VEA Newport Beach A Marriott Resort & Spa

I'm giving this 4.5 stars. Pros: We got upgraded to a high floor room with view of golf course and bay. Staff were very hospitable and were on it if we had a request. We asked for plates and silverware and got it quickly. We asked for more towels and got it quickly. The rooms were modern, beds were comfortable, liked the robes, shower was good but knobs were a little confusing. They can take you anywhere within 3 miles of hotel. Cons: I really wish they had a tub. I heard only the suites had tubs. Please don't phase out tubs. Our sliding glass door lock didn't work but engineering came and fixed it quickly. Only one valet was not good, the rest were great.

Loved the rooms and pool area. Outdoor bar was large and relaxing on a Monday. Here for 5 nights and the service was consistently friendly and accommodating. The location is near the mall which has surprisingly decent restaurants. We were here for an event so hard to speak for the broader area. But would stay here again. Stayed in the Panorama suite...plenty of room. Also spent a night in a balcony suite which was great as well (nice spots to sit outside).

My partner and I stayed here from Friday through Sunday in late May with redemption of points and an FNA, and we loved all that this property had to offer. All staff that we interacted with, from check-in, questions, shuttle, food, and even at the pool and outdoor bar area were all incredibly friendly--I wish I took down names to give them a proper kudos. One of the guys at check-in noticed that I had a running shirt and gave me a map of running routes from the hotel! I appreciate that attention to detail. Our room was in the Sky tower, which is a bit of a walk from check-in all the way to the elevator. I am thankful for the room upgrade, which included a nice view of the golf course and the ocean. The room itself--bed, bathroom, and shower--was very beautiful and comfortable, and the view was the cherry on top. As mentioned in a previous review, I was also perplexed by the sliding door that allowed for a view of the room from the shower (and, similarly, a view of whoever is in the shower) but didn't mind it much. The room is not a conducive space for remote workers--the table in the room was small--but you should probably relax while you're staying here anyway and leave the laptop shut. We lounged by the pool and in the jacuzzi, hung out at the outdoor bar and the outdoor spaces, and ate at the restaurant for breakfast twice with food credit (which is given as a check-in gift/option for those with Platinum Elite). We utilized the shuttle to get us to and from Balboa Island. (Pay attention to what the resort fees cover and use them accordingly!) I also utilized the gym, which was very spacious and had plenty to offer for workouts, additional room outside, and even fruits and water bottles. We were lucky and that we didn't have to worry about valet parking for our stay. The location is perfect for all that we had planned to do, and we plan to visit again when we want to explore more of the Newport Beach and Balboa area!