Tide Pool Villas

This was a great find in a great location. The two rooms with a kitchenette are great for a small family traveling. We checked in later at night after the included happy hour, but the front desk still offered to pour us a glass of wine. Love that we are in walking distance to the beach and all the fun restaurants.

We arrived at Tide Pool Villas on Monday 6th November hoping to stay only 4 nights but we were so impressed by all of the above (i.e. rooms, service and location) that we decided to stay another 2 nights extra and would have extended by another 4 days if we had not aleady booked somewhere else. Our king suite is very clean and spacious and has a 270 degree view of the surrounding area. From two sides we can see the Pacific Ocean clearly and it is only seconds away from the beautiful West Beach and the impressive Sterns Wharf Pier and Harbour, with all its marine facilities and restaurants. The staff have been particularly delightful tending to all our needs in a polite and cheerful manner; a special mention for Marco, Christina, Melody and Lynda amongst others. The hotel itself has a very classic and relaxing feel with quaint artifacts and paintings and sculptures; there's even a pond next to the pool and jacussi with four large koi fishes in it. The oak beams in the sitting and dining area bring back memories of rural England, where we are from and this place we found very charming and authentic and we will be coming back next year around May/June. One unexpected surprise we came across at the hotel was their 'free wine tasting' sessions from 5:30pm to 7:00 pm every evening; it was a great way of meeting other guests at the hotel and some people from outside. It was a novel way to break the ice and learn from the local people and other vsiitors to the hotel. We have visited hotels all around the world but this is the first time we have come across a 'free wine tasting' event and wonder why more hotels don't do it. It was a great way to wind down after a busy day of touring ! Having spoken to so many guests at the hotel we were taken aback by just how many people had stayed at the hotel in the past. The hotel is within walking distance of downtown Santa Barbara and close to the railway station and national bus station, which we have used. The TV in the room has all the streaming apps available. It has ample parking onsite and all the hotel area is very clean. The hotel is surrounded by plenty of palm trees and has a very Spanish feel to it.