Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort Hotel

, Santa Barbara, United States
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Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort Hotel

, Santa Barbara
3 star

Rooms: 360

633 East Cabrillo Boulevard - Santa Barbara - California - 93103 - United States Hotel Website | 805 564 4333
623 Traveller

Reviews - Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort Hotel

2/10
Don
Submitted by: James Barker in 17/03/05
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  • From: United States
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My room had a lovely room overlooking a garbage transfer station with about 75 garbage trucks and the attendant smell! Also there is a main line railroad track immediately adjacent to the hotel site. Trains are not too frequent but they must blow their whistle for a crossing not too far away. The room is nothing special. It is across a busy four lane highway from the ocean. Staff is unfriendly and unknowledgable. I can't believe people would pay resort prices for the facilities here.
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10/10
The best hotel in Santa Barbara!
Submitted by: Susan in 17/03/05
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  • From: United States
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This is This is the best hotel in Santa Barbara. Having stayed there many times we have never been dissapointed. The gounds are a lovely place to walk around and relax, traveling by train the hotel does pick you up. The staff has always been courteous. We have eaten at both restaurants, and they are both wonderful, the steak house for being inside of a hotel is excellant.. Having stayed there many times we have never been dissapointed. The gounds are a lovely place to walk around and relax, traveling by train the hotel does pick you up. The staff has always been courteous. We have eaten at both restaurants, and they are both wonderful, the steak house for being inside of a hotel is excellent.

Historical Traveller Reviews of Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort Hotel

ideal for family, great location, good service

from WilliamMel
Stayed here three nights August 24-27th, 2004. Had beautiful "garden view room" that also had a view of the ocean. I'm glad I didn't spend the extra money for an "ocean view" room. This hotel had a good restaurant and had plenty of activities for the family with young children: (i.e. movies and escorted excursions to the Santa Barbara Zoo with the admission fee for children paid for by the hotel). The pool is great. Bike rentals are available. I'd stay there again and recommend it to anyone. The service (room service, check-in, concierge and housekeeping) was friendly and accommodating.

Nice hotel

from ToffeeMan
Arrived here at 6.00pm late August, without a booking, and negotiated a $250 poolview room for $179 for one night. The room was large, the largest we stayed in during our vacation. The bed was the most confortable I have ever slept on, complete with down comforter. I was told that the beds were brand new last week. Kids loved the pool, and we were glad that the hotel had laundry facilities. We found all the staff very friendly. I would happily stay here again.

Very nice hotel for the area. Aug 11, 2004

from A TripAdvisor Member
Great staff and restaurant, and the lobby and grounds are beautiful. The hotel needs updating in regards to the interior. The doors, trim, etc. need staining or replacing; very old looking. Room was nice; but sliding door to the balcony needed fixing or replacing. Its a good walk down to the pier, but its a beautiful walk and good exercise. The shopping area is great, but you'd better drive and park, as its a very long walk back to the hotel. We'd definitely stay there again and would recommend it to other tourists. (No hotels are on the beach; 5 lane highway separates hotels from the beach). Don't waste money on an "ocean view."

Super location, a bit dated, but still well maintained

from leafnose
yes dated, but great for kids, super location; beware being on the parking lot or facing the pool during the summer. Trains go by constantly and follks use the pool well into the night. As many other's mentioned the staff is very courteous, and the fresh baked warm chocolate cookies on check in just about sealed it with my kids. The pool is kept unusually warm, so even on cool days it'll be used. My daughter and I went on a night swim, it was so warm. The Biltmore down the coast is still an exceptional property and has the dramatic ocean front location, but this has a better central location....blocks from State Street. BTW, the water pressure was good, and the hot water was instantaneous, a problem with many hotels....but not this one

Loved the resort!

from A TripAdvisor Member
We only stayed one night with our tour, but we found the resort to be clean and spacious. Although I am a dog lover, I don't think I would like to have stayed in a room that permitted animals. The food was delicious - the beach was right across the street - and the highlight of the stay for me was meeting Fess Parker in person. He was extremely charming to all members of our group. I would highly recommend this place.

Ewww - In serious need of a remodel!!

from A TripAdvisor Member
If you like popcorn ceiling tiles from the 1970's, stained from years of cigarette smoke, old polyester bedding, old everything - then this is the place for you!! I barely got any sleep because my sheets were so rough that I felt like I was getting an undesired exfoliation everytime I moved!

I got my room switched because I was in a dog-friendly building - it stank of dirty wet dog - and I saw more than a few large dogs roaming the hotel grounds -

The hotel, to its credit said that it is remodeling next year, even then - I could hardly recommend this place- its in an industrial part of town that's more than a little trashy - dirty hobos smoking weed in front of the "resort" enhance the dirtiness of this hotel - very gross!

"

from cooljw
Summary: Overall, this is a very nice place to stay. However, the rack rates and the website make it look a lot nicer than it is. Don't expect to get all your money's worth paying rack rates (mid-$200s per night in season) unless you get some kind of discount (i.e.- Priceline).

Full Review: Fess Parker's Doubletree is a very large, sprawling property. It is about as close to the beach as you can get in Santa Barbara. Still, this isn't that close - it's across busy Cabrillo St. from the beach (the main street that runs all along the shore in Santa Barbara). Plus, the beach directly in front of the hotel is not that nice - it's a bit dirty, there are boats from the harbor parked a few feet off shore, and there are few waves because it's sheltered by the harbor.

Still, the location is pretty good for Santa Barbara. It's within walking distance to Stearn's Wharf (downtown and State St. is a bit far to walk but doable). There is a nice park right next to the hotel, that hosts special events and concerts throughout the summer.

The rooms are sizable and pretty nice - a step above what you'd expect at a standard Doubletree. The reason it's not worth paying so much money is that the other amenities at the resort fall short. For example, for such a large property, you would expect a larger/nicer pool area. There is a putting green, but it was small and not in very good shape. The exercise room was small and had plenty of cardio-equipment but few for weight training. The "spa" is tiny and consists of a small room. Something to look forward to: The hotel as it's own tennis courts, which were being completely renovated and resurfaced while I was there.

Loved it!

from A TripAdvisor Member
This was our second time at the Fess Parker. The grounds are beautiful and the close proximity to the beach (adjacent) is wonderful. You don't have to drive anywhere. Being able to walk and/or take the shuttle to nearby shops and restaurants enhances the feeling that you are on vacation. The staff was very accomodating. The hotel offers many family activities during the summer months as well. We felt the price was well worth it and plan to stay there again.

ok but the weather was very cool

from A TripAdvisor Member
We enjoyed our stay but my only recommendation is to specify a room closer to the elevator or exit of the hotel and see if they allow animals. We stayed at the Fess Parker Doubletree and our room smelled like a dog had gone in the room. The location was nice and service was good, but I have learned to ask more questions next time.

Service above and beyond

from A TripAdvisor Member
We loved our stay here. The staff was so nice and accommodating. Since the pool was under renovation and my son was so disappointed, they gave us an ocean view room at no extra cost. We had a balcony overlooking the Santa Barbara coastline.

Top Local Tips for Santa Barbara

Downey's for dinner/D'Angelos for casual breakfasst Downey's for dinner - pricey but worth every penny. Food was amazing; service was genuinely warm, welcoming and inviting. Great suggestions on both the menu and wine selections. Liz in particular is just a lovely, lovely host. Also, D'Angelos for breakfast - great little bakery type place with great unique breakfast dishes!

Check the weather twice before you go. Santa Barbara is best when it is sunny. There are so many great outdoor activities to participate in that are greatly enhanced by good weather. Biking along the beach, taking a boat ride, shopping in downtown, etc. isn't so great when it is gloomy and cold so check the weather.

Family friendly So we ate at some good family friendly restaraunts close to the hotel. Hamburger Habit- great burgers and salads Inexpensive. Carlitos mexican- fun music, patio. Something Fishy on State st. Teppan grill go early and get early bird specials and no crowds Also there is a great clean newer park down the road from the hotel just before Garden St it is called Shipwreck park and very cool fun for the kids and has a merry go round.

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Other names for Fess Parkers Doubletree Resort Hotel

  • fess parkers doubletree resort
  • doubletree santa barbara
  • doubletree fess parkers
  • Address: 633 East Cabrillo Boulevard - Santa Barbara - California - 93103 - United States
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