Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta

We keep coming back to the Residence Inn by Marriott Santa Barbara – Goleta when we visit or pick up our son at UCSB. The warm, welcoming staff have made it our favorite nearby hotel. Tommy deserves a special mention for helping us out beyond what we'd expect on several occasions. The rooms are consistently clean, feel new, and are surprisingly spacious, often nearly twice the size of similar hotel rooms. The kitchenette lets us make simple meals, and we've even celebrated birthdays while traveling here. The breakfast buffet is excellent, with fresh baked breads and bagels, egg and ham sandwiches, bacon, eggs, fruit, and yogurt. The kitchen team is kind to guests arriving shortly before breakfast ends. We've asked for gluten-free food several times and have always been given tasty GF bread or muffins. There's a handy gym, and we especially enjoy the courtyard's ping-pong table, putting green, pool, and spa. The location makes it easy to get around while staying peaceful and quiet. The airport is nearby, but we've never noticed plane noise, unlike at some places directly beneath flight paths. It really feels like a home away from home, and we'll keep returning. I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Goleta or UCSB.

The staff were welcoming and helpful, and the gym was far larger than most hotel gyms, with room for 10 or more people. We were surprised to find a full kitchen in the room, with a microwave, stove, sink faucet with scrubber, dishwasher, and big fridge. The rooms are very spacious, and the large bathrooms have walk-in showers. All the fixtures looked brand new, with no cracked grout or odd stains like I've seen in other hotels. Outside, there are fire pits and games, plus a pool and hot Jacuzzi. The location is a little awkward beside the airport, so bring earplugs, though it wasn't as loud as I expected or as noisy as other hotels. It's also in a more industrial area, but Cristino's Bakery is within walking distance and is amazing.

I travel to Santa Barbara and Goleta often for work, and this Residence Inn has been stellar. The rooms are clean and very comfortable, the staff are thoroughly professional, and the breakfasts are quite good. Shout-out to Tommy in particular. When a family emergency caused me to miss a reservation, they kindly waived the no-show fee. That alone makes this Marriott property top-notch in my book. Excellent hotel, two thumbs up and five stars across the board.

We came as a family with young kids, and the staff were really accommodating. Tommy at the front desk was great, and he and the rest of the team gladly brought us extra comforters to cushion the foldout bed. At first I thought its mattress, with hard springs, wouldn't work, but there was a wraparound mattress cover in the closet that made it very comfortable. The suite was whisper quiet despite being near the airport, and breakfast was great.