Harbor View Inn

Santa Barbara, California Coast

Resort/City View Room
Resort/City View Room
Spa
Resort/City View Room
Resort/City View Room
Spa

The hotel

You’ll feel relaxed as soon as you walk through the door of the Harbor View Inn, Santa Barbara. Once the friendly staff have welcomed you to their Spanish villa-style retreat, it’s time to really chill out. Head to the oceanfront heated pool, take in the beach views and maybe drop by Spa Beaumontia for a treatment or dip in the Jacuzzi. If you want to get out and explore, Stearns Wharf is just across the road, and there are some great restaurants a short walk away.

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Swimming Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Families
  • Room Service
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Fitness Centre/Gym
  • Close to Beach
  • Restaurant

Where is it

Centrally located across from West Beach and Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara. In easy walking distance of local shops and restaurants.

Hotel information

115 rooms on 3 floors in 3 buildings. All with balcony/terrace, air-conditioning, complimentary WiFi, flat-screen TV, tea/coffee-making facilities, mini-bar*, safe, iron and board, bathrobes and hairdryer. Resort/City View Rooms with either 1 king-size bed or 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

Ocean View Rooms and Ocean View Suites with 1 king-size bed, sleeping maximum 2 adults.

Pool bar (serving lunch and drinks, seasonal). Outdoor heated swimming pool. Jacuzzi. Fitness centre. Spa* with sauna and Jacuzzi. Room service*. Gift shop. Business centre. Self-parking $25 plus tax per night (payable locally, subject to change).

*Denotes local charge.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (819)
  • Very good (538)
  • Average (134)
  • Poor (58)
  • Terrible (55)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Mini vacation

Dec 7, 2020 astorgar4l Carpinteria, California

The entire staff from front desk to housekeeping to management was extremely professional, friendly, helpful and accommodating. The grounds were were clean. Best staycation during this crazy pandemic.
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Best Hotel in SB

Nov 19, 2020 JHarrold

This hotel has it all! Starting with the staff from the moment you check in to the morning you check out, they’re there to accommodate whatever need you may have and are extremely friendly. I took my wife on a surprise birthday getaway and the manager Junior really took care of us. He put us in an amazing ocean view room overlooking the pool to… Read more
This hotel has it all! Starting with the staff from the moment you check in to the morning you check out, they’re there to accommodate whatever need you may have and are extremely friendly. I took my wife on a surprise birthday getaway and the manager Junior really took care of us. He put us in an amazing ocean view room overlooking the pool to Stearns Wharf and the beach. The room was everything we wanted and he even surprised us with champagne waiting in the room upon our arrival! Cheers to you Junior! The hotel is in a perfect location, close to anything beach front and a quick walk up state street to all restaurants and shops. We’re already planning our next trip to SB and will only stay at the Harbor View Inn! Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Amazing time

Nov 17, 2020 355virginiat Los Angeles, California

Stay here! This hotel is amazing. I have stayed here twice and I can’t wait to go back again. The location is amazing, the rooms are beautiful, and if you are lucky to book the rooms directly in front of the pool you have the best view!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Missed the mark

Oct 18, 2020 Mobile399294

I had a business trip to Santa Barbara and did quite a bit of research prior to booking due to Covid. I was bringing along my husband and toddler and wanted to be confident that the Harbor View Inn was a safe place to stay. After contacting the Harbor View Inn, I was assured that the hotel was taking extra steps to provide the highest standard… Read more
I had a business trip to Santa Barbara and did quite a bit of research prior to booking due to Covid. I was bringing along my husband and toddler and wanted to be confident that the Harbor View Inn was a safe place to stay. After contacting the Harbor View Inn, I was assured that the hotel was taking extra steps to provide the highest standard of cleanliness. We booked two nights in a king ocean view room ($900 including taxes and parking fees). Upon arrival, I noticed guests in the interior halls of the Harbor View Inn that were not wearing masks. I saw a staff member walk by and he unfortunately didn’t feel comfortable reminding the guests to wear masks in the interior halls. I arrived to the room prior to my husband and toddler to clean high touch surfaces just to be safe. The room itself was pretty dated and tired (not like the images provided on the website). I got the heebie jeebies the moment I saw the grungy looking loveseat knowing my toddler would most likely rub her face all over it. This was an easy fix by requesting a sheet to put over the sofa and the staff was quick to accommodate. When I went into the bathroom, it was equally dated and tired. When I saw the tub, I regretted not packing a portable toddler tub knowing my kiddo would inevitably sit down when showering. The anti-slip mat in the tub looked pretty dirty at the seam where the mat met the tub. So I was off to CVS to pick up some bleach powder and magic erasers. I scrubbed the (slow draining) tub and it looked a lot better. As I cleaned the bathroom surfaces, I noticed tiny pavement ants on the counter. Not a huge deal but not something I expected to find. At this point, you’re probably saying to yourself, why didn’t you ask for a new room? I probably should have but I was too overwhelmed to even consider moving my exhausted toddler to another room. Later in the evening we were trying to enjoy the view on our balcony but that was short lived due to another guest chain smoking on his balcony. He was unfortunately at the pool the next morning and would go out on the footpath to smoke which still blew into the pool area. The pool itself was okay. The water was a bit cloudy looking and there were bugs and hair floating about. My toddler already had her sights on the pool so we had to suck it up and oblige. If you’re booking a room at the Harbor View Inn, keep in mind that there will be no daily housekeeping services in your room which I agree with 100%. I think it was a great decision on the hotel’s part. Due to this, you will be running your own garbage down to the bins, requesting fresh towels and making your own bed. Again, I am totally fine with this. But my biggest gripe is with the state of our comforter. When I went to make our bed, I was absolutely shocked to find a massive nasty looking stain on our comforter. The stain on the comforter was located facing upward and then was covered by the top sheet. There’s absolutely no way that housekeeping did not see it. This means somebody put the comforter down on the bed, looked at the large stain and chose to leave this nasty looking comforter behind. They somehow believed it met the “high standard of cleanliness” the hotel has vowed to provide during a pandemic. I worked in hospitality for 15 years and I can tell you that in my experience, linens in such a state would be deep sixed—immediately...no questions asked. I did bring it to the attention of the staff and they were quick to bring a replacement comforter. No big apology like I had expected. To be clear, I’m not accusing anyone of putting a dirty comforter on our bed, I believe the comforter had been sanitized but the stain didn’t lift. For me, it was an extremely off-putting thing to find and furthermore, how can I trust the room was cleaned well when there was such a blatant disregard for attention to detail. So would I stay again? Not sure. I would definitely ask for an updated room. The staff is friendly and accommodating and the view was wonderful. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Nice, but nothing special except location

Sep 8, 2020 159sherif San Diego, California

Visited recently on 9/3 and 9/4. Added a night after the initial reservation and the hotel wasn’t able to accommodate a combined reservation, nor book the second night (even though it was available on every third party site). That was fine, as it’s a holiday weekend so understandable. But, when we checked out of the first room, our luggage wasn’t… Read more
Visited recently on 9/3 and 9/4. Added a night after the initial reservation and the hotel wasn’t able to accommodate a combined reservation, nor book the second night (even though it was available on every third party site). That was fine, as it’s a holiday weekend so understandable. But, when we checked out of the first room, our luggage wasn’t moved to our new room, as promised. Next, parking fee was $35/night. This is absurd and should be included in room fee- of course you are going to park at the hotel! Resort fees still included even though the only “resort amenity” open was the pool - which was not the cleanest (even though there weren’t too many people in it) and closed early at 8pm. Beside that, I called front desk and room service and no answer. Never had to leave a message with a hotel before unless they are small (this one isn’t). Room service delivered the requested towels about an hour after the message was left. Prior to arrival, they weren’t answering phones either and I had to request a callback by leaving 2 messages with the hotel manager. When we visited or walked past the front desk, there were always a few people. So, I’m confused why they don’t answer their phones. Rooms: first was courtyard view. It wasn’t. There was a huge tree blocking any kind of view. Nice decor. No fridge?? Weird. Bed was too soft for us. Clean though. Second room was oceanfront (across the street from beach/pier. Smaller bathroom and shower and tub room longer to fill. Balcony was spacious and good for laying out, as the beaches were closed due to the holiday. Decor was not as nice, and again- fridge was not one that would cool? Location makes this place great. Service was personable but that’s an expectation. Other than that, overrated from the review I read. Will try somewhere different next time. Read less