Pros

  • Great location across the street from beautiful East Beach
  • Affordable rates in a high-end beachfront community
  • Boutique motel-style property with a retro California-beach vibe
  • Clean and spacious rooms with flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges
  • Heated pool with a grassy lounge area
  • Free continental breakfast and newspapers
  • Small brick courtyard with beach views
  • Second-floor sundeck overlooking the ocean
  • Free parking and Wi-Fi
  • Vending machines selling drinks and snacks
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Cons

  • No air-conditioning, safes, or coffeemakers in rooms
  • Rooms have dated decor and small bathrooms
  • Occasional housekeeping and maintenance complaints
  • Windows facing exterior hallways pose potential privacy issues
  • Views can vary greatly among rooms in the same category
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Bottom Line

Location is the biggest selling point of the lower-middle-range Cabrillo Inn at the Beach. This classic 1940s, motor court-style property is just across the street from a gorgeous stretch of Santa Barbara beach. The outdoor pool and sundeck have great ocean views, and free parking, Wi-Fi, and breakfast adds to the property's value. The 43 rooms are tired and lack air-conditioning, but are generally clean and spacious enough for comfort; many have ocean views. Some guests find the Cabrillo's retro vibe charming, but others feel it's just outdated. Nonetheless, rates are attractive in this expensive beach community, and the property can fill up. Guests might also consider the retro, mid-range Marina Beach Motel, where rooms were updated in 2015, but rates are moderately higher. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Cabrillo Inn at the Beach

Scene

Laid-back, retro California-beach vibe in a classic 1940s motel setting

It’s all about laid-back fun in the sun at this classic motor court-style, boutique hotel that was built in the 1940s. Its affordable rates and location across the street from the beach tend to attract adventurous tourists who find the retro California-beach vibe charming. The lovely pool area has a stretch of grass with lounge chairs for relaxing or catching some rays, and the second-floor sundeck offers more of the same with even better views of the ocean. The hotel has a small office for checking in, with a modest pine desk and a couple of armchairs. Other than the pool, the cozy breakfast room overlooking the pool is the place where guests tend to congregate over coffee and pastries each morning. Like the entire hotel, it’s bright and offers views from large windows. It’s also packed with brochures touting the winery tours and everything else there is to do and see in sunny Santa Barbara. 

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Location

Across the street from East Beach, about 10 minutes from historic Stearns Wharf 

The Cabrillo Inn is located directly across Cabrillo Boulevard from East Beach. The Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, a popular local restaurant, a water-sports rental facility, and a busy boardwalk that’s popular with cyclists and runners are also across the street. Several other restaurants are within walks of about five minutes or less, including restaurants in several of the upscale hotels nearby. The Santa Barbara Zoo is about a 10-minute walk away. There is a shuttle stop about a one-minute walk from the hotel that travels to historic Stearns Wharf and State Street (with numerous restaurants and shops) in about 10 minutes. There's also an Amtrak Station on State Street, a five-minute drive from the hotel. It's about a 40-minute drive to the Oxnard Airport and approximately two hours by car to Los Angeles International Airport from the Cabrillo Inn. 

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Rooms

Clean and fairly spacious with mini-fridges, but dated decor and no air-conditioning

The Cabrillo offers a variety of rooms categorized as either Partial or Full Ocean View, with one king-size bed or two queen-size beds. There's also an Ocean View Suite on the third floor with a living room, kitchenette, and spacious balcony. It's worth noting that views can vary quite a bit, even among rooms in the same category. As for decor, rooms share the same tired, motor court-style look. Beige walls and white popcorn ceilings are not exactly stylish, but the teal carpet, tropical-print bedspreads, and matching curtains appeal to some travelers' retro sensibility. Clunky wooden furniture includes built-in headboards, dressers, and small tables with chairs. Nondescript generic artwork decorates the walls. Some rooms have cute balconies with potted plants and plastic patio furniture. All rooms have mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs, but no coffeemakers. 

Outside the bathrooms, there are wood vanities with faux-marble tops. The bathrooms themselves are dated and small, with cream-colored tile framing shower/tub combos or walk-in showers with frosted-glass sliding doors. Basic toiletries are provided. 

The rooms are generally clean, but it's an older hotel, and there are occasional complaints about maintenance and housekeeping. Privacy can be an issue with some guests, too, as windows face the outer hallways where other guests walk by. Rooms do not have air-conditioning, which is scheduled to be added as part of an upgrade some time in 2016; fans are provided. 

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Features

Beachfront location; free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi; outdoor pool; courtyard and sundeck 

The best feature of this family-run, motor court-style hotel is its location overlooking and across the street from the beach. Freebies include parking, daily newspapers, Wi-Fi, and continental breakfast that includes mostly pastries and breads. The breakfast is served in a small, sunny room adjacent to the nice outdoor pool, which is seven feet deep at one end. A poolside grassy area has lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas. A small brick courtyard with tables, umbrellas, and lounge chairs is in the front of the property facing the beach. There's also a second-floor sundeck with more loungers and even better views. Vending machines on-site sell snacks and drinks. An elevator takes guests to the top two floors, and there are also outdoor staircases. No pets are allowed in this nonsmoking hotel. 

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Oyster Hotel Review

Cabrillo Inn at the Beach

Scene

Laid-back, retro California-beach vibe in a classic 1940s motel setting

It’s all about laid-back fun in the sun at this classic motor court-style, boutique hotel that was built in the 1940s. Its affordable rates and location across the street from the beach tend to attract adventurous tourists who find the retro California-beach vibe charming. The lovely pool area has a stretch of grass with lounge chairs for relaxing or catching some rays, and the second-floor sundeck offers more of the same with even better views of the ocean. The hotel has a small office for checking in, with a modest pine desk and a couple of armchairs. Other than the pool, the cozy breakfast room overlooking the pool is the place where guests tend to congregate over coffee and pastries each morning. Like the entire hotel, it’s bright and offers views from large windows. It’s also packed with brochures touting the winery tours and everything else there is to do and see in sunny Santa Barbara. 

See More Scene

Location

Across the street from East Beach, about 10 minutes from historic Stearns Wharf 

The Cabrillo Inn is located directly across Cabrillo Boulevard from East Beach. The Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, a popular local restaurant, a water-sports rental facility, and a busy boardwalk that’s popular with cyclists and runners are also across the street. Several other restaurants are within walks of about five minutes or less, including restaurants in several of the upscale hotels nearby. The Santa Barbara Zoo is about a 10-minute walk away. There is a shuttle stop about a one-minute walk from the hotel that travels to historic Stearns Wharf and State Street (with numerous restaurants and shops) in about 10 minutes. There's also an Amtrak Station on State Street, a five-minute drive from the hotel. It's about a 40-minute drive to the Oxnard Airport and approximately two hours by car to Los Angeles International Airport from the Cabrillo Inn. 

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Rooms

Clean and fairly spacious with mini-fridges, but dated decor and no air-conditioning

The Cabrillo offers a variety of rooms categorized as either Partial or Full Ocean View, with one king-size bed or two queen-size beds. There's also an Ocean View Suite on the third floor with a living room, kitchenette, and spacious balcony. It's worth noting that views can vary quite a bit, even among rooms in the same category. As for decor, rooms share the same tired, motor court-style look. Beige walls and white popcorn ceilings are not exactly stylish, but the teal carpet, tropical-print bedspreads, and matching curtains appeal to some travelers' retro sensibility. Clunky wooden furniture includes built-in headboards, dressers, and small tables with chairs. Nondescript generic artwork decorates the walls. Some rooms have cute balconies with potted plants and plastic patio furniture. All rooms have mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs, but no coffeemakers. 

Outside the bathrooms, there are wood vanities with faux-marble tops. The bathrooms themselves are dated and small, with cream-colored tile framing shower/tub combos or walk-in showers with frosted-glass sliding doors. Basic toiletries are provided. 

The rooms are generally clean, but it's an older hotel, and there are occasional complaints about maintenance and housekeeping. Privacy can be an issue with some guests, too, as windows face the outer hallways where other guests walk by. Rooms do not have air-conditioning, which is scheduled to be added as part of an upgrade some time in 2016; fans are provided. 

See More Rooms

Features

Beachfront location; free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi; outdoor pool; courtyard and sundeck 

The best feature of this family-run, motor court-style hotel is its location overlooking and across the street from the beach. Freebies include parking, daily newspapers, Wi-Fi, and continental breakfast that includes mostly pastries and breads. The breakfast is served in a small, sunny room adjacent to the nice outdoor pool, which is seven feet deep at one end. A poolside grassy area has lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas. A small brick courtyard with tables, umbrellas, and lounge chairs is in the front of the property facing the beach. There's also a second-floor sundeck with more loungers and even better views. Vending machines on-site sell snacks and drinks. An elevator takes guests to the top two floors, and there are also outdoor staircases. No pets are allowed in this nonsmoking hotel. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Pool

  • Room Service

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.