I am considering 3 hotels for a 4 night stay in Santa Barbara. Would appreciate comments.

Fess Parker Doubletree - by far the most expensive. We can book a standard room but risk hearing the train at night. But it is on the water, close to shops and restaurants, is a real resort and looks beautiful.

Pacifica Suites - middle ground - not a bargain but still $100 less per night than Doubletree. Grounds and rooms look nice but may be a bit out of the way.

Holiday Express Goleta - $200 less than Doubletree - clean basic but perhaps less convenient than even Pacifica.

Which would you choose and why?

Sorry - meant to say that we are a family of 4, active teens and parents. Will be golfing, touring the coast, biking and maybe kayaking.

My two sisters and I stayed two nights at the Fess Parker Doubletree and really liked it.

We didn't hear the train, because our room was on the other side of the property, with an oceanview. We also had a huge patio, and the room was quite large with two queen beds.

We liked it for the price because we wanted more a 'resort' feel than a hotel/motel. If you go there, ask for a room on the second floor, facing the ocean. That way you'll be above the street and the view is better.

(There's also a little hotel/motel, called the Harborview, that many people like. It's less expensive than the Doubletree, I believe. http://www.harborviewinnsb.com/)

Thanks Peace Out - the rates for the Harbor View are about the same as the Doubletree for when we will be there.

Anyone been to Pacifica Suites?

We stayed at the Fess Parker with our kids, and I don't remember hearing the train noise. It is very conveniently located and they rent bikes right from the front of the property. We biked to the zoo, and walked to the wharf and the downtown restaurants. I think that it's probably worth the splurge.

If you are there on a Sunday, you must visit the art walk by the shore.

Just an FYI Santa Barbara hotels are offering gas cards...you might want to ask those you identified or Google Santa Barbara GAs cards

I'd pick the HarborView over the Doubletree if they're the same price. It's closer to the pier and right at the trolley, so your active teens could head back and forth to downtown etc very easily.
Note that all the hotels are across the main drag from the water, not sure if the Doubletree looked to you like it was "on the water".

Marina Beach Motel is a nice spot if you want to save some $$$, but not right at the Pier like the HarborView. Mason Beach Inn is also a nice place for le$$.

We stayed at Pacifica Suites this last spring while visiting UCSB. It's a very nice place and very comfortable for a family of four. But it isn't in downtown SB or near the beach. But it's still a nice retreat if you want to drive to the beach or other spots. Very convenient for visiting the University.

For the same price, I'd choose the Doubletree over the Harborview. We drove by the Harborview and it is not a large resort property, like the Doubletree is. Much more space for the kids to enjoy. Directly across from the beach, and tennis courts to use, too.

Thank you all for the suggestions.

Just back from our stay at the Doubletree. While it wasn't perfect, it was a good choice for us. We were given a room right by the train tracks the first night and sure enough at 2:15am the train went by blowing its whistle. Woke both my dh and I up and neither of us could get back to sleep. We got the Doubletree to upgrade us to an oceanview room (because of my VIP status in Hilton Honors) the next day which was much better. The rooms were identical except for the view. Very large, well furnished with a good bathroom. The grounds are very pretty and the pool was busy but large enough to accommodate many many children. Rented bikes right on the property, borrowed a volleyball from the concierage and biked down the beach to pretend we could play volleyball. Also used the tennis courts. All in all it was a good choice and I would recommend it to families.

Santa Barbara is a great town. Wouldn't mind retiring there - if I hit the lottery!