Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

I was disappointed with our stay. As a Diamond member who frequents many Hilton properties, this one does not live up to its luxury status. When I checked in, I was given a very quick rundown of the room location with no other details. No mention of my Diamond status, no mention of an upgrade, and nothing about the amenities and services on property (would have been nice to know we could have access to beach chairs). Very disappointing check-in experience. I was actually downgraded to an accessible room with my Diamond status and no mention of the room type. They also placed us in a room next to a rotating group of guests that first had a very noisy dog that barked all night and then a group of women in the room the next night that yelled and laughed all night long. Needless to say, we did not get any sleep during our stay. I did not even bother asking to move rooms as we heard that they were full and from my disappointing prior front desk experiences, did not have any confidence they would do anything about it. Good location but poor service for this 4 Diamond property. I will not be staying here again. Read less

As a hotel owner myself, I understand the critical qualities that make an outstanding manager. During my recent stay at the Hilton Santa Barbara, I was fortunate to be greeted and assisted by the new manager, Sophia, who exemplified excellence in every aspect of her role. From the moment I arrived, Sophia's warm and genuine smile set the tone for an exceptional experience. Her hospitality was unparalleled, showcasing a perfect blend of professionalism and warmth. She handled my check-in with efficiency and grace, making me feel truly welcomed and valued as a guest. Sophia's attention to detail and dedication to ensuring a seamless experience were evident throughout my stay. Sophia demonstrated remarkable professionalism, addressing every query with poise and expertise. Her proactive approach and willingness to go above and beyond exceeded my expectations, setting a new standard for hospitality excellence. The Hilton Santa Barbara has undoubtedly found a gem in Sophia. Her exceptional service, coupled with her natural ability to connect with guests, makes her an invaluable asset to the hotel. I highly recommend the Hilton Santa Barbara for their choice in leadership, as they are truly fortunate to have Sophia at the helm. Read less

Very nice experience. Tommy and Layma provided excellent service checking in and made me feel like a valued Hilton Gold member. They had bike rental vouchers, a crib for my baby, and we're very helpful. There was a nice beach across the street and they provide beach chair rentals as well. We ate at the dinner restaurant on site, food and service was good. Checking out Jamie went above and beyond, was very professional and thorough with my stay and made sure everything on the invoice was correct. Doug was a bellman that promptly helped get the bags from our room and load them into our car checking out. There is a great staff here! Read less

I’ve stayed here several times, but I think this visit will be my last. The reception and check in rep was sweet. He was the highlight! The cafe service was terrible even with only 4 other couples at breakfast. We finally left for a restaurant in town- so much better! The term resort should be omitted. after we walked to next building for ice, we were informed that elevator was broken so needed to walk to 3rd floor for ice Hilton is losing me as a customer. Maybe the Hilton should visit The Huntington Beach Resort to see what a resort should represent! Read less

We have stayed at the Hilton SB Beachfront a few times, and our six night stay in April will be our last, even though we have a college student in the area and visit at least three times per year, several days each. While we were on the plane to SB, I attempted to check in and select our "Resort View" room. As a Diamond member, it offered us one room with a view of a stucco wall, that blocked the "Resort View" of the drop off circle/valet/handicap parking. In order to not get stuck in a room facing a wall for days, I had to upgrade to a room that cost over ONE THOUSAND dollars more for six nights. Aren't Diamond members supposed to get free upgrades when available? It was available, I just had to pay to get it. After complaining to the front desk manager, he gave us an oceanfront room (appreciated) but failed to tell us that there was no elevator. We had to drag our 50 lb suitcases up the stairs. The hotel grounds are not in a good condition and are not well kept. There are weeds and grass growing everywhere there should not be. It appeared like a hotel that is going out of business. Our room had spiders. The roof that abutted our balcony had trash and an umbrella lying on it. Our room had a toilet seat which was too small and didn't fit the bowl. It was replaced upon our request, but why? Why put a seat on a toilet that is too small??? Lighting at night around our stairs was not working properly and it was too dark to be safe - the public can just walk onto "resort" property in the dark and up our stairs in 5 seconds. There was obvious bird excrement on my seat cushion (I moved) in the indoor restaurant. It's obvious birds are getting inside. Why do guests have to discover this? Our keys worked intermittently, and when we needed to replace one a snippy front desk worker told us it was a "one time courtesy." Why would you say that to anyone at an expensive hotel? You are going to charge me several hundred dollars a night and then nitpick me for a key card? Incredibly tacky. There is zero "pride of ownership" in this hotel. It is poorly run. It is not a resort like any resort I have every stayed at. It is overpriced for its condition and level of service. As a loyal Diamond member, I felt completely unappreciated. We have already booked our next stay in SB, at a different hotel. Read less