Review: Marriott's Newport Coast Villas

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

Following is an overview of the review that was added:

First class resort in SoCal

Please see the review here!

Please use this thread to discuss the review.

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

For anyone staying at NCV, about 1/2 mile down the coast hwy is a upscale shopping center with a Trader Joes. They aren't a full service grocery but have most items including the very best prices on the wines. For a full service grocery, at the very top of the hill there is a huge pavillions grocery (like safeway). Also a very nice (and cheap) italian restaurant.


PS The resort is easily got to by taking hwy 73 which is a toll road with a $1.50 toll. After the first time finding the resort, we never took the toll road again. Just get off Hwy 73 at the MacArthur exit, go ~ 1/2 mile to top of the hill and then turn left at "San Joaquin Hills" to take you to the same street "newport coast dr" the toll road drops you. OR take MacArthur all the way to the Pacific Coast HWY, turn left and follow road to Newport coast dr and you're there.

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

Marriott hit a home run with this location. I remember back in 1999 when it was first opening, I received some promotional materials and wondered why they'd send rich man's fodder (Newport Beach is a very pricey community with attitude to match) to a poor boy like me. It wasn't until a couple of years later my wife and I stopped by when visiting her friends in SoCal that we came to understand the realities.

I don't think an equal resort will ever again be built in this area. I had heard noises about a resort being planned for up the hill from NCV but don't know if the Irvine Ranch ever did anything with it.

The location is great and the resort exteriors are gorgeous, but I've seen a lot of maintenance and wear/tear issues during our visits which give me pause. This is especially true in the buildings surrounding the administration/check-in building, as they are the oldest. Hopefully, the refurbishments started last year have mitigated/corrected these issues.

Topography of the resort is hilly and it is spread out, so folks should be prepared to hike a bit. The lower part of the resort is pretty close to the PCH, so walking from those units to the state park is quite easy. As with anything in SoCal, a car is required to really get around. The resort runs a shuttle to Laguna Beach and to Fashion Island, at least they did last I was there.

There's a little local Italian restaurant in Balboa called Amelia's; my wife and I have often spent a quiet evening there to forget about the glitz of Newport. Food is good and prices are inexpensive.

This is one resort where I wish Marriott would bring the service level up to that of their hotels, considering the neighborhood and clientele it attracts. I've heard as much from other owners/visitors. It's much more than a condo complex, IMO.

Pat

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

This is one resort where I wish Marriott would bring the service level up to that of their hotels, considering the neighborhood and clientele it attracts. I've heard as much from other owners/visitors. It's much more than a condo complex, IMO.

Pat

The resort keeps saying that when sales at the resort are finished that marriott will be converting the top floor of the sales center into an upscale restaurant and the bottom floor to a big fitness center. We will see?


PS The next to last set of bldgs are scheduled to open this spring. The last 4 bldgs with the 3rd pool section are just being started. They may open in 2009. The only bldgs where construction noise and mess will be a problem are these bldgs which will be opening this spring. But they should have some of the best views so I wouldn't avoid them since the units face toward the ocean and the construction is up the hill.

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

That's consistent with what we heard from sales when we bought there in 2004. The main issue is, if the economy continues to slow and foreigners don't come in and buy up intervals there, NCV may end up in active sales far beyond the 2009 projected build-out, which would push those changes into a 10-15 year post opening period. That's a long time and first impressions are important ones. Personally, I think they screwed up on this.

Pat

[Bill4728 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Bill4728]

I don't know how far they are from being sold out.

When I was there last month, they said if we bought from Marriott tel-e-sales and not that day, That the earliest they would have inventory for use is 2010. Which is after the enter resort is finished. It's likely just a salemens lie but it made me think that they didn't have many units left.

[camachinist Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close camachinist]

Only way to know would be to query new developer buyers. Bravo Sierra would be my call (as you inferred). They told us the same thing but space miraculously appeared after closing (actually during). YMMV.

Pat

[cbcjs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbcjs]

Developer's weeks

They unloaded a bunch of off season weeks to trade to get people to come by and tour the place. They are building a whole new phase and they are giving alot of incentives due to the economy/downturn in real estate. Really tempting but declined.

[cbcjs Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cbcjs]

2010

They told us the same thing. But 2009 would be available but no guarantee and would have to wait til' sept. 2008 I think to confirm.

Absolutely a beautiful resort.