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  5. Reviews of Ala Mar by the Sea

Reviews of Ala Mar by the Sea This rating is a reflection of how the property compares to the industry standard when it comes to price, facilities and services available. It's based on a self-evaluation by the property. Use this rating to help choose your stay!

102 West Cabrillo, West Beach, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, United States

#61 of 62 hotels in Santa Barbara

Guests' Choice

Review Score

Based on 433 hotel reviews

6.3

Score breakdown

  • Cleanliness

    6.9

  • Comfort

    6.9

  • Location

    9.1

  • Facilities

    6.5

  • Staff

    7.1

  • Value for money

    6.8

  • Free Wifi

    6.6

Verified guest reviews from real Bookers

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Showing 1 - 25

  • Reviewed: August 10, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No staff at front desk for check in

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 26, 2025

    7.0
    It was all about location. Hotel needs updating.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The motel needs updating by a designer. Bed springs so old they made a lot of noise. We were not told ahead of time that we’d have to pay an extra fee because we used Expedia or affiliates to book. Person at desk insisted we pay it on checkout.

    Location was fabulous! Room was clean.

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 21, 2025

    5.0
    Fair
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No microwave, no hair dryer, no iron, false advertisement of bikes to use.

    Great Location, comfortable, clean

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: July 9, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The musty odor in bathroom

    Location was perfect. Staff were kind and professional 😊

    Stayed in July 2025

  • Reviewed: June 30, 2025

    6.0
    Great location but for the money and what was offered I will go elsewhere next time
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No flat sheet on bed. Only fabric comforter. Dirty tile floors-dirty feet Need to do better breakfast.

    Flowers and location

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 17, 2025

    7.0
    We enjoyed it
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Bathroom to small, no toilet paper,

    Location, comfortable beds

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: June 17, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Staff was pretty unhelpful. I requested an early check in when I booked and got no follow up. Tried calling multiple times the day before and the staff was incompetent. Ended up checking in an hour and a half AFTER check in begins and they were still cleaning my room when I arrived.

    Great location! Room was clean and had everything we needed.

    Stayed in June 2025

  • Reviewed: May 27, 2025

    5.0
    Pretty location, stay was decent.
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Interior of room needed updating. Bathtub was scuffed and no toilet paper roll holder. TV placement in room was strange. Lots of noise from upstairs since we were in a room under the stairs. The front desk check-in process took almost a hour! They have everyone from all their properties checking in a the hotel at the same time with one computer only and the staff didn’t seem to be able to handle the job. They need better training, a more efficient check in process and at least one other station for check-in.

    Great location, very picturesque and right by the beach.

    Stayed in May 2025

  • Reviewed: May 12, 2025

    5.0
    Was cheap but most certainly a compromise. Not sure I'd come again.
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 3 nights

    First of all the management of this hotel is absent and you need to check in with a neighbouring hotel, and it seems they look after maybe 4 properties, so they tend to get busy. One of the days my key card stopped working and that reception was totally unattended for 2 hours - really not good enough. The room, despite having 3 beds, had no desk or table and I was unable to get one for my stay, I had to use the fridge as a standing desk - not ideal for business travel. Property is also equipped with shower over bath, which isn't my preference, and the body wash on the wall ran out on my first day and was not replenished by housekeeping. Additionally the property was not clean, the floor was dusty to the point that if you got wet feet in the bathroom the mat got dirty. Being a tiled floor maybe a vacuum wouldn't hurt

    Location was good, room was spacious. Had 2 double beds and a single, which was far more than I needed. Checkin was easy and location was fantastic

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 30, 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Travelers with friends
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Using non-reusable plates, cups and cutlery for breakfast is a no-go. Please take a part in saving plastic!

    Very good sweets for breakfast.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 29, 2025

    5.0
    Fair
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Bed was v. uncomfortable, needed new mattress. Breakfast was unexciting. No waffles bc someone wasn't there...

    Proximity to water; nice courtyard!

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 21, 2025

    7.0
    Great location for basic accommodation
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The floor wasn't clean. There were dribbles in front of the toilet. The toilet wasn't very clean. There was a pizza box in the Microwave. There was nowhere to leave luggage if you arrived early. 3pm check in appears to be very strict. Breakfast was ordinary. The bed was ok except for the hollow in the middle.

    The feel of the hotel. The location is great. The girl who checked us in was pleasant.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 18, 2025

    6.0
    Adequate. Very old hotel. Quaint but needs some updating.
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    Parking was awkward. No reception at this hotel - had to go next door to sign in. Short staffed. Poor check-in process - one woman running back and forth between 2 hotels. Bathroom was very small.

    Location was great. Room was large and comfortable. Beds were comfortable.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 15, 2025

    6.0
    We enjoyed our stay in Santa Monica
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Advertised as having a pool but this was at the property next door, as was management and breakfast. Breakfast was not to our taste.

    A fantastic position, right on the beach, adjacent to the main town area and the pier. Very comfortable bed.

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 10, 2025

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Needs to be a bit cleaner flier were dirty and hose keeping needs to restock things better like towels and toilet paper. Hospitality was okay

    Stayed in April 2025

  • Reviewed: April 3, 2025

    5.0
    Fair
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Book.com stated totally different room that’s why I agreed for that price not worth it, to many things but most crucial ones no noice barrier between floor to noice guest upset walking back, bathroom window missing frame and didn’t lock plus other things. I should have a full refund.

    Only location

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: March 22, 2025

    6.0
    Good value for the money
    • Business trip
    • Solo traveler
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No room service, only some sweet things like muffins and waffles for breakfast, thin walls

    Great location, friendly staff, overall good value for the money

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: March 8, 2025

    6.0
    Poor
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Furnishings were old

    Poor Muffins were old and few other choices

    Stayed in March 2025

  • Reviewed: March 4, 2025

    6.0
    Pleasant
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • King Room
    • Stayed 3 nights
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    The people staying upstairs from me or intolerably loud literally all through the night. I’m a pretty patient person, but this was so bad that I did not sleep. Almost the entire three nights I was there. Actually really affected my trip. I shared this with the staff, but nothing was really done.

    The location makes everything easy and walkable. I stayed here a few other times, and the staff has always been the best part. They are also sweet.

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: February 25, 2025

    7.0
    ok
    • Business trip
    • Group
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night

    The room however wasnt really clean. The ambienace in the room didnt exsist. no charm and horrible lighting, my bed was uncomfortable, it felt tilted

    Luv the ambiance, the staff were charming, the location great.

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: February 15, 2025

    5.0
    Below average, never again. Motel 6 is a better deal.
    • Leisure trip
    • Solo traveler
    • King Room
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No hair dry, no Continental, breakfast, no view of ocean I had the side street. Made me give $150 deposit an additional to the fee for staying the night. I could hear people walking above me and drop things on the floor. Never again.

    Location

    Stayed in February 2025

  • Reviewed: December 27, 2024

    7.0
    Nice location but boring night due to no internet
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    No internet throughout our stay . I asked for a receipt of our stay, , the front desk lady says would sent it through email but nothing was sent

    Location

    Stayed in December 2024

  • Reviewed: October 25, 2024

    7.0
    Good
    • Leisure trip
    • Family with young children
    • Queen Room with Two Queen Beds
    • Stayed 1 night
    • Submitted from a mobile device

    Tub

    Stayed in October 2024

  • Reviewed: October 1, 2024

    7.0
    An old hotel at a FANTASTIC location that needs some work
    • Leisure trip
    • Couple
    • King Room
    • Stayed 2 nights

    Super tiny room, smaller bathroom. Had to open bathroom door to pull up and down pants. Door didn't open all the way. It hit tile floor. No shelf/hanger in shower. Nowhere to put stuff. Grounds not very well maintained. Outdoor tile areas had dirt piled up in corners, palm berries all over sidewalk, patio furniture was dirty. No coffee maker, iron/board. Room floor was so dirty it made our socks black. No clothes hanger. Had to use curtain rod to hang jackets and shirts. 2 chairs and a tiny table blocked access to the dresser, and the deck door would not open until we moved the chair and the useless table. No desk for workspace. Weak breakfast. Hotel understaffed. Tried calling twice, got voice mail, waited 30 minutes to drop off key at checkout but no one was there. Left key on keyboard. Don't know about deposit refund.

    Location, location, location, small but cozy deck with ocean view, Loved proximity to restaurants and beach.

    Stayed in September 2024

Showing 1 - 25

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