Inn on SummerHill

Nice view and nice location in the swanky Summerland area of Santa Barbara. But be aware that there is a road, noisy highway and train track close by, and between the motel and that great view. The highway and train track are busy day and night. For one of us, this was OK; for the other it was a rough night's sleep, even with earplugs. (Mr. Earplugs is your reviewer....) We found the overall vibe of this place a bit rustic and "beachy." I've chosen the word "motel," above rather than "hotel" to indicate something quaint, but also at the bottom end of what I'd consider a four star class boutique experience. Service on the phone and at the property ranged from cold & competent to slightly warm, but never truly welcoming. We'd say our room was "as advertised" in that it matched the pictures and specifications, but do look closely: This is an older property with mid-tier upgrades. Cleanliness of the room was very good, save for a few bug carcasses near the base of the toilet. We did not eat the in-house breakfast, but the little breakfast room with chef serving directly from the adjacent kitchen looked lovely. We had other plans, but the desk person kindly told us we could dine in, even though we had not ordered ahead. Nice. At $528 total for one night during winter, our stay did not feel like a particularly great value. But others may find the location and view worth the price. We were generally satisfied, but would not pay that again for the overall experience we had.

The room was very nice, the included breakfast was surprisingly good. Bed was comfy and we loved the gas fireplace in the room that turned on at the flick of a switch on the wall. Service was very good -- I left my phone charger behind and they called to tell me they'd found it, and mailed it out to my home the very same day.

The rooms are lovely. Breakfast was delicious. No matter how lovely the view may be the attitude from the staff was condescending & an error made by a front desk is never a guest’s fault. The entire vibe was disturbing but then I remembered noticing each time I’ve stayed here before I’ve experienced some questionable behavior. So. I felt compelled to warn you. It’s clean it’s lovely - the train isn’t a problem - traffic on the 101 isn’t even that noisey but I just couldn’t help but feel like their attitude was a nasty vibe. Have no idea why.

This is a small inn with a homey feel, and suited my husband and I perfectly. 1. Room large, clean, comfy with original art on walls. Bathroom equally nice. 2. Ocean view, no whitewater. Some noise from 101, though we are up and away from it a bit. 3. Front desk staff helpful on phone when we booked, and very friendly and professional in person. 4. Breakfast perfectly cooked to order by two friendly cooks in crisp white chef-wear: Eggs, sausage, potatoes, even lovely fresh salad greens.mini-croissants, fruit, good coffee with half & half. 5. Easy access & parking.