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Reviews of Ala Mar by the Sea 2 stars

102 West Cabrillo, West Beach, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States

#62 of 64 hotels in Santa Barbara

Guests' Choice

Review score

Based on 581 hotel reviews

5.9

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    6.5

  • Comfort

    6.7

  • Location

    9.0

  • Facilities

    6.0

  • Staff

    7.3

  • Value for money

    6.4

  • Free WiFi

    6.9

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Showing 1 – 25

  • Reviewed: 7 March 2024

    5.0
    It was average.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights

    There was no place to place our bags, such as a table. Instead we had to take up valuable floor space to place our bags, etc. In addition, there wasn't even one door hook to hang a jacket/coat or even a bath towel in the bathroom.

    Location was awesome!

    Stayed in March 2024

  • Reviewed: 4 March 2024

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Maintenance of the property.

    Breakfast was good and location is great.

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 27 February 2024

    6.0
    Bait and switch on price. Bare basics in room. Soap bar was size of condom wrapper!!
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Listed at $89.00. Actual cost was $126.00! NO CLOSET IN ROOM! No cups in room. No place to lay suitcase. Had to go to next hotel to check in and get “breakfast”. “Dated” furniture, poor lighting, “check in” office shuttered.

    Location

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 12 February 2024

    7.0
    location makes it worth it
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room definitely needs some major remodeling and they could use new bed sheets, but it was okay for just one night ( wouldn’t stay more than 1)

    Perfect location, free breakfast, the motel is clearly quite old but it works fine if you dig the vintage vibes

    Stayed in February 2024

  • Reviewed: 13 January 2024

    6.0
    I stay here for New Year’s Eve. It was a perfect place for location and the price with the hot tub a
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Upstairs neighbors that were very loud

    That they had a pool and a Jacuzzi we could go to, and everything was walking distance to the bars and main beach

    Stayed in January 2024

  • Reviewed: 30 December 2023

    6.0
    Great location just lacks customer service
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No one on site, shortage on towels, shampoo etc…

    Location and amenities

    Stayed in December 2023

  • Reviewed: 29 November 2023

    5.0
    It was too expensive compared to the motel conditions and it was different from the photos.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    It took a long time to check in, and the motel room and shower facilities were very different from the photos. At breakfast, the waffle maker was old so the waffles didn't cook well, and there wasn't much food provided for breakfast.

    The location of the motel was really good. It was right in front of the beach and it was nice to be able to see the sun rise in the morning.

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 17 November 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant and basically comfortable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Lock on door seemed almost broken Wire framed bed squeaked a lot

    Location. Breakfast includes. Management friendly Clean

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 13 November 2023

    6.0
    Lovely location, older motel, upstairs rooms are nice, limited parking, overpriced
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Could have been better maintained. Dusting windowsills, screens that are tight on windows, some window frames were broken. Clean the table tops on patio each day

    Location is excellent. Desk staff was really helpful and friendly. Upstairs room was really nice. Patio looking out at beach is nice

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 10 November 2023

    5.0
    ordinary .
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    needs to be remodeled

    location was nice

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 3 November 2023

    5.0
    It was only one night, location was great, room was fine for the money but the check in was terrible
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Check in was confusing and took a long time. It took a really long time.

    Location was amazing.

    Stayed in November 2023

  • Reviewed: 2 November 2023

    6.0
    Ok
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Room security. Front door needs attention

    Locatio

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: 24 October 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night

    Great location, decent breakfast, nice view, helpful staff.

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: 12 October 2023

    6.0
    The location was excellent, and the partnership with the neighboring hotel was the saving grace! The bed was comfortable
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    No closet, table, screen on the bathroom window and the fridge was not working.

    On line

    Stayed in October 2023

  • Reviewed: 29 September 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Condition of building no n parking and homeless people sleeping on the front balcony at night

    Location

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 15 September 2023

    7.0
    Great location, old school, but a very good value.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights

    The outside parking lot was dirty and had broken glass. The floor in our 2nd story room was very spongy in different areas. The screen were bent and didn't keep the bugs out. The bathroom window didn't have a screen. The parking in the lot was very limited. The on-street parking was scary, not sure if the car would get broken into.

    The location was fabulous and so was the staff. The morning continental breakfast was very good, if you got there early. The refrigerator worked very well and so did the large screen TV and floor fan. There were lots of TV channels. The beds were big. There was soap, shampoo, conditioner and lotion.

    Stayed in September 2023

  • Reviewed: 3 September 2023

    5.0
    Very disappointed. Our room said patio room which was not.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    Our room window screens were off so we couldn’t open windows there was a broken fan that never got replaced and the ice machine made it noisy all night.

    The location was nice across from the beach

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: 18 August 2023

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • Penthouse Suite
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Location is great.

    Stayed in August 2023

  • Reviewed: 24 July 2023

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted via mobile

    The room was dirty, sheets had makeup, lipstick on the pillow and hair on the sheets. Toilet paper was still in the trash can and the floor was sticky. I asked to speak to a manager but apparently there was none I left a message and talked to the office manager in charge. I still to this day I have not received a response at all. I was very disappointed, however the lady in charge of laundry did replaced my sheets because I complained to the office and she personally went to the room and looked at the bed sheets because the lady that had cleaned the room that morning stated that it was cleaned.. She was not happy to see a dirty bed. So she cleaned it up herself. I would like to thank her for it.. greatly appreciated and I did enjoy a clean bed.

    Location is great, very close to everything food, shopping and the beach.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: 14 July 2023

    5.0
    Interesting yet very awkward
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Sorry but the night front desk lady was talking too fast like she was tweaking or high. That was stressful bc she couldn’t remember what I was saying mid sentence. It was uncomfortable talking to her. She shouldn’t be working there. It would attract the wrong ppl and unprofessional. Being clearly on drugs is a bad reflection of the company owners and management. The room was missing the door latch. I put a chair in front of the door. Felt sketchy and unsafe. The lobby was cool & quirky but I was weirded out tbh.

    Room was clean thanks

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: 9 July 2023

    5.0
    Passable
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    It's needs to be more up to date and clean. Better bedding and not comforters from big lots, needs better locks on doors and updated/cleaner showers.

    I liked the villa inn next door that checks you into this motel, I would not stay at Ala Mar as it needs to be cleaner and up to date. However the villa inn next to it was cute, remind me of a bed and breakfast and I would only stay there because the staff (Christina) was so friendly and amazing she made you feel welcome and took care of anything you needed. They definitely need more staff like Christina!

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: 2 July 2023

    5.0
    Good for a night of stay. Love the location.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    Walls and ceiling are very thin, there were kids jumping all night and loud next door people, Bathroom toilet was unpleasant. No fan or AC, booking pics has fans.

    Location is good. Bed is ok. Price compare to other hotels around is fair. Fridge, microwave was ok. Wifi works. Good for one night stay in my opinion.

    Stayed in July 2023

  • Reviewed: 2 June 2023

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveller
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted via mobile

    The long term renters sitting rite outside of my room smoking cigarettes. I cudnt open the windows and enjoy the cool ocean air.

    The location was perfect. liked the villa style of the room. The lady that checked me into my room was very polite and accommodating.

    Stayed in June 2023

  • Reviewed: 20 April 2023

    7.0
    A fine place for just a night stay - perfect location, free parking + pets allowed
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    Had to check in next door, outrageous price for 1 night, did not see the free breakfast they listed but may have missed, could not open windows or curtains or else could see right in

    Great location, rooms was clean enough, beds comfy enough, had a cute refrigerator which helped, pet friendly, free parking, bathroom fine and gave you toiletries, towels were fine

    Stayed in April 2023

Showing 1 – 25

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