201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island

Photo gallery for 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island

A patio with a round table and chairs, a red umbrella, and potted plants.
A cozy living room with a fireplace, wooden walls, a sofa, a coffee table, and a chair.
A dining area with a dark wooden table, four chairs, and a ceiling fan.
A cozy living room with a wooden interior, a fireplace, and a sofa set.
A patio with a red umbrella, outdoor seating, and a red door with a lattice panel.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Highlights

  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Close to Balboa Pier

Popular amenities

  • Furnished balcony or patio
  • Waterpark access
  • Barbecue
  • Internet access
  • Refrigerator
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View 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)
    ‪16 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Office
Balcony

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Newport Beach

Located in Balboa Island, a neighbourhood in Newport Beach, this holiday home is near theme parks and near the 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 popular attractions can visit Orange County Fair and Events Center and Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Ready for a night out? Consider The Wayfarer and The Observatory. Discover the area's water adventures with nearby fishing, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
View more Holiday homes in Newport BeachOpens in a new window
Map
Newport Beach, CA

What's nearby

  • Balboa Fun Zone - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Balboa Pavilion - 8 min walk - 0.7 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

  • Laguna Niguel 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 - ‬3 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 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island?

As of 6 November 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island on 30 November 2026 start from NZ$2,498, 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 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 201 Ruby | Affordable Quaint Cottage Balboa Island located?

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

Reviews

8.2

Very good

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. 24 out of 50 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 11 out of 50 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 10 out of 50 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 3 out of 50 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 50 reviews

8.0/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.0/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

8.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great support team, great location and a cute place. Lack of AC is a big deal in hot temperatures but good value for price.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location. Very cozy space.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 September 2025
Thank you for the lovely review, Shawn! We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay and hope to host you again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

July Vacation 2022

This location was perfect for our family! Had a wonderful time!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 22 September 2022
Valerie, We're so glad you enjoyed your stay and loved the home. We hope to have you back again soon. NBVP Team
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

Family vacation

Fantastic
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Nice home, but very noisy due to proximity to a busy street.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 August 2025
Thank you for the review, Bob. We are sorry to hear about the noisy atmosphere you experienced. Street noise is unfortunately beyond our control, and the area can definitely be a popular location. However, we are so glad that you enjoyed the home and hope to host you again!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

beach house

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: everything was perfect !!
Response from VrboOwner on 30 May 2022
Hi Jeanne, Thanks for taking the time to write a review, we really appreciate it! We are so glad your vacation was absolutely perfect. Please keep us in mind if you need another vacation rental here in the beautiful Newport Beach! Sincerely, The Newport Beach Vacation Properties Team
Verified review

2/10 Terrible

Liked: Check-in, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, communication, listing accuracy
This is my first negative review I’ve ever had to write…I’m writing so others won’t make the mistake I made in booking this property. This property was filthy, worn, stale, dark, stifling, stained carpeting and upholstery…the ONLY positive was being on the island…that’s it. We walked in after our day of travel and immediately booked a nearby hotel. There is no way we could’ve slept there. The fans were barely turning they were so old/dirty. Honestly, I wanted this place to be a little charming cottage with character…it is not that…this rental is desperate for some much much needed TLC from its owners. We will stay again on Balboa Island as we have for years…however, we will never stay at this cottage and advise others to avoid it unless they want to be seriously disappointed.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 10 September 2026
We’re truly sorry this home didn’t meet your expectations. We understand how disappointing it must have been to arrive after a day of travel and feel that the property wasn’t what you were expecting. We also want to acknowledge that you did reach out to us through VRBO after your arrival, and unfortunately, your message was not seen in time for our team to respond and address your concerns. We’re very sorry for that. We always want the opportunity to help when something isn’t right, and in this case, we fell short in our communication. We take your comments about the cleanliness, furnishings, carpeting, fans, and overall condition of the home seriously and will be reviewing them with both our team and the homeowner. While we’re sorry this particular property wasn’t the right fit for your stay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and wish we could have had the opportunity to make things better while you were here.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Nice place, but very noisy, due to proximity to busy street. I knew it would be noisy, but not that noisy.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 18 August 2025
Thank you for the review, Bob. We are so glad that you enjoyed the home despite the inconvenience caused by the noisy atmosphere. Although we do our best to ensure a positive experience for guests, external noise is unfortunately out of our control. We hope we can host you again!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Great Island Cottage!

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We really enjoyed our stay at 201 Ruby! The home is in a great location, easy to walk to Marine Ave as well as Ruby Beach! It was the perfect place for our family of 4 to spend a long weekend!
Response from VrboOwner on 25 May 2022
Hi Brie- Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your stay with Newport Beach Vacation Properties! We appreciate the feedback and glad you had a good time. 2017 is already booking quickly. Glad your coming back! Thank you- The NB Vacation Properties Team
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Overall a nice stay. We think the property could use some deep cleaning ie dusting shutters and and wood floors. Location is convenient to beach. Loved evenings on the patio.Note: The gardners showed up with blowers at 8am on our last day as we slept! Not ok. Check out is at 10:00 and work on the home should begin then!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 29 August 2025
Thank you for the review, Angela! We are so glad that you enjoyed your stay and hope to host you again.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Cozy Balboa Island Cottage that was so relaxing!!

We love Balboa Island!! Such a unique area of Orange county to bring the family. Walking the bayfront and riding bikes on the Ferry to the Beach front is so relaxing. This house is perfect for a small family that enjoys the cottage feel. Prime location on the Island. Newport Beach Vacation Properties is so friendly and makes the check in process so easy with the guest portal and automated system. We want to come back every year!! Thank you for the lovely memories!!
Response from VrboOwner on 24 August 2021
Hello! We are so elated to hear that you love Balboa Island (so do we!) and the entire process was super easy and enjoyable. Please come back again soon! Thanks - NBVP Team
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Ruby House on Balboa

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We loved the house, the location was perfect - could walk to "town" and to the ferry easily. The house was clean and comfortable with lots of character. It was nice to have a garage to keep all our beach gear.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2016
Response from VrboOwner on 24 August 2021
Hi Kristine- Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your stay with Newport Beach Vacation Properties! We appreciate the feedback and glad you had a good time. 2016/2017 are booking quickly. We'd love to have you back! Thank you- The NB Vacation Properties Team
From a partner site

8/10 Good

201 Ruby Review

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We enjoyed staying at this well-located, comfortable property. It's a short walk to the boardwalk which encircles Balboa Island and also a short walk to Marine Avenue where most of the island's stores and restaurants are located.
Response from VrboOwner on 24 August 2021
Hi Marvin, We're so glad to hear that you had a great trip and explored all of beautiful Balboa Island. Thanks so much! - NBVP Team
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
The rental was not exactly as expected. The second bathroom is en suite from the bedroom with the tiny bed. So guests have to walk through one bedroom to get to the bathroom. The sheets were very uncomfortable. The heat did not work, but the back bedroom was very stuffy. The TV's didnt work so we had to go out and buy Roku sticks. The location is the best part of the rental.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 20 January 2026
Thank you for the review, Jeanine! We appreciate your feedback and are so glad you enjoyed your overall stay. We hope to have you back!
Archival

6/10 Okay

Bungalow on Balboa Island

Rating Details: The property manager was more than helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Very quaint bungalow but needs some upgrades in the bathrooms with the fixtures. Also needs a ceiling fan in living room ceiling The house was sealed up tight when we arrived and was very musty. We had to buy many room fresheners to make it livable the first day
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May 2022
Hi Clayton- Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your stay with Newport Beach Vacation Properties! We appreciate the feedback and glad you had a good time. We apologize for any inconvenience. We are happy you got that worked out. 2016 is already booking. We'd love to have you back! Book today by calling us directly Thank you- The NBVP Team
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

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

201 Ruby

Good except for TV service. Not enough channels.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 28 October 2021
Hi Denise, We're glad you had a nice time and appreciate your feedback about the TV. Thanks - NBVP Team
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

The home was super cute and perfect for our stay. It was spotlessly clean and the offer to have groceries pre-delivered was fantastic! Only complaint is the check in process and "house rules" are not located within VRBO. They will send you an email under a name I did not recognize with instructions on how to log in to their portal. It took me at least 2 hours to figure out how to enter the home. If the email just would have mentioned VRBO in the title, it would have been so much easier.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 14 August 2024
Thank you for your review, Traci! We are so happy to hear you had a wonderful stay and that it was all to your liking! We do apologize for the inconvenience of check in. We do send out check in instructions to every guest with a link via text and email with all check in instructions needed to enter their home at 10am on the day of check in. We are so glad you were able to get in though and start your vacation. We hope to host you again!
Archival

8/10 Good

Thanksgiving 2017

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: 5 of us for 5 days including Thanksgiving dinner at the property.PROS*Great Location*Quaint comfortable house*Good water pressure in showersCONS*Needs more Blankets, Towels, and Pillows*The lighting is goofy. Switches are in weird places, a lot of the lamps don't work or the bulbs are out. It always felt a little too dark.**BIGGEST PRO = Working with Vikki at Newport Beach Vacation Properties. She was AMAZING and saved our vacation! Thanks for everything Vikki!!
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May 2022
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your stay with Newport Beach Vacation Properties! We appreciate the feedback and glad you had a good time. 2017 is already booking quickly. Hope to have you back! Thank you-Vicki The NB Vacation Properties Team
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Birthday Celebration

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: We celebrated my husband's 70th birthday on Balboa. Sitting outside enjoying morning coffee, and wine at night was enjoyable. The cottage was in a perfect location to walk anywhere; stores, restaurants, beach. TV, basic cable and apps, did not work in all locations; i.e. living room. Feeling the breeze and having all the windows open was enjoyable. Just an FYI,the cottage is in the direct take-off flight path of John Wayne Airport. You do hear the jets constantly during the day.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018
Response from VrboOwner on 24 August 2021
Thank you for taking the time to write a review about your stay with Newport Beach Vacation Properties! We appreciate the feedback and glad you had a good time. For your next booking see our direct web site to view all our homes and call to book a home! nbvacationproperties dot com 2019 Summertime is booking. Hope to have you back!
From a partner site

4/10 Poor

201 Ruby Ave Balboa Island

Rating Details: The property manager was adequately helpful. The vacation rental was somewhat dirty. I was very happy with the location. I was somewhat dissatisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I do not recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: Staying on Balboa Island is a treat. The house I stayed in wasn’t. It’s extremely old(1927)& hasn’t been kept up. It needs a coat of paint, windows washed, new carpeting & some TLC. Mold was growing in one the bedroom closets.Perfect location for walking, close to the boardwalk & Marine Ave. And there’s parking space for 1 car which is great. It’s very hard to find parking especially on the weekends.Another reason I wouldn’t rent this house again... is there’s an attachment that is rented out. It’s upstairs & the people that live there are quite noisy with music thumping over the master bedroom. My son- in- law at 10:30pm had to tell them to shut it down. Also arguing into the night isn’t conducive to a restful night. The walls are thin so every sound is heard.Vicki at the property rental company couldn’t have been nicer & I’ll use their company again but be more selective about where I stay. No one wants their vacation ruined because of neighbors. I’ve stayed on the island before & never had a problem. Ask a lot of questions before sign up...
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

201 Ruby

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was spotless. I was very happy with the location. I was very satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: we had a great experience at 201 Ruby
Response from VrboOwner on 19 May 2022
Hi Eric, We're so happy you enjoyed your trip and your rental. Thanks! - NBVP Team
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication

Musty

From the moment we opened the door we were overwhelmed by the stench of musty/moldy, just plain old. While the pictures were 100% accurate, a little tired looking, I though I could do the old school cozy cabin feel. The reviews were not bad and NOBODY mentioned the odor. Well, if smells bother you, this is not the cottage for you. Hopefully I will save some folks from the experience we had. I cannot say enough great things about the property management company. Peter was kind, understanding, responsive, and helpful. He came up with a solution to save our vacation. In the end, with a little inconvenience, our vacation was made better by this property management team. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021
From a partner site

10/10 Excellent

nice stay

Rating Details: The property manager was very helpful. The vacation rental was very clean. I was very happy with the location. I was satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: we had a very good time and enjoyed ourselves. I had to kill a cockroach in the second bathroom. need to address bug problem. also there should be a chopping board in the kitchen. direct TV sucks.
Response from VrboOwner on 12 May 2022
Hi Denis, It's great to hear you had a nice stay. We appreciate your feedback and will address this with our team. Thanks - NBVP Team
From a partner site

6/10 Okay

Long Weekend on Balboa

Rating Details: The property manager was somewhat unhelpful. The vacation rental was clean. I was very happy with the location. I was more than satisfied with the condition of the vacation rental. Overall, I recommend this vacation rental. Reviewer Comments: This is a charming historic cottage on the island, perfect for small family or people planning to be on the go. Written communication was great leading up to our stay, but when we ran into access problems no one returned our calls. We left messages on the "emergency" line and never received a return call. Our entire stay of 5 days!!! We will not rent with this group again.
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

201 ruby

mostly as advertised but facility was a bit "tired." Oven failed to work, 3rd bedroom was just a "day bed" not single bed as the ads suggested (a bit small for a full size adult.). Lighting was poor, low watts, resulting in dark areas. Baths were fine but 2nd bath was only accessible thru one of bedrooms. Patio facing east was a plus. Also a plus side, the garage was ample in size.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
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