3643 State St, Santa Barbara, California, United States | (888) 399-9863
Seven-minute walk to La Cumbre Plaza mall, and 10-minute drive to downtown Santa Barbara
Well-appointed rooms include mini-fridges, microwaves, and coffeemakers
Several rooms have kitchenettes with dishwashers and stoves
Free parking and free property-wide W-Fi
Pet-friendly property (with a fee per-pet, per-night)
Discounted breakfast at Denny's across the street
Ice machine available
Rooms have mismatched furnishings, some of which look dated
Traffic can be disturbing to rooms
No pool, breakfast room, restaurant, or bar
As far as motels go, the lower-middle-range Rose Garden Inn is a solid option, with a decent location 10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara and rates that are considerably more affordable than other hotels in the area. However, the lower prices translate to fewer frills. Though rooms are clean and well-appointed with mini-fridges, microwaves, ironing equipment, and some kitchenettes, most of the furniture and finishes look dated. There are also no amenities apart from the rooms, except for one laundry unit and free Wi-Fi. Guests who don’t expect anything fancy will find the property more than adequate and the pet-friendly policy is a plus for some. Those who want more than just a place to sleep may prefer the Cabrillo Inn at the Beach’s beautiful beachfront location, pool, and free breakfast for slightly higher rates.
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Scene
Motel-style property for budget travelers, with no frills or common areas
The Rose Garden Inn is more akin to a motel than an inn: it's an L-shaped, bi-level building surrounding by a parking lot. There’s no lobby, but a small reception area features a front desk, brochure rack, and a mini-fridge selling cold soft drinks. Red walls, potted plants, rose art, and rose bushes planted in front of the motel's sign are the only nods to the flowery name. While the atmosphere is laid-back and quiet, there are few common areas, so guests tend to keep to themselves and spend little time on-site during the day. Those who choose to stay here are usually fully aware of its limitations and are satisfied with what it delivers: clean rooms and low rates in a convenient area.
Location
Several restaurants and a mall within walking distance; 10-minute drive to downtown Santa Barbara
The immediate surrounding area on State Street is busy and populated with several restaurants and shops, so traffic noise can be a disturbance. The La Cumbre Plaza mall (with stores like Macy's and Pottery Barn) is a seven-minute walk away. Downtown attractions, like the Mission area or the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, are 10 minutes away by car, or 18 to 20 minutes away by public transport (there are bus stops within five minutes on foot from the hotel). Arroyo Burro Beach County Park, Shoreline Park, and the Santa Barbara Zoo are also 10 to 12 minutes away by car. Santa Barbara Municipal Airport is an 11-minute drive away. Los Angeles International Airport is over a two-hour drive away.
Rooms
Well-appointed with mini-fridges, microwaves, and free Wi-Fi; some have kitchenettes
As expected at a motel, room furnishings here aren’t particularly stylish or high-quality: the drapes, armchairs, and headboards look dated and mismatched. However, the spaces have clean wood floors, large dressers, and brightly painted walls for a pleasant overall effect. Rooms are available with one or two queen beds, or one king bed. All units include desks, air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Mini-fridges, microwaves, and tea-and coffee-making supplies are provided, as is ironing equipment. Several rooms also come with kitchenettes which include gas stoves, ovens, dishwashers, and sinks.
Bathrooms are small and basic, but also clean, with tile floors and walls and sinks on granite counters. All bathrooms have shower/tub combos with fixed showerheads, a small offering of toiletries, and hairdryers. Past guests have complained about thin walls and noise from the street.
Features
Discounted breakfast at nearby diner, one washer/dryer unit, free parking
The hotel has few extra amenities: there is no dining, pool, bar, lobby, or fitness area. However, guests do get discounted breakfasts at the Denny's across the street. There is also one outdoor coin-operated washer/dryer unit by a staircase on the bottom level of the property, though the area is slightly grimy. An ice machine stands next to the laundry facilities. The pet-friendly policy of the hotel is a plus for some, with a charge per-pet, per-night. There's free property-wide Wi-Fi that works well. Ample free parking is provided in an uncovered lot.
