Courtyard by Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta — Hotel in Goleta

The Courtyard Marriott in Goleta is one of the better Courtyards I've stayed at. Given its name, this Courtyard's location is not as close to Santa Barbara as one may expect, so check a map before you book here. Even still, my commute each day to work in downtown Santa Barbara was only 20 minutes each way. Before transitioning here, my previous two weeks had been at the closer but depressing Hampton Inn Goleta, which is an inferior property to this Courtyard, and I'd believe that even if I wasn't granted complimentary suite upgrades as a Marriott Platinum Elite. You may not be as fortunate as me, but the amenities that are common to all rooms, such as the Keurig coffee maker, the high-pressure shower, the wall-mounted televisions, and the comfortable luxe mattresses, are the reasons you pay a few extra bucks for Courtyard-brand hotels.

Staff was comprised of the laid-back, friendly hospitality professionals one would hope to have attending to them on California's central coast. They have a gregarious bartender (sorry, I forgot your name, dude) who I watched Sunday Night Football with -- a Broncos fan unfortunately, but otherwise cool for a good football argument or two. Breakfast at the "bistro" was served quickly and on par with typical Courtyard standards. I had the standby "All American" (eggs, breakfast pork, potatoes, toast) one morning and the low-cal but filling "Egg White Frittata" the next.

This property is located within a minute or two drive of shops and eateries. There are scenic mountains to the east, and ocean to the west - but even though this property is close to the coastline, your eyes can't quite reach the sea from it.

Overall, this Courtyard is my "chain hotel of choice" for my visits to Santa Barbara and will likely suit the needs of most business travelers and leisure travelers alike who are seeking a consistent, clean, reliable, and...

This hotel is in a good location, and parking is plentiful which is a positive thing. Unfortunately the rooms leave a lot to be desired. We arrived to check into our room, which was supposed to have a king-sized bed. We walked into the room to discover 2 queen beds along with a disgusting, strong odor that resembles a men's high school locker room. I called the front desk to inform them of the odor, as well as inquire as to why the gentleman behind the front desk did not tell me upon check-in that the room I requested was not available? The gentleman responded in a confused manner, saying "we don't have any King rooms available". Great. Housekeeping came up to the room, and they were taken aback by the odor in the room. I decided to take a walk to the front desk to talk to someone who's in charge, or at least knows what's going on in the hotel. I spoke with a more seasoned representative who then told me that the guy who checked me in was "new". Then he addressed the strong odor in my room - as it turns out, there was a college basketball team staying in room the night before. Clearly housekeeping did not thoroughly clean this room because standing in it for a few minutes was completely unbearable. The representative was very kind, and offered rewards points for my trouble, which I appreciated. To be honest this was the worst experience I'd had at a Marriott property until the representative offered some points. This location clearly strives to accommodate a variety of customers, and that's totally fine - but if Marriott is hosting men's basketball teams regularly, then they need to make sure that housekeeping is properly airing out, and cleaning these rooms so that they can be...

I had an excellent stay at the Courtyard Marriott Santa Barbara Goleta, thanks mostly to the amazing staff. The location is convenient and easy to access, with $15/day parking. The fire pits were fantastic and made for a cozy evening, and water was offered upon check-in and check-out, which was a nice touch.

Rey, in particular, went above and beyond to make our stay special. He helped us celebrate a co-worker’s birthday, let us hang out longer, and was so kind during an emotional moment in the lobby, even providing tissues. His perceptive yet unobtrusive nature was genuinely heartwarming, and his ability to communicate in Spanish was also impressive.

The room was clean and well cared for, with a nice couch, extra blankets available in the drawer, and all the necessities you’d expect from a hotel: in-room coffee and tea, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion, makeup remover, fresh towels, and an ice bucket. Everything was thoughtfully stocked and ready.

The location is ideal for easy access to UCSB, nearby stores, and restaurants. I stayed on the 2nd floor and didn’t hear any neighbors or inside hotel noise during my stay, but there were some external noises to note: occasional airplane noise due to the proximity to the airport runway and the sounds of teams playing at the ball field next door when I had the window open.

The pool and hot tub were closed for repairs during my visit, but the hotel offered an alternative at another property (though I didn’t use it).

Overall, a great stay with thoughtful staff who made a lasting impression and a room that was comfortable and...