Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
17 W. Haley Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
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Room & Suite (189)
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What you can expect during your stay
- Face masks required for guests in public areas
- Face masks required for staff in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to guests & staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Staff required to regularly wash hands
Updated 11/20/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
A note from Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Updated 11/20/20 Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#29 of 55 hotels in Santa Barbara
Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.4
Service
4.3
Value
3.9
Enjoy our Santa Barbara hotel's historic charm during your stay with us.
Classic California Spanish Revival touches enhance the Holiday Inn Express® Santa Barbara's historic feel. Our Historic Landmark property, also known as the Hotel Virginia, was built in 1917 and features Malibu and Catalina tilework, exposed brick walls, and wrought-iron railings. With our convenient, downtown Santa Barbara location, the sights and sounds of the city are just steps away.
Quietly charming, Santa Barbara boasts stunning Spanish architecture at sites like the Santa Barbara Courthouse. The beach and Stearns Wharf are only a few blocks from the hotel, while the Santa Barbara Zoo is about two miles away. Remember to see the Santa Barbara Mission, known as the "Queen of the Missions." With free Wi-Fi, a Business Center, and easy access to major area employers, such as the County of Santa Barbara, University of California, SONOS, Lockheed Martin, and ExxonMobil; corporate travelers find this hotel the
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Property amenities
Paid private parking on-site
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Business Center with Internet Access
Baggage storage
Non-smoking hotel
24-hour front desk
Parking
Wifi
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Vending machine
Outdoor furniture
Shared lounge / TV area
Express check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Centrally Located
Green
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish, Chinese
Location
Full view
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
94Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
38Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
17 W. Haley Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Getting there
Santa Barbara Station5 min
Rental CarsSee rental cars from $39/day
885Reviews14Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
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- 22
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Most Recent
Stayed here for only 1 evening on the way to LA. Knowing that desk clerk put us into a ground floor room-the kiss of death. This is an old building in an attempt to renovate it and bring it up to the 21st century. Problem is that ground floor rooms face either the streets or the interior parking lots, hence, no view of anything except ceilings/walls/and smoked windows. If you have any claustrophobia or do not like enclosed spaces then you will know what it is like living in a basement or bomb shelter without any egress except a hallway door into a dark, creepy hallway. On top of that the ceilings are low-7 feet me thinks? I kept the a/c and air blowing on all night to feel I was outdoors. Will never stay here again.
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Date of stay: April 2022
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip: Insist on putting up on the 2nd or 3rd floors, never the ground/first floor.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Frank Romo, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Responded Apr 27, 2022
Hi BernardB591, thank you for taking the time to review the hotel, I am very sorry that we didn't meet your expectations. We hope you're able to visit the hotel once our renovation is complete for a better experience.
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The Holiday Inn Express St Barbara is strategically located closed to the beach as well as the city center. Service here is excellent and friendly as well. Breakfast was decent for express hotels. Rooms wise is ok and shower was the best. Though our room is facing the main road, noise was not a problem for us. Overall a nice experience with excellent front office team!.
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
Pros: in prime location, comfortable bed Cons: heater was not working in room, sheets are stained, shower curtain is stained, sink is clogged, had to sleep with outside jackets, can hear noise from upstairs (bathroom flushing, walking in rooms), can hear corridor noise, dimly lit room More like a motel stay for the room price. Embarrassment to the IHG Holiday Express Brand. Won’t my be returning. Measly discount was given to compensate. Photos show: torn curtain, chipped wall, windows need of renovation, one of the stained sheets
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Date of stay: December 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Frank Romo, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Responded Dec 29, 2021
Hi Ruby, I'd like to apologize for the issues experienced at our property. Our leadership team has been made aware of these issues and we are working to correct them immediately. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time to further discuss your experience. Frank Romo fromo@santabarbarahiex.com
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Location is what this hotel really has going for them. Everything else is just O-kay. Maybe even less than okay considering the price of the room, but again, you're most likely paying for the location. As an IHG Platinum member, I was a little surprised I was given a room on the first floor with the windows facing the street. The windows are frosted, so people can't see in your room, but you also can't see out. This also means you can hear foot and car traffic going by. Honestly, the noise wasn't too bad, even on a Saturday night, but if you're a light sleeper it will be a problem. Our room was clean and the bed was comfortable. Room had a fridge and microwave, always great to have. The hotel has two small lots you can park in, or you can use valet. Both lots can get crowded, and at one point I even had to call the front desk because a parked car was blocking our way out of the lot. Like I mentioned earlier, you are paying for the location, which is amazing. Right off of State Street where there are numerous restaurants, bars, and shops to explore. 10 minute walk to the Funk Zone, Stearns Wharf, and the beach. It was so convenient not needing to worry about driving and parking around the downtown area.…
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Date of stay: September 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
2 Helpful votes
Helpful
Response from Frank Romo, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Responded Nov 10, 2021
Hi Melissa M, thank you for your honest feedback! We strive to offer the best service possible to all guests and your feedback goes a long way in helping correct our opportunities. We thank you for your loyalty to IHG and hope to see you again soon. Please feel free to reach out next time you're in the area so I can personally walk you through your accommodations and ensure they meet your needs. Safe travels!
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I was able to get an excellent rate for the week after the 4th at this hotel. We were on a budget and it was the best price for area that I could find. The location was less than a block from State Street and less than a 10 minute walk to the pier and beach. The building is older so if you are looking for ultra modern this is not the place for you. If you are looking for walking distance to bars, restaurants, shops, the pier, beaches and the marina with one of the best prices in Santa Barbara, then this is the place. Parking is limited but they have valet for the same price so why not? Beds were comfortable and the room layout was more open the usual hotel room. Breakfast was good, the room was nice and the hotel is just small enough to feel like a boutique. Here are the things that would bring me back to this hotel... The location, the price and the staff. I spoke with Evan a few weeks before we arrived and he was great, made a few accommodations over the phone in prep for our arrival and those accommodations were followed through when we arrived. The front desk staff was so nice. We were leaving on a day trip one day and I gave the valet advance notice and he made sure my car was easily accessible in the morning (they have to double park cars at night). Oh and the upstairs outside patio was empty every night where we took a few drinks and one night pizza from around the corner and sat above watching people passing by. The patio made ending the long days walking and hiking a relaxing end to each day.…
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Frank Romo, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Responded Aug 26, 2021
Tarin, thank you for the kind words! We are pleased to see that you enjoyed your visit to Santa Barbara and our hotel was able to meet your needs. I will pass along the positive note to our staff who has been working diligently during these times to ensure all guests are satisfied. Safe travels, we hope to see you again soon.
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We truly enjoyed our stay at this hotel last week. Spacious and clean room in a location that can't be beat. The hot breakfast was simple but much appreciated during pandemic. Did I mention that the hotel staff found my my son's AirPods and sent them back to us with priority mail immediately? Thank you Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara!
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Date of stay: August 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
Worst ever experience !!!! dirty room cockroaches air-conditioning doesn't work they give us a fan ants all over the floor Black mold in the bathroom ceiling unbelievable disgusting !!! runaways !!! (By the way they promise to give us credit but we never receive anything. Don’t trust them with your credit card!!!)
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Frank Romo, General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Responded Aug 16, 2021
610drg, I am truly sorry to hear that you had a negative experience at our property. To better assist you, I'd like to hear more about your visit; can you please give me a call to the hotel or send me an email? The best contact email address is: fromo@santabarbarahiex.com I look forward to hearing more about your trip and how we can do better to accommodate our guests. I look forward to hearing from you.
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This used to be my go to spot in SB because of the location and the price. This place is a true 2 star sleep. They are oversold and could care less if you are comfortable. The building is old and vey noisy. Staff here is now very unprofessional Id been staying here consistently through 2020 and never again. They refused to let me use handicap Parking bc they were using it for stack parking. I am handicapped. They would not honor a room change request due to my disability. Never did room cleaning even when I asked. Nothing hospitable about this Motel. Movie to the Indigo. Suggst you do same.
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Date of stay: June 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
My partner and I stayed at this hotel for our anniversary. It was our first visit to Santa Barbara. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcome - Frank, was absolutely awesome. He was so nice and kind and gave us lots of information. The hotel was perfectly clean and well located. It was quite and comfortable. We enjoyed the balcony and were able to walk everywhere. The parking was very handy. We will definitely be back. Thanks so much, Michael & Ben
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Date of stay: June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Staff was polite and friendly. Hotel was very clean. They gave me an upgrade to a King bedroom and I appreciated that. The location is very central - in the middle of restaurants, bars and very close to the beach. No car needed! Some cons: rooms are small - once I opened the door, I practically stepped on the bed. Although the hotel was clean, there was a weird odor that permeated the room. I wish there was some type of air freshener. Also, walls are paper thin- there was so much noise in the evening, I barely slept. Breakfast was free and very good. Chobani yogurt, brand-name cereals, fresh fruit, coffee and some hot pre-packages items. This is a great value for your money in Santa Barbara!
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
$315 - $498 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
holiday inn express santa barbara hotel santa barbara, holiday inn santa barbara, santa barbara holiday inn, santa barbara hotel
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, An IHG Hotel
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSanta Barbara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
61
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel
Which popular attractions are close to Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Nearby attractions include Moreton Bay Fig Tree (0.2 miles), Reagan Ranch Center (0.2 miles), and Santa Barbara Certified Farmers Market (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and breakfast buffet.
Which room amenities are available at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Yes, paid private parking on-site and paid private parking nearby are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Conveniently located restaurants include McConnell's Fine Ice Creams, The Black Sheep, and Mony's Mexican Food.
Is Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.3 miles away from the center of Santa Barbara.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and Chinese.
Are there any historical sites close to Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Santa Barbara County Courthouse (0.6 miles), Casa del Herrero (3.6 miles), and Old Mission Santa Barbara (1.8 miles).
Is Holiday Inn Express Santa Barbara, an IHG Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.