The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Santa Barbara

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Courthouse The Santa Barbara Courthouse

If it's your first trip to Santa Barbara, California for the activities and sightseeing, then you're in for a treat. But the biggest question is often where to stay for a first time visitor to Santa Barbara. With so many amazing hotels to choose from, it can be tough to make a decision to make the most of your first trip here. That's where we come in! In this comprehensive guide, we'll help you find the best hotels for first-timers in Santa Barbara. After analyzing all of the hotels based on price, location, amenities, ratings, and more, we have come up with our list of the best hotels in Santa Barbara for first time visitors. We'll cover everything you need to know about these hotels, including the amenities, location, prices and ratings. So, whether you're traveling solo, with family, or as a couple on a romantic getaway, you'll find the perfect hotel if you've never visited Santa Barbara beofre. So check out these terrific hotels, many of which have sparkling swimming pools, delicious restaurants, and top-notch amenities, along with the perfect balance of comfort, location, and affordability. So, let's get to it and discover the best hotels in Santa Barbara for your first trip!

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Belmond El Encanto

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $851 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Santa Barbara
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Located at 800 Alvarado Place, Belmond El Encanto has great rooms from $851 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.10 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.3 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love hiking, rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Horse riding
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
  • Saltwater pool


Harbor View Inn Santa Barbara

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $307 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A great place to stay is Harbor View Inn Santa Barbara which has nice rooms starting at $307. Offering an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center, it also has a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 28 West Cabrillo Boulevard. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, laundry services, city views, and a hot tub which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.8 miles from the city center. You'll love relaxing in the heated pool after a busy day exploring.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Child pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Coffee shop


Coast Village Inn

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $144 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

We found Coast Village Inn to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $144. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a bar, parking, and hiking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.70 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 1188 Coast Village. You'll also find city views, bicycle rental, fishing, family rooms, and a heated pool which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 3 miles from the center of town. The pool here was very nice, relaxing, and fun. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Refrigerator


Montecito Inn

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $225 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Santa Barbara
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

With terrific rooms from $225, Montecito Inn, at 1295 Coast Village Road provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and parking. Its terrific guest rating is 8.20 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers hiking, mountain views, rooms with kitchens, child care, and laundry services. It's located just 3.3 miles from the city center, too. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Kimpton Canary Hotel

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $423 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

Kimpton Canary Hotel has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. The great rooms here start at $423 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 31 West Carrillo Street. Furthermore, it also offers a bar, laundry services, city views, a hot tub, and laundry facilities, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 0.2 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. You'll enjoy unwinding in the hot tub, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


Hotel Californian

5-star Hotel with prices starting at $708 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Santa Barbara
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 5-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach

The great guest rating of Hotel Californian is 8.90 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $708, and it's located at 36 State Street. We also love the parking, hiking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.7 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Coffee shop
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Brisas Del Mar Inn at the Beach

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $342 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool

A cool place is Brisas Del Mar Inn at the Beach because it has great rooms that start at $342. It has an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, and rooms with kitchens, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.90 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 223 Castillo St.. Only 0.8 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, free parking, and laundry facilities at this convenient hotel. The kitchen in the room is great, because you can cook your own meals to save time and money.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Kitchen
  • Free breakfast
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Kid-friendly buffet
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


The Eagle Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $250 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Santa Barbara
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly

The Eagle Inn offers room service, scuba diving, breakfast, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $250 (before taxes). It's located at 232 Natoma Avenue and has earned a guest rating of 9.10/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, free parking, and horse riding which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.7 miles from the city center. It's always nice to have a kitchenette to cook some basic meals or have an easy breakfast. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Room service
  • Breakfast included
  • Free breakfast
  • Horse riding
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Fishing
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room


Santa Barbara Inn

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $422 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Beach
  • Heated pool

Located at 901 E. Cabrillo Blvd., Santa Barbara Inn has great rooms from $422 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. It has a terrific 9.00 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find parking, child care, laundry services, family rooms, and a heated pool which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 1.5 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator


Best Western Plus Encina Inn & Suites

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $160 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.

A great place to stay is Best Western Plus Encina Inn & Suites which has nice rooms starting at $160. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 2220 Bath Street. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers rooms with kitchens, rooms with kitchenettes, laundry services, a hot tub, and a spa. It's located just 1.5 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Kitchen
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Coffee shop
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator


Also, take a look at the First Time Trip hotels in nearby destinations: Solvang, Camarillo, Ojai, and Oxnard.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Santa Barbara, make sure you also see Best Family-Friendly Hotels in Santa Barbara, Best Beach Hotels in Santa Barbara, Best Luxury Hotels in Santa Barbara, Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for One Week in Santa Barbara, Best Hotels for One Night in Santa Barbara, or Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in Santa Barbara.


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$285

After analyzing 36 first time trip hotels in Santa Barbara, California, we found the average first time trip hotel price to be a remarkably economical $285. Naturally, this destination has many fantastic first time trip accommodation options with a variety of prices. The price will vary by the hotel's amenities, available dates, and the general location. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Santa Barbara.

The average prices of our suggested first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 5-star hotels: $780
  • 4-star hotels: $352
  • 3-star hotels: $261
  • 2-star hotels: $194


Budget Your Trip
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