Hotel Guide: Hotel Virginia Santa Barbara

The Resort Virginia Santa Barbara, Tapestry Assortment by Hilton is a quaint, charming place to remain in downtown Santa Barbara. The lodge first opened in 1916, however it underwent a transform in 2022, upon which it obtained an infusion of contemporary facilities.

At the moment, the Resort Virginia Santa Barbara retains the texture of a small, independently-run lodge (it incorporates simply 61 visitor rooms). However now the property is owned by Hilton, and it’s a part of the corporate’s Tapestry Assortment by Hilton model. And that individualistic really feel is totally intentional, as this Hilton model was designed to focus on native shade and eclectic themes, the place no two lodges are alike.

Right here’s what you should know concerning the Resort Virginia Santa Barbara, together with what it’s like to remain there, whether or not it’s price it — and the way you may snag an evening keep without cost.

If the property feels historic, that’s as a result of it’s. When it was in-built 1916, it was simply two tales. The lodge was largely rebuilt in 1925 after it was broken in a serious earthquake, upon which it expanded (and a 3rd ground was added).

In March 2000, it was designated as a neighborhood landmark by town of Santa Barbara, and it additionally holds a spot on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations.

In 2022, it reopened beneath the Tapestry Assortment by Hilton model with a transform that provided updates to getting old fixtures, whereas additionally including a new on-site eatery referred to as Brisa Café + Bar.

Nightly money charges begin at about $250 after taxes and costs, assuming a nonrefundable reservation is booked as a Hilton Honors member (the Hilton Honors program is free to hitch). Nevertheless, costs swing wildly. E book a keep on a vacation weekend like Fourth of July or Labor Day, and also you may pay greater than $650 per night time.

Since this boutique lodge is a part of the behemoth of Hilton, you may as well redeem Hilton Honors factors. Factors charges range relying on whenever you keep, however they have a tendency to run between 61,000 and 90,000 factors per night time. FinanceGrabber values one Hilton level at 0.6 cent every, although redemptions may be price kind of relying on that night time’s corresponding money fee.

Basically, nights with excessive money charges, like summer season weekends and holidays, have a tendency to offer an especially-good redemption of Hilton factors.

Although the Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card has a seemingly-steep annual charge of $450, that may simply pay for itself for those who have been to pay money for a peak night time.

Santa Barbara is thought for its Spanish Colonial Revival structure, and this lodge blends in each in and out.

The lodge’s foyer isn’t large, however it feels gentle and ethereal because of massive home windows and light-colored mosaic tiles. There’s a small bar inside that serves espresso, breakfast, dinner and alcoholic drinks relying on the time of day, and there’s additionally a mini market with grab-and-go choices.

And for those who take the steps as an alternative of the elevator to the rooms, you will discover they’re additionally embellished with tile mosaics, a few of which function uncovered brick partitions.

Every of the 61 visitor rooms on the Resort Virginia Santa Barbara has the usual facilities you’d need to see in a higher-end lodge, together with a flat-screen tv and a Keurig espresso maker so you can also make your individual espresso within the consolation of your room — freed from cost.

Whereas the rooms are small, they’re well-designed to maximise house, comparable to the location of a closet in an otherwise-awkward nook. The closet additionally contains facilities like hangers and a protected.

Fashionable touches embrace energy retailers sprinkled all through the room and a nightstand with built-in USB charging ports.

The rooms are stocked with primary toiletries like shampoo and cleaning soap, although different merchandise can be found upon request for gratis from the entrance desk, comparable to pattern toothpaste packs in case you forgot to pack your individual (or if the Transportation Safety Administration wouldn’t allow you to by together with your normal toothpaste tube).

One of many high causes to e book The Resort Virginia Santa Barbara is its location. Located within the coronary heart of downtown Santa Barbara, it’s only a 15-minute stroll from the seashore, pier and Stearns Wharf.

It’s a good shorter stroll to Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone, a vibrant, 13-block neighborhood that includes among the metropolis’s finest eating places, wine tasting rooms, breweries, boutiques and galleries.

Stroll about quarter-hour within the different route to the Santa Barbara Courthouse (an ultra-popular wedding ceremony venue), the Santa Barbara Public Market (a neighborhood meals corridor) and the Santa Barbara Museum of Artwork.

The lodge is simply across the nook from Santa Barbara’s State Avenue Promenade, a 10-block pedestrian walkway lined with outlets and eating places that serves as the principle artery between all locations.

For vacationers who prioritize buying and eating simply as a lot as seashore time, the Resort Virginia Santa Barbara supplies one of the best of all of it.

It is usually a less-than-10-minute stroll from the Santa Barbara Amtrak station. When you’re driving, put together to search out your individual parking elsewhere or in any other case get hit with the lodge’s every day parking fee of $30 (which incorporates valet service).

Facilities on the Resort Virginia Santa Barbara are pretty restricted. There’s free Wi-Fi, although that’s virtually a given wherever lately. There’s a small on-site eatery referred to as Brisa Café + Bar and complimentary bikes can be found within the foyer on a first-come, first-served foundation.

However, there’s neither a lodge gymnasium nor a pool.

When you search all of the resort-style facilities, you’re higher off elsewhere, such because the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. There, you’ll discover facilities together with tennis courts, a pool and a spa.

The Resort Virginia Santa Barbara is for these searching for a smaller, boutique vibe, however who may also need the good thing about belonging to a bigger lodge chain (permitting them to earn and redeem factors or flex their elite standing).

As a result of it’s so small, it’s seemingly the entrance desk and valet workers may get to know you — particularly for multiday stays — permitting for extra personalised service than you’d get at lodges the place you’re considered one of tons of of visitors churning by every day.

The central location is good for individuals who need to be within the coronary heart of Santa Barbara’s eating places, outlets and leisure, simply so long as they don’t thoughts any potential noise.

The lodge isn’t pet-friendly, so which may be a con for individuals who worth touring with pets. Then once more, that is likely to be a professional for individuals who don’t need to sleep in the identical mattress that after welcomed another person’s pet.

When you’ve got a Hilton free night time certificates to spend or are searching for to maximise Hilton factors, the Resort Virginia Santa Barbara may be price it for stays on in any other case busy summer season or vacation weekends. Plus, the lack of resort charges — all too frequent in lots of vacationer cities like Santa Barbara — is an particularly welcome profit.

All details about Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card has been collected independently by FinanceGrabber. Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card is now not obtainable by FinanceGrabber.

(High picture by Sally French)