Hotel Review: Inn of the Spanish Garden
From the outside, the Inn of the Spanish Garden exhibits the best of Santa Barbara architecture and design with its white adobe walls and red, clay tile roof. Upon arriving at the Inn, I was pleasantly surprised to find complimentary, covered parking since downtown Santa Barbara contains mainly street parking, metered spots, and paid parking lots and garages. My mood continued to improve as I was welcomed with fresh baked chocolate cookies at the front desk. The staff was very friendly, courteous, and helpful, which I think is a benefit of staying at a 23 room resort where there are fewer guests for the staff to attend to. The Inn has a nicely furnished lobby, a wine bar and caf�© area, as well as an outdoor front porch with tables. The Inn also has a beautiful courtyard that contains a fountain, outdoor fireplace, outdoor tables, and many lush tropical plants and trees. There is also a heated swimming pool and a small fitness area that contains a few cardio machines, some small weights, a TV set, and a water cooler.
The room I stayed in was just as impressive as the Inn itself. It had vaulted ceilings, a gas log fireplace, and a private garden terrace in back with a table and chairs. The second floor units also had nice balconies, but they were not as private as the terraces on the ground floor which are enclosed in high stucco walls. The king sized bed was both comfortable and luxurious with soft Frette Italian linens. The bathroom was large and contained both a deep water soaking tub and also a shower stall with a glass door. Imported Molton Brown soaps, lotions, and shampoos, and big, soft bath towels further enhanced the luxury of the bathroom. Each room also contains an honor bar that is filled with some local products. The prices for the honor bar were very reasonable with many items costing in the $2 to $4 range. These same items would easily cost double at other hotels.
Additional amenities include nightly turndown service with chocolates, a complimentary video library and popcorn, and also a complimentary, deluxe continental breakfast. Every room contains a VCR and the front desk has a large selection of movies for you to choose from. They will also provide you with free popcorn if you are interested. The continental breakfast was excellent. It included fresh baked quiches, fresh fruit, granola, cereals, yogurt, muffins, pastries, fresh squeezed juices, and coffee. If you like, they will also prepare a specialty coffee drink for you.
As much as I enjoy Santa Barbara, my visit would have been great even if I had not left the hotel. The Inn of the Spanish Garden is a destination unto itself and the ideal place to escape to if you are looking to unwind in a relaxing atmosphere. It is also perfect if you are celebrating a romantic event such as a honeymoon or an anniversary. Upon departing the Inn, I was pleasantly surprised once again as they offered me chilled, bottled water for my journey home. You can get more information on the Inn of the Spanish Garden online at www.spanishgardeninn.com or by phone at 805-564-4700. They also have a toll free number, which is 866-564-4700. Rates vary by season and availability, but generally are between $235 and $465 per night. Since it is a small, boutique hotel with only 23 rooms, I would recommend booking reservations well in advance of your stay. I hope you will enjoy the Inn of the Spanish Garden as much as I did.
