Santa Barbara Hotels

New for 2012, Hotel Indigo Santa Barbara is a small, stylish, boutique property along State Street in the city center, just two blocks from Stearns Wharf and the Pacific seafront. US 101 runs by to the north, and other sites within walking distance include Santa Barbara City College, Pershing Park, the Amtrak Station and a large selection restaurants & bars. The 30 rooms are colorful, oversized and beautifully furnished, looking out across the peaceful neighborhood; the relaxing accommodations are the main reason to stay, since other amenities are somewhat limited, to a business center, fitness center and guest laundry.

The Fess Parker Resort has one of the finest settings of any hotel in Santa Barbara, occupying 1,500 feet of the oceanfront close to the town center, separated from the beach only by the four lanes of Cabrillo Boulevard. The oversized guest rooms at the Mission-style property are divided amongst several blocks separated by landscaped gardens and walkways; many have ocean views, and a private patio or balcony. Sports facilities comprise an Olympic-size outdoor pool, three tennis courts, a fitness center and spa. There are three restaurants on-site, plus an oceanview bar. 40,000 sq ft of flexible outdoor/indoor space accommodates meetings and events of all sizes.

Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara is essentially a beachfront property, 240 feet from the sands; separated by Cabrillo Boulevard and a parking lot. The buildings have a Spanish-style design, incorporating red brick roofs and whitewashed walls. Many of the rooms enjoy ocean views, and some have a balcony or patio; the others look across the mostly residential neighborhood, which includes a sports park, towards the coastal mountains to the north. The onsite restaurant, Marbella, features local cuisine accompanied by fine views of the beaches, while Mar Vista lounge/bar serves light meals and drinks. Recreation facilities are a fitness center, outdoor pool, hot tub and fire pit. The seven meetings rooms (totalling 10,000 square feet) also have ocean or mountain views.

The main hotel in downtown Santa Barbara is the Holiday Inn Express along Haley Street, an easy walk from the shops, restaurants & galleries of the town center, including Paseo Nuevo 2 blocks to the north, and a slightly longer walk (half a mile) to West Beach and the marina. The hotel has 61 rooms on thyree floors, in a historic building dating from 1917 though regularly updated. Top floor rooms have extensive views over the city, the ocean and the mountains to the north. The city center location and age of the building mean that amenities are somewhat limited - no pool or fitness center, for instance - but the hotel more than makes up for that with its elegant decor, comfortable rooms and good service. Free continental breakfast is served.

There are many hotels in Santa Barbara near the beaches, but the three floor Best Western Beachside Inn is one of the closest - some of its 60 rooms look out over West Beach and Santa Barbara Harbor, with others having views of the greenery of Pershing Park, or the hotel's courtyard, outdoor heated pool and sundeck. The inn is located along the main waterfront drive (Cabrillo Boulevard), walking distance of several local restaurants and about a mile from the downtown area. Free continental breakfast is available to all guests.

The 121 room Best Western Encina Lodge has a north central location in Santa Barbara along Bath Street, in a mixed business/residential neighborhood somewhat removed from the main lodging areas in town, but just half a mile off US 101. Places within a few blocks include Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, the Museum of Natural History, and Queen of the Missions. The full service hotel has its own steak house restaurant/bar (A Capella), open for breakfast, lunch & dinner, and with meals available al fresco on the patio. For relaxation, guests can choose from an outdoor pool, whirlpool, beauty shop and massage. A free shuttle to Santa Barbara airport is available from 7 am to 10 pm.

One of three Best Western hotels in Santa Barbara, the Pepper Tree Inn is a very well reviewed establishment towards the north side of town along State Street, just 0.3 miles from Highway 101. It is right opposite the shops/restaurants of La Cumbre Plaza and within a few blocks of two golf courses (Santa Barbara Golf Club & La Cumbre Country Club), though rather further (4 miles) from the beaches and downtown. Accommodation totals 150 rooms in two blocks, both enclosing an area of gardens with a heated pool, and the whole site is attractively decorated with flowers, palm trees and other tropical plants. The long list of amenities also includes a restaurant, cocktail lounge, 2 hot tubs, an exercise room, sauna, guest laundry, beauty shop, gift shop and free airport shuttle.

Towards the cheaper end of the market, Quality Inn Santa Barbara is a small, 2 story motel on the corner of State and De La Vina streets at the north side of town, with a relatively quiet location bordering the tree-lined lawns of Mackenzie Park. The inn offers the two main services of outdoor pool & free continental breakfast, and is close enough to a few restaurants though most of the surroundings are residential. All rooms are equipped with a refrigerator and some have a microwave.

Highlight of Ramada Santa Barbara is the mature tropical garden, which contains a freshwater pond, swimming pool, whirlpool and a great variety of plants. Half the rooms have garden views, while the remainder look north or east across a mostly residential district on the west side of the city, close to neighboring Goleta. Free deluxe continental breakfast is provided; for other meals there is one restaurant opposite (IHOP) and others a little way south along Hollister Avenue. Guests here to work can take advantage of meeting space and a business center.

Days Inn Santa Barbara is a small place with just 25 refrigerator-equipped guest rooms, all on the ground floor, arranged along three sides of the parking lot, which contains several groups of palm trees, towering high above the low rise buildings. Pershing Park, directly opposite, features sports facilities, footpaths and a picnic area. The beach, the harbor and Santa Barbara City College are all just a quarter of a mile away. The central location and reasonable rates are the main reasons to stay, since facilities are limited to a hot tub and free continental breakfast.

The very first Motel 6 property began operations in 1962 and is still open for business today. Motel 6 Santa Barbara enjoys a quiet setting in a residential neighborhood 400 feet from the nearest beach, also close to a few restaurants and two city parks. Guest rooms are housed in two exterior corridor blocks, with an outdoor pool at the front and the parking lot all around. All have been regularly refurbished, and are decorated in bright colors, equipped with modern fixtures & fittings. Wi-fi is available, and some rooms feature a refrigerator and microwave.

The Motel 6 in west Santa Barbara has a small frontage along the access road (State Street), though extends quite far back, so most rooms are away from the highway, allowing for a quiet night's sleep. Like most properties of this low-price chain the accommodation block is relatively old, with two floors and exterior corridors, though all rooms are modern in appearance, decorated in white and orange. Amenities are an outdoor pool, wi-fi, free coffee, and a microwave/refrigerator in select rooms. At least ten restaurants are within one block.