My wife and I stayed here for 2 nights at the end of our California vacation.
This is the BEST hotel we have ever stayed in. Not the most plush, lavish, or exotic hotel w/ the best/most amenities, but for all-around service, location and atmosphere, Bay Shores Peninsula Inn is TOPS!
Location - right on Balboa Ave and just a 1 minute walk to the beach. Restaurants and shopping only a 5-minute walk.

I like family-run places because, unlike chains, they care. After all, there's nobody in "corporate" who decides what's best for guest (me!) and instead you get people who truly care. The staff at the Bay Shores Peninsula hotel care, and it shows.
The rooms are clean and comfortable.

My experience with this hotel was just so great. We felt very welcome and at home. The staff was so friendly and willing to help. The view from the sun deck was just amazing. We stayed in a suite and it was just perfect. The cookies in the afternoon were the best and one of my favorite ammenities. The atmosphere was very relaxing and I recommend this hotel as a beach getaway. Thanks for a great weekend!!!

And that's nothing but good! We've stayed there several times now, mixing business and leisure, and always look forward to going back to this well kept old-school fifties beach motel. These folks are in the hospitality business, not just renting rooms. The warm cookies, the video and book libraries, the rooftop deck, the gracious and accommodating staff... like a well run B&B in a motel setting.
I've stayed in a lot of places in Orange County, including some so-called resorts costing three times as much, but the Bay Shores will always be my first choice.

Me n the wife stayed here for 2 nights at the back end of our 3 week USA bonanza. We arrived from LA with the proviso of bein able to see the beach if not directly on it, we weren't dissappointed. The 'Bay Shores' is literally 50 metres from the beach and you can even see it from some rooms (for an extra price). We plumped for a room on the first floor declining the 'sea view', due to the excellent roof terrace where you can sit n enjoy a beer whilst lookin at the Pacific Ocean and the sunset in one direction or the Marina in the other.

I took three buddies here on a sportfishing trip in May that left from Newport Beach. It was great! We caught our weight in fish and had an excellent time. The hotel was clean and comfortable, plenty of nightlife in the local area and the bay and the beach were just steps from the front door. Mike, John, and myself appreciated the staff's attention to detail and they gave some great tips on food! We're planning on coming back next year for some more good times.