Fairmont Newport Beach

The Duke staff are exceptional from the registration, to the restaurant, to the Cabana servers, to the food entrées and drinks at the pool. The cabanas are very nice and I recommend you spend the money to rent one.

Yes they replace our much enjoyed Fairmont Hotel and they are doing the job. They have kept most of the unusual and welcoming decor, the have maintained the great food in the restaurant (I hear they kept the head chef, Jessica) and the staff is kind and professional. Well done Marriott - please keep the Duke the way it is!

First, you'll find out there is no self car park when you arrive. No sooner and no where else. The parking fee is $35 per day for mandatory valet service. Which is slow at best. Second, tons of barking dogs. If your plan is to bring a pet, this is the place for you. If you hadn't planned on staying at a kennel, I'd find another property. Third, the only meal service in the evening is bar food in the cocktail lounge. Last, the company hype seems to suggest this is a premium hotel. It is not. It has been newly acquired by Marriott. We were told a complete remodel is planned. After 30 years and multiple owners the time is past. The Duke is a great place for the AKC crowd. But only them.

This hotel has just become a Marriott property under the Renaissance label. It used to be a Fairmont and it has taken some fair use. The furniture is outdated the carpets are bubbling in the hallway and quite dirty. The room configurations only come in two double beds or a king size bed and sofa beds. No queen size beds a big negative. There also isn't any water pressure in this hotel. Our first room had a mildew smell and I asked if we could be moved. The elevators are great and get you where you're going fast the staff is very good very polite and very attentive. The pool area is nice but the pool is so small that we had 50 to 55 people in the pool and it was just overwhelming. Also since this is by the airport there is only valet parking at $33 a night very expensive. Next time I will choose to stay at any of the other Marriott properties around the area.

Fabulous staff! I did, however, feel for the housekeeping staff who just seemed knackered. The first thing I noticed as I walked to my room was...it's hot in here! The upper floors were had glass corridors, which seemed to make it much hotter. Checked in for an overnight stay, but room had not been cleaned. No big deal. Was provided another room which was quite spacious. Master suite was comprised of a large, comfortable bed and a massive shower/bath area. Balcony was available (not much of a view, but nice to have). Lounge area had a sofa, desk, fridge and bathroom. Gift shop is available until 22:00, with many amenities and snacks. Lounge is across from the gift shop as is the restaurant (neither of which I visited). Valet parking available (USD $33/night...still one of the lowest I've come across, having paid in excess of USD $50/night elsewhere). Great for a layover, less than five (5) minutes from Atlantic Aviation. Blackout curtains which actually black out!!