I lived in the Santa Barbara area (Summerland) for several years. I go back to visit friends a few times a year and stayed at the Encina Lodge twice in 2011. It's a pretty hotel on a quiet, tree-lined residential street, very close to downtown. The staff are kind and friendly, and the property is very well maintained. The rooms - including carpet and upholstered furniture - are spotless. One of the things I most enjoy is coming back to the hotel after a day out, because it feels more familiar and homey than other places I've stayed. During the summer, rates are often out of my price range, but staying here in winter is great - quiet, comfortable and affordable.

We needed a suite for a last minute overnight in Santa Barbara (from L.A.) to accommodate our three year old and a private room for us. This hotel fit the bill with a decent price for their "Poolside" suite. We booked directly on the Best Western Website which revealed a hotel promotional price about $20 less than the best deal anywhere else. The stay included free parking and functional wireless internet. (Not the fastest we experienced but good enough to watch something streaming on Netflix.)

Check in was fast and the staff was professional and courteous. The room was very clean and well appointed for a three star with Crabtree and Evelyn products in the bathroom, a basket of fresh apples and candy, Farmers brand coffee for the coffee maker and, "fresh remote" covers for the remote controls. (Honestly not sure if they sanitize the TV remote controls before slipping these back on but if they're going as far as having these at all it's worth mentioning.)

The pull out sofa bed was perfectly fine for our kid. The bed in the bedroom was very comfortable for us...overall, unlike gaudy motels, this suite was tastefully decorated with modern colors and bedding.

We wish the flat screen TV was in the bedroom for us rather than the older CRT Tube model, but we didn't end up using either so it was fine.

Good water pressure in the shower. Attentive and responsive staff (who came quickly to unlock the kitchenette cabinet to retrieve a bottle opener we needed.)

The restaurant was empty when we walked by in the morning but apparently open. (We'd had our hearts set on Tupelo Junction Cafe in town anyway so weren't planning on dining on site.)

We generally like more upscale comfortable luxurious places and we're initially trepidatious about what we'd find here...pleasantly surprised and would definitely stay here again.

We stayed at this Best Western Plus for two nights over Christmas. Our upper level, king bed room was very spacious and clean. It was located directly above the lobby/ check-in area, but we could not hear any sounds from below and I'm very sound sensitive. We liked the vaulted ceilings in the room, the friendly hotel staff and the nice gift shop in the lobby.

The on-site restaurant was a good place to get a comforting breakfast. The only thing we would do differently next time is bring our own pillows. The pillows were rather high and bouncy, so we ended up converting the bed's throw pillows into sleeping pillows. We would definitely stay at this upscale Best Western again.

Have stayed 4 times in 18 months. The staff are very polite and helpful, rooms are clean and large, restaurant is very good, and the location to the Sansum Clinic, could not be better. Will be back 12 / 2012..............................