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Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!

Vacation home near Fashion Island in Newport Beach

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A modern living room with a fireplace, two sofas, a coffee table, and large windows.
A white house with a porch, a white fence, and a small garden with plants and a sofa.
A modern kitchen with white cabinetry, a granite countertop, and a window with a red brick wall view.
A marina with numerous boats docked, surrounded by residential buildings and a clear blue sky.
A modern living room with a white sofa, a coffee table, and a dining area with a kitchen in the background.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
  • Air conditioning
  • Gym
  • Outdoor Space

Explore the area

View in a map
Newport Beach, CA
  • Place, Balboa Fun Zone
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Balboa Peninsula Beaches
    ‪8 min walk‬
  • Place, Balboa Pier
    ‪10 min walk‬
  • Airport, Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne)
    ‪17 min drive‬

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About the neighborhood

Newport Beach

Balboa Island stay.Within half a mile (1 km) of this Balboa Island vacation home, you'll find Balboa Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion. Also, Balboa Peninsula Beaches is within half a mile (1 km) and Balboa Pier is within 2 miles (3 km).
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What's nearby

  • Balboa Fun Zone - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Balboa Pavilion - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Balboa Peninsula Beaches - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Balboa Pier - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles
  • Balboa Beach - 10 min walk - 0.6 miles

Getting around

  • Orange Station - 21 min drive
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA) - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Harborside Restaurant & Grand - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Todos Santos | Kitchen De Mexico - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Balboa Saloon - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Dad's Original Frozen Banana - ‬9 min walk

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!

This vacation home is truly one of a kind. One of Balboa Island's famous historical cottages with all its charm, we've recently renovated the interior and added AC and forced air heating for modern comfort. We are just minutes by foot from the Balboa Ferry, Fun Zone, and Peninsula beaches.

With a quaint garden patio and open living spaces, this is the perfect spot to unwind with family and friends after a long day exploring Newport Beach!

[FAST WIFI, AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING, NEW APPLIANCES]

Inside: Just past our fully remodeled kitchen [NO DISHWASHER] with new appliances is the cozy living room & TV (decorative fireplace). One bedroom with queen bed is downstairs along with an auxiliary living area with twin bed that can be used to sleep one more guest. Downstairs bathroom includes a shower with tub. Large bright room upstairs with queen bed and half bathroom.

Heading outside down the walkway to the alleyway and past the outdoor beach shower, you'll find the garage with parking for 1 car (clearance ~6'6", shared with back unit) and a new washer and dryer. The garage also contains a variety of beach chairs and sand toys which guests are free to use - please just make sure to return them! (We do not have bikes, paddle boards, or kayaks available for guests though they can be rented nearby)

Activities and Attractions:

Balboa Island is not only a great vacation destination itself but also an excellent base for Southern California's many other attractions and theme parks!

Our property is located just a few doors down from the beautiful Balboa Bay, boardwalk, and the Balboa Ferry that gives access to the Fun Zone, Peninsula beaches and Pacific Ocean. The ferry is a lovely 5 minute ride directly to the Fun Zone (with arcades, rides, and snacks), the Balboa Pier, shopping and restaurants, boating and fishing excursions (including transport to nearby Catalina Island), and bike/water sport rentals.

Agate is the only street on the island with a children's climbing gym and basketball court. On the island itself, Marine Avenue boasts fine restaurants and boutique shops which are only 2 miles away from even more fine dining, shopping, and movie theaters at Newport's famous outdoor mall, Fashion Island.

For those interested in seeing more of the Orange County coastline, Laguna Beach lies 7 miles further down the Pacific Coast Highway. Originally an artist's colony, Laguna hosts the Pageant of the Masters and Sawdust Festival in the summer, art galleries, and fine dining and shopping along with wonderful beaches with tide pools.

Balboa Lodge is ~35 minutes from Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm and an hour or so from Universal Studios, Hollywood, San Diego Zoo and Sea World. The Santa Ana/Orange County (SNA) Airport is only 10 minutes away and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is approximately 45 minutes away.

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Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking options include a garage

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms

Bathroom

  • 1.5 bathrooms
  • Shower

Entertainment

  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Garden
  • Patio

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoking not allowed

Things to do

  • Gym
  • Kayak

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 30

Check-out

Check-out before 10:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Check-out instructions

The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items and take out the trash
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

No events allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.

Property Registration Number SLP13972

Frequently asked questions

How close is Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! to the airport?

This vacation home is 9.1 mi (25-min drive) away from the John Wayne Airport (SNA) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

Does Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at this vacation home.

How close is Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! to the beach?

This vacation home is 5.8 mi (14-min drive) from Huntington State Beach and 0.6 mi (10-min drive) from Balboa Peninsula Beaches. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! offer free breakfast?

This vacation home does not offer free breakfast.

Is there a casino at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!?

No, there is no casino at this vacation home.

What time is check-in at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

Is there free parking at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!?

Free parking is not available at this vacation home.

Does Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! have a pool?

This vacation home does not have a pool.

Does Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! have a spa?

There are no spa services available at this vacation home.

How close is Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! to downtown Newport Beach?

This vacation home is 2 mi away from Newport Beach.

Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very pleasant stay
Stayed 5 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely stay at this idyllic cottage on beautiful Balboa Island. Steps to the sand, walking path, and the ferry to Balboa Peninsula. The host was very responsive. Highly recommend
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The house was amazing. It was clean and beautifully decorated.Accommodations were perfect. We loved the location. So much to do there
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay and really enjoyed the home. Cameron was amazing, very responsive, helpful, and easy to communicate with. The place itself is beautifully decorated and very functional, with a comfortable layout that worked really well for our stay. It feels thoughtfully put together and was a great base for our time in the area. Perfect locations. The only issue we encountered was that the bedroom windows did not open, and others were missing screens which made it difficult to get fresh air in the home and enjoy the natural climate, but the AC worked great and is really a plus to have! Aside from that, everything else was excellent. Overall, we had a very positive experience!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We had a wonderful stay - the unit is so homey and inviting! The beds were very comfortable and the living room and kitchen were a great size! A great value for money - would recommend to others!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Disliked: Check-in, communication
The house and area were so clean and wonderful. Good luck trying to get in contact with the host. After multiple calls/messages to host we never received check in/out instructions, door code etc.. Again, the house was wonderful.I hope no one else has this experience going forward.
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Needs a few improvements

Like all of Balboa, this is a multi-million dollar property that charges renters a significant price. Given that, there are a few things about this property that were disappointing. Per the renters guide we were provided, “the garage opener doesn’t always work”. This device broke down completely (not just a dead battery) while we were there. With no alternate access (side door locked), we could not access our car. This caused us to miss an appointment. Since the owners knew it was faulty, why didn’t they replace it? By the owner’s admission (as stated in the renter’s guide), using the TV system as configured is complicated and confusing. Yes, it is - so why don’t the owners resolve this problem for the renter’s convenience. The deck/patio furniture is not acceptable for a Balboa rental unit - including two old plastic chairs and a rusty table. Also the BBQ is an old model with a dirty grill that requires briquettes/matches instead of gas. Also, there is no dishwasher. While these are not major issues, they are inconveniences not expected on a Balboa property. Attention to details like these would make for a better experience.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect place to stay on Balboa Island. Easy to relax and enjoy family time. Charming!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My family of six loved our stay here! It’s cozy yet big enough for all of us! My teenage twins loved the upstairs room! It’s such a great location steps away from the water and on the same street as the ferry! My boys were able to go fishing right there and caught a whole bunch of fish, including a stingray! We would definitely come back and stay! Thank you for hosting us. It was perfect!
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
We enjoyed our stay! House was in a great location close to the ferry
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great extended stay

We stayed here for three weeks over thanksgiving and into the Xmas period. Great space, everything worked as needed. Property manager was very responsive and helpful. We extended a week as we had something else fall through and they were more than helpful! Would stay again!
Stayed 21 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family former summer cottage can’t be beat!

This adorable cottage is one of the originals to the island. Completely restored and updated you can’t go wrong with the location, ambiance and all else! Sally’s done an amazing job thinking of everything one might need for their holiday. If you are not familiar with Balboa Island beware it does get crazy crowded in the summer months so parking is always a huge issue during this time, however, this place is walkable to nearly everything you could ask for once you unpack and park in the available one spot garage.. a small family, couple, or just one person like me will feel right at home…..Thanks again!!!
Stayed 26 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Stayed 9 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2024

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