Originally Posted by
pinniped
Staying here in a couple weeks, using Aspire free nights and some points. I know not to expect much from this hotel but hey...it's Santa Barbara and I have Hilton points/certs to burn.
Only real question I have is whether any of the in-hotel dining is worthwhile. If we just have $30 credit per day, and the restaurants aren't great, that's fine - we'll just have a lobby drink and call it good. Santa Barbara has so many cool bakeries, coffeeshops, and breakfast spots that we probably won't stick around for breakfast - it would be maybe dinner one night, if anything.
We've had dinner before at Convivo - the Santa Barbara Inn restaurant next door - and it was pretty good. I imagine we'll wander over there at some point.
Worst case, you can use your $30/day to get things like soda and beer at the coffee counter in the lobby. The food did not look good to me at all.
Also: the guy at the front desk was intent on not believing that there were two of us in the room, so he wanted to only give me a $15/night credit. I almost had to go get my wife. Like it was any skin off his back either way?
But for a free Aspire night, perfectly fine, if not maximized. Hot tub was nice.