El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel

I am utterly appalled by our recent stay at Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara. This was our fifth visit, and what was once a beautiful, luxurious experience has turned into an absolute nightmare. It was hands down the worst hotel stay we’ve ever had, and I’m shocked at how far this property has fallen. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the level of service and care this hotel was once known for is completely gone. The check-in process was a disaster—unfriendly staff, no warmth or professionalism, and no acknowledgment whatsoever of the fact that we were there to celebrate a special occasion. This was a birthday trip, and not only was there no recognition of it, but they also gave us a subpar room that was downright embarrassing for a property of this caliber. The room was terrible—poorly maintained, unclean, and lacking any sense of luxury. It felt like no effort had been made to prepare it. The entire property looked neglected and unkempt, which only added to the disappointment. And the service? Nonexistent. We felt completely ignored throughout our stay, as if our presence didn’t matter at all. What makes this even worse is that we’ve had incredible experiences here in the past, which is why we returned. But this time, everything was so shockingly bad that it ruined what should have been a special and memorable occasion. For the exorbitant prices they charge, the experience we received was insulting. We won’t be returning, and I would strongly urge others to think twice before booking here. Belmond El Encanto is no longer the gem it once was—it’s a shadow of its former self, and frankly, it’s not worth your time or money.

Truly outstanding service by all hotel staff. Certainly a wonderful hotel, great lodging but what sets it apart is the service. There is an evident thriving culture of excellence in service demonstrated by each and every member of the staff.

My husband and I absolutely LOVED El Encanto. The resort is beautiful, with beautiful views, plus it has an extremely warm and relaxing feel to it. Our service was exceptional. There is a genuine warmth to the service here, which we found exceptional. We loved our stay. I want to personally thank Augustine and Javier for exceptional dining room service. I want to thank Ryan and Daniel for their prompt, helpful, and enjoyable car service. I want to thank Julio and Ryan for their attentive bar service. Sylvia at the pool was lovely too. Our room was beautiful, housekeeping was impeccable, food service was delicious. I want to congratulate management as everything terrific like this starts at the top. Thank you for a wonderful stay!!

For the price of our room, there were several items that disappointed us. A dog barked constantly during the late afternoons we were trying to rest in the room. We woke up one morning and a spider was dangling from the vent above our heads. Our TV wasn't working during our final night, and the problem wasn't resolved for us to watch programs we were planning to view. The fitness center is missing some relatively standard equipment. Our room was in the very back of the property up 20 steps (no elevator) and it was rather awkward to access. The hotel consists of about 30 buildings scattered over 7 acres. The staff was nice, but the concierge did not seem particularly knowledgeable about local restaurants. (I guess they just wanted you to eat at the hotel.) The YELP rating for the hotel restaurant was just average and discouraged us from eating there. The views could be improved with some onsite trimmings. The hotel is also situated on a hill in a residential area and it's not an accessible walk to town or other places. Despite our disappointments, the hotel is on beautiful and very well maintained grounds. Our room was also very nice (but I wouldn't pay hundreds more for a rather useless balcony as I did). The room service very good and my fiancée very much enjoyed her spa treatment. I'm sure many guests are very happy with their stays and experiences at El Encanto. However, particularly in light of the cost of our room, my expectations were dampened by our experiences as noted.

Classic California Haven. A mix of the best of Will Rogers and the San Ysidro…impeccable service…warm staff. Delicious food all based around fresh ingredients. Warm pool. Gentle gym. Lovely sheets…fine internet. Fresh air. Close to the ocean. Beautiful views…the AC is very strong during the day but is weak from midnight to 7am…