if your choices are those two, I'd chose newport.
You can travel up and down the near beaches and not be near too many scum bags.
Venice Beach is a crime zone and a lot of gangs are in the area.
What he said !
Choosing Newport, you can find something along PCH, HWY 1 from Newport to Huntington Beach. Up 55 to Costa Mesa, which will cut dollars off your stay for sure, and still finding a nice place to stay. Nice rooms around Fashion Island, but spendy, you will have to blind fold your wife :mj07:
When are you going? Along the coast in May, the weather is what is called the May grey, but burns off around 11 or 12, and then the June Gloom, same deal. It's foggy and overcast over 50% of the month. But once it warms up it is beautiful !
Newport/Balboa GO SEE, BUT DO NOT CHALLENGE THE WEDGE ! OR YOU WILL BE A VICTIM !
It's not that big every day, but rookies can and will get hurt !
I used to bartend in Newport on the pier, uhhhh wow ! Many years ago :mj07: Also at the Beach Ball.