Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#3 of 17 hotels in Newport Beach
Location
Rooms
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Set on 504 acres by the Pacific Ocean in Newport Beach, The Resort at Pelican Hill(R) features: 128 two-, three- and four-bedroom villas with magnificent coastal views and an unparalleled array of appointments, immersing guests in the absolute finest of everything; 204 luxuriously appointed bungalow guest rooms and suites with private terraces; a rejuvenating Five-Star spa with a menu of the world's most celebrated therapies; world-class restaurants, including Andrea serving authentic Northern Italian cuisine; an iconic "Coliseum Pool," one of the largest circular pools anywhere with tiered decks and luxurious cabanas; and Pelican Hill Golf Club with 36 dramatic holes by Tom Fazio, nearly all with ocean panoramas. A Five-Star, Five-Diamond destination, Pelican Hill has earned acclaim as the 2012 Grand Resort selected by Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report; as Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards Top Southern California Resort (2013 & 2012), Top U.S. Resort (2011), Top-Rated Golf Resort Worldwide (2012) and Top-Rated California Resort Spa (2012); in Travel + Leisure's "Top 100" World's Best Hotels (2011 Readers' Poll), and with two courses ranked among Golf Digest's America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses (2011).
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
The Resort at Pelican Hill has garnered appreciation for its serene atmosphere and cleanliness, with guests frequently commending the well-kept grounds and spacious rooms boasting ocean views. While the amenities, such as the shuttle service and luxurious accommodations, receive positive mentions, some guests suggest a need for technological updates and faster service.
Despite the high level of service praised by many, there are occasional reports of slow responses. However, some travelers question the value, pointing out the resort's high costs in relation to the services and amenities provided.
Atmosphere
Inviting
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Lavish
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveller reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Stayed here for 2 nights for a work conference. First, the property is gorgeous. Fantastic ocean and golf course views. Check in was easy. Every staff member encountered was incredibly friendly. The room was meticulously clean, comfortable, well-appointed and spacious. The bed was extremely comfortable with lovely linens. The property is extremely quiet - heard zero noise outside the room. It is located walking distance to the beach with a gorgeous walk to get there, including sidewalks and paved trails.
I can only think of 2 downsides. Food and beverage are pricey, but in line with resorts of this luxury. Also, the rooms are kind of like bungalows/duplexes so the property covers a large area on hills. So you need either a bellman in a golf cart to help with luggage, or to request a golf cart when walking around in heels as the walk can be a bit of a walk up and down hills. Totally fine in flats, but I felt the hills in heels.
Overall, a lovely stay and one of the best places I’ve stayed for a work event...or even for personal travels.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Tom Donovan, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 5 Mar 2020
Hi Janice, I'm so glad your business travels brought you to Pelican Hill and am glad to read that you enjoyed your stay in the Bungalows - as well as exploring our neighboring Crystal Cove Beach. We appreciate you taking the time to share such a thoughtful review of your experience and hope to have an opportunity to welcome you back to Newport Beach very soon. Safe travels! Warm regards, Tom Donovan Managing Director, The Resort at Pelican Hill
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Had a nice time here for our 5th visit (4th birthday celebration) to the Resort at Pelican Hill. We always book through Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and the hotel does a good job of honoring the benefits.
As always, we love the great views and spacious rooms (especially when they can upgrade us to one of the ocean view suites - this time they couldn’t as the property was fully booked). Most hotels we’ve stayed in had some sort of noise that prevented us from truly getting a good night’s rest. There’s always noise from the city, cars passing, neighbors (outside/upstairs/next door), or housekeeping. Here we almost always get an undisturbed nice quiet rest. Great covid protocols and clean rooms can be counted on as well as plenty of towels and bottled water. We were missing in room slippers but received some after requesting.
In room dining was so-so this time. The food was always delivered hot and on time by courteous servers but everything in our dinner and breakfast was way too salty! My wife couldn’t finish her prawn entree and my burger was very salty too. Breakfast was also salty.
Also, the auto sensing bathroom lights kept turning off every 15 seconds which got annoying during showers, baths, and general use.
Otherwise, this is our go to hotel for big celebrations and hope to return again some time.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
We love The Resort and everyone here. At The Resort, you get to relax and enjoy the resort life while getting to experience home away from home. Our family never wants to leave when we come here. After every stay, our daughter is always asking us when are we coming back. We've stayed at both the bungalows and the villas, and they are both amazing! Bedding is very comfortable, and they do a great job with cleaning especially during this time. I like that at both the villas and the bungalows, you can drive up to your room rather than having to park in a parking structural or valet like at other hotels or resorts. The ceilings are very high and open, which makes it very inviting. At the main building is the Coliseum Pool, and the views are expansive! The pool is heated, so no matter when you come here, you can always enjoy a swim and relax by the pool. The pool is a short stroll from the bungalows. The resort is lined with trees, rose bushes, lemon trees, and beautiful landscaping. When you stay at the villas, you get your own parking garage. There is a washer and dryer for your convenience. This side of The Resort is a little more private, and the experience is definitely worth the splurge. Whenever we come here, we always do breakfast at the Coliseum Pool & Grill. The food is great, and you get to enjoy amazing coastal views. The architecture is also stunning! If you just want to stay in the room and relax, definitely give their room service a try, and have your breakfast or lunch out on your private patio. The Resort also offers complimentary shuttle rides to The Crystal Cove. The Beachcomber Express Tent can set up chairs and umbrellas for you on the beach, and little kids get complimentary sand toy bags, so you're basically all set for the beach. The one thing that definitely stands out at The Resort is their exceptional services. Danielle is the sweetest person and really is the epitome of hospitality!
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gerard Widder, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 8 Feb 2022
Thank you for the review and for highlighting the various options available to guests visiting the Resort! And what can we say about Danielle that you and others haven't already acknowledged. She's a rock star and truly does define attentive, thoughtful, personalized hospitality. We hope you return again soon, Gerard and team Gerard Widder Managing Director
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Okay. So we were needing a change of scenery (although earlier in May visited the San Ysidro Ranch and am about to write that review) and decided Pelican Hill might be perfect for us. We booked through Amex Centurion although learned both during the booking and the stay that the Centurion level means nothing to Pelican Hill. Checked the family into a 3 bedroom "villa" and was happy to be told that we would have a butler available to us at all times. Unfortunately the check-in was the only time we saw our butler and every time I pushed the "butler" button on the phone I got a different person at the front desk. I will say that each person I spoke to with any request was terrifically nice and seemed to be genuinely hospitable, however, very little resulted after each of my several calls. The "villa" is nice enough but had way too much deferred maintenance for a 5 star property. The kitchen sink faucets barely worked and there was a light fixture hanging down out of the area above the sink (not a hanging fixture but a broken one handing out of the socket). The laundry facility in the garage was below standard for a college dorm and certainly not for a 5 star resort. Beware that room service is insanely expensive and without any courtesy provisions of any kind except Nespresso capsules. I asked for 6 bottles of diet coke and did get them (the small old style bottles) and was floored to see that it was a $48 charge and that added to that was a $7 "delivery fee" and then an automatic 21% "gratuity". On one occasion I asked the room service person if we could have a "bit of olive oil" a a "bit of vinegar" as we were making a small salad. I was told "sure" and I made clear that I really only needed a splash of each. Delivery came with a small plastic container of each with a $28! charge plus the $7 delivery plus 21%...my wife took one look and said "no thanks". The pool was closed because of the virus (which we knew ahead of time) but the driver service to and from the beach was great and a very bright spot for the trip. BUT, if you can imagine, when I asked about turn down service at a specific time window I was told "sorry; we are not doing turn down service these days"!! Certainly not what could be expected from a 5 star resort and no real explanation was given. The resort is a convenient getaway for us and the villa works well for our family and we will likely give it another try very soon. Hopefully the service level will match the nice people on the phones (and the shuttle drivers who were great) and maybe someone should re-visit whether or not they should be trying to make room service as much of a profit center (outrageous) as it is.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gerard Widder, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 15 Sept 2020
GoGo1951, At the time of your visit I certainly acknowledge the impact that COVID had on our ability to deliver the full guest experience that you expect. We've used the past couple of months however to navigate providing a safe experience for our resort guests and at the same time meet, dare I say exceed, your expectations. While we are still unable to provide all of the amenities that guests have come to appreciate when visiting the Resort at Pelican Hill, the overwhelming feedback we have received has been very positive. We will continue to evaluate our offerings in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you, Gerard Widder Managing Director
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The entire grounds are breathtaking and the service in incredible. Our room was spacious with a king bed, sitting area, gas fireplace, along with a nice sized patio with two chaise chairs and a small table with two chairs. The bathroom is oversized with a large soaking tub, walk-in shower, two sinks, and a toilet closet with spray bidet. Our room had a lovely view of the ocean. There is a nice coffee shop off the lobby that also sells sandwiches, ice cream, bakery items, with lovely tables that over look the ocean and the golf course. The spa was very nice with a sauna, steam room, and oversized jacuzzi. It also had a very nice sitting room with hot tea and snacks, and the dressing rooms were well appointed with showers and all amenities you need to freshen up. The pool is beautiful and don't forget, they have another upstairs that faces the ocean for adults only. There is a very nice restaurant at the pool that services salads, sandwiches, and other fresh fair. Enjoy!!
Read more
Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Ask for a bungalow with an ocean view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I get it we’re in the middle of a pandemic....BUT although the room price has not gone down the amenities have.
2 restaurants closed, I get it!
Spa closed, I get it!
No housekeeping until 3rd day of stay, I get it!
Room service dinner delivered in plastic containers, I get it!
No breakfast besides room service available until 8AM, I don’t get it!
Room service had almost an hour delivery time for a bagel and coffee at 7:30. Maybe this would let management know their guest are hungry BEFORE 8am.
There is a mask rule in all public indoor areas there is not one at the pool or outdoor restaurants. How can a guest be allowed to vape and blow smoke in the direction of other guests after finishing his meal and not one employee asked him not to?
The grounds are lovely. The rooms are large. the service is 5star. The amenity bags are pretty. The prices are high. I get it! But come on....8am for food or coffee besides room service? No spa, no housekeeping, I get it! Almost $900/ night for a room and no adjustment in room prices? I DON’T GET IT!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gerard Widder, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 8 Oct 2020
Lisa, We get it! And as a result we are making changes within In-Room Dining to better serve the needs of our guests. Thank you for the feedback. Truly. Gerard Widder Managing Director The Resort at Pelican Hill
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My husband and I decided to splurge by spending a weekend at this incredible resort to celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary. We were treated like royalty by every staff member we encountered from the front desk check-in to poolside employees to room service delivery person to the young lady who finalized our check-out bill. We even stopped while taking a walk to ask one of the housekeepers a question and she spent 5 minutes with us to make sure we had all our answers and shared interesting trivia about the property. Perhaps the jewel of the resort is the front office supervisor, Michael, who ensured we were happy with our room and sent us a nice bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to celebrate our special day. The hotel oozes with top notch, best in class customer service from top to bottom and it made our experience unforgettable and longing for more. I also appreciated how extraordinarily clean and sanitized everything was from the bungalow room to the poolside chaise lounge. At no point did we ever feel like our health was in jeopardy by being at this property during this global pandemic. I have been singing the praises of this hotel to family and friends since our visit and hope to return one day when the spa and some of the other restaurants reopen. However, the dinner we ordered from room service was delicious! If you can afford this hotel, come often. If you can't, then put it on your bucket list. It is worth the experience!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2020
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â The 400 block offer views of the golf course.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gerard Widder, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 15 Dec 2020
Dear terrih421, We appreciate you choosing the Resort at Pelican Hill to celebrate your anniversary. Thank you! And I'm thrilled that you had an opportunity to enage with the various associates here who make this resort more than an incredible destination. Each of them have continued to exude kindness, patience, and care during this pandemic and I celebrate all of our team members for their commitment to the safety of our guests and of one another. We all look forward to welcoming more travelers to the resort in the coming months and we are busy preparing for your return. Thank you again for sharing your experience on TripAdvisor. We read all of this feedback and celebrate associates that are mentioned by name. Sincerely, Gerard Widder Managing Director
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This place is outstandingly gorgeous. No doubt about it. The staff outside the doors to greet and help you and drive you/shuttle you around were ALL very personable and genuine and professional. The food we had at the Coliseum Grill was well presented and tasty. Our room was beautiful- see my photos. Lovely huge clean bed, fireplace, huge bathroom with deep tub and separate glass enclosed shower, Pelican embroidered towels, robes, slippers. Great coffee in the room machine, and a great hot water pot for tea, which I enjoyed. Huge balcony with views down upon golf course and then the ocean. We loved it UNTIL we sat for a few minutes out there and wow, the traffic noise is not minimal but quite substantial and loud. THAT is the reason I would give this rating 4.5 out of 5, but half stars are not an option. Because we spent a couple hours each day out on the patio (super comfy lounge chairs) but had to listen to really loud car engines roaring the whole time. And then, at 5:30am 2 mornings we had to listen to loud machines grooming the golf course. Usually at posh resorts we enjoy more peaceful setting so all I am saying is, this place is fab but look out if you are in the ocean view rooms and suites in the 400s. And the beautiful, round pool with coliseum surrounding it is absolutely breathtaking, not to mention the jacuzzi. It is in a beautiful spot, too with amazing views and I think the water is saline treated rather than chlorine, which we appreciated. The resort shuttle took us to Fashion Island, which was fun for a few hours, to shop and eat. And we did an excursion in to Corona del Mar to ride eBikes there and in Balboa. And took resort shuttle to Crystal Cove state beach and ate at the Beachcomber, and took the sidewalks back (walked). Also visited Tanaka Farms in/near Irvine for a farm to table dinner. Lovely area. Just busier and noisier than what I have grown accustomed to.
Read more
Date of stay: May 2022
Rooms
Service
Trip type: Travelled on business
Room Tip:Â Watch for traffic noise in the 400s rooms and suites, if you are going to spend any time out on...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gerard Widder, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 3 Jun 2022
Aimee, Thank you for providing a thorough, well rounded review of your visit. We appreciate all of the favorable mentions but regret the noise that you experienced. There are plenty of options that would provide the serene/quiet environment that you are accustomed to and we would be happy to assist with coordinating the next time you visit. Hope you have a wonderful North East summer and enjoy Candlewood Lake. Gerard Widder Managing Director
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We decided to go with the Villa over the Bungalow for 1 specific reason, Villa’s come with Butler service. We booked our reservation in July after a site visit. Kurt the butler showed us the different rooms and explained the butler service how you can simply call and a butler will take you anywhere you would like to go, as far as going to South Coast plaza. I asked about the resort and was told a butler will take you around in a golf cart to see all of the property. We booked the room in July for our reservation on November 9-11. I explained I was booking the room for our wedding prep and honeymoon night. When I made the reservation I followed up with an email request for butler service on the Wedding day for car service at 1:30 and 2:45. When I checked in the room was available and I was helped into the Villa, I reminded the front desk about my request and was told that was not a problem. The butler was on time at 1:30. That was not the case when I was waiting for the butler to take me to my wedding, at 3:00 I called and ask where the butler was as I was now late to my own wedding and I was told he was unavailable for another hour and received an apology over the phone. I ended up being 30 minutes late to my wedding. Later that day when I got back to the resort and asked for the butler to take us around the property again I was told he was not available for a couple hours. I paid 65.00 per day as a resort fee and didn’t get to enjoy the resort. I was sold on the idea of a butler and never received the benefit. No quality of service. I prepaid for my reservation several months in advance. A waste of money!
Read more
Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Pelican_Hill_Resort, Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 28 Jan 2020
Hi Chrissy, Thank you for your feedback, and I apologize for the transportation delays you experienced during your stay at the Resort - especially on an occasion as important as your wedding night. While our butler team offers 24-hour service to our Villa guests, off-property transportation and Resort tours are often subject to availability. I regret our team did not better anticipate your need for a guaranteed pick-up time at 2:45 p.m., and I sincerely apologize this resulted in your late arrival. In addition to the Butlers, both Villa and Bungalow guests have access to complimentary coach service from our Guest Services team, which also provides transportation across the Resort grounds. Please know that I've addressed your detailed concerns with our Villa and Guest Services leaders, so we may prevent a misstep like this in the future. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to regain your trust for a much-improved return sometime in the future. Warm regards, Tom Donovan Managing Director, The Resort at Pelican Hill
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We have stayed here a couple times for special occasions and have always had great experiences and that's why I chose here to do something really special which was proposing to the my girlfriend. I cant thank Danielle and Andrew enough for their help with planning and helping me order arrangements and helping with the actual proposal. Their attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond to make this day perfect was so appreciated. We had breakfast at the pool the next morning which was great. Service was fast and our waitress was friendly and attentive. We had the lobster Frittata and the blueberry pancakes both of which were delicious In the afternoon we laid by the pool and once again the service was great. Every time we needed a new drink the waiter was there before we even asked To top off a great day we went to the pelican grill which was amazing. The views at sunset were incredible and our waiter was really great as well. The resort communicated the special occasion from the night before and congratulated us with a nice toast. I believe our Waiter who was so great was Armin and was fun, friendly and had some great recommendations. This resort was so on top of it when we walked through the lobby several times we were greeted by name and even congratulated about the night before. I can't say enough about this resort. I've said it before and I will say it again I travel a lot for work so I have been lucky enough to stay at some great hotels and resorts however none of them compare to this resort and especially the service we receive every time we come here is top notch. Regardless if you are looking for a romantic weekend, special occasion, family getaway or a friends trip this is the resort to go to. We can't wait to go back!!
Read more
Date of stay: October 2021
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â If going to the beach there is a beach shuttle the drops you off and picks you up. Very convenient!!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Gerard Widder, General Manager at The Resort At Pelican Hill
Responded 15 Nov 2021
Congratulations and Thank You Bobby! We're delighted to have been part of such a special occasion. I appreciate the recognition of this special group of associates that make Pelican Hill such a wonderful place to visit. Sincerely, Gerard Widder Managing Director
Read more
Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
There are more places to choose from in the Newport Beach area.
PRICE RANGE
HK$7,115 - HK$9,814 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
pelican hill hotel newport beach, hotel at pelican hill, at pelican hill hotel
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaOrange CountyNewport Beach
NUMBER OF ROOMS
332
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
