FOUND Hotels, Santa Barbara, Series by Marriott Hotel

We booked when the hotel was still Best Western, and it’s now owned by Marriott. The ownership change may have made things a bit chaotic for the staff. We stayed six nights with kids. The courtyard was great, the location was excellent, and service was prompt. A few things could be better. There were no high chairs in the breakfast area, so we had to bring our own, which was bizarre. The hotel is old enough that we could hear quite a lot from the room above us. Pool towels often weren’t available by the pool, and while it was heated, the water wasn’t as warm as my family would’ve liked. The hot tub was great. I’d still recommend the hotel in general.

The renovated rooms look nice in the online photos, but those pictures don’t show the rest of the property. We’ve been Titanium Elite members for years and have traveled all over the world. I’ve never written a hotel review before, and I’ve never had a Marriott stay this bad. The sound insulation is horrible, and there are gaps around the doors. The wall-mounted air units are dirty. The room numbering system is horrendous. We were sent to the wrong spot on another floor, then someone had to move us and bring new keys, though they did that quickly. Don’t be fooled by the fresh paint and flooring in the pictures. It feels like staying at a Motel 6. I noticed while writing this that it used to be a Best Western, and there’s a reason they don’t show the outside of the place. We’d considered another hotel but wanted to stay closer to family. After this, we know we’d have been happier staying by the airport and making the drive.

We enjoyed our stay. It’s a fun place, well located, and reasonably priced. Looks like Marriott just took over, so I’m curious to see what they do.

The outdoor space was beautiful, and I mostly enjoyed my stay for the pool and jacuzzi. The rooms were decent, though they felt sterile. I’m picky because I design hotels and restaurants. I really wanted to return, but they don’t take dogs anymore, so I’ll stay elsewhere. Also, the breakfast needs work.