One of the things I love about LA is how it’s within driving distance of so many places. It’s the perfect ”base” from which to take weekend getaways. I’ve been to San Diego many times. I’ve also taken road trips to Palm Springs and Orange County, both of which I love.
Continue reading: Review: Four Seasons Santa Barbara
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It is a great hotel. One tip is you can park on the street that is shown in the map behind the Casitas. There are actual parking spots and I've never had an issue and it's free!
It is a great hotel and is one of the few FS hotels that was acquired from a prior owner (The Biltmore), but when I have stayed there in the past on the Amex Platinum program, the beach club across the street was not accessible for free to all hotel guests, but only to guests that booked a certain class of room. Guests who booked the lower two classes of rooms had to pay extra to use the beach club (I think it was $200), which can be misleading because the pictures of the hotel on its website show only pictures of the pool at the beach club and not the smaller pool on the property, so it implies that the beach club is accessible for free to all hotel guests.
This hotel was on top of my list for my stay in April. However rates are starting then 600-700+. I am getting a bit desperate as it seems that even the upscale brands are so dated or cost more than 600/day for a standard room. I would have booked the Four Seasons for the rate you got but not so much more. Does anyone have other suggestions for a renovated or new property with fresh feeling and close to the beach? Not just in Santa Barbara, but anywhere around?
Lucky, not to nitpick, but even though us Socal-ers always refer to highway numbers with a "the" in front (ie. the 405), that doesn't apply to PCH for some reason. So no one says "the PCH" 🙂
On to the review, nice thorough review as always. I've been to a wedding here once and based on what I saw, wasn't a place I was dying to check out. Based on your pictures, I don't think I would stay here even at $300/night. Just nothing about it is pleasing to me, but that's just my own personal taste in decor.
I loved this review! I miss SB; I used to visit regularly when I was in college. Something you should know, especially if you are in CA with any frequency, is that what you call "Spanish style" is called "Mission style". It is a very common type of architecture in CA.
Not as classy for sure as the Four Seasons but my wife and I stayed at the Fess Parker in Santa Barbara when we visited last spring.Had a nice room with a view of the ocean and walking distance to all that Santa Barbara has to offer. We had a great anniversary dinner on the terrace of Bella Vista at the Four Seasons.
I stay here quite a bit as I have clients in S.B. A few suggestions: If you park behind the hotel in the public lot it is free and usually much closer to many of the rooms. As well, it should be noted for people booking standard rooms but the beach club across the street is NOT included in all the rates. It is free for those booking premium suites only and comes with a hefty add on for regular rooms. I am not sure the category of room Ben had or if he was extended a quiet courtesy to "membership" there but they are quite adamant in not allowing guests there in most rooms unless in the priciest rooms.
Forgot to mention and for no particular reason...but this property is actually owned by Ty Warner Group that also owns the Four Seasons New York. Which is why beanie babies are quite prevalent in both hotels. Go figure.
I grew up visiting Santa Barbara a lot as a child and actually lived in Santa Barbara for a number of years (moving was a very poor decision in retrospect), so I feel like I know the area better than most.
Concur with the others about the Bacara. It is an awesome property (although it's quite a ways away from town).
Like many smaller resort communities, Santa Barbara's most interesting properties aren't chains, so they're not attracting the points and loyalty set (by and large). Similarly, it's not a community that gives up its most special charms easily. You should definitely go again, spend some time exploring Montecito, the Santa Ynez Valley and, of course, more of Santa Barbara itself.
Looks like a very dated property. Regarding the $1200 rate I don't think you can call that insane. Ok, let me make this very clear: I would never pay that much money to stay in the property BUT if they are charging that much it is because someone is willing to pay that much. That is Economics 101 and based on supply and demand. Thus, they will find the right balance between getting the hotel full at the highest price possible. Delta does that very well. 🙁
Am I the only one here who expected better? I understand and like the Spanish style, but the property looks dated and in need of a renovation. I cannot imagine paying more than $325 for that room. I agree with Adrian about the paper cups. I happen to like paper cups but it's bizarre that a Four Seasons would have them.
Nicest drive in the country? You need to keep going further north than Santa Barbara for that--specifically the Big Sur coastline.
PS Yes, you need to drop "the" from preceding PCH. I have no idea why, but that's just the way it is. Sorta like the scene in The Social Network when Sean Parker tells them to stop calling it "The Facebook."
I die at those room service prices...so ridiculous. I guess rich people don't actually know that pancakes shouldn't cost $21... LOL. I'd be ubering to the Santa Barbara IHOP before paying $32pp for a breakfast buffet. 😉 Fair disclosure: I have paid ridiculous amounts of money for simple food at astronomical prices. I just cry a little when I have to.
The room looks like my grandmother's house and I can stay there free. $325 is way too much for that room. $1200 is a rip off. I can rent a 3 bedroom gated villa on the ocean in Santa Barbara for $650 night in the summer. As a bonus furniture from this century is included.