Resort at Pelican Hill vs Balboa Bay Resort
Resort at Pelican Hill scores 86/100 on FamilyFactor to Balboa Bay Resort's 78/100 — a 8-point gap. Resort at Pelican Hill scores higher on kid amenities, room fit for families, safety, and parent downtime. Balboa Bay Resort scores higher on value for a family of four. Resort at Pelican Hill is $$$$; Balboa Bay Resort is $$$.
Not sure where to take the kids?
60-second match. Free. No email required to see picks.
FamilyFactor, side by side
| Scored on | Resort at Pelican Hill | Balboa Bay Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Kid amenitieskids club, water park, pool, playground | 88 | 75 |
| Room fit for familiessuites, connecting rooms, cribs, kitchenettes | 90 | 80 |
| Locationproximity to family attractions and walkability | 92 | 92 |
| Value for a family of fourrates, free-kid policies, what is included | 62 | 72 |
| Safetypool gates, balcony safety, gated property | 96 | 88 |
| Parent downtimeadult amenities, quiet zones, babysitting | 94 | 82 |
| FamilyFactor overall | 86 | 78 |
Every number here is the property's own FamilyFactor score from the WhichFamilyVacation catalog. Bold marks a lead of 5 points or more — anything closer is a tie in practice.
Resort at Pelican Hill
Newport Beach, CA · FamilyFactor 86/100 · $$$$
Forbes 5-Star bluff-top resort in Newport Coast with two circular pools, private beach club access, bowling alley, bocce, and panoramic Pacific Ocean views — Southern California's top luxury family resort.
Pick Resort at Pelican Hill when
- Kid amenities matters most to you — Resort at Pelican Hill scores 88 to Balboa Bay Resort's 75 (kids club, water park, pool, playground).
- Room fit for families matters most to you — Resort at Pelican Hill scores 90 to Balboa Bay Resort's 80 (suites, connecting rooms, cribs, kitchenettes).
- Safety matters most to you — Resort at Pelican Hill scores 96 to Balboa Bay Resort's 88 (pool gates, balcony safety, gated property).
- Parent downtime matters most to you — Resort at Pelican Hill scores 94 to Balboa Bay Resort's 82 (adult amenities, quiet zones, babysitting).
- You want two signature circular colosseum pools (adult + family) with ocean views, private beach club at crystal cove (shuttle included), and bocce ball, croquet, and fire pits on the resort grounds — listed for Resort at Pelican Hill, not for Balboa Bay Resort.
- You need a bungalow suite (1br, sleeps 4, private terrace) and villa (2-4br, full kitchen, private pool available) — in Resort at Pelican Hill's room list, not Balboa Bay Resort's.
- You are travelling with teens — Resort at Pelican Hill is scored for that group, Balboa Bay Resort is not.
We may earn a commission from bookings at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
Balboa Bay Resort
Newport Beach, CA · FamilyFactor 78/100 · $$$
Waterfront resort on Newport Harbor with private beach, pool, marina views, and walking access to Balboa Island ferry — a more affordable Newport Beach base than Pelican Hill with the best location in the harbor.
Pick Balboa Bay Resort when
- Value for a family of four matters most to you — Balboa Bay Resort scores 72 to Resort at Pelican Hill's 62 (rates, free-kid policies, what is included).
- You want private beach on newport harbor (calm bay swimming), heated outdoor pool and hot tub with bay views, and on-site boat and kayak rentals — listed for Balboa Bay Resort, not for Resort at Pelican Hill.
- You need a bay view room (sleeps 4) and marina suite (sleeps 4-5, separate living area) — in Balboa Bay Resort's room list, not Resort at Pelican Hill's.
- You are travelling with toddlers — Balboa Bay Resort is scored for that group, Resort at Pelican Hill is not.
- Budget is the constraint — Balboa Bay Resort sits in the $$$ band against Resort at Pelican Hill's $$$$.
We may earn a commission from bookings at no extra cost to you. Disclosure
Resort at Pelican Hill vs Balboa Bay Resort FAQ
Which is better for families, Resort at Pelican Hill or Balboa Bay Resort?
Resort at Pelican Hill scores 86/100 on FamilyFactor to Balboa Bay Resort's 78/100 — a 8-point gap. Resort at Pelican Hill scores higher on kid amenities, room fit for families, safety, and parent downtime. Balboa Bay Resort scores higher on value for a family of four. Resort at Pelican Hill is $$$$; Balboa Bay Resort is $$$.
How do Resort at Pelican Hill and Balboa Bay Resort compare on price?
Resort at Pelican Hill is in the $$$$ band and Balboa Bay Resort is in the $$$ band. On the FamilyFactor value dimension, Resort at Pelican Hill scores 62 and Balboa Bay Resort scores 72. Rates move constantly, so check live prices for your dates.
Which has more for kids to do, Resort at Pelican Hill or Balboa Bay Resort?
Resort at Pelican Hill scores 88/100 on kid amenities and Balboa Bay Resort scores 75/100. That dimension covers kids club, water park, pool, and playground provision.
Which works better for a large family or a multi-generational trip?
Room fit is the dimension to read: Resort at Pelican Hill scores 90/100 and Balboa Bay Resort scores 80/100, covering suites, connecting rooms, cribs, and kitchenettes. Resort at Pelican Hill lists bungalow suite (1br, sleeps 4, private terrace), villa (2-4br, full kitchen, private pool available), and ocean view bungalow suite (sleeps 4). Balboa Bay Resort lists bay view room (sleeps 4), marina suite (sleeps 4-5, separate living area), and one-bedroom suite (sleeps 5, kitchenette).
Do parents get any downtime at either?
On parent downtime — adult amenities, quiet zones, babysitting — Resort at Pelican Hill scores 94/100 and Balboa Bay Resort scores 82/100. Worth checking before you book if it matters to you.
Personal pick
Still deciding between Resort at Pelican Hill and Balboa Bay Resort?
Answer 4 questions and we'll match you to the one that fits your kids' ages and what you actually want out of the trip.
60-second match · Free · No email required
See the resorts that actually fit
Tell us your dates, budget, and kids' ages and we'll build your personalized shortlist — every property scored on pools, room layouts, kids' clubs, food, and transit. Takes about a minute.