Motel 6 Santa Barbara, CA - Beach

I had no problems during my stay, and the staff were friendly. East beach is lovely and close by. The hotel offers good value near the beach, with updated, cute, comfortable rooms in a two-story building and parking in front and behind. There's a refrigerator and hairdryer, but no microwave. Earplugs are in the room, though I heard no trains at night and very little outdoor noise. A few restaurants and a grocery store are within five minutes; for more options, expect a 15-minute walk or a short drive. The pool isn't heated, but it's open in daylight year-round. I found booking online through Expedia was cheaper than going direct to Motel 6.

The only downside for us was the TV. It had some cable channels but wasn't a smart TV, so we couldn't Airplay from our Apple devices and watched Netflix on our iPads and MacBooks instead. Otherwise, the bed was comfortable, the shower was strong and nice and hot, and the Wi-Fi worked well. The recently decorated rooms were cute and had a microwave and mini fridge. The pool looked clean and well maintained, though we never used it. Even when the Motel 6 filled up by the weekend, we didn't have any bothersome noise from other guests. It's an affordable place with a hard-to-beat location: a block from East Beach and within walking distance of Stearns Wharf, State Street restaurants and cafes, and Milpas taquerias.

We came for a wedding and picked this as the cheapest hotel in town. It was a ridiculous experience. On the first morning, staff asked us to change rooms because of plumbing trouble next door. On the wedding day, after we'd already moved everything, my wife was showering and doing her hair when the shower stopped draining. The water rose in the tub, then came out through the wall and onto the floor. In a towel and trying to get ready for the ceremony, she had to manage the flooding to keep water from reaching the next room and our things. We were asked to move again, twice in two days. I could forgive the plumbing problems, but management never returned my first call about compensation. After several more calls, they offered 20% off a future visit. I live in Oregon, so that's worthless to me. A coupon isn't accountability, and it was a terrible, cheap offer. Even the cheapest Santa Barbara hotel isn't cheap. When a stay fails that badly, the customer should get some money back. I hate leaving a negative review, but the service and lack of accountability earned it.

A friend and I spent three nights here this week and were blown away by how quiet and comfortable it was. My daughter stayed a couple of years ago and called it a hidden gem, but we were still sooooooo surprised. The room was immaculate, with two very comfortable beds, plenty of pillows, and a brand new mini-refrigerator. The location was excellent and front desk help was superior. We slept so well. We didn't use the pool, but it looked sparkling clean. Motel 6 has upped its game, at least this one has. For our last girls' trip, we paid $175 more per night for a pricey hotel on State street. It was noisy and tired looking, and we didn't sleep well. This Motel 6 was two blocks from the beach and offered free parking. We'll definitely return with our husbands.