With a stay at Ala Mar by the Sea in Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara Beach), you'll be within a 15-minute walk of Stearns Wharf and Leadbetter Beach. .This beach motel is 1.4 mi (2.2 km) from Presidio Santa Barbara and 1.7 mi (2.8 km) from Santa Barbara Zoo.
MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
Santa Barbara Harbor - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
Stearns Wharf - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
Santa Barbara City College - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
Leadbetter Beach - 12 min walk - 0.7 miles
Getting around
Santa Barbara Station - 7 min walk
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) - 12 min drive
Restaurants
Jeannine’s American Bakery And Restaurant - 3 min walk
SB Biergarten - 4 min walk
Chad’s - 3 min walk
Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen - 4 min walk
The Harbor Restaurant - 6 min walk
About this property
Ala Mar by the Sea
On beach with outdoor pool, near Stearns Wharf
Ala Mar by the Sea offers 18 air-conditioned accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature complimentary toiletries and blackout drapes/curtains. Each accommodation is individually furnished and decorated. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Flat-screen televisions come with premium digital channels. Irons/ironing boards and hair dryers can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.
An outdoor pool and a hot tub are on site.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 18 individually decorated guestrooms, featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include microwaves and blackout drapes/curtains, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Enjoy recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool and a hot tub. This motel also features complimentary wireless internet access and concierge services.
A complimentary continental breakfast is included.
Featured amenities include express check-in and ATM/banking services. Free self parking is available onsite.
Guests are offered a complimentary continental breakfast.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transportation
Free self parking on site
Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
Food and drink
Free continental breakfast
Things to do
Hot tub
Outdoor pool
Personal motorized watercraft
Family friendly
In-room microwave
In-room refrigerator
Outdoor pool
Conveniences
ATM
Limited-hour front desk
Guest services
Concierge services
Housekeeping (daily)
Tour and ticket assistance
Outdoors
On the beach
Pool loungers
Pool umbrellas
Terrace
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
1 accessible parking space
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible van parking
More
2 floors
Smoking not allowed
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Bathroom
Free toiletries
Hair dryer (on request)
Towels provided
Entertainment
Flat-screen TV with premium digital channels
Food and drink
Champagne service
Microwave
Refrigerator
More
Access via exterior corridors
Air conditioning
Heating
Individual decor
Individual furnishings
Iron/ironing board on request
Laptop workspace
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Express check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
The property charges USD 28.50 for credit card payments
The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 11:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Guests are asked to check in between 3 PM and 11 PM on Saturdays and by 10 PM Sunday through Friday. To arrange check-in outside of these hours, guests should contact hotel/vacation rental management in advance.
Access methods
Front desk (limited hours)
Pets
Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 50 per pet, per day
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Food and water bowls are available
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 60.0 per day
Cribs (infant beds) are not available
Property payment types
Important information
Optional extras
Pet fee: USD 50 per pet, per day
Service animals are exempt from fees
Rollaway bed fee: USD 60.0 per day
Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of USD 28.50
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Property is also known as
Ala Mar
Ala Mar Sea
Ala Mar Sea Hotel
Ala Mar Sea Hotel Santa Barbara
Ala Mar Sea Santa Barbara
Ala Mar Sea Motel Santa Barbara
Ala Mar Sea Motel
Ala Mar by the Sea Motel
Ala Mar by the Sea Santa Barbara
Ala Mar by the Sea Motel Santa Barbara
Ala Mar by the Sea Reviews
Reviews
6.0
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Issues
1 bathroom sink backed up, will not drain
2 no bathroom window screen, bug can get in.
3 shower ceilingpaint peeling bad
4 stains on shower wall, near bath window
5 door sticks, won't close easily
6 no proper power at plugs (constant) for my cpap machine and cell
7 pool patio furniture very dirty spider webs all over
8 pool missing tiles, dirty pool floor
Needs to be clraned by pool tech
9.no phone in rooms
10 they dont call back
After leaving message
They are not there at front desk.
No one
Paid $755 for 2 nights
Horrible place
Dont cone here or any of other properties they manage on same site
Let me start with what was great - Emily was amazing, helpful and knowledgeable about the area. She was the best!!! Also great the location - right on the beach, quick walk from the train.
The rooms are awful!! In need of a major upgrade, poorly maintained (some repairs that are needed would be simple, like replacing the showerhead, painting the walls). My group had four rooms and all were janky.
If I were to ever stay here again it would only be because of the service Emily provided (but I am not likely to stay here again)
The office is being run by staff at another hotel. It is impossible to query charges to bill after departure. There are no closets in the rooms. Not even a hook. No sound-proofing. Nice old tile throughout. Upper deck overlooking the ocean for all guests. Breakfast good but also at the other hotel up the street.
Nancy
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
4/10 Poor
Catherine
Traveled with family
Aug 10, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The parking lot is very tight and not adequate for the number of rooms. There is no staff on site and seemed understaffed. We had to wait long periods of time to get assistance with check-in, amenities, check-out (no staff available at that time). The floor turned our feet black within the first hour of being there. The shower would not drain so we had to space out showers and turn the water off between washing and rinsing. There was no counter space for toiletries or food prep. No storage for luggage. They had to take over the chairs as there was no floor space or closet. The a/c wouldn’t cool off the room during the day. The room was not stocked with enough towels for the number of guests (provided with 2 needed 4), no extra pillows 1 each. It was a tight space with 2 beds making it difficult to get around the room. The location is great-across from the beach and a block from State Street and near the harbor. I like that it included a fridge and microwave. The pool was at the next building (too cold for the adults) but we enjoyed the hot tub.
Catherine
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025
4/10 Poor
Sean
Aug 9, 2025
Sean
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
6/10 Okay
anatoliy
Aug 7, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
In hotel description states continental breakfast included but only cofe and sweets
Lovely Hotel. view of the beach, walking distance of shops etc. Easy parking. Checking in was slow and at neighbouring hotel, which was a little confusing.
Nice place with a pretty view, the air conditioners did not cool off the room. Horrible sleep, it was hot and tried both of the different units. One was a wall unit and the other was a mini split. Both of them would not cool down the room.
James
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025
2/10 Terrible
Sandra
Jun 14, 2025
Not like picture I got room with at but was dirty I had to clean my self there’s was a sitt