I was invited on an educational trip sponsored by Belmond El Encanto for a group of Brownell travel advisors. I took the opportunity to expand the trip by booking a two night stay at RC Bacara at the beginning of my trip.

Two very different resorts, they will appeal to different guests. Let me share my impressions.


Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort

The original Bacara Resort was built in 2000 and sold to its current owner in 2017. The owner immediately hired Ritz-Carlton to manage it, and it was rebranded in October, 2017. Bacara is sized like a typical Ritz-Carlton resort with 358 rooms and suites. Guests currently receive STARS amenities, and the resort is apparently on track to be accepted by Virtuoso.

What’s great about Bacara:

Location… on 87 seaside acres in Goleta, a dozen miles north of Santa Barbara, Bacara is 108 miles north of Los Angeles. Weekend visitors from the LA area constitute the largest demographic of the its guests.

Right on the beach… Bacara borders the ocean, and it’s an easy walk down to the beach (a public beach like all California beaches). Due to California Coastal Commission regulations, this is a natural (i.e., ungroomed) beach with driftwood and unraked sand … but Bacara has a Beach House that offers food service as well as restrooms and showers.

Dining opportunities… Bacara has two excellent restaurants. Angel Oak, the signature fine-dining restaurant, is one of the top-rated restaurants in the Santa Barbara area. Bistro — open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner — offers a more casual and less expensive menu. STARS guests receive daily complimentary Breakfast Buffet for two at Bistro.

Pools and spa… The resort’s central pools (see below) are heated to 85º year round, and we enjoyed our treatments at Bacara’s excellent spa.
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Plans for improvement… while luxury travel advisors have “booked away” from Bacara for years, the new owner is committed to spending what is required to create a world-class resort.

(1) First step: transform the culture with Ritz-Carlton’s brand of service. We were driven from the airport by the resort’s Director of Guest Services. Having worked at Bacara for a number of years in several different staff positions, he shared his enthusiasm, and that of the staff, at RC’s philosophy of staff empowerment. If a guest is experiencing an issue or problem, staff members are empowered to resolve the situation right on the spot … not the way things had been done under previous owners and management. Not yet six months into Ritz-Carlton’s management, the staff is excited about the Ritz philosophy of guest service.

(2) Second step: renovate the public spaces. A complete redesign of the lobby will begin this June. The existing lobby is comfortable but unremarkable, but plans are in place to open up the space and create a contemporary look and feel.

(3) Third step: add traditional Ritz-Carlton services: A temporary Club Lounge will open in April while a permanent Club will be ready in July. Bacara is working with Jean-Michel Cousteau to develop a seasonal Ritz Kids program, scheduled to open by this September.
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(4) Fourth step: room renovations to be undertaken over the next two years. Our Deluxe Suite (bedroom pictured above) was quite comfortable, but Ritz-Carlton is developing storyboards of new room designs to bring guest rooms fully up to date. Plans will incorporate a grey/blue color scheme, reminiscent of what RC Half Moon Bay and RC Laguna Niguel have already done.

There is a lot of excitement around these plans, and I was told that Herve Hummer, the President of Ritz Carlton, expects Bacara to become the flagship resort of the entire chain. These high hopes speak to the investment that ownership and management are prepared to make in Bacara’s future.


Belmond El Encanto

El Encanto, located in the hills above Santa Barbara, has just 92 rooms and suites. Originally built in the 1920’s, Belmond has restored this classic hotel to its present, quite lovely state. El Encanto’s eight acres are dotted with 31 bungalows, 11 built in California Craftsman (board-and-batten) style and 20 in Mission (adobe) style architecture. El Encanto is a member of Virtuoso, and guests can choose between Virtuoso or Bellini Club amenities (depending on your TA's affiliations).

El Encanto is 500 feet above sea level and boats a commanding view of the Pacific. Just 1 1/2 miles from downtown and 3 miles from the beach, El Encanto guests benefit from the serene seclusion of the resort with easy access to the center of the action in Santa Barbara. Free shuttle service is provided within a 5 mile radius, and electric bikes are offered to guests on a complimentary basis.
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The resort’s central pool is heated to 85º year round, and I enjoyed a treatment at El Encanto’s spa on the ground floor of the main building.

I spent three nights ensconced in a Deluxe Premier Bungalow (#1701, pictured below), and I could not have been happier with the room. A spacious Junior Suite in its own detached building, the room’s interior was quietly elegant with a large seating area in front of a gas fireplace. The bathroom was immense with dual vanities, a large step-in shower, soaking tub, WC, and closet space with a dressing area. Although the lead-in Suite category is a Superior Suite (about the same square footage), I recommend you choose the Deluxe Premier Bungalow unless you really prefer a separate living room.



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We were also shown a Deluxe Bungalow (450 square feet) and two specialty suites, Oak Tree (1100 square feet) and Wishing Well (900 square feet), both of which had wonderful character.



Summary

Belmond El Encanto is perfect for those guests who prefer a quiet boutique resort, while Ritz-Carlton Bacara will please guests who want the energy of a bustling resort where their kids can splash in the family pool and they can meet and socialize with lots of other guests.


other luxury resorts in Santa Barbara

Four Seasons Santa Barbara is currently closed for repairs following this winter’s mudslides. We did drive by the resort, but as it’s a construction zone, we were not able to see it. Right across the street from the beach in Santa Barbara with its own Beach Club, the location is great. The goal for its reopening is June 1, but it’s uncertain whether this goal will be met.

San Ysidro Ranch is also currently closed, and many doubt whether it will ever be able to recover from the damage caused by the mudslides.
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