Newport Beach Marriott Bayview review

What is the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview hotel?

Built in 1988, the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview is a nine-story hotel on the border of Newport Beach, flanked by the city of Irvine to its east. The hotel is in a fairly business-centric area with office buildings and several auto dealerships across the street, such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. The west side faces a back bay nature preserve that leads into the Pacific Ocean.

The property is geared toward business and leisure travelers looking to visit Orange County and its well-known beach cities, such as Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach.

The location

If you want to jog on the beach every morning or go for a sunset stroll, this hotel is not for you. The hotel is located within Newport Beach’s back bay on a preserve, so you’re about 4 to 7 miles away from the various sandy beaches of Newport.

However, a jogging and bike trail straddles the entire back bay, so if you still want ocean breezes and views of the bay, that’s a good option. Any trip to California requires renting a car, allowing you to easily drive to those nearby beaches or the frozen banana stands on Balboa Island.

How to book Newport Beach Marriott Bayview hotel

Cash prices for the property are manageable compared to other properties closer to the beach. Offseason nightly rates can cost anywhere between $220 and $300. For the dates of my recent stay, prices were about $246 a night for Marriott Bonvoy members.

Spacious but outdated rooms

Last renovated in 2009, the hotel’s need for an update is evident based on the interior decor of the property, rooms and even technology, such as the absence of USB ports in guest rooms. Although the carpet in the hotel hallways and the choice of paint color were popular 15 years ago, unfortunately they give the hotel a tired and dated look now.

The hotel’s dated style and decor continue once you step into the room, with the furniture and room finishings looking like a blast from the past. A standout feature is that every room is a suite with a decent-size living room, a separate bedroom and a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. Rooms measure about 420 square feet, but the smart use of space and layout gives them a bigger feel. Having a door between the bedroom and living room feels nice, making it ideal for families who may opt for a rollaway bed or a baby crib in the living room.

The room has a typical coffee machine with Marriott’s branded filter coffee instead of a Nespresso-style espresso machine and pods. Free water bottles (or cans, in this case) were limited to two, and additional water bottles in the room were a whopping $9, a hard pass for me.

Amenities

The Newport Beach Marriott offers standard amenities for a property of this caliber. Upon entering the hotel, there’s a large seating area in the lobby, which also serves as seating for the hotel’s only restaurant.

In addition, there’s a small business center in the lobby across from the restaurant with two computers and a printer for guests to use. In line with other Marriott properties within the U.S., there’s a small pantry where you can purchase snacks, ice cream, toiletries or property-specific items like a tumbler.

Vista Kitchen Bar

The Newport Beach Marriott Bayview has one restaurant that serves as its outlet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Vista Kitchen Bar has some essential classics for lunch and dinner, like burgers, bolognese and some sharing dishes.

I expected more seafood or other quintessential California dishes, but the menu had some unique choices like a Mexican-inspired esquite bowl and apricot glazed salmon.

DANYAL AHMED/THE POINTS GUY

After checking in, I made my way to Vista and grabbed a quick bite to eat, including the wagyu smash burger, which left a lot to be desired. Although I asked for the meat to be cooked medium, the meat was extremely well done, and the bun was overtoasted.

Upon check-in, the hotel acknowledged my Marriott Platinum Elite status and informed me that because the hotel does not have an executive lounge, they’ll provide me with two vouchers for complimentary continental breakfast for up to two guests. In addition, for my welcome gift, I opted for the $10 food and beverage voucher instead of 1,000 bonus points.

Accessibility

The hotel has several accessibility features, including wheelchair-accessible sidewalks leading onto the property.

The floor I stayed on had Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant rooms, and most of the hotel signage was in braille for the visually impaired. Doors throughout the property, such as public bathrooms or the outdoor patio, have handicap-friendly buttons for easy opening access. In addition, both the swimming pool and whirlpool had ADA-compliant pool lifts.

Checking out

As a local, it was nice to see a Marriott property close to the airport and not too far from the beach that offers competitive pricing. This is a budget-friendly option for business and leisure travelers alike. Although room variety is sparse across the property, the suite-style rooms and smart use of space make up for that. Food options on-site are extremely limited, and I recommend looking elsewhere, especially if you have a car.

I hope this property gets some reinvestment and management updates the rooms and the property in general to bring it a much-needed enhancement. If you’re looking for a cheaper stay in an expensive part of Southern California not too far from the beach, this property will do just fine.