Two bedroom downstairs unit five houses from the beach on Balboa Island. Five minute walk to the Balboa Ferry to access the famous Balboa Fun Zone. Cruiser bicycles and beach toys (boogie boards, surf boards, beach chairs, umbrellas) on site. Perfect place to relax on a peaceful, quiet street.
Property manager
Andrew Smakula
Languages
Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese
Add dates for prices
Amenities
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
Parking available
Fireplace
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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
Property Registration Number SLP13236
We should mention
A car is not required for transport to and from this property
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. Newport Harbor Nautical Museum 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.
Corona del Mar State Beach - 10 min drive - 4.3 km
Balboa Beach - 11 min drive - 1.5 km
Getting around
Orange Station - 20 min drive
Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne) - 23 min drive
Restaurants
Cabo Cantina - 5 min drive
Sugar n Spice Original Frozen Banana - 10 min walk
Newport Landing Restaurant - 5 min drive
Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom - 5 min drive
Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop - 10 min walk
Frequently asked questions
Is Balboa Island-Ruby Relaxation pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
What time is check-in at Balboa Island-Ruby Relaxation?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Balboa Island-Ruby Relaxation?
Checkout is at 11:00 AM.
Where is Balboa Island-Ruby Relaxation located?
Located in Balboa Island, this holiday home is within 1 mile (2 km) of Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Balboa Fun Zone and Balboa Pavilion. Balboa Pier and Balboa Peninsula Beaches 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.
We had such a wonderful stay at this very family friendly condo, our kids loved the single beds and the host spared no expense on all the details! This house had EVERYTHING thought out so well and the kitchen is STOCKED!! The hosts that live right up stairs in this two unit building, even left a fresh bag of coffee and filters for us! We would definitely book again if we are in the area!! 💜
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.
We enjoyed our stay at this property. It is a cute apartment in a great location on Balboa Island, a few blocks from the quaint downtown and a couple of blocks from the ferry and steps from the water. The owners live upstairs and are helpful should you have any issues or questions. Parking was easy on the street. We used the bikes, and they worked well. The bathroom and kitchen are a bit retro and bathroom is on the smaller side, but it was totally fine for us. The only real negative for me was that on Thursday and Friday at 7 or 8 am, I was woken by planes flying overhead (as I think John Wayne Airport is nearby). My husband wasn't bothered at all. I am a light sleeper and he isn't. It didn't happen on Saturday morning thankfully. Just something to consider if you are a super light sleeper and noise freak like me. All in all, I really enjoyed our time at this property.
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.
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.
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!
The location and value of the cottage were great! We had some trouble with the plumbing. And the stovetop was hard to get started. I also would recommend another comforter in the master. The duvet cover got all mixed up. Other than those minor problems, we would highly recommend!
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 !
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!
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
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.
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!
We were disappointed to find the second bathroom was outside. My friend and I were expecting to have our own bathrooms. The living area and general decor were attractive but the kitchen needed updating for example no vent or functioning light above the cooker. The double bedroom was cramped. The owner is planning an upgrade which would be great since the location of the property is perfect.
We visited Balboa in 1974 on our first
date! Finally we got back and stayed the week. Hosts were awesome with a Welcome Basket and Bon Voyage gift bag.
All we could need and more was provided. It was particularly nice that unscented bedding towels and laundry soap was provided!
We loved staying at the cozy Ruby house. It was perfect after arriving from a long flight from Europe, we could easily adapt to the new surroundings. The beaches are close by, the little ferry was a daily highlight for our toddler and little balboa downtown is always cute for a visit
Definitely an original Beach House. We had everything we needed. Even fans for the first muggy night. A very quiet neighborhood! Having bikes to use was a plus. Ability to easily do laundry helpful.
We enjoyed our stay at Ruby Relaxation very much. The short stroll to the ferry was great as it gave us easy access to the peninsula restaurants and activities. A stroll in the other direction took us to downtown shops and restaurants. The patio is a wonderful place to relax and we loved sitting on the bayside bench in the evening. You will find you need here and Trisha and Andy were wonderful hosts.
Fran C.
Stayed 8 nights in Aug 2022
About the host
Hosted by Andrew Smakula
We are worldwide travellers, lived in Asia (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai) for 20 years. Patricia speaks fluent Japanese, conversational Mandarin. We love sharing our home and meeting new people.