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Last year, around Thanksgiving, we tried to use our Hilton Honors points to stay at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, but the rooms were fully booked. We decided to try again this year in August and luckily, we were able to score a room with 2 queen beds and a patio. We were especially excited to stay here because we were bringing our fur babies, Zooey and Kuma, with us to spend the weekend in Santa Barbara.

FIRST IMPRESSION

As soon as we exited the highway, we saw the palm tree-lined streets and the gorgeous coast that stretched for miles. We were already feeling the vacation vibes before we reached the hotel lobby and couldn’t wait to get the weekend started.

This resort recently reopened (it was previously called the Fess Parker) following a complete renovation. Candy was at the property, a few years ago, when it was still the Fess Parker and the recent renovations are a tremendous upgrade. The remodel definitely brought the interior space to this era with a brightened sky-blue lobby and modern driftwood-inspired interiors.

The staff was very friendly and check-in was swift. Since we had our dogs with us, we were gifted a bag of goodies for them including some treats and a tennis ball. We also received 4 complimentary wine tickets and 4 two-hour bicycle rentals. If you’re a Hilton Honors Gold Member, you’ll also receive 2 free bottles of water and free continental breakfast.

THE ROOM

The resort is sectioned into eight buildings and we stayed in the Camellia villa in Room 154. It was located on the bottom floor right next to the pool. When we walked into our room, there was an odd smell and we thought about changing rooms, but we both agreed that the smell wasn’t a deal-breaker and not worth changing rooms especially since we didn’t want to move all of our luggage and pups. The room was spacious and the dogs absolutely loved the carpet. Kuma claimed her spot on the accent chair in the corner of the room. For some reason, Kuma really likes accent chairs.

Kuma needs a little help getting on hotel beds

The queen-sized beds were comfy and we had plenty of pillows and extra blankets (in the closet). Since the hotel was recently renovated, everything was new and modern. The nightstands had outlets to charge our phones and there was a mini-fridge tucked away under the console.

Private Patio

The best part about the room was the private patio that faced the courtyard and adjacent to the pool. We were steps away from the pool and less than 200 feet from the beach. This was perfect for Zooey and Kuma, especially for their morning and evening walks.

Some patios had little privacy with a big patch of grass, but we were lucky and had a patio surrounded by plants which not only gave us privacy but also a very relaxed atmosphere with lots of shade. We used this space to enjoy our complimentary wine and morning coffee.

Bathroom

Having a spacious bathroom is always nice, but having dual vanities is even better. This meant that we could each have our own personal space which is super convenient when we are both getting ready in the mornings. The toiletries were standard (soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion) and extra toiletries were available upon request. There were plenty of plush towels and the standard iron and ironing board was stored in the closet.

THE AMENITIES

There are several amenities throughout the property; however, service was limited due to social distancing and safety precautions. The Fitness Center was closed due to State and County guidance, but the heated outdoor pool remained open. There was a time limit of no more than one hour in the pool since the area was limited to 40 guests.

There was also a bike rental station right next to the pool where you could use the complimentary tickets. Additionally, the resort provides a free guest shuttle to and from the airport, has a business center for printing and faxing, and tennis court to enjoy some friendly competition.

We wish we would have had time for some of these amenities, but since we had the pups with us, we didn’t want to leave them behind. Instead, we did a ton of dog-friendly activities around and near the property that was just as fun.

PET-FRIENDLINESS

The rooms on the bottom floor were especially pet-friendly with the convenience of being able to take the dogs in and out of the room from our patio. There were a ton of grassy areas throughout the property and even the restaurants we dined at on-site were pet-friendly as well.

The pups were gifted milk biscuits and tennis balls

We saw other guests on the property with their dogs and we never ran into an issue of loud or unruly pets. We also really enjoyed being able to take the pups dining with us on the property. The staff was so sweet to our babies and received lots of treats and attention.

DINING

The Roundhouse
Breakfast 7 AM - 11 AM

The Roundhouse serves delicious breakfast in a semi-enclosed outdoor setting where you can dine with your dogs. Usually, they serve a buffet, but since the pandemic was going on, they are only serving a la carte. Usually, the breakfast would be completely free for Hilton Honors Gold Members, but at the time, we received a $15 credit per person instead.

The menu had a great selection and each day we ordered something different. The omelette, potatoes, and french toast were all fantastic, but my favorite entree was the avocado toast with poached eggs. It was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The shishito peppers were a unique ingredient that added a hint of crunch and sweetness to it. I also really enjoyed the side salad that was tossed in a light dressing.

The Set
Open Daily (Check for hours)

We had dinner at The Set on our first night and had the most amazing table in front of a fire pit with a gorgeous sunset view among Santa Barbara’s iconic tall palm trees. We both took advantage of the complimentary wine which was surprisingly delicious. Sometimes house wines aren’t the best, but being that Santa Barbara is a wine country, it made sense that even their house wine was quite tasty.

Our favorite dish was the Pasta al Forno. The tomato sauce was homemade and had an amazing garlic flavor to it. The portions were plentiful, so we were able to take some leftovers back to our room and enjoy the rest at a later time. This is when the mini-fridge in the room comes in handy.

Left: Pasta al Forno Right: Margherita Pizza

CLEAN STAY

This was the first hotel we stayed at during the pandemic that took their cleanliness to another level. Their enhanced cleaning procedures were very apparent with signs and stickers which clearly indicated that the high touch items and areas were disinfected.

Before we opened the door to our room, a CleanStay Room seal was placed over the door. This meant that the room was verified by a housekeeping inspector and it definitely gave us peace of mind that the room was clean and ready for our stay. High touch items like remote controls had wrapping on it which indicated that it had been cleaned. We also received individual wet wipes for our convenience (these came in handy all the time).

HOTEL COST

The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort isn’t the cheapest place to stay at, but if you utilize some Hilton Honors points like we did, it’s not so bad. On average, it will cost about $300 for a standard room, which is one of the rooms we stayed in. Additionally, there is a resort fee of $30 per night, a parking fee of $30 per day and a pet fee of $50 per night.

The fees for the resort definitely reflect 5-star hotel prices; however, we think it was worth it. The attentive staff, property location, and pet-friendliness make us want to save up and come back for another stay. If you travel often, it might be worth signing up for the Hilton Honors American Express Card, where you get instant Gold status and welcome bonus points along with other perks. This is the card Crystal uses and the perks are so good that this is the only hotel credit card she keeps.

Check current rates HERE.

FINAL THOUGHTS

We couldn’t have asked for a better pet-friendly stay in Santa Barbara. The area and service were outstanding with endless views of the ocean. We had plenty of dining options on site and nearby, as well as, an array of wine tasting rooms and activities that were super pet-friendly. We also couldn’t get over how perfect the weather was. We visited in early August and it was in the seventies during the day, which was perfect for any outdoor activity for both humans and pets.

HILTON SANTA BARBARA BEACHFRONT RESORT
@hiltonsantabarbara #hiltonsantabarbara
ADDRESS: 633 East Cabrillo Boulevard (MAP)
PHONE: 1-805-564-4333