Marriott's Newport Coast Villas

Perched on a bluff above the Pacific, Marriott's Newport Coast Villas feels like a well behaved, high end playground for families and timeshare loyalists. Rooms are villas, not hotel boxes. Full kitchens, washers, balconies that sometimes deliver a clean slice of ocean and sometimes a view of the service path. Three pools ringed by palms, a La Vista pool bar serving burgers and cold beers, courts for tennis and pickleball, a tiny arcade and a spa. Staff move with the efficiency of a tight ship. They will find your lost laptop and FedEx it home. There is noise. Maintenance starts early. And timeshare meetings will reshuffle a weekend. Bring food, bring patience, and watch the sunset from the bluff as pelicans glide past in single file.