking from 6PM to 8AM, but during the day parking could be difficult. So the room might cost you nearly $100 extra a night.
- 5/5
Everything was perfect
- 1/5
No balcony view. No beach view. Disgusting damage throughout the room. Shade torn and hanging. Holes in walls. Damaged furniture. Awful room. I have pictures for anybody to see if interested.
- 5/5
Great 1 night stay
- 3/5
Positives: The staff was courteous and helpful throughout our stay. The room was clean and equipped with both a ceiling fan and air conditioning. Complimentary bottled water was a thoughtful touch and much appreciated. Areas for Improvement: Soundproofing: Unfortunately, the room lacked adequate soundproofing. We could clearly hear footsteps, running showers, and doors slamming from neighboring rooms and hallways. Room Amenities: Several small features in the room didn’t function smoothly. The draperies and windows were difficult to operate, the toilet flush was inconsistent, and there was a constant humming noise from both the mini fridge and the AC unit. Continental Breakfast: The breakfast was disappointing. There were no hot food options—only cereals, fruits, and pre-packaged snacks. The coffee was very watered down and lacked flavor. Overall, while the location and staff were great, the noise issues and underwhelming breakfast made the stay less enjoyable than expected.
- 3/5
After getting to my room, I discovered that my room had broken blinds so I went downstairs to let the staff know and they easily upgraded my room to one that had functional blinds. Parking is not too terrible. You can pay to park at a public parking lot, or use the convenience of the valet service. Which I recommend. The valet staff was courteous and helpful. I recommend just paying the valet fee over having to walk to public parking lot and pay for a fee as a time saver and just Uber around town. The time you save on not having to find a parking spot and walk back and forth is worth it. The complimentary breakfast was ok. Simple, with food items like instant oatmeal, cereal bars, fruit, yogurt, oranger juice, and coffee. There’s also a coffee shop immediately downstairs on the beachside of the hotel where you can get pastries and hot breakfast item.
- 3/5
Room was clean, small and renovated however, the cost of the room was really high, parking was pay lots really high, hotel charged $50 to valet your vehicle. Hotel was hard to find as its part of other retail establishments had to park on the street in traffic to check in. Beach view from the balcony was very nice and the poor is walkable from the hotel all in all a nice environment just some difficulties.
- 4/5
Staff was very responsive to our needs.
- 5/5
Overall the property could use some TLC but was charming.
- 3/5
The location is perfect . We took the boat to Catalina for a weekend stay . We stayed here one night so we can catch the boat in the morning. Hotel is older and needs to be renovated. The restaurants around are not good and the shopping feels very tourist oriented. It’s a good place to stay one night but I would not recommend it for a longer stay
- 5/5
Loves staying here just wish they had more mirrors for getting ready. Other than that is was a nice stay. Definitely will be returning(:
- 3/5
Rooms were clean just outdated and felt old for the money
- 4/5
We had such a lovely stay here. Yes, it’s an older property and there was some paint peeling, etc. But not only is the view incredible, but the staff is amazing! So courteous and kind from the front desk to the housekeeping. We left a couple of items at the front desk when we checked in and the girl at the front desk ran them up to our room within two minutes. You can walk all over Balboa and the sand is right outside the door. There was construction all day so it was an early morning each day, but we didn’t mind. Will certainly be staying here again.
- 2/5
Dated and old rooms. Nice location.
- 5/5
My wife and I enjoyed our stay. The staff were friendly and very helpful. Our room was clean and had a beautiful view of the ocean. We’ll definitely stay there again.
- 4/5
Beach view, clean and great staff
- 5/5
Out bed. The view is stunning, the shower is spacious and amazing and reviews didn’t disappoint about location and walking distance to the beach. Definitely worth the ocean view room :) staff was super friendly. Used valet to park very convenient
- 2/5
Check in was great. We got to our room and it was nothing like the pics that are posted. We only stayed one night, thank god, they put us in a room right NEXT to where there is construction going on! 6AM they started working, we had no choice but to leave at that moment. I wish we had a better experience here.
- 2/5
Great place if you need a place to sleep. Walking distance to beach and pier. Rubies Diner was off the chain! Air conditioning didn't work, furniture had accumulated dust and I found a peanut in the sheets as I pulled them back. Staff was pleasant and helpful. I always wanted to stay at Balboa Inn, I did and won't be returning
- 5/5
Great spot right by the beach. You feel like you’re in a different country.
- 4/5
Couldn’t ask for a better location. We didn’t rent a car and never needed one for our trip. The staff and service was great . A couple things in our room weren’t functional the blinds which I had to spend much time trying to tie up to let in light to see the ocean view.and flushingThe toilet was not working. Had to take off tank lid and flush manually flapper was fused shut .
- 3/5
The hotel is a bit run down. Our sheets had stains and it just didn’t feel very clean. Also it was fairly loud. For the price I would expect a cleaner better experience.
- 5/5
It’s location
- 3/5
Location was great. Rooms too small didnt smell clean parking is too expensive
- 4/5
Amazing spot beach is great !
- 5/5
Nice place to stay , close to lot
- 4/5
The overall experience was great. However the pool needed to be cleaned. The amenities could have been improved. For example, only some of the rooms have refrigerators, but they don’t tell you that when booking a room.
- 5/5
We had a great time at this lovely property!
- 1/5
We have already had this taken care of but it was a very big disappointment The rooms are so outdated and dirty , bed is on a piece of plywood - It’s not a suite - didn’t even have a fridge in the room , I would not spend this amount of money on these rooms ever again!
- 5/5
Everything was excellent!!
- 5/5
I had a good experience
- 2/5
valets were very good. service was decent. but the condition of the rooms was awful. no window coverings - even in bathroom. Ancient, dirty furniture. keycard worked half the time. front desk said it was an old system and not to put phone near card. my 'suite' looked nothing like the picture. 60 bucks a day to park. almost $1200 for 2 night stay (room only) - more than Hard Rock in NYC! Great location though and like i said, valet guys were really nice and helpful. but management really needs to do some MAJOR room upgrades cuz it was awful.
- 3/5
This place is overselling itself. It is a thoroughly decent small, not luxury, hotel next to a beach on Balboa Peninsula, that is it, period. It is NOT a resort so their $30 resort fee is misleading (as it is with virtually all hotels) and just a trick to get you pay more for your room.
- 5/5
I was able to hear the children in the r
- 3/5
We loved the beThe free breaking was a great disappointment for what the room cost.ach access.
- 3/5
The rooms are standard and need updating. Great location to restaurants , beach and activities.
- 5/5
Just for location alone But very nice as well Just a complete vibe
- 3/5
The room was very dated understand his old hotel the bathroom was good I enjoyed the bathroom with the oversized tub the jacuzzi was dirty the pathway was dirty and the mats to go into the front door we're really dirty
- 5/5
highly recommended ⭐️
- 5/5
Staff is great, really helpful. Bed and covers are really comfortable. Valet service was great.
- 4/5
The room could use a little updating and love. View was amazing. We will be back
- 2/5
Beautiful location, rooms need to be updated. Not worth the cost
- 3/5
Overall, this hotel worked for us because it put us walking distance to the beach, Fun Zone, and Balboa ferry. There is also a donut/coffee shop and taco shop in the same property. Very convenient. If you’re ok with an aging building and some beach grime, this hotel is convenient for the location.
- 3/5
The location was wonderful, staff fantastic but it felt like the room was half in the past and minimally furnished. Not enough light. 2 small bedside lights but in the extended part of the room, no lights except a dim light on a ceiling fan 10 feet in the air. Called and asked for an extra light young lady said there wasn't any available. Had to turn on TV for light in the room.
- 2/5
Elevator is old and scary. The toilet was not working properly. The pillows were very dingy and there was sand in the bed, not sure if the bedding was changed from the previous tenant. Pricey but nice location to the beach. Staff was great.
- 3/5
The hotel is a beautiful old hotel, BUT the A/C didn't work, there wasn't enough light in the room, bathroom fixtures were ancient and rusted. I'm sure at one time it was luxurious but now it's just in need of a redo. Bed was comfortable but room extremely stuffy and hot.
- 3/5
Hotel room was very small and very pricey. Hilton in hb was $75 more and was a better room and size was better. Wish I would have stayed there.
- 5/5
The property’s location if ideal for beach, and shopping. Good staff, friendly and customer oriented
- 3/5
In the reservation, I wasn’t aware that I had to pay $45 a night for parking. That’s ridiculous! My room wasn’t a good view of the ocean. The corner window only had an ocean view, the room didn’t look at all like the advertised.
- 1/5
The grounds are dirty, the white towels are dingy gray. The showers are moldy. We had two rooms both were dirty. Floors are tile and need cleaned. The hallways are filthy, they were never mopped.
- 1/5
Outdated, expensive, doors didn’t close properly, no parking you have to pay $60.00 for valet per day. Towels were stained cleaned but stained. You can tell the owners don’t care about the guest they only care about their pockets. We had to interrupt our stay due to the condition the hotel was in and they refused a refund for the remaining days. Expedia had to get involved and negotiate a cancelation. Rooms are not worth the price. The only good thing was the closeness to the beach and pier.
- 5/5
Great stay! The staff was above and beyond. Will be back
- 5/5
Fun plsce
- 4/5
Location is amazing. Parking is tough.
- 5/5
We really enjoyed our stay. We wanted to be right at the Balboa Pier, Whale Watching, Fun Zone and ferry...and we were! Everything was a five minute walk, and we were right on the pier. Our balcony overlooked it and the ocean in the b.g. beyond the parking lot. If you don't do valet, you can park nextdoor in a variety of lots. The staff was sooooo nice! They made us feel right at home. And the food in the restaurant was very good. Maybe a little pricey, but the portions are generous and the service was excellent. Now, the rooms could use some modernization and touch ups, but for us...it didn't distract from our good time. It met all of our needs. Our balcony and location were well worth the price. I would, however, advise on new carpeting in the rooms that have it. There's a bike rental place downstairs and a cool taco / margarita bar that stays open until midnight. Plus, other restaurans within walking and the Newport Pier is a 10 min. walk away. Stargazing and fishing on the Balboa Pier at night. By day, the ferry gets you to Balboa Island in 5 mins., then Fashion Island is a quick drive for shopping. The Balboa Inn is in a very safe area. Lots of affluence. You can walk and bike at night in safety. We've already decided to stay here again in the fall.
- 2/5
Good location but that’s the only reason for prices being high
- 2/5
Got the room last minute for $360 which was a great deal for the beach, but I honestly didn’t realize that the room was going to be worse than a motel six room. I would’ve opted to not do it. I expected it not to be an upgraded room, but I did not expect it to be what it was.
- 3/5
Outdated
- 4/5
Had trouble with the air conditioning thermostat. Called the front desk 3 times. 3 times the sent a guy to work on it. Never got it working right.
- 5/5
Staff was amazing!!
- 5/5
Quick & Easy
- 5/5
Beautiful
- 5/5
Excellent location, restaurant next door delicious! Rooms a bit old but clean. Staff very helpful!
- 5/5
One of our 2 rooms had some stains on carpet, but that did not effect our stay. Staff was very nice. Breakfast lack protein, but its still sufficient eniugh. Plenty of dining options near by Recommendation: read all signs regarding parking, time limits, etc. Staff was helpful when we asked about parking, but directions were not clear. If you don't plan to drive anywhere else during your stay, just pay for Valet.
- 5/5
Great stay. Staff, room and location all excellent.
- 2/5
Upon checking into our room, we were immediately put off by cleanliness issues, as we found a cockroach and quite a bit of hair. I went to the front desk hoping to have our room changed, but they informed me that they were fully booked. Instead, they offered to send housekeeping to clean our room, which felt inadequate after checking in. To make matters worse, we encountered persistent issues with our room keys. Every time we left the room and returned, the keys failed to work, requiring us to visit the front desk at least four times during our one-night stay for replacements. We even overheard other guests facing the same frustrating problem. Overall, while the hotel has potential due to its prime location, the cleanliness issues and key problems really detracted from our stay. For the price, I expected much better. I hope the management addresses these concerns for future guests.
- 4/5
Lots to do in the area!
- 5/5
Always come here for a little getaway with my husband and we love it!
- 4/5
Nice room
- 2/5
Would not recommend staying there unless it gets renovated. Location is perfect!
- 5/5
Beautiful view from our room .
- 5/5
Walkable to restaurants, bars and attractions.
- 5/5
Very nice establishment
- 5/5
Nice, quiet and peaceful. Perfect for my needs. Enjoyed the convenience of being walking distance to the beach and restaurants. I will definitely be coming back soon.
- 2/5
Room assigned was unacceptable in the way of carpet stains and no view. Had to upgrade to get tile/marble floors and a view. Property is directly on bike path. Closest to pier. Great location.
- 3/5
For the price paid the location was worth it. The room not so much. There was no mini fridge to keep a water bottle cold and they didn’t even have “do not disturb” door tags. They charge an additional $75 for hotel fees, but you have to either pay for valet parking or set an alarm to pay $8 every 2 hours from 8am-6pm for the lot near by.
- 4/5
Best part of this place is the location. Stayed twice and would stay again. However, the rooms are a bit rundown
- 3/5
Staff and location was great. Room it self.. was okay. Out dated and stains on the carpet.
- 4/5
The view
- 2/5
They gave me the wrong room not the one I reserved
- 5/5
Poor heating , the fan blew cold air! Front desk guy was horrible. The young bell hop guy was great. He alone raised my rating. He was the most helpful in every way!
- 5/5
Love the location. Staff was Very friendly.
- 3/5
Fantastic location. Room was fine. Building definitely needs some tlc. Staff was great. Comforters were dirty, continental breakfast wasnt amazing. A bunch of the snacks were expired. It was still a cool place. Hot pool was nice at this time of the year.
- 5/5
Cool
- 5/5
Always my go to Hotel in Balboa
- 2/5
The rooms are small and old. The door would not lock. The shades on the window windows had to be forced to come down. The valet parking was terrible, with a rude attendant.
- 1/5
The only thing good about this hotel is the location. It is in dire need of remodeling & upgrades
- 3/5
Not as pictured, King bed is really a Queen, lots of spiders, no hot water only warm.
- 4/5
Biggest disappointment was the sliver of ‘sea view’. The company has now built a new building in front of the original hotel almost completely blocking the sea view. You should amend your description.
- 5/5
Nice, romantic location.
- 4/5
We were there for the high wind days and many things were closed and maintenance wasn’t available for small things and jacuzzi not functioning. Staff very friendly
- 5/5
Love it!!!
- 5/5
Great stay at older hotel, beautiful view.
- 1/5
should be condemned and the room had huge stains on the carpet, dirty bathrooms and paper thin walls.
- 4/5
Love this hotel. The only bummer was not being given the room we paid for. Thankfully they rectified the issue even though it seemed like they didn’t want to.
- 3/5
The hotel was in a great location and convenient. The room was updated but for some reason the door wouldn’t open very far because it was stuck on the tile. The check in staff wasn’t very friendly, but at check out the other staff was very helpful. Parking at the hotel was pretty exorbitant but convenient.
- 4/5
We checked in and the room we booked felt like a dark closet. I immediately called the front desk and asked for an upgrade. We paid the difference and were very happy with our ocean front room. I would have been very disappointed if we had to stay in the first room.
- 5/5
It was friendly nice clean and walking distance my grandchildren love it thank you again for for all the memories
- 5/5
Me and my husband love Balboa Inn we go there at least once a year. Clean room, great staff, close to everything
- 1/5
The staff were very friendly and tried to help. However they were junior staff left alone on a holiday weekend with no ability to correct problems. The first thing I needed to fix in the room was the toilet {very old and out of date}. The room its self was very small, barely large enough for the bed. There are three nice windows looking out onto Main Street, a park and an ocean view. But to see the view, it is necessary to stand on the bed to see out the windows. Then there was no heat in the room. When I reported this to the staff, they were unable to find a room at the same rate that had heat. Apparently this is a problem as the staff went to two other rooms on the second floor, trying to find one with heat. This was odd as the hotel was almost empty of other guests. We were offered an extra blanket. No other solution was offered. So we packed up and left. We won't be back.
- 5/5
Awesome location, friendly staff. Rooms show a little wear and tear from being so close to the beach.
- 1/5
Clean. Not kept up. Owner doesn't do much to repair the walls, furniture, paint. Small sink, didn't like shower glass which was only half covering the shower. No refrigerator, no microwave. Old, antequated. Terrible view.
- 3/5
Rooms could use to be updated. Enjoyed my stay once I was settled.
- 2/5
This time around, it was not so pleasant at all! A bar opened up across the little road and they were playing heavy load rock music until very late at night! Once that stopped and the bar closed, some drunken patrons sat on the pavement outside, talking at the top of their voices, until the early hours of the morning! I hope Balboa Inn will look into this, as sadly, I can tell you, not many guests will put up with this disturbance….
- 4/5
It was super cute! The front desk assistant was so nice! The only thing is the room seemed like the floors were kind of caving in. But it’s right on the beach and rustic. We loved it for our family of 4!
- 3/5
No shade on the window. Holes above window where there used to be a rod. Chunk missing out of fireplace hearth. Bath fan was VERY noisy. Floor is so uneven that the nightstand drawer won’t stay closed. Other than that it’s a quaint 97 year old hotel.
- 5/5
Great location and staff very friendly and helpful.
Frequently asked questions about Balboa Inn, On the Beach
Does Balboa Inn, On the Beach have free Wi-Fi?
Does Balboa Inn, On the Beach offer parking?
Does Balboa Inn, On the Beach have meeting spaces, conference centers, or conference rooms?
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Where is Balboa Inn, On the Beach located, and how walkable is the area?
What's nearby
- John Wayne Airport 5.4 mi