Entire home

Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.

Photo gallery for Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.

A tree-lined street with parked cars, a white picket fence, and a brick planter with white flowers.
A turquoise bicycle with a red seat and a basket, parked on a concrete driveway.
A sandcastle with the inscription 'LIFE IS GOOD Bathua Island' at night.
A bedroom with a bunk bed, a wardrobe with hanging clothes, a door leading to another room, and a wall-mounted picture.
A bunk bed with a patterned bedspread, a woven chair, and a mirror on the wall.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Beach equipment
    A rare find — beach equipment ready to go for your days by the sea.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Balboa Pier
2 bedroomsSleeps 4

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Kitchenette
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

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

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Living Room 1

1 Double Sofa Bed

Master

1 Queen Bed

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Main Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Kitchenette
Number of living rooms
Dining area

About this property

Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.

Welcome to your perfect Balboa Island escape. This charming 2-bedroom, 2-bath ground floorbeach retreat is just five doors from the sand, making it effortless to slip into island life from the moment you arrive.

Start your day with a dawn power walk around the island—a local ritual you’ll quickly fall in love with. Upon return, brew gourmet coffee in the bright, open kitchen. Upon request, we can deliver a continental breakfast from a favorite local bakery, bringing that classic BnB touch to your stay.

Cruise the island on one of our bicycles, glide across the bay on a stand-up paddleboard, or unwind at the beach with chairs, towels, and toys ready for you and your family.

As the day winds down, the magic really begins. Book a private sunset cruise or gather on the patio, around the fire pit for a cozy evening under the stars.

Details:

--2 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms
--Maximum occupancy: 5 guests

--Come experience the rhythm of the island—slow, sunny, and just a little bit magical.
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
No use of washer/dryer between 9pm-8am

Important information

You need to know

Property Registration Number SLP13236
Property # 1986851vb
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

About the area

Newport Beach

Located near the beach, this holiday home is in Balboa Island, a neighbourhood in Newport Beach. Fashion Island and Irvine Spectrum Center are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Crystal Cove State Park and Orange County Great Park. Orange County Fair and Events Center and Balboa Fun Zone are also worth visiting. Looking to get your feet wet? Jet skiing, snorkelling and surfing/body boarding adventures can be found near the property.
View more Holiday homes in Newport BeachOpens in a new window
Map
Newport Beach, CA

What's nearby

  • Balboa Fun Zone - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Balboa Pavilion - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Balboa Peninsula Beaches - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Balboa Pier - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
  • Balboa Beach - 12 min walk - 1.0 km

Getting around

  • Orange Station - 20 min drive
  • Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne) - 23 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Harborside Restaurant & Grand - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Todos Santos | Kitchen De Mexico - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Cruisers Pizza Bar Grill - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Balboa Saloon - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Dad's Original Frozen Banana - ‬10 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.?

As of 16 Oct 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes. on 1 Nov 2026 start from £1,237, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Balboa Island - Ruby Beach House Steps from the beach. Sand in your toes. located?

Located in Balboa Island, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Balboa Fun Zone, Balboa Pavilion and Balboa Pier. Balboa Peninsula Beaches and Balboa Beach are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 52 out of 59 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 59 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 59 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 59 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 59 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
We greatly enjoyed our stay - excellent location and completely refreshed property!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely beautiful and inviting home to stay in! Everything was clean, and completely stocked, we just had to bring in our groceries and that's it! It appeared that this home has been recently remodeled and all the decor inside and out was done extremely well! The host was very responsive to everything we asked about and they made sure we had everything we needed. We will definitely stay here again anytime we come to Balboa!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Newly remodeled, nicely decorated beach bungalow with great outdoor space. 50 yards from the waterfront & 4 blocks from the Balboa ferry. Very walkable to downtown shops, restaurants! A/c is only in the main bedroom, so it could get warm in the summer. Patricia & Andy are great hosts! We enjoyed our stay
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Cute place, Best location

We loved our stay. Maybe slightly overpriced given the overall state of the aging property but the location is a win.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful stay!

Perfect location and very cute , well appointed cottage . Nice outdoor area. Andy was very welcoming and friendly. I would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Wonderful stay

We had a wonderful time. Great accommodations. Helpful hosts. Beautiful balboa.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

8/10 Good

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

Balboa Island Stay

We enjoyed our stay, GREAT location. Our only thought is that it could have been cleaner.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect stay! Patricia, Andrew & Ruby are the perfect hosts. We loved their place & enjoyed the patio everyday. The added touches like soap, shampoo, beach chairs, towels, bikes & wine made it so special. The location is a perfect with a mix of a quiet street and a quick walk to the water. Thank you for a perfect vacation.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great stay on Ruby!

We had a wonderful 10 day stay at this perfect, clean home on Ruby. Excellent location. Patricia was a wonderful host and very accommodating.
Stayed 9 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Excellent beach rental

I was very impressed with the cleanliness and accuracy of the listing! The owner was really friendly and respectable. I had an amazing time at the property and they made sure I had everything to make sure my stay was enjoyable!!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great

Hosts were very friendly and welcoming. Perfect location
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Relaxing, comfortable, great location!

We loved our stay here on Balboa Island! The place was comfortable and relaxing and so conveniently located. We bicycled and walked everywhere. A perfect little getaway!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

just perfect!

terrific location - close to bay beaches & balboa island ferry... most excellent and kind hosts!!!! just what we needed/wanted for a get away - will joyfully book again in the future
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

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

Inexpensive Balboa island Accommodations

While we always enjoy our visits to Balboa, our overriding impression for this property was that it’s excellent location deserves better maintenance and more thoughtful furnishings and decor.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Lovely little oasis

We’ve stayed at the Ruby house two summers in a row, and we hope to be back. It’s the perfect size and location for our annual trip to Balboa. Patricia and Andrew are attentive without being intrusive. Highly recommend this property!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Loved the Island

We had a lovely stay at the property. Would highly recommend. The island is small, so you can walk anywhere, and we would recommend walking into town via the path close to the water.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very charming and great location

We really enjoyed this lovely gem. The hosts were very generous in making sure we had everything we needed from beach chairs to beach cruisers. The ferry is very close and it’s also a short walk to Marine Ave. where all the shops and restaurants are. We hope to return here every time we visit OC.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Loved the syat

Professional, relaxing and consistent with as advertised
Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Very cozy and clean

First time staying at a home instead of a hotel. We were very happy
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 4 Dec 2020
Thank you Mark. please come and visit us again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place, perfect location.

It was everything we expected and more. The check-in was very easy. The location was amazing. It’s definitely a quiet place to be at night. We walked and rode their bikes around the island a few times, and loved it! Riding the car/passenger ferry to the beaches was easy and cheap, a must do! I would definitely stay there again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

A gem in Balboa

Perfect ! The cottage was cozy and has everything you’ll need. We enjoyed walking into town and along the marina. Quiet neighborhood with beautiful gardens. Thank you for sharing Ruby with us !
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Great place on Balboa Island!

My 3 kids and I stayed for 3 nights. The owner's are very helpful and friendly. There are bikes, boogie boards, beach toys, beach towels, etc. to use - and made our stay easy. It is a classic Balboa Island cottage - which I find charming. They have thought of everything to make the stay easy! There is a great outdoor patio for cocktail hour.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug 2020
Thanks very much much for staying with us. We loved hosting your family. Please come back and stay with us again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Great location

This a wonderful place to stay while visiting Balboa Island. We loved the convenient location to the ferry and Marine street. Great to have use of beach chairs and bicycles. This is a 1 bathroom space with access from the 2 bedrooms. Not a big deal for us, but for clarity of the listing. The street was quiet and we enjoyed the patio in the mornings and evenings Would definitely stay here again
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 30 May 2022
Thank you for staying with us. The second bathroom is a separate entrance - a beach shower and bathroom next to the garage entrance.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Balboa Island Dream House

I have rented many properties on Balboa Island. This unit is without a doubt my favorite. It is filled with that Balboa charm that we always look for. The home is only five houses to the water, and is accessible to the ferry and the shops and restaurants on Marine. The host was always very responsive. My only regret is that I didn’t book for a longer stay. But… we will definitely visit again!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Ruby relaxation

Great location on the island with a nice outdoor patio too! It was perfect for my husband and me. Although the 2nd bathroom is not inside the house,(just down the walkway) it wasn't an issue for us at all. Loved that they had beach bikes for us and that we could use them anytime! Patricia and Andrew were very thoughtful hosts and very easy to work with!
Stayed 5 nights in Mar 2023

About the host

Hosted by Andrew Smakula

Host profile image
Hi! We are your hosts, Patricia & Andy. We are worldwide travellers, lived in Asia (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai) for 20 years. Patricia speaks fluent Japanese, conversational Mandarin. Andy was a financial broker and trader . We love sharing our home and meeting new people.

Why they chose this property

My family has been on the island since 1935 enjoying summers, sailing, holidays and, of course, the beach! My husband, Andy, and I would love to welcome you to one of the most charming and magical coastal escapes ~ Balboa Island.

What makes this property unique

There's a reason people return to Balboa Island & Ruby Beach House again and again.
It's not just the views. Or the cozy evenings by the fire outside. Or feeling like a local. It's your new home on the island.

And once you experience it from Ruby Beach House... you'll understand.

Languages:

Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin)

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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