There are many hotels in Santa Barbara near the beaches, but the 3 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 (W Cabrillo Blvd), walking distance of several local restaurants and about a mile from the downtown area. Free continental breakfast is available to all guests.

The main hotel in downtown Santa Barbara is the Holiday Inn Express (17 W Haley St), 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 Express has 61 rooms on 3 floors, in a historic building dating from 1917 though updated as recently as 2007. 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.

The 121 room Best Western Encina Lodge has a north central location in Santa Barbara, at 2220 Bath St, 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 storey motel on the corner of State & 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.

Although listed as being in Santa Barbara, the Holiday Inn hotel is located near the center of the neighboring town of Goleta, 6 miles east, right next to a Best Western. The Inn is a sizeable (160 room), elegant, full service hotel featuring an enclosed courtyard garden with palm trees and a large outdoor pool. The distance from Santa Barbara means slightly lower prices than lodging closer to the center, though Goleta provides all necessary facilities with plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. Santa Barbara Airport and Goleta Beach are both 1.5 miles to the south. The Holiday Inn has its own restaurant - Remington's - serving breakfast & dinner, plus other amenities of guest laundry, free airport shuttle and a business center.