El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel

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…

What a hidden gem in the hills of Santa Barbra. You will be transported to a relaxing state once you step onsite. The views and hospitality are exceptional. I look forward to coming back soon.

Stay and eat here. No need to explore the area since it’s the most beautiful place to be. Most relaxing and fun place to be in Santa Barbara.