Name: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
Address: 633 East Cabrillo Boulevard, Santa Barbara, 93103, US

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

Santa Barbara Area - CA · United States

633 East Cabrillo BoulevardView location

100 reviews shown

2/10

Poor

02 Aug 2026

Zhuoyi

We paid over $900 for one night, but an air conditioning issue delayed us for more than an hour, even though the repair itself took only five minutes. It disrupted our first evening with our toddler. Although the resort fee was waived, the overall response time and service did not match the price we paid.

4/10

Poor

02 Aug 2026

Andrew

Very dingy and musty hotel, stayed in jr suite. Entrance into the building was disgusting smelt
Like mold. Nsdty ceiling tiles in bathroom. Needs an overhaul

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jul 2026

Franca

I enjoyed the hotel very much. The room size was larger than normal and having two sinks was a plus. You need a car if you want to go downtown (state street). Parking at the hotel is pricey

8/10

Excellent

30 Jul 2026

Charleen

The gym was closed. I did like that it’s really convenient to the beach.

8/10

Excellent

29 Jul 2026

Rochelle

We booked this property because location is amazing and they have Pickleball courts which we want and we’re so convenient. The rooms definitely need to be updated. . Where we stayed it was a little musty the ceilings looked old and the carpets need to be replaced. Don’t get me wrong. It was definitely clean and I think they tried to update the rooms with minor touches. The the sink faucets look new are actually very hard to turn on and off. And accessible tub we had needs updating. Their front desk is very small. There is only two or three people that accommodate a long line of people trying to check in. We were not in a rush, so it was not a big deal for us, but I can sense the frustration waiting to get your room. The front desk stuff was actually very friendly and helpful, They did an accommodate for us to get a room closer to our kids( we had different room types.). The buffet was good and the lobby and dining areas and bar were very nice. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jul 2026

Katrina

Everything was wonderful! The views, the food, the staff, all amazing

6/10

Pleasant

27 Jul 2026

Shannon

The Hilton is a beautiful property, but the lack of transparency around pricing was disappointing. While the advertised room rate may seem reasonable, be prepared for numerous additional charges once you arrive. We were supposedly \"upgraded\" from our original reservation, but if the upgrade was simply a courtyard view instead of the parking lot, it certainly didn't feel like the stated \"$200 extra\" per-night value.

The daily resort fee was also frustrating, especially since it didn't appear to include parking or in-room Wi-Fi. At checkout (which was early in the morning), I wasn't provided an itemized folio, and despite multiple emails requesting one, I've been unable to get a breakdown of the charges deducted from the $150-PER NIGHT incidental hold placed on my credit card, of which I was only refunded $174 of the $450 charge they held.

The pool is large and looked well maintained, but the overpowering chlorine smell, and limited seating due to overcrowding made it difficult to enjoy.

Overall, while the property itself is attractive, being nickel and dimed during our stay and lack of communication has left a poor impression. For the price, I expected a much more transparent and customer-focused experience, and I would not choose to stay here again.

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jul 2026

Jesus

Extremely satisfied and grateful with the Hilton staff. Emily was incredibly kind and made sure we had an unforgettable stay. She made sure our stay was one for the books. That customer service alone was enough to convince us to come back soon!

4/10

Poor

25 Jul 2026

Amber

The location was perfect, but everything else was a mess. There were dead rats (we seen 3) on the grass areas and walking paths. The website advertised \"luxury\" toiletries, all of which were completely empty in our room. The phone didn't work and it was almost impossible to reach the front desk. Our room was old and humid. The shower curtain was burned and had a huge hole in it, the towel rack was hanging from the wall, when we hung a towel on it, it fell to the floor. The staff was nice, but nothing was resolved. The pool area was very clean and well maintained. Overall, it was ok, but when paying $700 a night I expected a little bit more.

2/10

Poor

23 Jul 2026

Hovhanes

8/10

Excellent

22 Jul 2026

Irina

We stayed here years ago and decided to come back. Well, it is still nice beautiful hotel but unfortunately it runs down.. this place needs better maintenance for sure. Otherwise, location is great!

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jul 2026

McKenna

Amazing beach loved it here

4/10

Poor

19 Jul 2026

Elizabeth

Should have listened to the reviews. For paying $800/night for a room I expected more. The hotel is dated. The walls are so thin we were up until 1 am listening to the people next to us party. Got no sleep. The line for breakfast the next morning was out the front door of the lobby. We just left and went to breakfast at chads. When you try calling the front desk from the room it connects you with an automated message and you end up waiting on hold for 10 mins for someone to answer. I hung up and just walked the 5 mins to front desk instead. There was no one at the restaurant to host people. Saw a couple with a young child waiting for over 10 mins to be seated with no hostess in sight. Terrible service and out dated property. Will not be staying here again.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2026

Alex

Fantastic property and location!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jul 2026

Deedra

Excellent location! The staff, maintenance, and housekeeping are all phenomenal. Raffy is a true gem. He takes pride in his job and was the most helpful and accommodating. The only thing that can improve are the amenities. The mini fridge was occupied with ice half its size. We were told it’s a common concern, so they often leak. And there is a $100 charge for a microwave, which didn’t make sense to me. Everything else was amazing and we were pleased.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

17 Jul 2026

Dalia

Location is perfect. Close to everything. Great views of the ocean. Helpful staff.
BUT not worth the money.
We complained couple of things and the staff were great.
But I would not stay there anymore.
They are charging more than double of what they're worth.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2026

Robert

Great hotel.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jul 2026

Carla

Overall, we had a pleasant stay thanks to the kind and welcoming staff. The hotel’s location is excellent, it’s within walking distance of plenty of restaurants, shops, and the beach, making it very convenient to explore the area.

That said, the rooms were quite outdated, especially considering the price. For the premium cost of staying here, I expected a more modern, updated room. While the location and service were great, the accommodations didn’t match the price point. With some room renovations, this hotel would offer a much better overall value.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

06 Jul 2026

Guy

Very nice and clean facility, but kind of spendy, but I suppose that's what you have to do to stay across from the beach.

Family

2/10

Poor

06 Jul 2026

JAMES

I had the worst time of my life terrible service my bathroom was flooded they never changed my room
I reach out and they told me didn’t have piece to fix so they would give me free breakfast that I already paid for I’m a honor member and this was terrible only person tried too do something was manger in morning was Sophie will never go back

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2026

jan

Staff very friendly nice rooms

Self

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2026

Ricki

The property is beautiful and everyone was so nice. The only downside I see is that they charge $42/day for parking. I feel like if you are a guest, that should be included.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

28 Jun 2026

Esther Morales

The Hilton Beachfront Resort was a very large and older resort that lacked luster. The hotel facilities were outdated and not well maintained. The best examples were the gates to enter the pool area were key fob operated but did not work. The hotel hallways had wall patches throughout many buildings. In the Camilia building where we stayed all three ice machines did not work. The gym was very outdated and not maintained very well. The pool area was not monitored by staff where it seemed many children ran the decks and jumped in the pool and hot tub without and intervention by parents or staff.

I found the staff at check in, restaurant, and bar to be very friendly and helpful. I had an issue with the safe opening in our room, and a staff member quickly reported the issue and it was resolved during a period that was convenient for us.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jun 2026

Berk

Nice

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Nikalus

Great spot, very good for kids and pets. The breakfast was great

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jun 2026

Carmen

We loved everything about the hotel great location easy to site see and just so beautiful. Staff was great. Hopefully we’ll get to come back soon

Pet

2/10

Poor

23 Jun 2026

susan

We paid for the view only
The room was old and very smelly
The hallways are smelly
Its the very old carpet
The tun/shower was disgusting old peeled and felt like a motel 6
The prices are crazy high but the hotel is in desperate need of a remodel
Short staffed and horrible service. Staff doesnt want to be there or do their job. Food at the restaurant was awful and very overpriced. The cheese board was very sad. 2 kinds of cheese, old olives that were rotten, grapes that were questionable and unwashed. Took 1 hour to get it. Took half hour to get 1 glass of overpriced wine. The grilled cheese sandwich was made on very stale smelly old bread that wasnt even eatable. I've never had bread that bad before.

Family

8/10

Excellent

22 Jun 2026

Angie

Place location great property needs some rehab

8/10

Excellent

21 Jun 2026

Constance

Overall, we liked the hotel — it’s beautiful, and our room was big and comfortable. Some of the staff were fantastic, especially the maintenance guy who helped with the fire pit and the bartender on Friday night. The pool bartenders, though, weren’t very attentive, and the drinks were pricey. The pool area could’ve been cleaned more often, and the birds definitely took advantage of that, which wasn’t great for guests. Just a heads‑up: the hotel isn’t super close to other restaurants, so expect about a 3/4‑mile walk.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

20 Jun 2026

Simon

This is a sprawling property across from the beach and about 7-minute drive to main street Santa Barbara. We had a quiet stay. The picture on Expedia is misleading (shows a room with ocean view). we had a view of the Parking lot. Overall, a decent place to stay - no big surprises.

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

18 Jun 2026

Paul

We wanted a nice one night in Santa Barbara to finish our road trip. There was a huge conference in the hotel and we couldn’t cancel the day of. Front desk gave us the wrong room and the luggage person open the room while someone was changing. Caused an awkward tension with the neighbor.
Fitness center was missing pieces to the equipment so I couldn’t use it. Overall not worth what we pay for.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2026

nicole

Self

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jun 2026

Salina

Great stay! Use the fire pits at night.

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

14 Jun 2026

Denise

The hotel was fine, very aged but fine. The staff acted like they had no idea what they were doing and were not very helpful. The room was not up to a Hilton standard room. I definitely expected better. Will skip this Hilton on the way back to Santa Barbara.

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

13 Jun 2026

Carol

A beautiful property but the rooms are dated, especially the bathrooms. It have stayed here many times but this time I saw a very obvious drop in the quality of service — from the house keeping, waiters and hostesses. You go to a property like this to be surrounded by the est and the staff and as mostly different. Maybe just overwhelmed? For the prices they charge, I’d expect more like the level they have provided in the past.

Pet

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

barbara

We have stayed there many times, and we keep going back because we always have a good stay.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jun 2026

Henny

There was 1 staff at check in. It was super slow on a Saturday afternoon. The rooms are clean. The vents in the dinning room were dusty. You can see it. Obvious areas were clean, but some areas were not. The pool was nice. Pretty expensive for a pretty old hotel. The hallways were old looking. Bummed I didn’t get my fire pit patio room bc the fire pit was down. Was upgraded and compensated with free breakfast, but still. Wasn’t as exciting as I hoped.

Family

4/10

Poor

07 Jun 2026

Rick

No direccions on how to enter the propery. There is a guard shack but nobody is there. At the check in they did not have the room I requested instead they gave me a voucher for misserable 20.00 . Room was good but the balcony had spider webs and holes in teh wall and cilling. Not a 5 star hotel. May be 2 . No complementry nothing. I will stay away . Not a 700.00 room

Partner

4/10

Poor

06 Jun 2026

Viviana

The smoke free room, smelled smoked in. Also, we got locked out of our room due to the lock battery dying. I won’t stay hear again.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

Anthony

Emily checked us in and as a birthday treat she updated us to an ocean view room. Give Emily a raise!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

Mark

Our very first time in Santa Barbra and it was amazing. We got the beach side view which was gorgeous and walking distance. Staff was very friendly and accommodating. Would definitely stay here again.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

ELTON

Many items were fantastic and few item were being addressed during our stay. Overall the resort was good for my family and our dog! Thank again.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

01 Jun 2026

Gwendolyn

The room Was VERY outdated for a 400$+/night room. Grout In The bathroom was brown and gross and the tub covering was peeling. The bike rentals were a nice touch but could use some maintenance. Squeaky brakes and the kids bike could raise or lower because it was so rusted. The pool was a nice area. We had to check out at noon and played by the pool and used the pool
Bathroom that had a shower in it but the hotel doesn’t offer travel sized shampoo / conditioner bottles only the stuff in the room.
It was located across the street from the beach, but a good mile walk towards the end of State Street. Parking was also another 42$ night which is ridiculous.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Jessica

The location, grounds, room, amenities and parking situation is fantastic. I’ve stayed at a few different hotels in Santa Barbara and this is one I’d definitely come back to. I highly recommend this hotel

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

29 May 2026

Riverson

Everything was great

6/10

Pleasant

29 May 2026

Ray

The stay was OK, but its not worth the very high price paid ($1,988.11) for two nights. Resort Fee and Parking were just a money grab, parking lot was mostly empty and the only resort amenities I've seen was a swimming pool. Breakfast Buffet was poor. The room location and stay was more like a cheap Motel by the beach.

You will not get your money's worth.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 May 2026

Susan

No Wi-fi and trouble with parking gate.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

Mary

The property is amazing, with beautiful views of the ocean. It was very clean and well maintained, and the staff was very friendly.

We will definitely be back.

Pet

2/10

Poor

24 May 2026

Alexis

Dirty room , bathroom wasn’t clean. The building felt old

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

John

Great staff here.

6/10

Pleasant

24 May 2026

Anne

An offer to help with finding our room and with our luggage would have been appreciated. It was very far away
The room was clean but the halls were dirty and stained

Friends

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2026

Olga

The hotel is little outdated.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

18 May 2026

DAVE

Poor property maintenance at the individual rooms level

Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2026

John

Everything was perfect. Beach across the street. Bikes available for a quiet ride. Fun time. S’mores on the fire with a beach view. Hard to beat. Back soon!

2/10

Poor

12 May 2026

Kalon

The room was intense with bleach, screen door bent so let the flies n bees in to air odor out. Toilet didnt flush, long story trying to get bell hop when left a few hours after check in. Asked for no Mayo at pool cafe, had Mayo loaded up on sandwich:(.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

12 May 2026

Jacob

Both restaurants were had slow service. We ended up ordering from somewhere else and having it delivered.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2026

Simon

We had a very pleasant visit and will be returning

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2026

Jennifer

Very clean room. Pleasant area and close to many interesting sites including the zoo.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2026

Levon

They took a $150 deposit from me, but they never gave it back and didn’t explain why. We drank one bottle of wine in the room, so okay, maybe that’s $40, but the other $110 just disappeared. Other than that, the hotel was okay.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2026

Bruce and Charlene

What a fantastic property across the street from the ocean.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Wendelyn

Love the location!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

15 Apr 2026

Brett

Great room with a partial view of the ocean. Staff was really nice and the check in and out was super easy.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Apr 2026

Jane

A great beachfront location for a family vacation! We walked to the zoo, beach, historic pier & various excellent dining options. The only need for driving was to visit the botanic garden! The large pool is very accessible although the cafe near the pool was not open. We did put she's pool toys & snacks at the hotel gift shop. Parking is close to the main building & the breakfast buffet had a great variety perfect for the different preferences of our extended family, an A plus to the Hilton SB Beachfront Resort!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

11 Apr 2026

Joseph

Had to wait for towels to get restocked at the pool pretty much every day of our stay.

4/10

Poor

10 Apr 2026

Steve

It was at best average in all aspects

Partner

4/10

Poor

07 Apr 2026

Pablo

Hotel needs a renovation.

2/10

Poor

07 Apr 2026

john

I went thru Expedia for this stay. They charged me for my rooms on my credit card on top of my Expedia charges

8/10

Excellent

07 Apr 2026

Jidong

Spacious room and great location

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

07 Apr 2026

Kimberly

Very family and pet friendly. We have young boys and were traveling with our dog, and the accommodations were perfect - large, clean room, and we felt welcomed throughout the resort. We loved the shuffle board and pool area, and of course the proximity to the beach!

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Apr 2026

vicente

The staff really kindly

10/10

Exceptional

05 Apr 2026

Kelly

Room was very nice. Love the location. Quite. Food and drinks excellent.

Friends_and_family Family

2/10

Poor

04 Apr 2026

Jennifer

The hotel is huge but very, very under staffed. We tipped the staff because they were working over the legal time. They had to keep apologizing to the guests when it was not their fault.

Our bathroom shower fell apart, the water was leaking, the toilet was not secure and kept moving,

We were very excited about our trip but extremely disappointed.

There was one employee at check-in with 8-10 guests in line. One waiter at the gorgeous restaurant, therefore, guests were frustrated or left. One poor bartender over worked. One young man, Cole, at the \"buffet\" was the only waiter.

We would not ever stay there again,

Partner

8/10

Excellent

04 Apr 2026

Ericka

Need to improve the property

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

02 Apr 2026

Kollbe

There was no management staff available in person—everything was handled through apps and text messages, which made the experience feel impersonal and frustrating. The only staff I encountered on-site were janitorial and groundskeeping workers.

The pool was small and NOT HEATED, making it too cold to use. As a result, around 20 guests—including children—were crowded into a small jacuzzi (maximum 6 persons), which felt uncomfortable and far from relaxing.

Overall, this was very disappointing for a so-called luxury resort. Based on this experience, I would not choose to stay with Hilton again.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

01 Apr 2026

Oren

Great restaurants and amenities, location was perfect. Really enjoyed the bike rentals.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

30 Mar 2026

Perry

The Hilton Beachfront Resort has a wonderful location with excellent views of the ocean. It is a very large property with excellent amenities for the entire family. It has very large banquet rooms for very large weddings and business conferences. It has beach bikes, pools and hot tubs, gardens and outdoor yoga and meditation and more. Excellent dining nearby. Parking is expensive but available.

Business Family

6/10

Pleasant

27 Mar 2026

Tanya Michele

Old. Dated. It smelled and I could hear anybody that was above me

6/10

Pleasant

25 Mar 2026

Melanie

Yes

8/10

Excellent

23 Mar 2026

Tina

There was only one person working in the front which was frustrating. The line to check in was out the door and the app wasn’t working. The free bikes were a nice touch. Beautiful property and walking distance to restaurants, shops, etc.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Mar 2026

Anaiah

Cleanroom, walkable from stores, friendly staff

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Mar 2026

Suzie

Decent property, very understaffed at front desk.

Self

2/10

Poor

21 Mar 2026

simon and tiffany

Title: Significant Decline in Service and Lack of Professionalism
We have stayed at this property several times in the past and always enjoyed our visits, which is why we chose to return. Unfortunately, our most recent stay was deeply disappointing due to a series of service failures and unprofessional conduct.
The Valet Experience:
Upon arrival, we received no assistance with offloading our vehicle. Worse, the valet team misplaced our keys for nearly 30 minutes. Throughout this ordeal, the staff remained unapologetic, dismissive, and entirely unprofessional. It was an incredibly frustrating start to our trip.
Billing Issues:
To make matters worse, we found that we were overcharged for our stay. When I approached management to resolve the discrepancy and requested an itemized receipt, my request was flatly refused. This lack of transparency regarding financial charges is unacceptable for any hospitality establishment.
Final Verdict:
While we previously valued this hotel, the combination of poor logistics, rude staff, and questionable billing practices has ensured that we will not be returning. I would advise future guests to double-check their statements and be prepared for a lack of basic courtesy from the service teams.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

17 Mar 2026

Lance

Everything was great except the mattress.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Mar 2026

Scott

Service at the pool could have been better, place needs some minor tile repairs. Loved our room

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2026

Frannell

Yes

6/10

Pleasant

15 Mar 2026

John

Air air conditioner in my room, made this unbelievably loud noise. There was a crib in the room and generally felt like the room needed a facelift.

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

28 Feb 2026

Jaqueline

Yes

Partner

4/10

Poor

24 Feb 2026

Minjeong

Hars to find a room since there was some sort of banquet on the floor and the hall way to the bed room. Not so much option for restaurants.

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

21 Feb 2026

Leonardo

Sheets had a stain and housekeeping walked in while I was changing clothes. Worst part about it is that the front desk was minimally apologetic at checkout and right after “the incident”. Safe to say that I will never stay there again.

6/10

Pleasant

20 Feb 2026

Kirtan

Rooms smell bad

Family_with_children

2/10

Poor

16 Feb 2026

Monique

The toilet did not flush well. The “shower” was falling apart with a huge crack in the tub portion. Out server at the restaurant inside the hotel was horrible. We kept having to ask the other staff to get us our needed items. The ice machine on the second floor didn’t work. The door to the room had a huge gap so every noise from the hallway came in at all hours of the night. Kids were running up and down the halls without consequences. Would not recommend staying here.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 Feb 2026

CSILLA

Michael B front desk greeting, helpful.Super good experience.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Feb 2026

Krisna

Room

4/10

Poor

15 Feb 2026

nour

Our room shared a wall with the elevator and the room shook every single time someone used the elevators so we got 0 sleep the two nights we stayed. Also the room above us sounded like they had dogs jumping all over the place and we called to complain and nothing was done.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2026

Janita

Clean room and friendly staff.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Feb 2026

JEFFREY

Great room and staff

8/10

Excellent

06 Feb 2026

Melanie

Great location, rooms are spacious but a little dated/tired, could use a refresh.

6/10

Pleasant

26 Jan 2026

Marianne

The room was in good condition. Half the staff was ok, and half were just downright rude. The $40 daily for parking is kind of ridiculous too many added fees. The breakfast items were not good. Dinner at the bar was excellent with excellent service.

Leisure Family

6/10

Pleasant

22 Jan 2026

peter

The room lacked trash receptacles; the faucets were very tight...you had to tug hard to get the water flowing...the door handle of the door leading to the patio was broken disallowing exit to the patio. The staff were very nice. We checked in late and finding the building that included our room was very difficult...the area needs more lighting...we saw a person walking, stopped and asked them as to the location of our building...she knew and pointed us to the entrance. On a happier note, I left my electric toothbrush in the room and after filling out the hotel's \"left in the room\" form, they are sending it back...course I have to pay $39 to have it shipped.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

20 Jan 2026

SEUNGHYUN

old and outdated buildings and restaurants.

Leisure Family