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Hotel Review: Hyatt Santa Barbara

Dec. 10, 2011
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3 min read
Hotel Review: Hyatt Santa Barbara
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The other hotel I stayed at during my Thanksgiving trip with grandma out to Santa Barbara was the newly opened Hyatt Santa Barbara.

Now, this wasn't a new-build hotel. Rather, this used to be the Hotel Mar Monte, an 80-year-old property that Hyatt bought and redid to the tune of $9 million before reopening the first 92 rooms this past summer. There are still 79 left to go, and all the hotel's function space, but they're expected to be completed early next year. The overall theme is to accentuate the original Spanish-style architecture (like the Four Seasons, it's all two-story buildings) but put in all contemporary furniture and amenities.

I booked a standard room but was "upgraded" to a Mountain View King (you can see the view in the gallery below) thanks to my Hyatt Diamond Status. Not much of an upgrade, but at least I wasn't on the ground floor I guess.

My room had your average king-size Hyatt Grand Bed with a red throw on it, a little sitting area of two leather armchairs arranged around a tiny breakfast table—it was a bit odd seeing those big overstuffed chairs and the small table, with an overhead lamp that sort of reminded me of a Motel 6 in the old days.

The room also came with a flat-screen HDTV, an iHome Stereo with iPod docking station, and miracle of miracles, the bathroom actually had new bath products in it—no more White Ginger for me!

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I didn't spend too much time at the hotel since it was a busy holiday weekend, so I didn't get the chance to swim in the pool or eat at its restaurant, Bistro 1111—my family went out on State Street to a great little family-owned bistro called Jane Restaurant where I had chicken piccata—but I had breakfast in my room the next morning, and the egg breakfast tacos were pretty good.

My one complaint was that parking was a pain. Valet was $20 and self-park was $15. The situation, however, was kind of motel-ish, where you just sort of park by your room. However, the outdoor lot was always full, so you had to leave your car underground, and it was complicated to get in and out.

Overall, I'd say my experience was fine. Nothing memorable, but certainly good. The hotel technically upgraded me to a room with a view of the mountains, it was comfortable, new and clean, and I got it for a good rate. The location was great, near the beach and the start of town's main drag, State Street. It was also close to my family—and sometimes that's really all that matters.


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Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.