Santa Barbara hotel
 

We're looking for a hotel in Santa Barbara for a few days between Christmas and New Years. Loved the Harbor View, but they're not offering any deals,and they're pretty pricey. We're booked in the Radisson, but started seeing some less than complimentary reviews. Country Inn By the Sea looks pretty nice, but some websites are so misleading. Any suggestions? Thanks.

We stayed at the Simpson House Inn about 5 years ago and just loved it. It was by no means inexpensive but it was still an excellent value. We stayed in one of their cabins with fireplace. They served such extensive hors d'oeuvres with their wine hour that we cancelled our dinner reservations.

Yeah, Harbor View has become so popular the prices have doubled, I never should have started mentioning it here 2 years ago!!!

Try the Eagle Inn if everything else is too pricey. Oops, I shouldn't have said that!!!!

Hi,

I live in Sb. Tell me your price range and I'll help you out with some practical suggestions!

Hi,
We're looking for a nice place, around $150 - $200. Last year we got a deal at the Harbor View for $150 but that's not going to happen this year. We had actually been booked into the Hotel Oceana, but really didn't like the room. We walked to the Harbor View and they treated us like gold.
They do have a AAA rate of $225 that we're considering. It's just so hard, because what looks nice on their website could be a disaster. (like the Radisson)
Any thoughts on the Santa Barbara Inn?

Thanks, appreciate your advice.

SB Inn is okay, but you're better off at the Harbor View, between the two places. Do you actually want to be by the beach, or does it not matter that much to you? I don't think $225 is too bad for that time of year, but I can understand wanting to get a better deal!

The Radisson really is kind of dated, and so far flung from anywhere you'll probably want to be.

Country Inn does LOOK good, but I wouldn't stay there, either. Sorry.

I can recommend Harbor View, as you said, but also there are some really great B&B's a little more "inland"....if you call ten blocks from the beach inland! :-)

Have you tried the Inn of the Spanish Garden? I belive their website is www.spanishgardeninn.com. Or how about Secret Garden Inn and Cottages? That, in my opinion, is the best of the SB mid-range B&Bs.

We were in Santa Barbara in August and really liked the Franciscan Inn. Very conveniently located, reasonably priced-- not spectacular, but very nice. The "trolley" stops right across the street and it is about a 2 block walk to the beach. Depends what you're looking for!

Appreciate all of your suggestions/advice. Any opinions on the Eagle Inn? Saw some nice reviews on it.

Thanks,

Hi Patty

Eagle Inn is a 2 star, but with panache. It is clean, and not too far off the beaten path.

The location is behind Cabrillo Boulevard (beach) in an interesting residential/apartment/motel neigborhood.

It can be a little quiet in that area, and quite dark at night if you are walking back from dinner.

If you are fine with a clean 2 star, and the location, I think you'd like it.

It is better than the Country Inn.

Also, there is Hotel Santa Babrara, another 2 star, but this one is actually located about seven or so blocks from the beach, near shopping and food, right on State Street. :-)

I agree with travdog. Eagle Inn is very nice and the location is ideal. It's just a block off the beach, which means that it's much quieter than all the hotels on Cabrillo Blvd.

The Upham is a great b&b/hotel in an old Victorian downtown. They have a lovely living room that's really cozy, especially at holiday time. They're about 420 more a night than the Eagle Inn. Their restaurant, Louie's is also very good.

The Radisson is indeed very dated. It's okay but not great unless you're getting some special rate.

Have a great visit!

I've been researching SB hotels the past few weeks and the Inn at the Spanish Garden has amazing reviews on Tripadvisor, which is very rare. I just want to be closer to the ocean, tho.

I found a very good rate at the Harbor View Inn for the first week in December. An oceanview room with breakfast each am for $205. I better book this soon! I want to see if she'll upgrade us to an oceanview luxury room with the jacuzzi for about $20 more per night.

I've read reviews on the Hotel Oceana on Tripadvisor. Not too favorable. Inn at the Spanish Garden is #1, Harbor View #3 in their popularity index.

Have you considered the El Encanto? We may stay here on a Sat. night. You can get a room for $209 with a fireplace. Very mixed reviews on this place also, on Tripadvisor. I just think it sounds kind of classic and the views from their outside patio look very pretty. ***kim*** (~~)

We enjoyed the food and views on El Encanto's terrace very much this past summer. It'll be chilly in winter, of course but I suppose they'll have heaters going??? In December, I could probably be found in front of the fireplace in the lobby with a good glass of wine.

Some people love this hotel, others don't. Some people call it charming, others think it's just old (alot of the pieces aren't antique). Watch out for some of the lower priced rooms. We saw 3 different kinds on our last visit recently. The most basic was very drab and would not meet our needs and also smelled strongly of cleaning chemicals. The next was a suite, comfortably decorated, but surrounded by parking lot on 2 sides (no privacy, unless you close the shutters). The third was a more separate cottage adjoining another, with fireplace & old kitchenette. Sorry, but for around $375, it didn't charm us enough, although the garden views from it were pretty. Up in price from there, it aparently gets much better, but that's already more expensive than you want. Nice little historic hotel, charming in many ways, but the rooms we saw were a disappointment to us. But do go up the hill and visit, for at least a drink and a snack. This is one of SB's "hidden hideaways".

Kim,
Where did you find the rate of $205? We've looked everywhere, and even called them directly, can't seem to find a discount. Also found out the hotel is 90% empty for the days we want. According to the hotel representative, they're not offering discounts. We're seriously considering arriving with no reservations, because they seem to offer the discounts to last minute walk-ins.
Thanks,
Patty

They must have taken the "Hot Rates" off of their website. I saved it, just in case that happened and just e-mailed the hot rates with the B&B special to their e-mail address and asked if I could still have that quoted rate.

I also found a really good rate on their website, offering the King Oceanview/Balcony room in the dates I need for $198/night which is still a great price. You just won't get the breakfast. I'll have to see how she responds to my e-mail about the special. Should have jumped on that right away, huh? ***kim*** (~~)

BTW, the Hot Rates expire on Dec. 23, maybe that's why, I just saw that you need a room between Christmas and New Year. I was looking at the first week in December. ***kim*** (~~)

I second the suggestion of "Inn at the Spanish Garden"
Fabulous boutique hotel just a short walk from state st. Not sure about prices but check their website.
I've also stayed at that hotel right downtown. Newer spanish style. Very comvenient with big rooms. Maybe it's the santa barbara inn???

Patty, I just booked a room for a Sun. night and I did get the bed & breakfast package. You get an entree and one beverage in their great restaurant there. I checked their breakfast menu and it looks REALLY good, also one beverage such as coffe, juice, etc. I even got an upgrade to the Luxury Oceanview Room for $205/night. We have the same room on a Sat. w/o the breakfast for $230/night which is still around $30 cheaper than their website rates.

I'm looking forward to a wonderful time in SB for our anniversary. We have chosen the Sage & Onion for our first lunch, dinner at Olio e Limone for dinner, then a lunch at Brophy's and dinner at the Wine Cask for our anniversary.

Also hope to try that great Mexican place La Superica and do some wine tasting in their wine country. ***kim*** :)

Kim, we just returned from our trip. The standout was our wine tasting tour with wine edventures. A MARVELOUS experience and I highly recommend that you rearrange your schedule to do this trip. Great hosts, wonderful box lunch, great scenery, good wineries, for the $79 it's one of the best deals I've ever experienced. And NO, I do not work for them!!!

Ya gotta love their web address:

http://www.welovewines.com/

Thanks for the tip! Which were your favorite places? Did you discover any great Pinot Noir in the area? We've headed over to the Oregon Coast for a few days and I want to stock up on our reds.

Which places did you dine at? Any on my list? I'll be looking for your trip report. ***kim*** :)

Kim,
FYI...Sage & Onion is only open for lunch on the weekends..hope this fits in with your plans.
minnie.

Favorite place was The Brown Pelican for breakfast. The view and watching the dolphins was magnificent. We intended on eating at Olio e Limone, but stopped at Cafe Buenos Aires for mojito's ard were so charmed we stayed for dinner. Wonderful food, great prices, terrific service (the waiters were all good looking S. American hunks). Considered Sage and Onion, but ended up across the street for dinner at The Paradise Cafe, which was casual, candlelit and delightful. Might be the best wild rice blend I've ever tasted and a wonderful, low priced wine list. As we were not celebrating, we saw no reason to spend the high prices at The Wine Cask, but we heard it was excellent. Went to Brophy's but left after one drink and no food due to the overwhelming and unappitizing stale frying oil smell, even with the windows wide open to the ocean. Great views, though. Downey's was closed when we were downtown. Our Highlight was that wine tour with wine edventures. We liked Montecito as well (ate at Cava, which was excellent, albeit an expensive lunch - would have made a better dinner). Not big pinot drinkers, but yes there there were several good ones on our four winery tour -- the Santa Ynez area is producing some damn good syrah's. THAT'S what I brought home.

Thanks, minnie, yes that will work out nicely. We also just acquired some very nice Syrah from the San Marcos Vineyard in Paso Robles, and we're making our own at home!

The Paradise Cafe also sounds very nice, but we'll only have three days in the area. Maybe for an early dinner before we head back home.

Stearns Wharf, shopping of State Street, Montecito, spa treatments at Bacara,, wine tasting, am I missing anything else in the area? What's going on at the Arlington Theater right now? ***kim*** :)

Hi Kim,
At the Arlington this coming weekend is "Sesame Street Live" ( Nov 5th -7th.)
coming up:
Nov 11th - Warsaw Philharmonic
early December- "The Nutcracker"
Sounds like some fun-filled days for you.
Have Fun.
minnie.

I'll check into the Nutcracker,how nice that would be to see on our anniversary after dinner. Do they have a website? ***kim***

Kim,
I dont think the Arlington has their own website.
However, you can buy tickets for the Arlington at the following:
www.ticketmaster.com/venue/73731
also, you may want to take a look at this website:
www.santabarbaradowntown.com
minnie.

Thanks, enjoyed the website! ***kim*** :)