My niece got married in Santa Barbara, and this hotel was one of the suggested places for wedding…read moreguests. We chose the Hilton Garden Inn because I have stayed at their properties in several states. This location was good overall, but a few things could be improved.
The check in process was easy. We arrived in the evening, and Francine assisted us. I had trouble with my card, but she was very understanding and gave me options until everything was worked out.
The hotel and our room were pretty clean. I travel often, and hotel carpets can look disgustingly dirty, but these carpets appeared clean and well maintained. The hotel allows pets, but our room did not smell like animals or have any other unpleasant odors.
Our room was a nice size with two double beds and enough open floor space for a small air mattress if needed and permitted. The beds were fairly comfortable. I LOVED having a refrigerator and microwave because many hotels no longer provide microwaves in the rooms. There was no clothes steamer, but I always bring my own. The television also allowed us to connect to streaming services.
The showerhead was the worst feature in the room. They should replace it with a detachable handheld showerhead. The sink also drained very slowly. I had seen other guests mention this before selecting the hotel, and unfortunately, I experienced it too. The drains definitely need attention.
I requested a corner room away from elevators, ice machines, and heavy foot traffic, and the hotel accommodated me. The outside doors lock after a certain time for safety, which I understand. However, our key card would not open the door. We had to ring the bell and wait for someone to let us in. That sucked and was very inconvenient. They need to repair the card reader.
The market near the front desk had snacks, drinks, coffee, espresso, and microwavable meals. That is convenient if you arrive late or do not want to leave the hotel.
The Rooftop Bistro was very nice and comfortable, but it closed around 8:30. How do you have a rooftop that nice and close so early? It should stay open later so guests can relax and enjoy drinks.
I ordered a salad with chicken, strawberries, and some type of dressing, and it was DELICIOUS! It cost around $27, but the portion was large enough to share. My daughter and I shared it, although I honestly did not want to because it was that good!
Breakfast cost about $20 and worked differently from a traditional buffet. You placed an order for hot items such as eggs, potatoes, sausage, bacon, and oatmeal. Bagels, toast, croissants, fruit, yogurt, and juices were available separately. French toast, omelets, and other à la carte items were not included. The gentleman taking orders was very nice. Victor was GREAT! He explained everything, brought our food to the table, and made sure we had whatever we needed.
Self parking was $15 per day, which was not too bad, and EV charging was available. Target, Chipotle, and several other restaurants and shops were directly across the street.
The lobby was clean, and the hotel had conference rooms. A volleyball team appeared to be staying there, so it was busy, but I never felt like the staff was too busy to help. The housekeeping employees were also very nice.
The pool was small for the size of the hotel, but I was extremely impressed by the pool lift for guests with mobility limitations. I travel often and had never personally noticed this feature at a hotel pool. It allows people with limited mobility to enjoy the pool with their families or independently. The hotel also offers hearing accessible rooms, which I thought was great.
Other amenities included connecting rooms, free WiFi, a fitness center, and non smoking rooms.
My biggest disappointment was the price. Even with our discounted wedding rate, the hotel was still expensive, and breakfast was not included. For the amount we paid, I wish they had offered complimentary breakfast.
Overall, our stay was good. The hotel was clean, the room was comfortable, and the staff was helpful. The Rooftop Bistro, delicious salad, and accessibility features were highlights. The showerhead, slow drain, nighttime key card access, and early rooftop closing time need improvement, but we still had a pleasant experience.