Ala Mar by the Sea - Santa Barbara

Hotel was clean, bed comfortable. In need of some maintenance. Good enough for a one-two night stay. Perfect location for enjoying the pier and marina.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Location was great. Rooms not great. Sheets on the bed were very rough.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Nice place on the beach and two blocks from the train station. Very convenient overall. They let us stay past the normal check out time without charge since our train did not depart until 2PM. That made the stay worth just a little bit more in my book.

Genuine Expedia guest review

The Ala Mar is a run down, dirty, dated property. Beautiful location, great neighborhood; but this is the worst place to stay in this area!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Excellent location across from the beach a block from the wharf and marina and the 50 cent trolley to town a block away. Coffee and juice and packaged pastry in a tiny office makes you want to breakfast elsewhere. Needs paint and TLC, but spa tub, nice tile work and gas fireplace help. Plus it is one of the few places in Santa Barbara that takes do […] gs. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Our experience was great because we have our two small dogs with us and that was everything to us including being in front of the water on the beach in Santa Barbara. Get lots of ice specially in the summer time. We stayed on the first floor it was very peaceful and quiet at night.

Genuine Expedia guest review

We have stayed at this over the last 15 years 3 different times. The first two were much better experiences. It is an old hotel, which we were aware of when we booked it. It appears that very little has been done to keep it repaired. Since the last time we stayed they have added shutters on the windows a few of the rooms have jacuzzi tubs in them. We […] were supposed to get one of those, but ended up in a different room due to the fact we did not care for the location of our reserved room. We felt that was an attempt to look like they did something. Our door did not shut properly and the the deadbolt was not able to lock. The chain for added security was hanging by one screw. There is no air conditioning and it was humid the two nights we stayed. The tile was chipped in the shower and not very clean. The night manager was extremely rude to me over a question on our bill. We decided that we will not be staying there again. It seems the majority of clients are in their 20's my guess is the affordability and close proximity to the beach. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

great location, terrible hotel, friendly staff, nothing else to add

Genuine Expedia guest review

Location is great, close to beach and walking distance to downtown. Quality of hotel is in poor condition, not what I was expecting for the rate I paid.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

This hotel was the oldest hotel I have ever stayed in. The owner puts no money into fixing doors, windows, carpets, etc. The bed was hard and uncomfortable. The bathroom door would not close unless you slammed it shut. No ventilation in the bathroom and only a fan in the sleeping area to cool it down. The refrigerator door would not close due to the […] sagging carpet in front of it. No coffee or hairdryers in the rooms. Did provide a sad continental breakfast, small cups of coffee and danish. The location was the only good thing aobut this hotel. Cut loose of some cash because this hotel could be really nice if someone took the time to fix it up!!!!! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We were there on a hot day. No rooms have air conditioning. It's old and dated. However, you cannot beat the location on beach right by State street across from the wharf.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Nice location right across from beach and pier, close to the main street. Walking distance to all the beauty Santa Barbara beach has to offer. Stayed in the only room on the third floor with private rear entrance, balcony and in-room jacuzzi!! Turn down service too late in the afternoon, but otherwise great place overall.

Genuine Expedia guest review

I booked through Hotel.com and I think they need to re-evaluate what motels they do business with or we need to stop doing business with them. This motel is horrible & should be turned in to the BBB & Health Dept..We've only been in one worse motel room in the past 20 years. The room they gave us had a sewer leak in the closet & the carpet was pulled […] up to DRY with a floor fan, the entry light switch would "short off" if you turned it on too quick, the carpet was filthy & stank, we opened the front window & couldn't secure it afterwards so they up graded us to the room above with a smaller bed, NO fridg, NO inside security lock, much smaller room with NO closet & filthy ciramic tile, but the window worked. We stayed 3 nights and the 1st 2 were OK, but the night of 7/4 was very noisy all night and morning (guests talking and slamming doors). The employees were good and the view was terrific (across the street from west beach, pier and fireworks) and price was the lowest available at the time, but still way over priced for a dump. We will never stay there again for any reason or any price. If I could give it a rating lower than 1, I would give it a (-5). Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

dirty everywhere... peeling paint, badly patched areas, cracked,missing tiles. A/C didnt work floor fan that was provided was filthy. front door needed replacing. was obviously kicked in prior. did'nt see or feel bedbugs.. but. The only redeeming feature was it's location across from the beach. Our dog didnt mind the carpet though.

Genuine Expedia guest review

The lady at the front desk could not if been less helpful, she acted A's if we were a HUGE inconvenience to her! I always stay at basically the cheapest hotels (so I know what to expect) because all I do is sleep there and get ready for a night or too, but this had to have been the most disgusting, foul smelling dump I have ever come across! Put it […] this way when I went to check out there was another couple in the lobby asking for their money back because there was blood on the head board and sheets! Even if you like them cheap like me this place is just tooooo gross and rude! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

It was a small, but cozy room right across from the beach. The staff was extremely friendly and professional. They do not have the best parking, but they made every effort to find us one. The room was clean and felt comfortable. They did not have any storage, such as drawers or a closet so we had to live out of our luggages. It was a nice place to stay […] especially for the price and location. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Nice old motel with friendly staff

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I knew it was more of an old "motel" when I booked but I did it anyway. It's cute and in a fantastic location BUT I think with the $ they charge to stay at this "motel" they could do some maintenance the blinds on the sliding door looking out to the street were broken and warped and didn't close all the way you can see right into the room. There are […] no hangers or hooks or anywhere to hang clothes up! Even if you went out and bought your own hangers there was NO place to hang them. I guess no one brings anything that needs to be hung up cause when I mentioned it to the front desk-they weren't aware? I was there for a conference and needed to look good. There also is a hole in wall in the bathroom where the plumbing goes outside that lets a lot of big spiders in and is big enough to let other things in like a mouse. The bed was really comfy and the staff were friendly and helpful so not all bad. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

Worst place ever!! Filthy disgusting. Motel employee rude. Checked out went to another hotel 2 hours later. Very upsetting. Don't send anyone there. Stayed at a fine place for much less

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Great location, bad experience with people upstairs, moving furniture and walking around all night from 12am-8am. You get what you pay for.

Genuine Expedia guest review

Aziz was the nicest guy ever! Hooked us up with a sweet room. Great location , we could walk to the beach, wharf, 25 cent trolley to the marina. And 5 dollar cab ride to the center of town. Amazing for the price! Will be staying again in the future!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I was concerned after reading some of the reviews but found the staff very pleasant, and the room quite clean... The hotel is older than some of the others in this area but it had a "south of the border" style and in a great location!

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

How much deferred maintence can one place have and not totally fall into the sea. Also not clean, tile floor was skanky nasty, bathroom was pretty gross. Other guests were loud and spent a whole lotta time smoking in the parking lot. Stayed there because they take pets. My dog didnt even like it. And what is with the motor home parked in the two hour […] parking spot on the street, for two days. Loved the view. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Location of hotel is good; right on the sea with many restaurant options within walking distance. Room was clean enough, staff was reasonably pleasant, though not outstanding. Upkeep of the hotel was disappointing. The chain lock on the door was missing. The deadbolt lock on the door appeared to have been torn out with a crow bar. There was no air conditioning […] unit in the room, not even a window unit. Parking was limited. Yes, I have stayed in much worse hotels. At Ala Mar I did not feel unsafe even though there was no lock on the door, nor did I feel that the room was unclean, but for the money, this is not a hotel I would choose again. Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

This hotel is great for the price. My wife and I have stayed here a couple of times now and will probably book it again when we go back to Santa Barbara. The location is fantastic. It's right on the beach and a very short walk to the pier and state street. The only thing I don't really like about the hotel are the beds. I don't know if they've been […] changed in the last 15 years. Very un comfy. The parking lot is tiny too but since I don't drive a boat it wasn't that bad. Overall the staff was friendly and the rooms were clean for the most part. The few complaints I have were more than compensated for by the price and location. Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

At first glance you think it's o.k. but when you take a real look it had dirty walls, window stayed open because the lock was broken, when you turn on the heater and TV at the same time it blew the circuit. The entry door looked like someone had kicked it in and glued back together. Long term residents there meet in the parking lot to smoke and talk […] loudly. Stayed there serveral years back had pleasant stay. Things have changed Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

I have visited Santa Barbara at least semiannually for more than 35 years. Over the last 25 years I have stayed in most of the hotels along the beach. Because of Expedia's package, I decided to try the Ala Mar. I found it to be in a class(less) by itself. During my 5-night stay I tried two different rooms. Neither room had a chest of drawers. Neither […] room had any info on the hotel, e.g., location of ice (if any) or hours of complementary breakfast. Other examples include no hardware on the bathroom door--just a large round hole, an outside room door screwed together after it had apparently been kicked in, bathroom walls with holes and screw anchors, etc. I will continue to walk past it as I enjoy the beach, but I will never stay there again! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

The only thing going for this hotel/motel is the location, other than that, you pay for what you get. Upon arrival, there were no staff to check us in and we had to wait for someone to show up. Room 116 was pretty small and stuffy.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Dirty room, homeless people hanging out in the parking lot, no AC, no iron or ironing board. The room was old and falling apart. There was mold growing on the ceiling of the bathroom and the room wreaked of cigarette smoke. I'll stay somewhere else next time.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

For the two nights we stayed here we thought it was value for money and the location was excellent.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

great location, but i would not recommend this place. no iron, no phone, old furniture, crappy linens and towels, no AC and ceiling fan was only one speed. look somewhere else.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

We had loud young adults above us pounding and yelling and management had to throw them out after we complained 4 times from 10 pm - midnight. Then drunk young adults were hanging out in the parking lot at 3 am yelling and carrying on. We got very little sleep. Not our best hotel experience.

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

Overall this was the worst hotel I have stayed in since I have been in California. I would have set the alarm clock to get me up in the morning to make my appointment; however, there wasn't one there. So, I picked up the phone to ask for a wake-up call and found the phone didn't even have a cord connected to it. The door had been obviously been broken […] into before and the lock was loose. My wife found peanut butter on the bedspread, so that ended up on the floor. We would have called the front desk…but once again no phone and the office had closed. No I will never stay there again! Read more

Genuine Expedia guest review

This was the WORST hotel stay I have ever be subjected to! The pictures on Hotels.com are from 15-20 years ago! The door to our room was missing wood between the door frame and door lock, like it had been broken into one too many times. The AC was broken so we had to sleep with the windows open and listen to a drunk guy scream and bang on the door next […] to us at 3:40am. The floors were nasty, the bed sheets were questionable, the bathroom sink was separately from the caulking on the wall, the "chandelier" was a single light bulb with plastic tubes hanging around it. The walls are made of paper mache and you can hear EVERYTHING on every side of you, including the ceiling. We didn't sleep more than three hours thanks to the noises coming from upstairs and next door. This was NOT worth the high price I paid for what I thought was a decent place based on online pictures! Read more

Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review

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Genuine Hotels.com guest review