931 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, California, United States | (618) 248-8274
Great location across the street from beautiful East Beach
Affordable rates in a high-end beachfront community
Boutique motel-style property with a retro California-beach vibe
Clean and spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs and
mini-fridges
Heated pool with a grassy lounge area
Free continental breakfast and newspapers
Small brick courtyard with beach views
Second-floor sundeck overlooking the ocean
Free parking and Wi-Fi
Vending machines selling drinks and snacks
No air-conditioning, safes, or coffeemakers in rooms
Rooms have dated decor and small bathrooms
Occasional housekeeping and maintenance complaints
Windows facing exterior hallways pose potential privacy issues
Views can vary greatly among rooms in the same category
Location is the biggest selling point of the lower-middle-range
Cabrillo Inn at the Beach. This classic 1940s, motor court-style property is just across the street from a gorgeous
stretch of Santa Barbara beach. The outdoor pool and sundeck have great ocean views, and free parking, Wi-Fi, and breakfast adds to the property's value. The 43 rooms are tired and lack air-conditioning, but are generally
clean and spacious enough for comfort; many have ocean views. Some guests find the Cabrillo's retro vibe charming, but others feel it's just outdated. Nonetheless, rates are
attractive in this expensive beach community, and the property can fill up. Guests might also consider the retro, mid-range
Marina Beach Motel, where rooms were updated in 2015, but rates are moderately higher.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Laid-back, retro California-beach vibe in a classic 1940s motel setting
It’s all about laid-back fun in the sun at this classic motor
court-style, boutique hotel that was built in the 1940s. Its affordable rates
and location across the street from the beach tend to attract adventurous tourists who find the retro California-beach vibe charming. The lovely pool area has a stretch of grass with lounge
chairs for relaxing or catching some rays, and the second-floor sundeck offers
more of the same with even better views of the ocean. The hotel has a small
office for checking in, with a modest pine desk and a couple of armchairs. Other
than the pool, the cozy breakfast room overlooking the pool is the place where
guests tend to congregate over coffee and pastries each morning. Like the
entire hotel, it’s bright and offers views from large windows. It’s also packed
with brochures touting the winery tours and everything else there is to do and
see in sunny Santa Barbara.
Location
Across the street from East Beach, about 10 minutes from historic Stearns Wharf
The Cabrillo Inn is located directly across Cabrillo
Boulevard from East Beach. The Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, a popular local
restaurant, a water-sports rental facility, and a busy boardwalk that’s popular
with cyclists and runners are also across the street. Several other restaurants
are within walks of about five minutes or less, including restaurants in several
of the upscale hotels nearby. The Santa Barbara Zoo is about a 10-minute walk
away. There is a shuttle stop about a one-minute walk from the hotel that
travels to historic Stearns Wharf and State Street (with numerous
restaurants and shops) in about 10 minutes. There's also an Amtrak Station on State Street, a five-minute drive from the hotel. It's about a 40-minute drive to the Oxnard Airport and approximately two
hours by car to Los Angeles International Airport from the Cabrillo Inn.
Rooms
Clean and fairly spacious with mini-fridges, but dated decor and no air-conditioning
The Cabrillo offers a variety of rooms categorized as either Partial or Full Ocean View, with one king-size bed or two queen-size beds. There's also an Ocean View Suite on the third floor with a living room, kitchenette, and spacious balcony. It's worth noting that views can vary quite a bit, even among rooms in the same category. As for decor, rooms share the same tired, motor court-style look. Beige walls and white popcorn ceilings are not exactly stylish, but the teal carpet, tropical-print bedspreads, and matching curtains appeal to some travelers' retro sensibility. Clunky wooden furniture includes built-in headboards, dressers, and small tables with chairs. Nondescript generic artwork decorates the walls. Some rooms have cute balconies with potted plants and plastic patio furniture. All rooms have mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs, but no coffeemakers. Outside the bathrooms, there are wood vanities with faux-marble tops. The bathrooms themselves are
dated and small, with cream-colored tile framing shower/tub combos or
walk-in showers with frosted-glass sliding doors. Basic toiletries are provided. The rooms are generally clean, but it's an older hotel, and there are occasional complaints about maintenance and housekeeping. Privacy
can be an issue with some guests, too, as windows face the outer hallways where
other guests walk by. Rooms do not have air-conditioning, which
is scheduled to be added as part of an upgrade some time in 2016; fans are provided.
Features
Beachfront location; free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi; outdoor pool; courtyard and sundeck
The best feature of this family-run, motor
court-style hotel is its location overlooking and across the street from the beach. Freebies include parking, daily newspapers, Wi-Fi, and continental breakfast that includes mostly pastries and breads. The breakfast is served in a small, sunny room adjacent to the nice outdoor pool, which is seven feet deep at one end. A poolside grassy area has lounge chairs and
tables with umbrellas. A small brick courtyard with tables, umbrellas, and lounge
chairs is in the front of the property facing the beach. There's also a second-floor sundeck with more
loungers and even better views. Vending machines on-site sell snacks and drinks. An elevator takes guests to the top two
floors, and there are also outdoor staircases. No pets are allowed in
this nonsmoking hotel.
