Inn At East Beach — Hotel in Santa Barbara

Edit AVOID at all costs. Reached out to hotel management because I got a response on this review with their intent to work with me on this. He was NOT willing to work with me and did NOT issue a refund. He said that because I posted my original review, he would not honor a refund.

His reasoning was "we held the room for you on a busy weekend" and "you already booked your other hotel room after you were told you weren't getting a refund." This is a lie. He did not have his story straight and tried to gaslight me. When I checked in, I took one look at the room and went to the front desk to ask if I left early, if I could get a refund. She said she needed to check then let me know within a few minutes that I would not be charged for the second night and to let her know ASAP. I called a few hours later to confirm with her that I was planning on checking out early so I would take her up on the refund. She then said "Oh, my mistake. You won't be getting a refund." I booked my other hotel because she told me earlier I would be getting a refund so I was stuck.

Complete scam. My issue with the room was quality vs. what I paid for. Quality is lower than Motel 6. The room and WiFi was so opposite to what they advertise that I wanted to checked out early - there was no other reason. Literally any other hotel would understand this and try to remedy but this hotel cat-fishes you with altered photos and "free WiFi" and uses abstract policies (that are not documented anywhere for you to reference) as an excuse to not work with you and to keep people's money.

They're keeping my money. I guess they really need it to keep this con going.

Original review:

NOT worth the price and honestly feels like a scam. At almost $300/night you get no air conditioning (come on it’s 2024) and WiFi that’s barely working (disconnecting and 1-2Mbps). When I brought it up to the front desk, their response was “unfortunately SB has an internet monopoly and it doesn’t work well anywhere when it’s a busy weekend.” This is joke. Anywhere else we went with WiFi worked just fine. This hotel limits or doesn’t want to invest in their WiFi for customers and charge them an arm and leg anyway.

The rooms are poorly kept. I’ve added photos of what our room looked like. I feel like we got completely cat fished so posting these photos for everyone to see before they book.

Because there is no air conditioning, you have no choice but to open your windows and hear everything that’s going on outside: people walking right in front of your room windows, car alarms going off, etc.

We were booked to be there for 2 nights but ended up checking out a day early because it was hot and not comfortable. They still charged me and I did not get a refund for anything. While I understand “policy”, if your accommodations are not up to par and people keep reviewing as such, it begins to feel like this place is intentionally scamming people.

Just know what you’re getting into. If you want a place near the beach to crash in the evening, it’ll work. But if you need to get ready for a wedding at 3pm in your room, be prepared to sweat while doing so.

To the hotel - fix your WiFi and update your rooms/facilities to be worth $300/night. What a...

Summary: Inn is a pricey hostel with decent breakfast, but don't expect to get any sleep.

The Bad: We stayed in a King suite. For $300/night, you expect to be able to sleep. Several times I was startled awake by the sound of the neighbors flushing, like it was in the room with us. I'm a very deep sleeper, btw. The sound of the fan motor below us ensured a steady deep hum, so it was never, ever quiet. We could hear the other neighbors talking and when they climbed into bed, their headboard banged loudly on the same wall as our headboard. It's like the owner put straight drywall up to separate the our rooms and nothing else. A little insulation would go a long way. Oh, and unplug the mini fridge because that shakes the floor and the cabinet that it's in.

The bathroom had a weird carpet on it that made me wonder how much human filth was trapped in it.

The Meh: Interior is meh for the price and style. Ours had a temperature controlled fireplace, which was nice except again for the noise made when it clicked on/off. The floor plan with in-room sink is a bit weird. The bed was old-school alllll springs, but the pillows were comfy. Not the worst or best mattress, but no memory foam for those of you that like a foam bed. The mini-fridge is prestocked with two bottles of water, and it does seem that there is an ice machine, somewhere.

The Best: The continental breakfast was simple, but surprisingly good compared to many hotels I've been to, and goes until 9:30am without running out of food in the first 10 minutes. Includes three different coffee choices, insulated portable cups, fresh milk and oj, and an assortment of muffins, bread slices, and bagels (slicer, toaster, cream cheese, butter, jam all available). Little packaged juices and other grab and go items were also available.

Parking is free and you can walk the few blocks to East Beach or jog around the park.

The Disabled: Parking is at the base of a hill and there are many stairs to get to where you need to go if your room is on the other side. Do not book here if you have mobility-based disabilities, or request a room near the parking lot downstairs (there are 3 or 4 rooms that don't require many-stair access).

Also, watch your step. I tripped on a lip in the walkway outside the lobby (fully sober, in the am) and nearly...

This is the most unprofessional and rude customer service. ||I arrived to hotel at 1:30 PM to check my room is ready, in the front desk receptionist, she told me is not available and if they finish cleaning earlier, she will call me back. if not, I have to come 4 PM. And when I heard 4 PM, I want to ask why check in at 4 PM? because every single each hotels day to check in at 3 PM. ||Technically, we are paying 24 hours and we get service 19 hours I understand they need to clean the room but five hours 30 rooms hotel. ||Because guess what they charge extra everything including parking and early check in.||But it's OK. I didn't say anything I left.||Until 3:15 PM I wait and I want to go to in the reception. ||In the front desk, different workers one of them is the manager. I learn his name is Emil(not sure though ) he went to check the room to see ready and he came back then he told me "earlier when I was in there. I was very rude for the receptionist" from no where. And I told him that's not true and he told me he was in there and listening us. Which is not true because if you're in there as a manager, and if you see somebody's route for your worker, why you are not getting out and talk with the customer? He was lying on my face most likely the room was not clean yet that's why he wants to cancel my reservation. ||And guess what he cancel my reservation and he told me if he wants he can cancel customer reservation without giving an explanation. ||I booked the hotel from the Booking.com and I called them to explain situation. They told me they don't see any cancellation.||And I have to go in get receipt which is supposed to show my cancellation. They make me wait again to one piece of paper.||It was the most horrible experience I had so far. ||Manager (Emil) definitely you are the rude person not me. I don't recommended this...