Ala Mar by the Sea

Our bathroom was gross. The toilet paper holder was missing and so was the toilet paper. Bathtub jets were moldy. Outside of bathtub broken too. Breakfast was not monitored…burning waffles because waffle iron was so old. The property is old and many things broken. I couldn’t believe how bad it was considering how much we paid to stay there. Even though the location was convenient, I’d never go back. Person working the desk was nice, but it’s not like he could fix these problems.

Watch out they don’t tell you it’s a motel until you get there and see the sign for your self. Not clean at all and they had try to double charge us. I wanted to throw up as it was so gross & creepy!

The room had dirty walls. There was only one small bottle of body wash for three people, so it was used up by the first person. The exterior of the refrigerator was damaged, and one of the room keys did not work. Breakfast consisted only of bagels.u

First let me say its location is great, the bed was comfortable and the breakfast was good but those are the only things good I have to say. First there is no front desk or anything on site there is however a sign that tells you to walk down the street to Villa Rosa to their front desk to check in. I was having issues with the room and tried to call, message the number that messaged me, stopped by the Villa Rosa front desk several times. AC but there was no remote and it was very muggy. Had a small fan that was trash super wobbly only had 3 speeds and did not oscillate. And I actually had to use it to keep the plantation shutters closed other wise the would come open where they were supposed to overlap the close. Had no screens on windows, and had the homeless outside the door more than once so we didn’t keep the windows open to try and cool the room off for any length of time. The TV volume did not work right we could not even hear it well and the volume would not go up. We tried to use the microwave and quickly discovered it had not handle to open it. They also charged us $50 for property fee/ taxes/ and of course the room. We were not aware of the extra $50 so that suck. I have yet to hear from anyone. We will not stay here again and that’s too bad since the location was amazing.

I really enjoyed staying here because the property is across from the beach, and we had access to the pool at the hotel next door. The pool was a little cold for me but there was a hot tub. Breakfast was included, and so was a happy hour cheese and wine spread. The hotel is definitely unique and old Santa Barbara, but we liked it. We had a room with 3 beds, but the downside was that the AC did not work. The room had fans, but it was stuffy in there at night and I did not feel comfortable opening the ground-floor windows while sleeping. I would stay here again.

We were initially booked at the Ala Mar Motel, when we arrived the check in lobby was locked and there was a sign that instructed you to check in next door at the Villa Rosa Inn. We went over to the Inn at noon and nobody was at the front desk, there was another guest besides us waiting to check in as well. We ended up leaving and coming back closer to 3. The lady that checked us in was very nice and gave us a room at the Villa Rosa Inn with a nice Ocean view. All the staff members we came in contact with were extremely nice and helpful and so sweet. However, the hotel is run down and needs some TLC. The jets in the jacuzzi did not work, the window seals in our room had cracked paint and the window in the bathroom was stuck and would not open, bed was not comfortable at all. We stayed there two nights and did not get good sleep because the first night we were there we had a homeless lady cussing herself out right outside our window, the next morning she was in the lobby helping herself to breakfast, then the last night we were there we were on the patio of the Ala Mar watching the sunset and she came up the stairs to join us, we left and went to our room. Shortly afterwards she was stealing a bicycle from the room across from us, then was trying to get into our hotel from the back by banging on the door. Not relaxing at all. This hotel needs to spring for some security or lock the doors and have the hotel keys open them to keep employees and guests safe.

😎

Location is great, pool was closed, and overall room cleanliness wasn’t up to par for the price.

Finally, upon checkout, I received an email that my credit card was charged an additional $79 because Hotels.com underpaid the hotel for our stay (although I paid the full contractual amount). I realize that this seems to be an issue with Hotels.com, but it should really be between the hotel and the third party. I am still trying to deal with it. My young adult sons and I went to Santa Barbara and stayed there because my husband/their dad passed away two months ago, and this was our first Father's Day without him. This was an unfortunate way to end our stay.

Great Stay!

The property itself is beautiful, charming, and perfectly located. Our room was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, with everything we needed for a relaxing stay. The peaceful atmosphere made it easy to unwind, and the grounds were beautifully kept. One of the highlights was the convenient location. We were able to easily explore Santa Barbara's beaches, restaurants, shops, and attractions without having to travel far. The staff was always available to answer questions and provide helpful recommendations. Throughout our stay, every interaction with the team was pleasant and professional. They clearly take pride in providing excellent customer service and ensuring guests have a great experience. Check-out was just as smooth and efficient as check-in, making for a stress-free departure. Overall, Villa Rosa Inn exceeded our expectations, and we would gladly stay here again. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a comfortable, welcoming, and conveniently located place to stay in Santa Barbara.

The Accommodations: Our room was exceptionally clean and well-maintained. We found the inclusion of a mini-fridge and microwave in the room to be a great perk during our stay. The "Sister Property" Perks: One of the best parts about staying here is the full access to their sister property, Villa Rosa Inn, right next door. We spent plenty of time enjoying their picturesque courtyard, including a pool and hot tub. Both were very clean and set to a perfect temperature. The Food & Drink: The hospitality here is top-tier. We thoroughly enjoyed these complimentary offerings in the charming Villa Rosa lobby: Daily Breakfast: Served every morning in the Villa Rosa lobby—a wonderful way to start the day. Daily Happy Hour: We were blown away by the afternoon spread! They offer wine and a fantastic variety of snacks, including cheese, salami, nuts, olives, and even pie. The Service: What truly sets this place apart is the staff. Everyone, including the owner, was incredibly hospitable and welcoming. A special shout-out to Melody at the front desk, who was so friendly and helpful throughout our visit. My mom fell on the sidewalk a few blocks away, so we came to the desk to ask for band-aids. Melody went above and beyond getting a first aid kit and getting bags of ice for my mom throughout the afternoon. Thank you, Melody! We can’t wait to come back. If you want a friendly, coastal getaway with amazing perks, this is the spot!

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Surprised at older poor reviews; stayed here w elderly parents and enjoyed relaxed quiet peaceful stay, so close to beach and wharf.

The hotel advertises included parking, but I had to leave my car parked on the street. Check-in was also inconvenient because I had to go to a different hotel to complete the process. The room was very outdated and poorly maintained. The bathroom looked so worn out that I felt uncomfortable using it, and the jacuzzi tub appeared old and unclean. The worst part of my stay happened at checkout. I arrived around 11:30 PM and paid over $400 for one night. The next day I accidentally overslept. Instead of receiving a polite call or knock, staff woke me up by shouting questions about who I was and what I was doing there. After identifying myself, I was told I would be charged a $100 late checkout fee. I apologized and immediately left the room. The employee told me I could go, leading me to believe the fee would be waived, but the $100 charge still appeared on my account. When I questioned the charge, I was told staff approached me that way because they did not know whether I was a homeless person who had entered the room illegally. I found that explanation offensive and completely unprofessional. To make matters worse, Expedia’s messages stated a 12 PM checkout, while staff insisted checkout was at 11 AM. For the price, I expected much better conditions, communication, and customer service. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst hotel experiences I have had.

The staff, comfort and cleanliness of the room were exceptional. I didn't like that my room rescheduling couldn't happen due to Booking.com policy.

Bathroom was dirty, moldy and unventilated and the room was not ready by the promised time. Front desk lady was rude because I didn’t fill in a form that was texted to me in the middle of my 5 hour drive to Santa Barbara. If a form was required it should have been sent 24 hours earlier, not when people are actively traveling. Maintenance man was very nice and helpful. We didn’t know how to check in, there was no signage saying that the registration desk was at a neighboring hotel and thankfully he walked us over to check in. He salvaged what started out as a crappy experience.

location, frendly staffs "aged" facility

Micvlose to the sea

I was not aware while booking that this was owned by a neighboring property, so the lobby area for check in and breakfast was in a separate building we had to walk to. Also the room was much smaller and a tight squeeze compared to what is perceived from the pictures. Shower could have used an update. Lastly, the lighting in the main room was very dim. Other than that, on the positive side we really enjoyed the free wine tasting nightly and the distance to the beach and other in-town attractions were an amazing feature. The staff was polite. I would stay here again but not with the entire family due to size.