I was on a West Coast road trip for my hen party with 2 of my girlfriends & we had nog planned any accommodation in Santa Barbara. We started driving to SB in the late afternoon from LA and by the time we arrived it was nightfall. With no idea where to go we just drove along the seafront and parked up. Ala Mar Motel was the first accommodation we saw, right on the corner & opposite the pier. My girlfriends jumped out and I went to park up the car. We decided to go for the motel because they offered us a cheap rate (worked out at $30 each for the night) in a triple room and the girls checked out the available room & said it was fine. It was also late so we couldn't be bothered to look for anywhere else. The room was very quaint, we couldn't understand why it was so cheap! There were 2 x double beds & 1 x single bed, everything clean & comfy with a TV etc. There is small car park so we parked the car right in the front of our room. We ended up staying another night as the weather in SB was beautiful & we wanted to most of the beach (it was June 2012 but still cold & colder as we drive further north up the Pacific Highway/Route 101). At first the manager agreed we could have the same cheap rate but the next morning when we went to pay the other gentlemen said no... we had to ask him to call/speak to the manager and all got resolved later in the day when he honoured the negotiated rate.

Breakfast was very simple with cereal, croissants and actually a decent waffle maker but they are very strict with times and stop at 10am prompt. You also have to take it back to your room/hang around because it's served in the very small reception area!

On the first night there was a beautiful view of the moon; it was almost coming out of the sea, very very big! It was a beautiful picture but alas no one could capture the glory on their cameras :(

I would recommend this motel if you pay no more than $30pp/pn. Not sure what other accommodation is like there; you may find better/cheaper elsewhere but it suited us fine.

A bit of a dump, but what a location. Beautiful outlook in all directions, but up close it's shabby and in need of repair and cleaning. Location can't be beat. But price for the area is very low. Obviously a great little motel back in the day.

We arrived to Santa Barbara later in the evening and pulled into the Ala Mar with out reservation. Staff was helpful and nice. We were given a small room at the back of the building in an alley. It was late so it was fine. It's ashame, because the propietor has though about comforts for thier guests and have tried to decorate in a comfortable shabby chic. But the place was just dirty! The walls, the bed posts and side tables had black smudge marks all over them as if a maintenance man or someone touched everything and left oil/dirt prints everywhere. The bathroom was unfinished too. It's too bad because one can see they have added small gestures of amenties to make a guest comfortable. It is just dirty. I would not stay again.

I guess it used to be way back when. Now, it’s falling apart & no one cares & they make a conscious effort to lure you in with great pictures…don’t believe it. We got their “best room” facing the ocean with a cute little balcony. I won’t way anymore, just look at the pictures.