Santa Barbara: our three hotels side by side

Our three hotel picks in Santa Barbara side by side: guest score, reviews, stars, area and reference price per night.

	Budget Motel 6-Santa Barbara, CA - Beach	Best Value Harbor View Inn	Luxury El Encanto Santa Barbara
Guest score	8.1/10	8.9/10	8.9/10
Reviews	1,950	1,350	97
Stars	★★★	★★★★	★★★★★
Area	Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail	Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail	800 Alvarado Place
Reference price per night	€119	€293	€811
Guests like	Location: Walking distance to local restaurants, the pier, and the zoo. Beach Access: Situated directly across the street from the ocean and waterfront promenade.	Location: Walkable setting near the beach, harbor, pier, State Street shops, and restaurants. Views: Rooms feature balconies with outlooks over the ocean, beach, pier, and harbor.
Guests mention	Value: Competitive rates for the area, though expensive for the basic amenities provided.	Swimming Pool: Heated water and hot tubs, though the bar is closed and North Wing is far.
Good for	pool, pets, ac	beach, family, spa, gym, ac	family, spa, gym, ac, breakfast

Which one?

Choose Motel 6-Santa Barbara, CA - Beach if price matters most, Harbor View Inn for the best balance of score and price, and El Encanto Santa Barbara if you want the best-reviewed upscale stay.

See all three picks

Prices are reference rates for a 2-night stay for 2 adults (10 to 12 Nov 2026), not live quotes. Scores and review counts are Booking.com snapshots from September 2026. Always check the current price before quoting it as today's.