A rare find — relax in the peaceful, private garden space.
Discover nearby landmarks
Close to Balboa Pier
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Garage parking available
Kitchen
Washing machine
Air-conditioning
Deck or patio
Internet access
Explore the area
Newport Beach, CA
Balboa Fun Zone
Place, Balboa Fun Zone
7 min walk
Balboa Pier
Place, Balboa Pier
10 min walk
Balboa Beach
Place, Balboa Beach
10 min walk
Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne)
Airport, Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne)
17 min drive
Rooms & beds
3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)
Bedroom 1
1 Queen Bed
Bedroom 2
2 Single Beds
Bedroom 3
1 Queen Bed
1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom
Bathroom 1
Toilet
Bathroom 2
Toilet · Shower only
Spaces
Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
About this property
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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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items and take out the rubbish
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Important information
You need to know
Property Registration Number SLP13972
Property # 2864029vb
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 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
About the area
Newport Beach
Balboa Island, a neighbourhood in Newport Beach, is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Corona del Mar State Beach and Crystal Cove State Park, while Orange County Fair and Events Center and Segerstrom Center for the Arts are popular area attractions. Newport Harbor Nautical Museum and Balboa Fun Zone are also worth visiting.
Newport Harbor Nautical Museum - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
Balboa Peninsula Beaches - 8 min walk - 0.8 km
Balboa Pier - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Balboa Beach - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Getting around
Orange Station - 21 min drive
Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne) - 25 min drive
Restaurants
Harborside Restaurant & Grand - 5 min drive
Todos Santos | Kitchen De Mexico - 2 min walk
Dad's Original Frozen Banana - 9 min walk
The Galley Cafe - 4 min drive
Sugar n Spice Original Frozen Banana - 9 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!?
As of 4 Jul, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! on 2 Oct, 2026 start from S$609, 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.
What time is check-in at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C!?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Classic Balboa Cottage, Newly Updated with A/C! located?
Located in Balboa Island, this holiday home is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) from Newport Harbor Nautical Museum and within 3 miles (5 km) of Fashion Island and Newport Beach Pier. Balboa Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
9.2
Wonderful
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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!
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!
paige h.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified
8/10 Good
Gracie S.
23 Mar, 2026
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.
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.
paul h.
Stayed 14 nights in Dec 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Sept, 2025
Thanks for your feedback, we have since fully updated the property throughout upon the change of the unit's ownership including BBQ, garage equipment, HVAC, and interior renovation
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!
Sara F.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jul, 2026
Thank you so much for staying with us! we look forward to having you again :)
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
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!
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!!!