Great house. Great location. Pete was responsive and helpful plus he left some tasty treats on the fridge for our arrival. Would definitely stay again!

Wanted to run away together for a few days together as a family before one kid back to college and two others back to high school. The home has all of the charm of an old beach cottage -But every detail is modern, beautiful and comfortable. The kids loved the paddle boards and Kayaks and our whole family went on the bikes, riding together across the Ferry to the Peninsula and into town for meals and ice cream. There are great TVs in the house but you won’t want to use them. Sit on the deck enjoying the host provided treats - play cards and enjoy being a family together for a few days. The host truly enjoys providing a great experience. Can’t wait to do it again!

Our second trip to the Blue Door Cottage and everything was perfect! Great for adults and children-the home had every amenity we could wish for and more. Pete and Angi are supreme hosts.

This was a week that we will never forget. We have younger children, and I could not think of a better place. Close proximity to the beach, safe home, all was amazing! They had plenty of items like paddle boards, bikes and kayaks to enjoy. Pete is an awesome manager, and even helped me with items I forgot to pack up! Could not recommend more.

Thank you so much to our host Pete. He went above and beyond to accommodate my husband and our four grandchildren. We’ve been coming to the island for 40 years and this was our first stay on the little island. Charming cottage, perfectly suited for a family, amenities abound! Can’t wait to return with our crew!

This home is completely updated, charming and a great quiet location. The host was great and gave us a welcome basket. Beautiful patio and tons of amenities that most other houses dont offer. Loved our time here.

Incredible home with the best decor!! Fabulous location. Just a few blocks from the main street with all the shops and restaurants. The house is stocked with everything you need. My family enjoyed the beach cruisers and boogie boards! We will be back!!

Gorgeous cottage, great location and Pete (the owner) is top notch. Wonderful experience all around.

Thank you for making our trip so memorable. We loved everything about Blue Door Cottage and can't wait to stay in the future.

Idyllic beach cottage expertly remodeled and immaculately maintained. Host was responsive and flexible with our request to extend our stay. He also had great local recommendations for our family. Hope to return in the future when in the Newport area. Thank you!

As an annual pilgrimage for my family in the Midwest, we have explored the coast of Southern California, and have visited many places. This year, considering that I am local, we decided to give Balboa a try. After looking at a few different properties, we stumbled upon the blue door cottage. All I can say is that I am so happy that we did! For people that aren’t familiar with the area, Balboa Island is a step back in time. However, the island is divided into two. Where the blue door cottage is situated, it is on a very quiet part of the island yet just a two minute walk from the very quaint and small downtown strip. From shops to restaurants to iconic locations that have been in movies, you have it all. The atmosphere is friendly, of course, safe, and the people are a mix of longtime locals and visitors from all over the world. It is definitely welcoming and conducive to daytime or nighttime walks with views that are literally worth millions of dollars. With regard to the cottage, upon our check-in, our gracious hosts were the type to go above and beyond. From suggestions in advance with regard to places to check out to the welcome platter and charcuterie board with a bottle of wine to boot. Definitely a five-star experience! We were fortunate to have stayed long enough to truly get a taste of island living. The cottage has so much character that every turn of your head has something welcoming to make you smile. From the art on the walls to the books on the coffee tables, it was amazing. It allowed you to not only step back in time, but to also revel in the history of the island and the southern California lifestyle. We were a party of seven, and everyone was extremely comfortable in the rooms that were more than well appointed with towels in the bathrooms and linens in the bedrooms as well as pillows and throws on the sofas. It was nearly impossible to be uncomfortable in this cottage. If getting some exercise is in your repertoire, the cottage garage has everything from bicycles to use on the island to kayaks to bodyboards and even toys for the little ones to play in the sand at the beach. Speaking of sand, you are literally a couple hundred feet away from the sand overlooking Newport Harbor. Absolutely stunning to go out and sit on the bench, or along the seawall and enjoy the view while people pass by with friendly attitudes. The only drawback to this whole vacation was that it was not longer. We’ll definitely be back! 💜

Stayed over Easter Weekend with family from out of town. Have other family who live close by and stopped over to visit. Easy walk to Main Street on Balboa Island. Close to shopping and dining. Other activities were close by as well. Looking forward to coming back soon!

Looks just like pictures. Well equipped. The garage alone is worth it as there paddleboards, bikes, kayak, beach towels, toys. Life vest! I have hauled all these things to Balboa before so it was a gift to have them there. Robes in the closets! I cook every night and enjoyed the kitchen. The big East facing patio is a big win. We would enjoy the morning and noon sun. Later we would have cheese and wine on the patio table at 5 and then go in to the dining room for dinner when it was colder. My master bed was very comfortable. Location was perfect. Water right there and short walk to Irvine ranch market. The little twins are best for younger kids. Though my sister stayed in one.l for a couple nights. A thicker mattress, maybe foam pad would help them a bit. I really appreciate that the house still kept its old balboa charm as so many have been mansionized. Peter was a perfect host.

WOW! This property was the best VRBO property my family and I have ever stayed out--everyone agreed. Not only is the house itself very charming and cute, but all the amenities were fantastic. Peter does not miss a beat on making this home warm, comfortable, and cozy. Toys, games, throws, robes, unbelievable welcome gifts, lots of towels, an awesomely stocked kitchen (best knives and most kitchen towels we have encountered ever). Even a mostly rainy week didn't dampen our spirits. Rent this property for a wonderful time. Thank you Peter.

2nd year at the Blue Door, and it was a cozy and comfortable retreat for our family of 6 to enjoy all the charm of Balboa Island and Newport Beach. Pete was so gracious and hospitable to welcome us in with thoughtful touches for our family. We loved it so much even thought we had some rainy weather with board games and movie nights. Can’t wait to come back another year in the future. Thank you!

Our stay at The Blue Door Cottage was amazing! Pete was extremely accommodating and his beautifully renovated property gives you the quintessential Balboa Island experience with all of the charm. We started our weekend with a basket of treats and a charcuterie platter waiting for us when we arrived. Such a thoughtful touch! Everything you need for a memorable beach getaway is suppled which was wonderful. To sum it up, The Blue Door Cottage is simply perfect!

Our stay was wonderful . Beautiful area, comfortable furnishings, everything you need and more. The owner is very responsive and friendly . The beds we’re comfortable, the weather was beautiful , what more could we ask for .

Everyone loved it. They appreciated the owners keeping its historical authenticity while also making sure it was comfortable, efficient and beautifully outfitted for a great beach stay.

What began as a COVID staycation has now turned into an annual tradition. Pete, the owner, is always super responsive and really goes out of his way to make sure that we have a wonderful stay. The location on Little Balboa is perfect - walking distance to everything and minimal traffic (so the kids can play out front or walk down to the water). When we're not cooking in the well stocked kitchen, we're taking a short walk to Marine Ave to eat at one of many restaurants!

I booked this cottage for a long weekend with 4 of my girlfriend to celebrate my birthday. It as perfect. This is such a darling restored cottage on Balboa. It is well stock with everything you could want. The owners attention to detail is spot on. We can't wait to go back!

This area is always our favorite destination. Peter was a wonderful host. He was responsive and the home is beautiful. Our daughters had the best trip and birthday celebration. Thank you again!

Inspirational space to write in. Perfectly appointed. Steps from the beautiful bay and close to shops and restaurants. The Blue Door Cottage has it all!

We have been enjoying Balboa Island for the past 10 years and have stayed at many different homes on the island. The Blue door cottage is extremely special. From the location on the little island, to the intricate details that have painstakingly gone into renovating a 1928 home and honoring its charm while making it relevant to today. Bikes, paddle boards, all the beach toys: you name it and it is there for your enjoyment. Loved the welcome meat/cheese and wine. Simply a magical time from the booking process to our final goodbye exchange. This is a step back into magical time…..loved it.

An amazing property, 1920s beach cottage lovingly restored. Cozy, clean, well thought out with all the amenities of home. Ingenuous construction concepts such as the murphy bed-style kitchen table that folds down, the indoor&outdoor shower, subtly lite stairway. The added benefit of water toys, bikes, helmets, beach chairs and beautifully displayed beach towels. Topped off with a welcome gift basket of yummy treats. One of the best VRBO properties ever!

This house, the host and location are all wonderful. A true getaway!

What a wonderful, charming cottage on the Little island. So peaceful. Can’t wait to come back. Kathy

We couldn’t be happier! Our trip to the Blue Door Cottage has become an annual event and we love it each year! Thank you!

Year after year, we continue to fall in love with the Blue Door Cottage on Balboa Island. Our boys growing up-surfing, fishing, riding bikes, taking the ferry. Thank you Pete for hosting such an incredible place!

The Blue Door house was everything we hoped for. Clean, comfortable, close to the water, close to Balboa Bars, and working ac! Everything was perfect.

Our stay at the Blue Door Cottage is one we won't soon forget. This is the third house we have rented on the island and is our favorite by far. The owner, Pete, was a great communicator. Always quick to respond when we had a question. We were thoughtfully greeted with a lovely charcuterie board and flowers. Not only is this house beautifully restored, each room is stylishly decorated. The beds were very comfortable and the kitchen was fully stocked with all the basics, including paper plates. We cooked several meals and it had everything we needed. One of the best features this house offers is a garage full of beach toys and equipment. We spent the week paddle boarding, bike riding and kayaking, which everyone enjoyed. If you want to stay at a beautiful home and really experience what it would be to live on this idyllic island, then this is the place for you. The house is beautiful, the front porch is ideal for outdoor dining and the beach toys really compete the package.. We are already counting the days down to our stay next summer!

Another year, another great BlueDoor vacation! The treats waiting for us, the bikes and toys, the beautiful home - all we need for a very fun escape. We were even so lucky to have perfect weather! Many thanks yet again to the excellent host, we plan to return again and again.

Another year, another great BlueDoor vacation! The treats waiting for us, the bikes and toys, the beautiful home - all we need for a very fun escape. We were even so lucky to have perfect weather! Many thanks yet again to the excellent host, we plan to return again and again.