Balboa Island-Ruby Relaxation

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.

Hosts were very friendly and welcoming. Perfect location

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!

We had a wonderful 10 day stay at this perfect, clean home on Ruby. Excellent location. Patricia was a wonderful host and very accommodating.

We had a wonderful time. Great accommodations. Helpful hosts. Beautiful balboa.

We enjoyed our stay, GREAT location. Our only thought is that it could have been cleaner.

Perfect location and very cute , well appointed cottage . Nice outdoor area. Andy was very welcoming and friendly. I would definitely stay here again.

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.

Professional, relaxing and consistent with as advertised

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.

Very friendly hosts made us feel at home immediately on arrival and their place was everything we hoped for. Location within short walking distance to ferry was perfect. Just what we wanted for our small extended family and only regret was too short a stay.

Our family really enjoyed our stay! Amazing location, quiet and within easy walking distance to Marine and also the ferry. Andrew and Patricia are so hospitable and we had everything we needed!

Lovely little property that is walking distance from everything. Clean and well cared for, nice linens, comfy beds - totally perfect for our family of 4. The hosts are really sweet and left us lots of goodies - it was clear they wanted us to enjoy ourselves. There are bikes and beach gear and the best little patio for enjoying the ocean breeze.

Could Andy & Patricia be any nicer? These hosts go above and beyond and are just such wonderful people. They really went all out to make us feel at home— yet were so laid back in their approach, which is exactly what you want for a Balboa Island vacation. The home is perfect. The location is ideal. Walk 30 seconds to the bay-walk bench to enjoy harbor views, or walk a bit further to the ferry to cross over to the Balboa Peninsula and hear the crashing waves. Or, if you wanna go in the other direction, you can enjoy the shops and restaurants on quaint Marine Ave. We walked (or biked) everywhere. So easy. And so pleasant. And speaking of bikes, Andy & Patricia have plenty and are so gracious about letting guests use them. I biked all over the island, the peninsula, and beyond and had a blast. The home’s courtyard is beautifully shaded and landscaped, the perfect spot for reading or good conversation. Spent many hours there and often had trouble pulling myself away from the quiet loveliness of the vine wall, hanging lights, and cool night air to finally go to bed. But once inside, the beds were super comfortable! I slept better than I do at home. The mattress was plush, and the linens luxurious. The bed is always a concern when renting a place— but I couldn’t be more pleased with the mattress and linens here! The interior— bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, dining, and living room— is beautifully decorated in a beach theme that is exactly what you would want from a timeless Balboa Island home. The hosts have really made the whole place so comfortable and inviting. The furniture was very comfortable, and the living and dining area have walls of windows that let in that beautiful California sunshine. The kitchen was well-stocked— had everything we needed to cook numerous breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Not to mention the extras the house was stocked with: beach towels, beach chairs, beach toys, bath towels, soaps, and shampoos. The washer and dryer (along with detergent) were available and handy. I’m trying to think of a single thing we needed that wasn’t provided— but I’m coming up short! Oh, and you just may get a surprise welcome gift… and even a surprise departure gift. Patricia and Andy excel at these little extra touches. And their little dog Ruby is a joy. I strongly recommend this Balboa Island gem— I can’t say enough about it! It was even better than expected, and I’d gladly stay here again.

This a wonderful place to stay while visiting Balboa Island. We loved the convenient location to the ferry and Marine street. Great to have use of beach chairs and bicycles. This is a 1 bathroom space with access from the 2 bedrooms. Not a big deal for us, but for clarity of the listing. The street was quiet and we enjoyed the patio in the mornings and evenings Would definitely stay here again

Landlords were perfect and friendly. The rental was in the best location and the parking was always available which is something I had worried about before we came. The rental itself is open and airy with a lot of natural light which I love. Incredibly clean and convenient! Will stay again for sure

We visited for 4 nights and brought our bikes, a quick jump over the ferry to Newport Beach provided endless riding by the beach! The home is exactly as pictured, in an excellent location, and was immaculately cleaned. The hosts go out of their way to provide a wonderful experience. The space is very comfortable, and all the little things are thought of and provided. On street parking was convenient and we have a huge SUV (which we never used because you can walk into the center of town in 5 minutes). The home was quiet and peaceful at night, and we especially enjoyed the outdoor patio. This is a great spot and we will be back!

Family of four visiting Newport Beach, originally planned on staying in a hotel. Checked VRBO at last minute and found this wonderful property on Balboa Island for half the price of hotel stay! Win/win! Hosts were fantastic and accommodating to our entire family. Plenty of room for the four of us, charming and comfortable property, with all that we needed. Parking was always available on the street right in front. Location was perfect! Morning walks around Balboa Island are always a pleasure. Five minute walk to the restaurants and shops. Five minute walk to the ferry over to the Balboa Pavilion and beaches. Would absolutely recommend and return. 5+ stars! A fond memory of our vacation.

5

What an adorable place. So very well thought out, it was perfect for our family of two adults and two children. Great location and friendly owners.

The downstairs apartment was cute and perfect for a 3 night getaway with my sister. My bed a very comfortable, the dining table provided a place to set up a computer to work, the kitchen was well stocked but tiny, a dishwasher would have been nice to ensure that the dishes were actually thoroughly cleaned between renters. Our favorite area was the outside patio where we enjoyed morning breakfast and evening cocktails. The owners, who live upstairs, were very nice and friendly. The house is located steps from the bay and it was a quiet street. It should be noted that there is a rather large step down into the small shower which would make this difficult if not impossible for someone with mobility or balance problems.

Fabulous hosts, great location . Super clean and cozy

My family met down in Balboa for an early Christmas and 116 Balboa was clean and lovely and we just had the best time on the patio enjoying the Christmas lights and each other. Thank you!