Quality Inn Santa Barbara

The self-serve breakfast was plentiful, with yogurt, cereal, milk, pastries, coffee, and waffle irons where we got to learn how to make waffles. It was easy to stock up for the day. We also liked that the motel’s main building seemed to use concrete rather than just wood, so we didn’t hear the neighbors or anyone above us. The room was a good size, clean, and well maintained. We had an accessible room with its own disabled parking space in the main lot, though we didn’t need it. The air conditioning worked a treat. The motel is about two miles north of the Santa Barbara seafront, at a busy intersection. It has several sections, with a central lot serving some rooms and off-road parking right outside others. We walked down the main road and visited a bar. Most restaurants were closed or closing by 9 p.m., which seems common in the US. The area is nice and didn’t feel threatening, even though it’s residential rather than a tourist spot.

I’ve been here twice now, staying 2-3 nights each time, and both visits were pleasant. The customer service is really friendly, and the breakfast was delicious without being crowded. There were plenty of seats, plus trays if you wanted to take food back to your room. They had eggs, waffles, toast, biscuits and gravy, along with yogurt, fruit, pastries, cereal, and other options. It’s centrally located for going to the beach or hiking, and close to other restaurants. I used Uber Eats and the delivery time was almost nothing. There’s also a welcoming smoking area off to the side of the parking lot, with a table and chairs and a gorgeous view of De La Vina St. The room was very clean, the sheets were crisp, and the air didn’t feel stuffy. The coffee pot and refrigerator were new, and the bathroom hairdryer was amazing and very modern. I’ll stay here every time I visit Santa Barbara.

The pool was clean and warm, and the beds were quite comfortable. The room was a good size, and it was easy to connect an Xbox to the TV. But the shower drain was clogged and backed up while we showered. I also left a few things in the dresser and was told nothing had been turned in when I contacted the office. Did housekeeping not check the dresser?

The room felt cramped, musty, humid, and not worth the price for the graduation and Father’s Day weekend. The parking was limited and the lot needs repaving. There were gaps around the front door, and one light was out. The breakfast was bare minimum and sad. The TV didn’t work the first night. The office manager tried but couldn’t fix it, though someone came the next day and did. A dog kept barking. I reported it to the front office on the first night, but nothing happened, and it was still barking the next day. The bathroom setup also seemed dangerous. The light switch, heated floor switch, outlet, and sink light were all too close to water. The light switch was about an inch and a quarter above the sink, next to the faucet. Someone could get electrocuted.