1111 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara, CA 93103, 805-963-0744, 800-643-1994 (reservations)
RATES: $170-$250 per night depending on date and view. Complimentary gated self-parking; valet parking available.
STAY HERE IF YOU’RE: A beachcomber or a bikini/board shorts aficionado.
IT’S CLOSE TO: The Pacific Ocean, which is right across the street. Shuttle access to downtown. Wine country, but wine tasters beware: Santa Barbara has a very high rate of drunken-driving arrests, and strict laws mean that even one drink can put a driver over the legal limit.
THE ROOMS ARE: Spacious and fresh with relatively new carpet and bathroom tiles; wired and equipped with coffee maker, refrigerator and microwave oven. Ocean-view rooms come at a premium.
THEY PUT ALL THE MONEY INTO: Shorefront property taxes that afford the ocean breeze and the meditative audio-visual effects of breaking waves.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Proximity to the Pacific and on-site amenities make this a self-contained spot for the hedonist. It’s also popular with wedding parties, meaning weekends book up quickly, so plan well in advance.
