Hotel Californian

Reviews

• TW

  T. W

  4 days ago
  1.0
  Before anything else, I want to be clear that the hotel has already offered a $106 refund (waived resort fee and valet), and I accepted it. Please feel free to cancel my refund. Regardless, this experience must be shared publicly. On 12/30, I checked into this hotel with my family. The website clearly states that check-in is available after 4:00 PM. I arrived after the stated time, yet when we entered the lobby, no one greeted us. There was no water, no coffee, no staff proactively assisting guests. I waited in line to check in, only to be told that our room was not ready and that I needed to wait in the lobby. We waited over 20 minutes before finally being assigned a room. When we entered the room, the condition was extremely disappointing. There was a very large, female portrait dominating the room, which seriously frightened my young child. The room amenities felt old and worn, with visible rust, and the bathroom was not clean. Looking out the window, the view honestly made me feel like I was staying at a motel, not a hotel that markets itself as “high-end.” I was genuinely confused by how this could be considered a luxury hotel standard. Because my child was so scared by the artwork, I called the hotel three times: • First call: I was told someone would come immediately to cover the painting. No one came. • After waiting 20 minutes, I called again — no answer. • I called a third time. It took a total of 45 minutes before a staff member finally arrived to cover the painting. Only then was the issue resolved. At checkout, the front desk asked about my experience. I explained everything honestly and was offered a refund of the resort fee and valet, totaling $106, which I accepted. At that point, I considered the matter closed. However, the situation unfortunately did not end there. On our way home, we realized that my child had left his Jellycat toy in the room. On 12/31, I contacted the hotel and was told the item had been found. I provided my credit card information and shipping address as requested. I asked: • When would the item be shipped? • What is the tracking number? I sent three text messages and received no response at all. Meanwhile, my credit card was charged $28 by UPS. I have no receipt, no confirmation, no tracking number, and no communication. As of today, 8 days later (I live 2hrs away from the hotel. Not sure if the shipping will take this long), the money has been charged, and I still do not know: • Whether the item has been shipped • Where it is I appreciate that the hotel was willing to help return a lost item, and I understand that this is an extra effort. However, charging a guest’s card without providing any receipt, tracking, or communication is unacceptable, especially for a hotel positioning itself as luxury. This experience reflects serious operational and communication issues, and it is far below the standard one would expect from a high-end hotel. I am sharing this review not out of anger, but because transparency matters, and future guests deserve to know what to expect.
• MA

  Monika Allmon

  Jan 2, 2026
  5.0
  This was our third stay at Hotel Californian. The property is beautiful, and location is excellent on State street, right by the beach and pier. Above all, the service, especially during our recent stay was memorable. Special thanks to reservations manager, Amy Maguire. We had a family emergency that threatened our arrival date and Amy was so helpful in working with us, providing flexibility so that we were able to make our visit. Amy also assisted us with an issue with Expedia as we had accidently made the reservation through them and then canceled it due to the emergency (a word of caution: Expedia can come off as the hotel directly). Amy is not only professional, she is caring and totally customer focused. Hotel Californian is SO lucky to have her! Thank you, Amy. We look forward to seeing you and the whole service team at Hotel Californian soon!
• BF

  Benjamin Faber

  Dec 19, 2025
  5.0
  Hotel Californian is a beautiful blend of coastal elegance and modern luxury. The location is unbeatable—steps from the beach and surrounded by great dining and shopping. The design is sophisticated yet relaxed, and the service was attentive and welcoming throughout our stay. From the rooms to the common spaces, everything feels thoughtfully curated. A wonderful place to unwind and enjoy Santa Barbara.
• CS

  Cathleen Spears

  Dec 19, 2025
  5.0
  Beautiful design and architecture as well as accommodating staff. Fantastic location to pier and funk zone as well as State street shopping. You must spend time on the roof pool and lounge area- best view of all Santa Barbara and harbor. Absolutely wonderful place!!
• SD

  Shilpi Dey

  Dec 9, 2025
  5.0
  In the world, US hotels typically fall short, including some of the high ends. SB hotels are overpriced and not great. Not so for the Californian. Service was top notch - from the valets, to the front desk, to housekeeping. Brian , Danny, Cooper - really great valets. They brightened our stay. The rooms were gorgeous and comfortable. And pet-friendly! Small touches like motion sensing lighting in the corridors, beautiful bathrooms with soft but clear lighting, hair-catching drains, clean shower construction.

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