Best Western Plus Encina Inn & Suites

We stumbled on to this motel because it is close to Cottage Hospital. Our daughter was air-lifted to Cottage and ended up as a patient for 21 days. But of course, we did not know how long she would be staying which meant that every few days we had to add a few more days to the stay. The folks at the front desk were so very helpful in letting us hold the room and working with us to insure that we had the same room for the whole time. The room worked very well for us as a number of different family members would come and go during the three week period. There was even a little laundry room where we could do some wash. The Live Oak Cafe on the property was really quite good and very convenient for us. Although this was not a pleasure trip, the staff at the Encina Lodge made our accomodations very pleasant indeed. Thank you. less

We stay every year at the Encina in a suite (3 of us). The staff are wonderful, the on site restaurant is great, the grounds are beautiful, rooms as very spacious and comfortable, location is central in Santa Barbara. What more could you ask? less

Room was dated, no frills. Plenty of free parking which can be an issue in Santa Barbara. There’s a cafe on grounds. This hotel gets a lot of business from the nearby hospital. Not walking distance to downtown or much else. less

We stay at Best Western often. Best Western has an attractive loyalty program. Many of the stays have been international. We found that in Europe overall the hotels are above average. In the UK - particularly in Scotland - the brand suffers greatly. Indifferent management, poorly trained staff, absentee ownership and no brand loyalty - often the apparent value to owner is to access the reservation system. Best Western has no control over these owners and does not even try to be helpful. Unfortunately, I experienced this at the Best Western Plus Encina Santa Barbara. The front desk staff were poorly trained at both check-in and during stay. They were indifferent at best. The hotel is older. The upkeep is fine. The furniture has that warm cozy feeling that you have when you visit your grandparents (this is sarcasm) Issues begin with coffee in the morning - at check-in you are told coffee, apples and oranges. Nothing else. Fine. Of course, no oranges and six apples. Want to sit and enjoy the coffee, a couch - a single small couch for three. Nothing outside. Okay- they are pushing you to go next door to their restaurant. I can accept that. Again, old and dated. All I want is coffee, a biscuit and a place to sit. I will pay $6.00 at Starbucks. I do not want to spend $12 for two eggs scrambled. Now, how often, during a small cup (which by the way they do not refresh or replace as the container empties) do three separate guests come up to the front desk to ask if their bill is correct. That is while standing there for 10 minutes savoring my coffee. I know it is Santa Barbara but simply put - there is no value. There was a Best Western just off the Pier which was excellent. Hotel is still there but no longer Best Western. As soon as they remodeled - they left the Brand. This particular hotel is not well located. Even with the loyalty program - my recommendation- Shop. I can do better. less

The Best Western Encino was very accommodating. Our house flood and they gave us a speacial rate. It made our bad situation better to deal with. We would highly recommend that hotel.Thank you so much Best Western Encino Lodge. less