Bacara Resort & Spa Reviews

Awesome service and a beautiful place to spend s afternoon and dinner!

This resort is truly exquisite. Pool, palm trees, landscape, trails, lobby, fireplace, music, ...

Service is generally quick, and the overall experience is enjoyable

Worst 5 star hotel in CA. Now that it is owned by Marriot it has sadly gone downhill. They are severely understaffed and most of the staff are teenagers and have no experience. Don't waste your money and stay here. It is also not in Santa Barbara and 15 miles north of it in Goleta, CA.

The atmosphere was amazing. Can't beat the food and atmosphere for a business meeting.

Staff was helpful and professional. The food was fantastic. The venue was beautiful, great experience!

Beautiful place with a wonderful staff. Good is a bit on the costly side for good food but not great food.

Never made it past the 45sec promotion recording on the reservation line. Not the personal service expected from RC and im a long term client.

We went there for wine tasting at Foley. Drove around for a while and soon figured out there is no self parking. Took our beater old car to valet and got laughed at. We didn't fit into the rich crowd there. Lots of Tesla's, Mercedes and BMWs. Of the ten tastings we did that weekend this was the most disappointing. It was advertised as "wine from many Foley properties". That was true but the good stuff was left out. The girl pouring said nothing about the wine. Tasting room full of rich folk who wouldn't care. I expect better attention. At least the valet is free other than tip. Foley has a lot of excellent wine at their numerous properties. Wish they included them in the tasting. I'm sure the hotel is wonderful and the atmosphere is amazing. For the cost of rooms it should be.

Went for a night getaway - and thoroughly enjoyed everything. Perfect walk on the beach, massage and a casual dinner. Couldn't ask for more!

Amazing service and amenities. Hands down worth a two day stay so you can spend all morning lounging at the heated saline pool

I've only been here for work functions, but every time has been quite nice. Excellent service, beautiful location.

It's a beautiful place to go to also the views are awesome....Service is outstanding....
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Nice location, but like most Ritz Carlton in the continental US, a bit old now

Good hotel but underwhelming for the price. They did not have crib blanket and after 2 hours of being awake in night, I gave up. Also, their oath to beach was not maintained and difficult.

We wanted to have a special anniversary weekend and booked an (overpriced) room here to make the weekend really special.

At $475 a night, the room was very basic with no frills and the staff was not accommodating. We emailed the concierge multiple times beforehand with questions regarding wine tours and I finally had to call to get them to respond to my emails.

We booked a room with a fireplace so it would be a treat from our regular apartment without a fireplace and it only worked half the time we were there. There was also a wedding happening and since we were so conveniently located right beside the ballroom, it was extremely loud until midnight with no apologies or warning from the staff.

We asked them to have ice in the room upon arrival and there wasn't, so we had to call and remind them. There were no slippers in the room and I had to tip the staff to bring some.

We realized the Keurig in the room didn't work so we had to call and have them bring a replacement.

After all of this, I accidentally left my $200 curling iron there and once I realized it, I called Lost & Found and they said they would check and call me back in 15 minutes. An hour passed and I had to call back and they said, "oh we couldn't find it."

For $475 a night I would really expect better customer service and satisfaction. The Bacara is really out of the way if you plan to do anything in Santa Barbara and the less than accommodating staff certainly doesn't make up for it. I was disappointed in my stay and would absolutely not recommend this hotel to anyone. I've stayed in multiple resorts all over the country and Bacara is definitely last on my list of memorable vacations. The landscaping is beautiful, but the rooms are nothing special and the staff is extremely unhelpful.

Gorgeous property, helpful staff, and amazing food!

Classic Santa Barbara resort, 20 minutes from downtown with Spa and endless views

We Uber'd out for an exploratory dinner. We knew of Bacara from when we lived in Newport Beach, because so many flocked here, which tells you what you're in for it's where the nouveau riche go. Flashy cars in the driveway, they got 'em.
Nice views from the outdoor dining area, just like we expected. The food was ok. The service pretentious.
A place for pretenders. Ouch! Sorry.

Loved the hotel. Big rooms. Located right at the beach. Has 3 big pools. Excellent service. Enjoyed the 2 night stay. Most of the rooms, if not all have a balcony.

Excellent! Beautiful location, beautiful surroundings, great food and spa and the service was excellent!! Only disappointment was....there were 3 of us staying in 1 room and it was so small, the closet wouldn't hold 5 items. We had to have them bring in something to hang our clothes on and also.....the maid service gave us some dirty looking towels. Which I hate to sound picky.....but I've got to have clean, new-looking towels and a clean room and especially shower - when I stay at a hotel. I'm weird that way!

We are big fans of Ritz Carlton and always try to stay at one when we travel domestically and abroad. Last evening, we stayed at this Ritz for the first time. The location and grounds are beautiful and everyone is very polite and nice. However, I found that the service was not up to the standards of a typical Ritz experience. My dinner was not cooked right and I did not get a chance to tell someone until 15 minutes after it was delivered. The waitress just never checked on us. She said I m sorry. We asked for a dessert menu three times and each time they forgot. The server said, I m sorry. This morning we had breakfast in the room and called to have them pick up the tray of food since the birds were going after it on the balcony. Once again, it took three calls to get the tray picked up. Each time, when I called, they simply said I m sorry. Finally, we had lunch at the Bistro before leaving and we ordered appetizers before our lunch. Well, the appetizers never came and we finally got our food. The server simply said I m sorry. I love the Ritz Carlton where the brand promise is Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen. However, I left this property thinking the tagline was I m sorry. It is nice to say I m sorry but it is not a get out of jail free card for poor service. Please step it up. We are schedule to arrive again this Thursday evening on the way back home. I hope it is better. Thank you.

Nice expansive resort with top notch amenities. Room was clean and had modern furnishings. Staff was pleasant and helpful. It's a short uber ride ride downtown Santa Barbara but nothing (with the exception of resort restaurants and shops) is within walking distance.

This was a very nice resort, with a nice spa, comfortable rooms, and beautiful views.
However, there were some details that disrupted the relaxing atmosphere.
1. In the rooms, the water pipes were extremely loud so I kept being woken up when other guests filled their bathtubs (we were the with a group, and other people in different buildings had similar complaints).
2. Speaking of the bathtub: it was a beautiful soaker tub, but there was no lip at the edge so there was nowhere to rest my head.
3. In the spa, the was a lovely hot tub, but the warning signs were placed so that there was nowhere I could look that I couldn't see them, which meant there was no serene view to take in. Also, the water level was low which made the edge less comfortable to lean on.

Overall, the staff was very helpful and the resort was beautiful, though.

It was noisy. Water pipe noises from above. And lots of guest we're staying with mini dogs. And a dogs or large and the bark a lot. It was like I was in a kennel.

Great resort with many amenities that include large pools and spas. Great service from all staff.

We had a wonderful honey moon last year here. Candace Scholler went above and beyond for us would definitely recommend coming here for a relaxing and enjoyable vacation. The spa is beautiful and so peaceful.

I just returned from July 4th weekend stay at this beautiful resort, but unfortunately it was not the restful or restorative experience we desperately needed. The resort overlooks the Pacific and is spectacular and serene, and the architecture is beautiful and surrounded by eucalypts and lush landscaping.

With that setting, our stay held the promise of an unforgettably splendid weekend.
Unfortunately, it was not.

I knew it was a Holiday weekend and I packed lots of patience. But I also expect better from the Ritz Carlton. The restaurants and the spa were fully booked up. Everything else was a long wait - a poolside drink took 45 minutes standing in line. Bag assistance never came. So sorry! But our greatest frustration was the pool management. Due to Covid, the pool opens at 10am, by which point there is a line of guests waiting to enter. After they fill the available chairs, entry is managed by staff who control and manage a waitlist. It sounds perfectly reasonable and safe, and I appreciated the efforts the resort was making. I followed the staff's advice from the day before and got on the waitlist right after the 10am rush. I was perhaps 15th on the list, but by 3pm we had not been called and learned that they had only admitted 2 from what had now grown to a 3 page waitlist to nowhere. The staff were nice, but they had been asked to implement a rule that was unfair, and frustrating to the majority of their guests.

The current pool management system is a complete failure. It's not how you want to spend (or waste) your vacation. Of course, if you want to avoid the wait, they are happy to sell you a cabana for $500 for the day (or just an hour) to get in. That fact is what really infuriated me more than anything else. With a room rate of $700-$800 per night or hundreds of thousands of points spent, you should not have to bribe your way into the pool. Given the health and safety protocol, I think everyone would understand a system that limits time at the pool to 3 or 4 hours. The problem was twofold: 1st - that the people who got in at 10am did not leave, and 2nd- that many people especially younger people snuck into the pool and filled it over its safe capacity during the day. A timed bracelet system could eliminate both those problems.

At 5pm we had still not been let it, and in frustration I went to the smaller but quiet spa pool. It is very nice as well and I was happy to get a seat. However, as soon as I sat down I was told that "Unfortunately, we are closed at 5pm", and I needed to leave. I couldn't help but let off a little steam at that point and told the attendant about my frustrating experience that day at the main pool and insisted that I was going to stay and enjoy the pool for a half hour. I further invited him to have a manager come speak with me as I would only be too happy to share my experience . 15 minutes later, with one other couple also at the pool, a security guard "Marcelo" approached me and told me I needed to leave. I repeated my story to him. He apologized for my experience at the other pool but forcefully told me I needed to leave. As I did this, I could see the sympathetic couple in the pool behind him giving me the thumbs up for standing up to this injustice. However, Marcelo refused to get a manager and forced me to leave the pool along with the other couple who were enjoying it.

I am angry for having spent a chunk of our Marriott points for this stay. I am angry that our first weekend vacation away since COVID was wasted on such a terribly frustrating experience. I am angry the response from the hotel to the problems we encountered was wholly inadequate. Even the minor adjustments offered to remove resort fees had to be requested twice before they were made: once before check out, and once again after getting the final bill a day later.

Such a promising and spectacular place, but such a horribly disappointing experience.

Amazing resort with exceptional service. All your needs will be taken care of no matter how big or small.

Beautiful resort right on the beach. They have a wonderful staff and great amenities. Quite pricey though, prepare to shell out some dough.

Facility is big but old, staff service is terrible. Waited 30min to checkin, 20min for breakfast even though there is no queue.
This is not Ritz Carlton standard. Please improve

The Ladies and Gentlemen of The Ritz were absolutely amazing! They made our stay so memorable in the care and attention they provided. The resort, grounds, restaurants, amenities and spectacular views, coupled with the extraordinary team, make this a must stay!

Rude and rooms unclean. Checked out again immediately.

Nice property. Was here for a Marriott/SPG Moments event featuring Colbie Caillat and a dinner by Kat Cora. Well-run event, had a great time.

Exactly what you would expect from a Ritz-Carlton. Top of class.

Gorgeous location. The bistro is good but very pricey.

Beautiful views, beautiful hotel. Rooms are spaced out over a massive land lot. Multiple pools and hot tubs. Venue can host parties of just about any size throughout multiple ballrooms or outside yielding fantastic views. Restaurant perched on the side of a mountain with panoramic views of the ocean. There is a trail that leads down to the beach.

Stayed here 4 nights. Overall it was pretty good, but not 5 star worthy. The service was very spotty. It took them almost 30 minutes just to check us in upon arrival...and there was only 1 family in front of us. Really? I've had faster service at a Marriott.

Many of the wait staff were under trained and did not speak English. They would do the bare minimum...when asked, but only 2 times did anyone ever go above and beyond as you would expect at a top notch hotel & spa.

The grounds are beautiful. Our room was nice, but no view. We ate at most of the restaurants onsite. The food was good, but overpriced--$42 for breakfast buffet, $17 for an omelette, $7 for a cappuccino. The spa is very nice, but $285 for an 80min massage is a little high, but I did it anyways and the masseuse was very skilled. Two of the front desk ladies at the spa were a little arrogant.

I've stayed at hundreds of the nicest luxury hotels and spas in several different countries. I expected more. I came in with high expectations and was disappointed several times. We paid about $600 per night. Based on our experience I would have trouble recommending this place if you had to pay more than $300/night or so. Next time, we will likely go to the Four Seasons in town.

Went to pick up friends staying at hotel, and send a couple hours there. Resort was clean, staff was professional and friendly, and beautiful location. Would love to stay here.

If you like to escape from routine and live in a dream
It is a place to enjoy
Service+cleanliness +quality and supports
Surrounded with magical environment and quietness

Great food. Beautiful views. Easy going staff while providing excellent service.

Very nice rooms and staff was excellent. Nice walking trails. The rooms could have been more sound proof.

Perfect Getaway! I highly recommend the Hotel, better than expected even with COVID-19 scare happening. The staff is terrific, every detail at the hotel goes above and beyond. Cleanliness exceeds standards. This is one of the best hotel experiences I ve had.

THANK GOD FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENJOYING THIS WONDERFUL PLACE TOGETHER WITH MY DAUGHTER MICHEL AND AMIS PATRONS FOR THAT CUTE GESTURE WITH US A WONDERFUL PLACE

Easily accessible and very friendly staff, the beach (Haskell's) nearby is also just a short walk away and secluded which is very nice. The hotel/resort itself is very beautiful and has nearly all the facilities one could ask for. Only downside is if you wanted to explore the city, it's a 20 min drive from downtown Santa Barbara

Best place ever. Would give it 1000000000000 stars if I could

Great pool! Awesome location by the beach. Fabulous wine tasting room with great selection! Every person working at the hotel smiled and greeted me

Although my stay was quite brief during a professional event, I would definitely consider returning to this resort. The location was absolutely beautiful and the staff was kind and accommodating. Definitely would recommend Bacara resort and Spa.

My wife and I love this place. Every time we are in the area we make sure we come to The Bacara.

over priced , average , they nickel and dime you for every thing ,parking, resort fee, etc,if you pay by debit card without informing you after you leave you will find bunch of charges on your debit account , then will take five or more days to credit your account for nonsense charges

Gorgeous resort, would love to go back for vacation. I was there for work and could easily get lost in their amenities, its comfort, and ambiance.

Stunning location, ocean and private beach on one side, the wild vegetation on the other. Spacious rooms, variety of restaurant, nice pool area. Feels to be in a Spanish little town, everything is at walking distance but they also have a trolley service connecting the different areas. Incredible landscaping and beautiful cactus fountain .ideal for families with young children.

This is a beautiful property, with Santa Barbara class and charm red-tiled roofs white Spanish walls. Manicured gardens (a little thumbs up to the landscaping staff)arches etc. It's a five star resort with spa, great service overall,I was there on mother's day weekend so probably a little busier than normal, but still relaxing ,enjoyed a few drinks at the bar had some appetizers and the chef came out a little later and brought a little Skillet of lobster mac...a nice little gesture that I appreciated. Lastly the young man in the main bar that served us upon our arrival, went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and checked with front desk to see how our room was coming along. Beautiful and relaxing getaway

Great place! Friendly staff, good food, and good service.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 12 miles N of Santa Barbara is an amazing hotel! Several room choices, from $$$$-$$. You practically don t have to leave the resort if your intent is serious R&R. Several restaurants to cater to your desire, such as a steak house, coffee shop and Bistro that are priced well. Multiple heated pools with sauna and only few steps to the beach. Has nice hiking trail and animal friendly facility. Top-of-the-line fitness equipment with SPA and boutique amenities. Family activities available if looking for one. Few negatives: $50/day parking and $39/day resort fees are required. Check-in was delayed due to housekeeping back log. KUDOS to management for compensating us for minor inconvenience. They also made our stay more memorable by gifting us delicious cake and beverages. We will definitely return to this place.

Awesome resort with amazing views, amazing staff, and great food.

Beautiful setting. Terrific food. Great service.
Golf package was well worth it

Attended my friends wedding held on the beach, and then had lunch at the restaurant. The entire experience was totally amazing.

Didnt stay over but had dinner here and it was beautiful

This location is very beautiful and a perfect getaway. The service was amazing the entire stay. There is a great walk down to the beach from the hotel and the pool has great views of the ocean. It is off by itself, has an amazing golf course and spa. Best way to see Santa Barbara.

Cozy, roomie accommodation. Staff anxious to offer assistance and very friendly.