I only stayed at the property for one night, so it is harder to evaluate it perhaps as fairly as I might otherwise. It is a beautiful place, with stunning views of the Santa Barbara coastline. But I was irritated to arrive at 3:30 in the afternoon, and be told my room was not quite ready. 90 minutes later, for myself and other guests, the rooms were finally available. When we arrived for dinner at 7:30, once again the table wasn’t ready, and it was closer to 8pm before we were seated. My guess is that they are understaffed, and struggling with meeting the demands of more guests post Covid. However, if El Encanto is going to share $1500 per room per night, they need to have these staffing issues resolved!
Cannot say enough about this beautiful hotel, the grounds are stunning. So quiet and relaxing. I can see why it made Forbes 5 stars!
Wonderful hositality, staff was wonderful and services was wonderful. I would definitely come back.
Great staff. Small great hotel with excellent service. Big comfortable room with a shower and bath to die for with heated bathroom floors. The only one complaint I had about the room in general is the pillows were awful (feathers not down) and the bed was a little hard so I did not sleep that well. One other thing that slightly bothered me was the $19 cheeseburger at lunch ordered medium well (supposed to have little pink) was way overdone so lunch was spendy and not that good. Everything else was great though on very beautiful grounds!
Amazing weekend. They upgraded us to a beautiful room. Service was lovely, room was gorgeous.
Overall amazing experience. The spa and restaurant are amazing. The view from the hotel is also incredible. The room was very comfortable. Only drawback is bit far from downtown Santa Barbara. But not a problem if you don't mind taking a cab or driving.
The grounds, amenities, staff and room allow for nothing but the best, most relaxing time. The staff is looking for ways to make your visit special - and they certainly did for us; our anniversary (which we tried to hide from them to no avail!). No noise, no rowdy guests, no rude staff. Even the grounds crew steps aside as you pass with a greeting of "good morning sir". That was our second visit and we'll be back!
Stayed three night with my two kids, 9 and 12. Beautiful and peaceful surroundings. Very elegant and modern. Great view, great staff and great food. Kids where welcomed but I would suggest that they keep a low profile since a lot of couples go there to relax.
My husband and I had been coming to this hotel for many years for special occasions and loved it. It was closed for about seven years after a new owner bought it out and did an extensive remodel. I was afraid that the charm of the old hotel would disappear but it did not. It is only more charming! The service is excellent!
Lovely hotel and the only hotel I have stayed in that provides milk, half and half and skim milk in the minibar for morning nespresso coffee in the room. Every detail thought of and the staff could not be friendlier or more accommodating.
The concierge and staff went above and beyond to help make this a trip we'd never forget. They fulfilled my request for rose petal turn down service, sent chocolate-covered strawberries, and were excellent about communicating with me so I could rest assured everything would go well for the proposal and stay in general. They also upgraded us, which was an amazing surprise… and greatly appreciated! We not only had privacy but felt very special. So, thank you!
I hadn't been back to the El Encanto since the rennovation. It is absolutely amazing! They thought of everything in the room right down to the heated bathroom floor and timed fan and lights when you walk in. The service was amazing, everyone was lovely and of course the views were outstanding. We will certainly be back, just wish I was still there!
Lovely hotel and great service. Meticulous renovation and good food. Menu was a bit precious for my husband's taste, but delicious and fresh local cuisine. Rooms were smaller than I expected, but sparkling and sweet. No jacuzzi, but pool was wonderfully warm, overlooking the coastline of Santa Barbara below. Would definitely recommend.
We sent the reservation staff our story as to why El Encanto and why it was so last minute. Everyone and everything was amazing! They upgraded our room to assure us a fireplace like we requested and sent an anniversary cake with champagne and personal note! We were treated like royalty the entire time. The whole facility is gorgeous since being remodeled. The grounds are impecable. The staff very attentive. We normally cannot afford a place like this but were so glad we saved for this special occassion. To top it off the weather made the sunsets perfect. Thank you all...especially Laura McIver.
Located in Upper Riviera within a mile (2 km) of Mission Santa Barbara, El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara is within 2 miles (3 km) of other popular sights such as El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park. This 92-room, 5-star hotel has 2 restaurants, a full-service spa, and an outdoor pool.
Enjoy dining at the hotel's 2 onsite restaurants: The Dining Room specializes in Californian cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner; The Terrace offers relaxing ocean views. Savor a meal from the comfort of your room with room service, or make new friends over drinks at the bar/lounge. Full breakfast is offered for a fee each morning from 7 AM to 10:30 AM.
Guests can expect free WiFi and 42-inch flat-screen TVs with cable channels. Beds are dressed in premium bedding and pillow menus, and bathrooms offer hair dryers and free toiletries. IPod docks, minibars, and espresso makers are also standard.
At El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara, guests enjoy a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and a 24-hour gym. Valet parking is available for USD 40.00 per night, and there's also limo/town car service. Multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk can assist with tours or tickets, securing valuables, and luggage storage. If you like to take your furry friend along on your adventures, this pet-friendly property offers food and water bowls and pet-sitting services. Other amenities at this luxury hotel include free WiFi in public areas, conference space, and a business center.
I only stayed at the property for one night, so it is harder to evaluate it perhaps as fairly as I might otherwise. It is a beautiful place, with stunning views of the Santa Barbara coastline. But I was irritated to arrive at 3:30 in the afternoon, and be told my room was not quite ready. 90 minutes later, for myself and other guests, the rooms were finally available. When we arrived for dinner at 7:30, once again the table wasn’t ready, and it was closer to 8pm before we were seated. My guess is that they are understaffed, and struggling with meeting the demands of more guests post Covid. However, if El Encanto is going to share $1500 per room per night, they need to have these staffing issues resolved!
Thank you! We hope to welcome back soon!
Thank you for the 5 out 5
Thank you very much for choosing to stay with us! We hope to see you again soon!
Cannot say enough about this beautiful hotel, the grounds are stunning. So quiet and relaxing. I can see why it made Forbes 5 stars!
Thank you so much for the very lovely feedback! We are delighted to hear how much you enjoyed your stay, and we look forward to having you back as our guest again soon!
Wonderful hositality, staff was wonderful and services was wonderful. I would definitely come back.
Great staff. Small great hotel with excellent service. Big comfortable room with a shower and bath to die for with heated bathroom floors. The only one complaint I had about the room in general is the pillows were awful (feathers not down) and the bed was a little hard so I did not sleep that well. One other thing that slightly bothered me was the $19 cheeseburger at lunch ordered medium well (supposed to have little pink) was way overdone so lunch was spendy and not that good. Everything else was great though on very beautiful grounds!
Amazing weekend. They upgraded us to a beautiful room. Service was lovely, room was gorgeous.
Overall amazing experience. The spa and restaurant are amazing. The view from the hotel is also incredible. The room was very comfortable. Only drawback is bit far from downtown Santa Barbara. But not a problem if you don't mind taking a cab or driving.
The grounds, amenities, staff and room allow for nothing but the best, most relaxing time. The staff is looking for ways to make your visit special - and they certainly did for us; our anniversary (which we tried to hide from them to no avail!). No noise, no rowdy guests, no rude staff. Even the grounds crew steps aside as you pass with a greeting of "good morning sir". That was our second visit and we'll be back!
Dear Guest, Thank you for your time in giving us your feedback, we appreciate it. I would like to contact you for a better understanding of your complaints. Would you please let me know the best time and number to reach you? Sincerely,