Hotels in Santa Barbara, CA

“We have stayed here at least 10 times. The rooms are fresh and the towels and bedding are very nice. Walking distance to most everything. Santa Barbara Fishouse is our local favorite.”

“Spacious, well-kept, and in a good location. However, I found it expensive for what it is. I mentioned it was my husband's birthday, but there was no surprise.”

“The stay was great once we realized there was no front desk (an oversight on our part for not reading the fine print). It's in good location, the amenities were great & the bed was comfortable. There's even an ice maker on premise.Any question we has was quickly answered via text message. Our only downfall was not having a place to store our luggage, but we ended up storing our bags at the nearby UPS store thru Bounce.com while we explored the city before our evening flight.”

“We loved this hotel! Beautiful rooms that have everything you need- very high quality linens, very comfortable bed, great shampoo, conditioner, soap, super quiet sleek ceiling fans, nice tv, great useful kitchenette, and very nice shower. We wish we could’ve stayed more than one night. Location can’t be beat - a block from the beach and a few minute walk to the funky zone and state street. The hotel staff was extremely friendly and helpful in planning our day of exploring. We hope to come back soon!”

“Everything was perfect at Hotel El Encanto! From the atmosphere, beautiful views, comfort to the overall experience, I truly couldn’t have asked for more.

But the BED deserves its own review! I travel a lot and have stayed in many hotels, and this is honestly the best bed I have ever slept in. It feels like sleeping on a cloud, the bed literally sucks you in and makes you never want to get up! The combination of the mattress, pillows, and overall comfort was absolutely incredible.

I’m definitely coming back!”

“Wonderful stay, delicious breakfast, reasonable prices, warm and sincere attention to details. I highly recommend to other travelers, I would absolutely stay again.”

“Great location, one block from the coastline & wharf. Daily coffee & fruit inthe morning and freshly baked cookies in the afternoon. Very nice pool, as well.”

“Photos don’t do this place justice. Feels like you’re in a different country. Tucked away, super clean and comfortable beds. Easy parking in such a convenient location. We loved that all of downtown was easy accessible and walkable. We’re brats with high expectations when we book hotels and this place exceeded what we were hoping for. Look no further :)”

“We truly enjoyed our stay. Our room was big, with a nice private patio. The hotel is very peaceful. The swimming pool is small but very nice. Position is very close to State Street and not too far from the coast. Private garage is very convenient. Would definitely go back!”

“Spacious, well-kept, and in a good location. However, I found it expensive for what it is. I mentioned it was my husband's birthday, but there was no surprise.”

“My husband and I have stayed at Simpson House Inn every year for many years. It is a truly magical place. We love the old-world charm—the unique furnishings, the books in each room, and the feeling of being transported to another time and place.

Part of what has always made Simpson House Inn exceptional is that we felt genuinely cared for. The thoughtful treats upon arrival and the evening happy hour made our stay feel effortless and relaxing. The unique breakfasts set the inn apart from other luxury properties.

This year, however, we were disappointed to learn that happy hour had been discontinued, there were no treats or cards upon arrival and the breakfast menu was less unique. Happy hour, especially, was one of the things that made Simpson House Inn feel so special. It provided a wonderful opportunity to mingle with other guests and to personally thank the staff for creating such a lovely experience. We felt like guests at an old home as opposed to customers.

My hope is that the new owners preserve the character and traditions that have made Simpson House Inn so beloved. Its charm lies not in modern furnishings or trendy updates, but in its history, personality, and hospitality. Nearby luxury hotels are wonderul, and you feel like a customer. Simpson House was memorable because we felt like guests.”

“This place is amazing, we have stayed there several times and just got back from a weekend to see a concert.
The rooms are big, the location perfect as it is right across from the ocean / walking path / bike path and right down the hill from the Santa Barabara Bowl (where we saw our concert). There is also a 12:00 checkout which I like as opposed to other hotels 11:00 checkout. The one thing I would recommend is paying for the upgrade for an ocean view, at least for me it was worth it.
The staff, what can I say. They are fantastic, remember who you are, and are there for anything you need. On our last trip I would like to single out Pam who seems to do everything. We got there early and decided to get something to eat on the restraint patio, she was our hostess. When our room was ready she is the one who checked us in. Later at the pool I saw here serving drinks and food. She was also the one at the desk when we checked out. She was just always there/everywhere and even remembered our name and room number.
This may sound weird but I have to give a shout out to the car valet’s. They are a team of great young guys, super friendly, always asking if they can help you with your bags, if you need a water and are there the second you need your car.
Try it and you will not stay anywhere else the next time you go to Santa Barabara.”

“We loved our stay with you so much! The Creekside cabin suite was so cozy, and the whole vibe was exactly as chill as we were hoping it would be!

If there was one recommendation I would make, it would be to give your staff a little more information about where to direct questions that your guests may have. As I mentioned, everyone was so friendly and sweet, but several basic questions we had were met with, “ Gosh, I have no idea. Not sure how to help you with that one.” Not everyone has to know all the answers, but it would be helpful if they knew where to direct guests to get the answers they’re looking for!”

“Beautiful place stay that is quiet and so close to the beach with great service. The rooms are spacious and clean with a nice garden courtyard to relax and enjoy a glass of wine after walking along the beach and pier. Santa Barbara offers a bike share program through their app and docking stations right on the main street just around the corner from the hotel. Highly recommend this place for a relaxing stay!!!”

“This is a great place to vacation. It is beautifully landscaped. The rooms are spacious. The staff is amazing and very welcoming. They have complimentary wine, coffees and other hot beverages almost all the time, including a daily Happy Hour. The pool and hot tub are enclosed by a fence in the courtyard and was a nice place to sit and enjoy your wine. They serve guests a daily wonderful Continental breakfast which also included hot frittata and sausages from 7-10 am or later. At the start they give you a helpful map and directions for a walk to Stearn's Wharf. We walked there from this Inn as well as visiting the largest Bay Fig tree in the US, planted just a few blocks away in 1877. It's on your map with more details. There is no sign at the tree currently. Parking is free and easy here. The room included a little kitchen with essentials and dining table with chairs. The internet was pretty good and they have a tv that can play dvds, which they will loan out from their sister hotel. The A/C worked well and this hotel is only noisy if there is a noisy neighbor. There was a door between our room and a crying baby one day there. If there is dining near the hotel, we did not see it. We dined only at Stearn's Wharf this trip. There is a gas station close by. We gassed up on our way out and the price was more reasonable than others we saw. There is also a 7-Eleven very close if you need anything. I would definitely stay here again.”

“A bit of a hidden gem in the many hotels in SB. This hotel has a beautiful lagoon courtyard that wraps around pool/spa area. There were ducks, egret, and even a crawfish trying to escape the lagoon. All rooms have balcony or patios with chairs. Rooms have small refrigerator and microwave. Complimentary breakfast offered daily and the most delightful staff, Jeanie, to host it! This is a good location for being near to Goleta (UCSB family) and SB.”

“Amazing experience kids just love this place!! I am a single parent and this is a REAL VACATION. Kids are happy and I get lots of quit time. We will attend this year and hoping to build a tradition out of this for years to come.”

“This hotel is fantastic. It's small, about 30 rooms. Only 2 blocks to the ocean road. And about a 15 minute walk to the pier. The room is really nice, looks like they have done some remodeling not long ago. The beds are very comfortable, the bathroom is very nice with a large countertop. Everything was very clean and in its place. The staff is really friendly, helpful when my key card would not work on the 2nd day. We walked to dinner 2 nights in a row, which is great. It's about 5 blocks to the Amtrak station, which works for some people. The prices for our room and dates were really good. About $150 plus taxes. They have good internet here. Not the fastest, but faster than most hotels. I highly recommend Castillo Inn.”

“We had a lovely two night stay here at the tail end of a vacation. The huge selling point here is how walkable it is—quick safe jaunt down to the shoreline & Stearn’s Wharf & the Funk Zone neighborhood; a slightly longer but very doable walk along pedestrian infrastructure to downtown State Street. The landscaping at the hotel is beautiful and there’s well maintained outdoor seating. The pool looked clean and nice, but we did not have a chance to go. Parking was free in their lot. Room was squeaky clean, and we loved that there wasn’t carpet. The shower is large and had excellent water pressure. It’s a smaller property, but the staff are very friendly and the complimentary breakfast was surprisingly nice (fresh fruit, lots of pastries, a gluten free mini frittata, etc). Loved having ice water & lemonade available in the front office all day. Rooms are a little dated (could use some paint touch ups, A/C is wall mounted & rather loud) but are spacious and clean. We’d come back!”

“It can be hard to find affordable accommodations in Santa Barbara. This motel was old school in all the best ways. It’s an older property, but it is extremely well maintained. There is a nice pool and restaurant on site. The rooms were comfortable, pretty modern, and well appointed. I liked the quiet neighborhood where it was located. We would stay here again”

“Wonderful stay. Definitely would return. Rooms are a little small but well equipped and very comfortable and clean. Highly recommend this hotel. Nicole and her staff were so kind and attentive. Amazing service.”

“We had such a great time at the Kimpton in Santa Barbara. Beautiful hotel,great staff and good sized rooms too. We were there for several days and it was great. We also booked to stay in a suite and it was quite big. Plenty of room for two people and your suitcases. It’s in a very walkable part of SB close to lots of bars,restaurants and the beach. Huge shoutout to the staff members Tommy,Jake and the guys working at the valet. Tommy went out of his way one night to make us a cup of tea when it was a bit late and was super helpful with recommendations. Jake and the boys at valet were very kind and even charged our Tesla a few times without us asking. Something we really appreciated. We will be back next time we’re in Southern California!”

“I have used this hotel a few times now for work. I have to book many hotels in my line of work and this hotel is always a pleasure to work with, helpful and, according to my reps, a great place to stay. We will use them now anytime we have business in Santa Barbara. The manager, Sarah, is always helpful and kind. Highly recommend!”

“The hotel is excellent! Very clean, recently renovated and beautifully designed with a modern, stylish interior. The bar is a great addition! The staff were incredibly friendly, attentive and helpful. The location is perfect, with easy access to shops, restaurants, and local attractions. We had a wonderful experience and definitely stay here again. Highly recommended!”

“We have used Coastal Hideaways to manage and rent our home in Santa Barbara for over 2 years. Melissa Pierson has handled all aspects of the rental personally and professionally. Highly recommend.”

“The Beachfront Hotel Alamar is a hidden gem in Santa Barbara. All of the rooms are steps from the ocean and have a view. My room has a separate patio, and my room is modern and updated. The Alamar shares a pool and jacuzzi with the Villa Rosa Hotel. The Pool area is fantastic with a European flair, tons of art, statues, plants, a koi pond, and a beautiful romantic setting.I enjoyed several hours in the pool area relaxing and connecting with guests. My dog is also welcome here and its an added bonus! I love it here!”

“Location is right smack in the middle of everything, fine with me because everything is either in walking distance or short drive. Room was beautiful with tile floor in bathroom. Fridge and microwave included. Spacious bathroom. Everything was very clean! We requested a roll out cot around 9pm-10pm & front desk had no issues bringing it over. Pool is not heated but perfect for a hot summer day. I loved the plants surrounding the pool it gave privacy and relaxation. I will definitely be back for a next trip.”

“Are in town dropping our son off at college and decided to make a weekend of it. Stayed here and had the most relaxing and beautiful weekend EVER!
I have to mention how incredibly amazing our waiter, Ameen, at the O'Bar was. My husband was craving nachos 🫣which are not on their menu but he went out of his way and asked the chef if he could make them. He came back with the most amazingly delicious 🤤 nachos that days later my husband is still talking about.”

“A gorgeous oasis just in 10 minutes drive from Downtown and 15 minutes far from the beach. Beautifully designed rooms and pool area. Thank you guys! We will definitely come back again!”

“Excellent motel in a fantastic location, just a short walk from the beach. The room was beautifully renovated while preserving the property's original charm and design. The beds were large, comfortable, and provided a great night's sleep.

The staff was friendly and welcoming throughout our stay. On-site parking was plentiful and very convenient, making everything easy from check-in to check-out.

We would happily stay here again.
Julien, BE”