Polo House and Bungalows

Santa Ynez was a new stop for us, and we’re already planning to return. It’s a small, quiet place to sleep well and eat well while exploring the local wine region and nearby Buellton, Los Olivos, and Solvang. We spent a long weekend at ForFriends Inn with another couple. They’d stayed at the Cottages before and wanted to show us the place. We were comfortable, slept well, and ate even better. If you like B&Bs, ForFriends is something special.

The front desk staff were genuinely kind and helpful, and the inn itself is charming. But the way management handled our booking left us feeling dismissed and evasively treated. We won’t be back, which is disappointing given how lovely the property is. My husband and I had booked a Valentine’s Day weekend at FriendsInn, then had to cancel at the last minute because of COVID. We were told we’d get a credit, and the next day staff helped us rebook by phone for April. We agreed to a price increase of under $100 to stay at the inn, and I have a voicemail confirming that call. Two days before the trip, I phoned to confirm and was told someone would call me back. That’s when we found out we weren’t booked at the inn at all. We’d been put in an ADA unit at the Bungalow for an extra $400. Nobody had told us about either the change of location or the substantial increase, and we also weren’t informed that the inn was under construction. The manager admitted, somewhat reluctantly, that our reservation had only been entered into the system three days earlier. Since we had no email confirmation, though, he wouldn’t acknowledge or take responsibility for failing to book what we’d agreed to over the phone. They offered a 10% discount, which barely addressed a 150% price increase, and said we’d effectively been “upgraded” to a costlier room without asking us or telling us ahead of time. Management deflected responsibility instead of owning the clear mistake, leaving us to pay for it.

If you’re bringing an EV, ask for a bungalow with an EV charger. The bungalows are very nice, and I highly recommend staying in one. Venessa and Carolyn were among the staff we met, and they were both super friendly and welcoming.

David & Carolyn made us feel right at home in their nice cottage. We enjoyed their warm hospitality at the daily happy hour/charcuterie and appreciated being close to one of our main destinations, Roblar Winery. I’m also looking forward to talking guitars and guitar gear with David, who provides the nightly entertainment. We usually stay in Solvang every December and make quick trips up there during the year. This time we tried a new area and hotel, and the owners didn’t disappoint. We’re looking forward to staying there again. Highly recommended!!!