3 outdoor pools, open 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, cabanas (surcharge)

Reviews of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

5 out of 5
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara
8301 Hollister Avenue, Goleta, CA

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 614 out of 1005 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 194 out of 1005 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 104 out of 1005 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 56 out of 1005 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 37 out of 1005 reviews" "

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.6/10

Amenities

8.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Jennifer

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Check in was 3PM or 4PM and we were told our room was not going to be available until 5PM due to a maintenance issue. We arrived at 6:30PM and were told there was an ongoing maintenance issue and our room would not be ready for 40 mins. They did offer us 1/2 price on one night which was nice. In general the food was very overpriced and the atmosphere was so so. Two of us got sick on the chips and guacamole the first night that were served at the bar. The rooms need updating and it just did not feel like a Ritz Carlton. The advertise that they are in Santa Barbara but they are 15 - 20 mins north of Santa Barbara in a town called Goleta. The hotel just didn't have a good feel and we were not happy.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hakob

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very good
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2024

4/10 Poor

Jinous

Business traveler
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
The service was very hit and miss! The rooms could do with updating as well.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Impecable grounds. Phenominal service from start to finish. Best vacation we've had in a while.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

2/10 Terrible

Garima, San Francisco

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
They did not even provide dental kits The restaurant did not have fresh juices! It was just very inconvenient!!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We love the Bacara. Our ocean view room was lovely and the restaurant was delicious. We had excellent service at the valet, front desk and the restaurant. However, like many businesses, it seemed they were somewhat understaffed. We checked in at mid-night and we saw now one else checking in, yet it took three phone calls and 45 minutes to get our bags (two small carry ons) which we should have carried to the room ourselves as it was very frustrating waiting for them when we were so ready to just go to sleep.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kyle, San Marcos

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
My daughter and I recently had a wonderful, relaxing 3-night stay at the Ritz Bacara. My daughter is a college student nearby and needed a relaxing getaway. The Ritz definitely fit the bill. The staff was fantastic, probably the best part of our experience. We felt well taken care of. My daughter had a massage at the spa and said it was incredible. It was a very rainy weekend so we weren't able to enjoy the pool or tennis courts, but I took a long walk around the property and the beach and it is beautiful. The only downside was the cost. As expected, it's pricey. A basic room service breakfast was over $100. The property could use a refresh. As others have noted, the rooms are dated, especially the bathrooms. OVerally, we really enjoyed and would stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

8/10 Good

Daniel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexandra

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Artak

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Restaurants on property were mediocre, nothing about price - strictly talking about food. The steakhouse Angel Oak was awful, everything else was mid at best. The property and hotel are gorgeous, food needs major upgrade considering the closest restaurant worth going to is 25-35 minute drive
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

2/10 Terrible

Anna

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Diana

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Charity

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
One of the most amazing, romantic properties in the world. Staff is first class.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
At a time when hospitality seems to be waning, the staff at the Ritz were incredible and 5 star
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023

8/10 Good

Erin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I enjoyed my time at the Bacara property. I’ve been here a few times before. I didn’t like that they had the resort fee not included. It was a bit of a shock to have that at the end. Other than that the staff was amazing. The food was great. We really enjoyed our stay.

2/10 Terrible

Denica

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Daily parking fee $70, daily resort fee $55, to use the steam room at the gym $45/day. The hotel is next to a crude oil processing factory, your ocean view is an oil rig, if you walk on the beach you will have tar on your feet. I daily drive a Ferrari, I don't mind paying for comfort, but this place is a nickel and dime tourist trap. Santa Barbara is beautiful, many other hotels have nicer grounds and won't make you feel as if you are being robbed while you sleep.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

grace

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jacklyn, Burlingame

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I love this property.
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Stephan

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The property is incredible location and very well maintained!!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

6/10 Okay

Joe

Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

2/10 Terrible

James

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

6/10 Okay

Andrew

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
There were rats, the spa costs $45 a day even if you’re a guest. The drinks were overpriced and cocktails were a 5/10.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lesette

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Family oasis
Beautiful resort, exceptional customer service, family and pet friendly.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ronald

Traveled with family
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Almost too good to be true!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katrina

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The Ritz properties are famous for their service and Bacara was no exception - perfection, very warm and helpful, nice. The resort was very deluxe, in fact I felt like we were in Hawaii instead of Goleta. I can’t find fault with anything - the room was beautiful, comfortable, well appointed. lush landscaping, many dining options, quiet, responsive, up to date, Excellent experience, recommend nightly. Been visiting Santa Barbara for many years, never thought to try Bacara and now we’ll be back.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

ELLIOT

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Traveled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff is suberb!
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

8/10 Good

Paul

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Eric

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff Great. Grounds beautiful.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2023

6/10 Okay

Bhupathy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
It’s definitely not the Ritz-Carlton that one would be used to. Outdated areas and rooms. Unfortunately, this property direly needs an update.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pierre

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Denise

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Greatc
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

David

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Martha, san ysidro

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I LOVE THE PLACE
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
nice setting near Pacific Ocean, rooms comfortable with balcony. Only downside charged $70 for parking car over night which is outrageous.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

4/10 Poor

Reza

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness
No so ritzy Ritz Carlton.
There was no clean towels in the pool areas. There was a bar by the pool but no attendant or servers. The phone jack had no wire, so it was useless. The carpet but rather faded away and old with lots of spots on it.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
the food was not very good, over priced and poor tasting.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

4/10 Poor

Jason

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Wow . I don’t usually leave a comment but I had to this time . This was the worst bed and pillows I have ever had . Then there are the golf carts . They never stop going all day and night . This is a 5 star hotel and I give it a 3!!!! Be careful if you expect this to be nice . You will be disappointed .
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

William

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Mara

Traveled with partner
This resort wasn’t what we would expect from a Ritz. Disappointing and on top of that they charged a $50 a day resort fee and $70 a night for parking. We left the resort each day because it just wasn’t that nice to stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Vallie

First of all, this property is located at a stunning location. It takes your breath away as it has a beautiful backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. What made the “guest” hotel experience unique was the excellent staff at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. Each and every employee, from the front desk, concierge, room service, housekeeping, bell men, valet, wait staff, cooks, bar tenders, phone staff, spa gift shop, spa front desk personnel, gift shops, hotel mini shuttle service, security (We did not actually see security, crew, but, that is the reason they did such an effective job.) and maintenance janitorial, and the landscaping crews, all contributed equally. And, I might add, that Human Resources (HR) is responsible for hiring a team of hotel staff/employees that all offer ultimate professionalism, well groomed, superior communication skills and an enthusiasm that is unparalleled. Not only do they collectively attend to each guests individual needs/wants, they are welcoming beyond measure. The secret to the success at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara is their unified “customer service.” Thank you, Bacara hotel staff.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

George

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

6/10 Okay

Shadan

Disliked: Cleanliness
Not satisfied with services
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

susan

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
beautiful property and excellent service new Cohiba cigar lounge is beautiful
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kristi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fabulous property!
This is a fabulous property. The service was amazing and both restaurants where we ate were wonderful.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

2/10 Terrible

Benjamin

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023