Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access
Island Escape is a 2 BR/2 BA, cozy condominium nestled on Newport Beach's renowned Balboa Island. Mere seconds from the Balboa Ferry, this unit makes for a perfect getaway to Southern California's endless summer!
Guests can enjoy walking to Balboa Island's quaint restaurants, cafes, and bayside beaches, with the main Peninsula beaches only 15 minutes away via the ferry.
Escape to open living spaces complete with full kitchen & outdoor grill for your summer BBQs!
Note: We have a 4 BR/3BA house and 1 Bed Studio at the same location (126 Agate) if multiple families want to rent together at the same location. See VRBO listings #70310 and #2343336.
Balboa Island is not only a great vacation destination but also a great base for many Southern California attractions and theme parks.
Island Escape is a 2-story back unit that has 2 bedrooms upstairs with 1 full bathroom and 1 bathroom downstairs which includes a shower. Brand new HVAC systems installed in the bedrooms. This cheery and bright home is fully furnished and equipped. Ready for a comfortable and worry-free summer beach vacation or winter rental!
The kitchen and open living area have white tile flooring while both upstairs bedrooms are carpeted. The master bedroom is furnished with a queen sized bed and TV of its own, while the bunk room has two twins and one full size. All linens and towels, including beach towels and chairs are provided.
Along the side of the unit, just through the dining room door, is a sitting area with a new propane BBQ. The upstairs also has outside access via a small patio.
Activities & Attractions:
Our property is located less than one block from the beautiful Balboa Bay, boardwalk, and the Balboa Ferry that gives access to the Peninsula beaches and Pacific Ocean. The ferry is a lovely 5 minute ride directly to the Balboa 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 that 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 only 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.
Island Escape is within 30 minutes of 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.
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Air conditioning
Gym
Outdoor space
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The host requires you to complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds
Remove personal items, remove leftover food and drinks and take out the rubbish
Failure to complete these may result in a negative review from the host.
Noise level must be at a minimum after 10 pm.
Guests must leave space for another car to park next to theirs in the garage (for our other guests)
Important information
You need to know
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, a first aid kit and a deadlock
Property Registration Number SLP11024
About the area
Newport Beach
Located in Balboa Island, a neighbourhood in Newport Beach, this holiday home is near theme parks. Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza 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 Crystal Cove State Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Festival Amphitheatre, or consider a night out at The Observatory. Discover the area's water adventures with jet skiing and kayaking nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking and mountain biking.
Newport Harbor Nautical Museum - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
Balboa Peninsula Beaches - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
Balboa Pier - 8 min walk - 0.8 km
Balboa Beach - 8 min walk - 0.8 km
Getting around
Laguna Niguel Station - 28 min drive
Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne) - 25 min drive
Restaurants
Todos Santos | Kitchen De Mexico - 1 min walk
The Galley Cafe - 4 min drive
Harborside Restaurant & Grand - 4 min drive
Sugar n Spice Original Frozen Banana - 11 min walk
Wilma's Patio Restaurant - 12 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access?
As of 25 April 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access on 22 June 2026 start from NZ$509, 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 Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access?
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Cozy Condo With New AC, Steps from Balboa Ferry and Peninsula Beach Access located?
Located in Balboa Island, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Balboa Fun Zone and Balboa Peninsula Beaches. Balboa Pier and Balboa Beach 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 great stay. It’s cozy and relaxing and the location is fantastic. The AC is perfect upstairs and the first floor always cooled off with the windows open. We had a great time exploring Balboa Island and the Newport area. And this condo is a terrific base.
The apartment was easy to access, comfortable and clean. The location was ideal for what we needed and the host was easy to and clear to communicate with. Highly recommend.
By the Sea was located perfectly to see the surrounding area. Fun to take the short ferry trip from the island to Balboa. The island itself offered a nice walking path right along the bay with coffee shops, and a small market.We were able to use the 2 car garage which made it veryconvenient. The kitchen was well set-up for cooking Too!Clean, comfortable, and we had a good time share!
This place was clean and had everything we needed. Just a block or 2 away there's a lovely walk on the strand around the island. We enjoyed seeing the beautiful homes and the boats in the channel. The host was a little slow to respond to my text about how to get in the garage (there were no instructions posted inside the condo either). The TV and internet were great downstairs but we couldn't get the TV to work upstairs.
Barbara F.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified
10/10 Excellent
Eric
20 October 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities, communication
Very good communication with the host. The property is as described...very functional and clean. We used it purely for extra sleeping space while we were visiting relatives who lived on the same street. Tremendous value for this location.
We had a fantastic stay; the property was even better than the photos. Som many thoughtful amenities and extras were provided, making us feel right at home. This was the perfect base for our family vacation, with plenty of space and easy to local attractions. Mahalo!
Good location. Property clean. Downside was that in a condo that sleeps 7, there were only 4 sets of utensils in the kitchen and no manual/notebook outlining instructions, i.e. when trash needed to be put out, how heat and ac worked, etc. Manager responded to questions in a timely manner via text.
Our stay overall was great. Property was clean and had everything we needed for the weekend. Check in was easy and communication from the owner was top notch.
The home was perfect for families! Loved the layout and spaciousness of having 2 floors. The location was excellent and we would definitely book again.
Amazing spot - perfect location. Well-stocked kitchen. Garage spot a major plus. We have been to Balboa Island every summer for the last 30 years. Will definitely be back to this property.
I loved the proximity to the beach and shops. Nice and cozy. The only issues was the power was off for a couple of hours on separate days and the upstairs TV was not working. I would recommend this place and would definitely stay again. Loved it
Cute place with everything we needed. Great to have a parking space in a garage. Close to the ferry with easy access to the peninsula.
Wendy P.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2024
Verified
8/10 Good
Angie C.
9 March 2026
Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy
Great location for beach access and Balboa touristy activities. It was a clean unit, no insects (not even the prevalent sugar ants in this area!), and we loved the kitchen for cooking our own meals. The host sent additional flatware before we arrived to accommodate our family of 6. We also loved having garage parking and on-site laundry for our stay. There was plenty of bedding, towels, beach towels, toilet paper, garbage bags. This is an older unit, and the furniture and accessories reflect that. The sofas could use a thorough steam cleaning. The beds/mattresses are VERY loud/creaky and stiff. Also the walls are thin and we could hear our next-door neighbors several times each night on both sides coughing/using the bathroom (which means they could probably hear us, too). If you plan to use the garage, make sure you get the garage code BEFORE you arrive. I texted the host when we arrived and didn't hear back for almost 24 hours for the code. Luckily we figured out an alternative before that. Also if you have a larger or high clearance vehicle, beware you may need to push/prop up the garage door - we have a Toyota Sequoia with a standard roof rack and couldn't fit without scraping so had to manually lift the garage door up to pull in/out each time. Overall we enjoyed our stay. But we didn't spend a lot of time in the unit besides eating/sleeping. It does have a very small patio, but no direct sunlight or any view besides neighbor walls. Something to keep in mind! :)
Angie C.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 18 April 2026
Thank you for staying with us! We have made a number of improvements covering your feedback. Please make sure to read check in info thoroughly as the garage code was sent with that. The island does not have large garages due to how narrow the streets and alleys are but we are glad it was able to fit your vehicle. See you next time!
This location was prime. My only gripe is the fact that the bunk beds upstairs messed up my back for a week. I recommend bringing an air mattress just for better sleep. Toilet Paper also need stocking but it was not verbal a pleasurable stay.
We were a party of three. Great to have two full baths. One on each floor. Nice, well supplied kitchen with coffee filters, soap, etc. Having a garage space is a great plus. Beach chairs and beach towels were an additional benefit.
Unfortunately, from the description and pictures, we thought the hiuse was right on beach front. But still close enough to walk to and enjoy. We needed more T.P., so i went to corner store to buy a couple rolls, the next thing i knew, there was a box of toilet paper sirting at the front door. Not sure how they knew that... ?? We had a great time. I was there visiting with a friend that is not supposed to make it much longer. She loves the beach, so this stay was almost perfect! Great memories. Thanks again!
The property is an older secondary unit near the Ferry. Although older, it's nicely appointed and a good place to call home for a stay on the Island. Given that it's not a street-facing unit, it has no views, but there are bay-front benches just down the road for enjoying the view. Having a garage to use made parking a breeze, which can be problematic at times, especially during the summer. Downtown dining and ocean views from the Balboa Pier are an easy walk away. We received check-in information later than stated in the listing (hence the four-stars on property manager communication), but that's a very minor issue.
Verified traveller
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024
About the host
Hosted by Mitch
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests