Fairmont Newport Beach

Update: I stayed here a second time and had another outstanding experience after Alfred helped to address some issues. The location and amenities are better than most similarly priced hotels in the area; I especially like the gym as I was able to get a full body workout using all its equipment. I'll be back again in the future. Original: Excellent comfort, service, and location make this the best place I've stayed at in Orange County so far. It gets all the small details right including high quality soaps and shampoos, simple navigation, big TVs with Netflix support, and more. Staff went out of their way to help me for a couple things, which was greatly appreciated. Truly a great experience. Just be aware that parking is $43/day and there's no way around it.

The website states “unparalleled luxury”. HA! Not even close. Upon check in the front desk agent says “ I upgraded you to a quiet room overlooking the pool”. Well those rooms also face the runway of the airport. So from 7am - 10pm all you hear are the jets taking off. The water pressure in the shower is so terrible it takes 5 minutes to rinse the shampoo out of my hair…and I have short hair!! The shower fixtures also look like they are from 1972. So luxurious… maybe for 50 years ago! And, as another poster noted, there is no ventilation in the bathroom. But, my biggest pet peeve is the room doors. They are so loud that whenever anyone opens or closes them, the whole floor hears the noise! So, combined with the jet noise, it has not been a very peaceful stay.

Nice hotel. Friendly staff. Facilities are a little dated but clean. Buffet breakfast was very nice. Self parking was a little pricey at $43 but plenty of spaces. We were upgraded to a suite because we're platinum members. Also included breakfast buffet.

The hotel is renovated nicely, especially in the lobby and common areas. Room was also nice and clean. The AC was super noisy though, and the bathroom vents are very weak. The hotel is close to the airport so if windows are open it’s also very noisy. A little bit far from the beach.

As a Marriott Ambassador Elite member who spends well over 125 nights a year in Marriott properties, I expect a certain standard of service, professionalism, and accountability. Unfortunately, my recent experience at the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel was profoundly disappointing. While the hotel’s location is convenient and the room itself was comfortable, my stay was ultimately overshadowed by the theft of a Rolex watch. After realizing the item was missing shortly after checkout, I immediately contacted hotel management. I described exactly where the watch had been left — its specific positioning within a particular area of the room — to assist with recovery. Despite providing this detailed information, the response I received was completely inadequate and took nearly 24 hours to speak with management after calling and asking to speak with management multiple times. Rather than conducting a thorough investigation or offering meaningful assistance, management essentially accepted an employee’s simple denial — “I didn’t take it or find it” — and considered the matter closed. There was no escalation, no genuine investigation, and no demonstration of concern for a loyal guest who trusted the property with high-value personal belongings. Given my longstanding loyalty to the Marriott brand, I found the hotel’s lack of urgency and ownership to be completely unacceptable. Travelers should feel confident that their belongings are safe and that management will act responsibly if an issue arises. Sadly, that was not my experience here. While I would have liked to highlight the positives of my stay, the way this situation was handled leaves me unable to recommend the Renaissance Newport Beach Hotel — particularly for guests traveling with valuables. Marriott’s reputation is built on trust, and in this case, that trust was broken.