Ramada By Wyndham Santa Barbara

“Quiet Refuge: A Home Away From Home”

Everyone has, at one time or another, had their share of good, bad, and downright ugly days of arrival at a hotel. For me, as a 100% service-connected disabled Vietnam Combat Veteran traveling with my Kemosabe service dog, those experiences can be similar to rolling the dice at a crap game in Las V… more

Everyone has, at one time or another, had their share of good, bad, and downright ugly days of arrival at a hotel. For me, as a 100% service-connected disabled Vietnam Combat Veteran traveling with my Kemosabe service dog, those experiences can be similar to rolling the dice at a crap game in Las Vegas. You either win or lose the room’s location’s special request to be on the first floor, near an exit, to eliminate potential negative-barking challenges or, worse, an attack from other guests’ dogs. Or, it turns out to be like a scene from the Twilight Zone TV show. Where you enter into a period of time that no longer exists in the majority of corporate chain hotels for present-day traveling guests. ~ I had a check-in experience, a little over a year ago, with Ronin, my service dog, back then at the Ramada Hotel, nestled in the sun-drenched hills of Santa Barbara, less than a mile from the 101 Highway. What I encountered that day was similar to stepping into a scene from the Twilight Zone TV Show hosted by Rod Sterling. Upon entering the lobby, we were greeted with a genuine, from-the-heart welcome, followed by thank you for your service from the Hotel’s Guest Services employee at the Registration Desk. It felt like a warm embrace from a close friend, inviting you into their home from days gone by. ~ Imagine stepping into a cozy sanctuary where time seems to pause just for you—a place that whispers tales of weary travelers, vacationers, and families coming together seeking a temporary place to hang their hat. Or maybe a family member is being treated at one of the two nearby hospitals. The Ramada is a rare gem in Santa Barbara, where guests encounter a management and staff committed to providing a relaxing stay. Where you can unwind, reflect, and rejuvenate, making it the perfect retreat for anyone looking to escape the hustle of everyday life, even if just for a little while. ~ Unknown to Ronin and me was an adventure akin to searching for a buried treasure chest containing gold coins and jewels. In place of a map with a large red letter X marking the treasure’s location in my hand for the hunt. I was holding the interior diagram of the numbered rooms and the locations of other amenities, with a black circle indicating our room’s location. As I exited the office, I felt a deep sense of joy wash away the hair-trigger anger I had built up in anticipation of a check-in problem at this new hotel for us. Wow! Was I ever wrong? ~ It was a piece of cake to locate the parking place next to the tall old tree and the exterior door marked on the diagram. According to the diagram, our room was located a short distance down the short hallway, past the door, then turn to the right and take a few steps up an incline to the first room door on my right. Miracles do happen; our special request was honored by the Hotel management. The big question remaining to be answered was the size and appearance of the room’s interior on the other side of the door. ~ I definitely was not prepared for what lay inside, awaiting discovery by me or any other guest. As I opened the door, the room’s captive air rushed past the initial door’s opening space between the room’s door frame into my nose’s nasal hairs. I detected an odor that triggered an involuntary smile from ear to ear on my tan, leathery skin. The air had an unmistakable faint odor, yet a detectable scent of cleaning liquids. I knew then, at that very moment, Ronin and I would be experiencing something noteworthy to report about during this hotel stay: Housekeeping staff have an almost vanished work ethic, doing the job correctly the first time. ~ My review would be remiss if I left out a brief but to-the-point description of what the bed was like to sleep on. Unlike the beds in the other hotels, Ronin and I stayed. It was as if I was sleeping on a mattress stuffed with goose feathers and puffy clouds. Lastly, the free breakfast was exceptionally beyond my expectations. If you have ever tasted scrambled real eggs so fluffy and light that you would almost believe they would float in the air like a feather if they spilled from your plate. ~ A year has passed since that very first stay at the Ramada Hotel, and a lot has changed. A few months later, Ronin passed on, which was a heartbreaking loss. Not long after that, I was blessed to partner with my new Kemosabe service dog, KiKi. My return stays at the hotel with KiKi has shown me that this place is much more than somewhere to sleep. Each visit has brought something new to appreciate—whether it’s a little adventure, a memorable moment, or the thoughtful amenities that make the stay so comfortable. Every return has given us another reason to feel welcome, and each experience has deepened my gratitude for the care and hospitality this hotel continues to provide.

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“Great Family Stay with Warm Pool & Friendly Staff”

Overall: 8.5 out of 10, but I’d still give it 5 stars. Breakfast: The hours are 6:30–9:30. The breakfast was great. Shoutout to the kind staff member who helped many kids learn how to use the pancake machine. When I asked if there was decaf coffee, she made a cup for me instead of just pointing me… more

Overall: 8.5 out of 10, but I’d still give it 5 stars. Breakfast: The hours are 6:30–9:30. The breakfast was great. Shoutout to the kind staff member who helped many kids learn how to use the pancake machine. When I asked if there was decaf coffee, she made a cup for me instead of just pointing me to the coffee station. I really appreciated that extra effort. You can also bring food to your room. Pool: The heated pool was great. We used it when the temperature was in the low 60s °F, and it still felt warm. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Garden: The garden is lovely. The ducks and geese are very friendly and cute! There are small vending machines where you can buy a tiny portion of food to feed them for 50 cents. Location: It’s about a 10-minute drive to downtown Santa Barbara and about 50 minutes to Solvang. Room: The room was clean overall. The balcony, however, was dirty and had spider webs, so we didn’t really use it. It has a refrigerator and a microwave. Cons: - There’s no fitness center in the hotel. You can request a one-day pass to a nearby gym, but it’s not within walking distance. - There’s only one elevator, and our room was the farthest from it on the second floor. - The balcony was dirty, as mentioned above.

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“Wonderful little getaway, lots of little bonuses 🐢”

My mom and I went for a little Californian getaway and chose this hotel for its value and picturesque lagoon-like landscaping. Complete with ducks and turtles, private patios and a great pool. The room features reading lights and small built-in tables on both sides of both beds, two sinks, and a re… more

My mom and I went for a little Californian getaway and chose this hotel for its value and picturesque lagoon-like landscaping. Complete with ducks and turtles, private patios and a great pool. The room features reading lights and small built-in tables on both sides of both beds, two sinks, and a really practical setup for clothing and luggage storage. The breakfast service was pretty basic but it was served by very friendly attendant and featured a pancake machine.

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“Recommend for families”

Very nice pool, garden and ponds. Location was away from the business if downtown. Spent a lot of time in the pool area day and night. Heated pool. Would stay here again with the family. Good for kids of all ages