Harbor View Inn

     Driving by this hotel on Cabrillo, you might think to yourself, "That looks like it might be a nice place to stay" and not think twice about it. Great location? You bet. It's located right across the street from the beach and just a short walk in to downtown. But when you start walking through the property and see the guest rooms, it is a "wow" experience. Wow -- these rooms are huge! Wow - these rooms are really luxurious. Wow - this is one of the nicest hotel rooms I have ever seen!
      Some hotels would just try to get away with having such a fantastic location. But the owner of the Harbor View Inn has really taken pride in offering guest a great product (it is a 4-diamond rated hotel) and from what we saw - great service as well. Rent an ocean view room here and you won't be looking over rooftops and past obstructions. You will get an actual full ocean view. 

     On our tour, we saw the smallest of their 115 guest rooms -- and by small, we mean it was actually bigger than any other standard hotel room we had ever seen in Santa Barbara (about 425 sq ft). Guest rooms are decorated with rich, warm colors with elegant furnishings and are quite handsome and at the same time "beachy" with wicker-like chairs and sliding doors that open out onto a private patio or balcony. All guest rooms feature the same amenities (coffee maker, pay-per-view movies, iron and ironing board, two terry cloth bathrobes, hair dryer, free HBO, safe, complimentary wireless internet access, top end Seely mattress, and mini-bar). Suites are from 750 - 1100 square feet. Overall, the property has an upscale, modern Spanish style flavor.

     Around this large hotel, which includes a brand new building (2006), you'll bypass a small lagoon and beautiful gardens and their outdoor heated pool and whirlpool. Their luxurious spa facility was something that was added to the hotel and is top notch - not just a couple of treatment rooms shoved in to an old storeroom but a full fledged, spa. They also offer an elegant yet comfortable ocean front restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everything here was first class!

Room Rates: $ 195 and up

Romantic Options:

- Relax on your private patio or balcony and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the sunset
- Take a walk right outside your door out along the ocean/beach and in to downtown Santa Barbara.
- Enjoy a couples massage in their luxurious spa
- Have dinner and watch the sunset from your table in their restaurant

Special Amenties Include (some or all rooms):

• Ocean View
• Swimming Pool
• Room Service
• Outdoor Whirlpool
• On-Site Massage Services