User Reviews for Hotel Oceana

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Dec 1, 2009 by Mauricio from Campbell,CA
Overall Rating: 8

• Great location.
• Buildings are far apart from each other.

“Great location, walking distance to many restaurants and right in front of the beach.”

Nov 28, 2009 by Phyllis from San Antonio,TX
Overall Rating: 8

• It was great Santa Barbara local!
• Parking.

“We lived in Santa Barbara for our first 2 years of marriage and lived in an apartment very close to the hotel. After 33 years of marriage it was great to be so close to where we began our journey!”

Nov 23, 2009 by Wendell from Dana Point,CA
Overall Rating: 8

• Nice appearance and good location.
• Charged for parking and I was not told I would be.

“Near ocean and pier. Pleasant grounds. Somewhat older hotel but in good condition.”

Nov 21, 2009 by Alyssa from Culver City,CA
Overall Rating: 8

• The hotel and room were comfortable and refreshing.
• The heater in our room did not work until we were leaving.

“This is a nice, quaint hotel. The beach is directly across from the hotel, and there are ample restaurants in the area. Our room was cozy and clean. The Am-track train ran close to the hotel and the warning signals from the train did wake us in the morning hours. The wall heater did not ignite during our sleeping hours, which made the morning a bit chilly (if you can call being in California chilly). All in all, it is a nice hotel, and we would stay there again if the price was right.”

Nov 1, 2009 by Anastasia from El Dorado Hills,CA
Overall Rating: 9

• Right across from the ocean, and a charming appearance.
• Parking is not conveniently located.

“We were pleasantly surprised with the quality and charm of this hotel. Would love to go back when we could stay longer. Very friendly and helpful staff. Perfect location. We were very pleased!”

Oct 7, 2009 by Sherrie from Long Beach,CA
Overall Rating: 10

• Hotel Oceana is beautifully landscaped, decorated well, and offered a delightful breakfast. I felt at home.
• For a 3 star resort hotel, Oceana had terrible beds that were too soft and you can hear the springs .Need to upgrade.

“Although my family and I stayed for only 1 night, I enjoyed every moment of it. Very clean, bright, modern decor, the outside ambiance very romantic and a great view of the beach. I will definitely come back, just may be I'll be able to use the pool next time.”

Oct 2, 2009 by John from Snohomish,WA
Overall Rating: 10

• Very charming hotel right across from the beach.
• The room was on the small side (2 queens).

“This hotel is in an excellent location near shopping, dining, and the beach. The hotel is clean and charming, the staff was very helpful, and the beds were excellent.”

Sep 15, 2009 by Pauline from San Mateo,CA
Overall Rating: 7

• Cool decor & great free breakfast.

“Our one night stay was fine and the location could not have been better. However, this was more of a very nicely dressed motel than a luxury hotel. The walls were thin and we heard literally every step that our upstairs neighbors took.”

Sep 9, 2009 by Brian from Glendora,CA
Overall Rating: 1

• I asked for a view and the view I got was of a wall.
• The price and the view.

“I asked for a view of the beach and I got a view of the wall and vines on the wall.”

Sep 6, 2009 by Dave from Fresno,CA
Overall Rating: 3

• Across street from ocean.
• Very small room, no A/C, $10 parking charge.

“Room was very small. Weather was warm with no A/C. $10 per night parking charge I was not aware of. Maybe area is expensive, but hotel seemed overpriced. No vending machines on premises, but honor bar in room has $4 sodas.”

Jul 17, 2009 by John from Encinitas,CA
Overall Rating: 5

• Staff, location and grounds perfect.
• Truck started up early in morning under motel window and no air conditioning so window open.

“Lovely, quaint hotel with great staff and perfect location. Upgrade to the larger room away from parking garages. Upper room hot without air conditioning. Select lower room on front.”

Jul 17, 2009 by Veronica from Jacksonville,FL
Overall Rating: 5

• No light at my door. Door open from outside and I arrived at night. Took a while to find my room not good for a women traveling alone.

“It definitely was not a 3star hotel. I have stayed in Motel 6 that were better. Continental breakfast was great. Staff very young and friendly.”

Jul 11, 2009 by Nancy from Sugar Land,TX
Overall Rating: 9

• cute, eclectic room; great staff
• no hooks or counter space in bathroom

“Small, but beautiful, ocean-view room. Great location to beach and downtown area. Very helpful staff.”

Jul 11, 2009 by Dipak from San Jose,CA
Overall Rating: 9

• Convenient location - beautiful grounds.

“Beautiful grounds and very convenient location. My wife is a Marriott type of a person and this place met her standards for cleanliness. We went without kids but have made a note that this is a good spot for us to bring the kids.”

Jul 4, 2009 by Pegge from Fresno,CA
Overall Rating: 8

• The location is outstanding.
• No chair in the room.

“I had been here once before and enjoyed it.”

Jul 3, 2009 by Chris from Coto De Caza,CA
Overall Rating: 10

• Excellent staff, complimentary bike use, clean, not all rooms same.
• Some rooms apparently are much nicer than mine.

“This is a two star hotel, and I travel quite a bit. The reason for the two stars, and I am using my room as an example, room 165 is sub standard. I expect very nice linens. The courtesy breakfast was sub standard, cold, at this price should have been cooked to order.”

Jun 28, 2009 by Dana from Camarillo,CA
Overall Rating: 5

• Nice bedding and bath care products.
• No A/C. Small rooms. Windows open to common walkway not private.

“Clean rooms nice bedding. Could hear everything no AC. Staff very nice was upgraded to a bigger room for no charge however room was very small scared to see what the smaller room was like. No room service but had a delivery service tried to order and it was like applying for credit ended up hanging up after 10 minutes wait on hold.”

May 28, 2009 by David from Los Angeles,CA
Overall Rating: 2

• Great location, can be a charming place to stay if you get the right room.
• Tiny room. Room smelled bad.

“This room was
barely room to walk around the queen sized bed and a tiny bathroom with a shower (too small for bath). There were no windows to speak of, as the only window looked out over the staircase serving the adjacent room. The kicker is that the room smelled very bad.”

May 4, 2009 by Enrique from Hawthorne,CA
Overall Rating: 7

• Location and staff sevice.
• Room size.

“Great location, close to state street and nice view of the ocean.”

Apr 8, 2009 by Sothea from Whittier,CA
Overall Rating: 5

• Convenient location and cozy.
• Thin walls and very small.

“The hotel's location was great. Across the street from the beach and only a few minutes drive to the shopping area. Rooms were small but cozy. However, walls were thin and you could hear your neighbors.”

Apr 6, 2009 by Keith from Paso Robles,CA
Overall Rating: 10

• Older but very well kept.

“Location was wonderful and restaurants were close by. Great view of the harbor. Would stay again in a heart beat.”

Apr 2, 2009 by Sherry from Los Angeles and Boston
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[8] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• A California bungalow experience. Tropical and beach included.
• Was a little noisy in the early morning, but that comes with the location.

“This hotel is clearly the jewel of Cabrillo Beach. It is charming and provides continental breakfast, wireless internet, a spa and a fabulous location with close proximity to the beach, Stearn's Pier, the marina and restaurants. The grounds with all the flowers and trees are beautiful. The rooms are comfortable and the beds match those we've experienced at 5 star hotels. Overall, the Oceana has an unbeatable rate for what you receive and we recommend it for families, business travelers and everyone.”

Mar 30, 2009 by Gerald from Highland,CA
Overall Rating: 10

• Right on the waterfront.
• Paying the bill.

“Very beach friendly and restful.”

Mar 29, 2009 by Eladio from Castaic,CA
Overall Rating: 9

• Great location right across from the ocean.
• You could hear noises from room next door.

“This is a very comfortable hotel with an excellent location. It also has a nice pool and workout room.”

Mar 29, 2009 by Holly from Van Njuys,CA
Overall Rating: 10

• Very clean!
• When you have an ocean room it is loud.

“The staff was great and the room, etc. It is located on a busy street and when you have an ocean room it is very loud.”

Mar 27, 2009 by Laura from Aiea,HI
Overall Rating: 10

• The decor of the room was very hip and cool.

“We were looking for something clean and chic very near the beach - this hotel far exceeded our wishes, free parking, clean room and
buffet breakfast complimentary. I loved the decor which was very modern and simple.”

Mar 22, 2009 by Mark from Needham,MA
Overall Rating: 8

• Location.
• A
  little noisy and no comfortable chair in room.

“They charged 10 a night for parking.”

Mar 11, 2009 by Linda from London,Canada
Overall Rating: 8

• We loved the location across from the ocean and the friendliness of the staff.
• The walls are very thin and some people were walking around the room overhead in the middle of the night.

“Very pretty, in keeping with the tone and setting od Santa Barbara. staff was excellent, not just the front desk but the hedge clipper guys and the ladies cleaning the rooms.”

Mar 10, 2009 by Janie from Moorpark,CA
Overall Rating: 10

• Excellent location. Looks like most rooms have view of ocean and piers in Santa Barbara.
• Nothing.

“Charming hotel directly across from the ocean between the two piers in Santa Barbara. Nice rooms and very helpful staff. Two swimming pools and includes complimentary brunch.”

Feb 25, 2009 by Laurie from La Canada,CA
Overall Rating: 5

• Location and breakfast were great.
• Room was tiny and loud.

“Room was tiny - no desk or place to sit. Bathroom was even tinier - barely room to stand in the shower. It was really noisy - we could hear everything going on in outside corridor. Had to pay for parking.”

Feb 23, 2009 by Eric from Florham Park,NJ
Overall Rating: 8

• Clean, cool rooms, good staff.
• A little bit of a motel feel.

“Great staff. very helpful, got us to a great Cajun restaurant downtown. Tremendous location. Didn't love the motel feel of it though.”

Feb 22, 2009 by Naomi from Fallston,MD
Overall Rating: 1

• Close to the beach.
• Almost everything.

“The rooms are very dated, small and you can hear everything in the rooms next door and outside. The linens felt very dirty and not clean. In addition, the bathrooms had not been remodeled in a significant amount of time. The bathrooms had cracked tiles and almost seemed unsanitary. I would never recommend this hotel to any one.”

Feb 9, 2009 by Doug from Manhattan Beach,CA
Overall Rating: 9

• Location....location....location....ocean views
• property is older but they have done a good job of remodeling to keep it attractive

“Great location. Ocean views. Right across the street from the beach. Like most hotels in Santa Barbara, it is pricey and a little old. They have done a good job of updating and keeping it clean.”

Feb 3, 2009 by Deb from Carlsbad,CA
Overall Rating: 2

• The courtyard and location across from the beach.
• Thin walls, poor heating, weak shower.

“A great location across from the beach, lovely courtyards, and a cheap motel room. The walls are thin, the heater was archaic and noisy, and the shower was like a trickle from a watering can. My neighbors deadbolt broke and they got locked IN their room and security could not get them out. They had to climb OUT the window to exit! This happened twice in my 2 day stay. The heater cut on and off all night and had no way to adjustment it. I could everything going on in the rooms on either side of me. wouldn't recommend this place. The free continental breakfast was blah, and the $5 omelet was just okay.”

Feb 3, 2009 by from Bridgman,MI
Overall Rating: 8

• Parking atrocious, exterior entry and door security less than desirable, poor sound proof.

“If sleeping in, is a desire, not the hotel for you. Parking, first come first served, expect long walk to room as spaces designated for hotel are not reserved for room occupant. Entrances and parking have alley feel with no visible security (system or, person.) Very uneasy feeling due to high volume transient traffic as female traveling alone. Not sure much better if traveled with spouse.”

Jan 5, 2009 by Laura from Morgan Hill,CA
Overall Rating: 8

• Across from beach.
• Too dark in some areas at night.

“If your looking for a quick getaway to Santa Barbara and only want to pay for a hotel worth your hard-earned dollar, Oceana Santa Barbara can fit any budget off season. This hotel would not be worth more in the summer as it can be noisy and the bathrooms are very small. What makes up for this is the attention the staff gives to detail, quality products in the bathroom and comfortable towels, flat screen
TV and soft decor.”

Oct 27, 2008 by Shannon
Overall Rating: 9

• Attractive rooms, great location, beautiful room for continental breakfast; great continental breakfast.
• No AC, it was hot in there!

“I would stay there again.”

Oct 5, 2008 by Robert
Overall Rating: 7

• Wonderful location near the beach & marina.
• Very hard bed.

“NA”

Oct 4, 2008 by Eric
Overall Rating: 10

• Friendly staff. Great location. Unique character.
• Not a luxury resort.

“I could see how some would be disappointed in this hotel, and I could see why some would love it. Personally, I loved the place, and so did my girl friend. I paid a little extra upon arrival and upgraded to a king bed with an ocean view and a small balcony. The location was perfect for a short walk to the pier for some food. The room was small, but cute. The bathroom was old, but functional, big and clean. If you are expecting a 4 star hotel, this is not the place for you, but if you want a cute, quaint place near the harbor in a nice area, you will like this place. Guide was the manager at check-in and he was very helpful.”

Sep 22, 2008 by Roger
Overall Rating: 10

• Phenomenal location and high service levels.

“Great little boutique hotel directly across from Santa Barbara beach. Note that the resort merged several smaller properties, and upgraded to its high service level. The 'shabby chic' room decor is top notch; breakfast was wonderful, with a view of the ocean. This is a great place!”

Sep 13, 2008 by Frank from Alhambra, CA
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[5] • Staff:[7] • Location:[9]

• The location was very nice right at the pier on Cabrillo and State Street.
• The Oceana is not a 3 star hotel, and there were not enough parking spaces for which they charge you $10 a day.

“I would never stay at this hotel nor would I recommend it to anyone. First off, the Oceana is not a 3 star hotel like the Fess Parker Double Tree. Not even close. The location was the only positive about the hotel since it is across the street from the pier. The room we had was okay, but the bathroom was really outdated. The hotel charged $10 a day for parking, but there weren't enough parking spaces so we ended up parking on Bath Street the 2 days we stayed at the Oceana. They did waive the charges since we complained about the lack of parking spaces. The continental breakfast was very nice at the hotel. Overall, this hotel was not very good.”

Sep 11, 2008 by Cynthia from Chino, CA
Overall Rating: 5
Cleanliness:[5] • Staff:[5] • Location:[8]

• Location.
• Furniture dated, too noisy, needs update.

“Dirty, tile was falling off in bathroom, noisy, no air conditioning.”

Sep 8, 2008 by Mary from San Clemente, CA
Overall Rating: 6
Cleanliness:[2] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• Location and charm.
• Need comfortable easy chair in corner.

“I would not come back to this hotel again. The shower head did not work and there was no water pressure. The bathroom and sink area smelled like sewer. There was not one comfortable place to sit. You had to sit on bed and it was a large room. Location excellent.”

Aug 30, 2008 by Diane from Alta Loma, CA
Overall Rating: 6
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[9] • Location:[9]

• The location.
• The decor and amenities - not upscale.

“I expected more. I have stayed at Fess Parker and this in no way compares. Decor was a bit tattered.”

Aug 21, 2008 by Dm &. from Winnetka, CA
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[8] • Location:[8]

• Close to beach, close to transportation, nice area.
• No A/C, Room too small to allow a rollaway for your own child.

“Not Bad. Not as great as we thought it would be. Location excellent. Issue with room light - would come on at random (not good during sleep obviously.) No A/C. Rooms a bit thin and we could hear above people stomping around a lot. However, we were not there for the Hotel so much as the location by the beach. Overall enjoyable. Would recommend, however; the competition looked good in passing, and we'll try there next time.”

Aug 21, 2008 by Albert from Huntington Park, CA
Overall Rating: 7
Cleanliness:[9] • Staff:[6] • Location:[9]

• Its beach front view, closes proximity to downtown, and has Sambas next door.
• Our room was next to the housekeeping staff headquarters and kitchen. It was pretty loud.

“Overall, it was a decent stay. Not great. But decent.”

Aug 15, 2008 by Melanie from Garner, NC
Overall Rating: 8
Cleanliness:[7] • Staff:[8] • Location:[9]

• Ocean view from our room!
• Early morning construction in the courtyard.

“My husband and I visited Hotel Oceana on our honeymoon and greatly enjoyed our stay. The staff congratulated us as soon as we arrived and offered to send a bottle of wine to our room. They also gave us an amazing, spacious ocean-view room on the first floor. The bathrooms need updating, but overall the hotel was an adorable find with unique Spanish decor and a friendly atmosphere.”

Aug 4, 2008 by Jim from Aptos, CA
Overall Rating: 3
Cleanliness:[5] • Staff:[1] • Location:[5]

• Close to beach.
• Traffic noise - unfriendly staff.

“We asked for a king size bed - was put into a room with a queen. When asked to correct, it took the agent too long to get us moved to correct room. No AC in rooms - it was humid there. Noisy location by heavy traffic street.”

Aug 4, 2008 by Betty from Clovis, CA
Overall Rating: 1
Cleanliness:[3] • Staff:[1] • Location:[4]

• NA.
• Tub would not drain, mold in tub, very unfriendly.

“At front desk, I told her I had 4 women with me, I needed two king beds. The phone continually kept ringing, interrupting our conversation. No other help was there to answer the phone. She was rude, could careless what a problem I was having. She finally gave us the correct room after I told her we were going to have a problem. No apology for the mix up, very dry. The room was sparse, not enough towels. The bathtub was moldy, would not drain. The night clerk was very helpful with a taxi.”

Aug 3, 2008 by Barbara from Woodland Hills, CA
Overall Rating: 10
Cleanliness:[10] • Staff:[10] • Location:[10]

• Location. Clean, nice grounds, continental breakfast. Nice employees.
• I had to leave! It was still a bit pricy as the room is dated.

“Beautiful location. Room is nice, a bit dated, but clean, feather type bed, nice continental breakfast. Walking distance of the beach or Old Town Santa Barbara. I will go back!”