Hyatt Place Santa Barbara

Tyler handled my check-in with real professionalism, and the staff were generally kind and accommodating. The location also worked well for us, sort of central, though we still had to drive everywhere. I liked the atmosphere, but it was hard to relax with how much sound carries. The laminate floors make things echo, and you can hear hallway noise, people working, kids, and even conversations inside rooms as you walk past. It doesn't feel very private. The garage is a tight squeeze to enter and exit. Those little boom barriers seem to get in the way and don't appear to operate, so I couldn't see why they were there. There was also water pouring into a trash can in the dining area over the weekend. I saw another review suggesting the leak might be ongoing. We had a good stay this weekend, but the rooms weren't great.

The room was cozy and comfortable, with about 500 square feet, and the breakfast buffet was tasty and neatly set out. I also appreciated the spacious parking and being able to reach our room from the parking area through walkways on each floor, which saved walking through the lobby and was especially useful with kids. The hotel has a lovely resort-like feel, with attractive interior design and an exterior shaped by the Spanish colonial style of the Santa Barbara area. There is a storage building right beside it that can make the entrance confusing in navigation, and the entrance is narrow, so stopping briefly to park can be awkward. A shopping center with groceries and other stores was about a five-minute drive away. It was a wonderful stay, and we were very satisfied.

The biggest problem was how hard it was to get help. Before arriving, I tried to check in through the app on several devices, call the hotel with specific requests, and use the Hyatt app's “text hotel” feature. None worked. A representative at the number in the app didn't meaningfully help. At the desk, I showed staff what happened and was told the phone system has problems from time to time. Later, the room phone also failed when I needed more towels, so I had to go downstairs in person because the external number still wasn't working. One elevator was out of service too. I asked for a top-floor room at check-in and was told none were available for the room type I'd booked. They said I'd have to pay extra for a different type on the top floor. I explained I'd tried to ask about this before arrival, and it would've helped to know in advance, especially with every communication channel down. The next afternoon, I found water on the floor in front of the bed. Maintenance traced it to a leaking mini fridge. More water came out as they removed it. I also mentioned that my ice pack had melted and the freezer compartment didn't seem to work. I was told to adjust the temperature knob, but hours later it still hadn't frozen. When I asked about the replacement fridge, I learned it had no freezer compartment, which hadn't been explained before. In the end, staff froze the ice pack for me. After I involved corporate, the “manager” said I had received a “complimentary upgrade,” which was just a third-floor room. I had been charged for that upgrade, but the manager refused to refund it. They also told corporate they hadn't known about the phone issues, even though staff at the hotel had told me they happen from time to time. Reading other reviews left me feeling the property takes advantage of guests wherever it can. Potential guests should keep that in mind. It's good to know Hyatt is willing to lose customers over issues like these. This was by far my worst stay at a Hyatt. The many problems, poor communication, and inability to reach anyone made it extremely frustrating. I wish I'd known beforehand so I could've made a more informed choice about where to stay.

We didn't get around to trying breakfast, and we bring a little fan with us to cover up noise. The room itself was nice, with a coffee maker, fridge, iron and ironing board, and I think a small hair dryer in the bathroom. The parking garage is narrow to drive through. It's a bit out of the way, but close enough to drive to the places we wanted to visit. I'd stay again.