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Author Topic: Motels in Santa Barbara
RRRICH
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I am starting to make my hotel reservations for my train trip in June -- I will be spending one night in Santa Barbara, on 6/16 (to enable me to take the CS for most of the route from Portland, then after the SBA overnight, take a Surfliner to LAX the next day to be able to catch the SWC that evening). Anyone out there (Frank?) have any ideas for a decent motel in SBA, "fairly close" to AMTRAK? I asked this question last fall when I first booked the trip, but at that time, Frank was recovering from surgery, and no one else really had any ideas, so I'll ask again!!

Thanks a lot--
Railroad Rich

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sbalax
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There are quite a few motels within walking distance of the Amtrak station. The ones across from the beach -- on Cabrillo Blvd. -- are as you'd expect, more expensive. Go back a block or two and they become much less so.

I notice that the 6th is a Friday. You might run into a problem with a two night minimum at some of the properties but you should be able to find something.

The original Motel 6 is further along East of the Station. It's about a block back from the beach and is no longer $6.00 a night but you might get lucky.

I'll try to do some scouting for you the next time I'm in that part of town.

Frank in clear but cool SBA

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DonNadeau
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Last Summer, I priced the closest to Amtrak Motel 6 in Santa Barbara at $175 per night on weekends. The one Friday I just checked for this June runs--sit down for this--199.99 ($179.99 AARP).

An expensive city! Have to wonder if sbalax embezzled the teachers' retirement fund in order to live there. :-)

Nice location nearly on the beach, but didn't stay there.

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@DonNadeau

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sbalax
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Yep, it is expensive here especially in the summer and on any weekend. We have become an international destination -- walking down State Street is now like going to a convention of Berlitz instructors. (Does Berlitz still exist? Or has Rosetta Stone replaced it?)

We usually send people to places further from the beach but for most of them a taxi or car is needed. Our old standby, El Prado Inn on State Street is now a La Quinta so I imagine the rates have increased. It's a block or two from the end of the electric shuttle on State Street.

The El Encanto, now an Orient-Express property, has reopened a couple of blocks up the hill from us. Rooms START at $495 and go up well past $1,000 a night.

As for embezzlement, not guilty. I just worked my butt off for 35 years doing every extra assignment I could. We also made some VERY good investments in property over the years. I believe we took Vicki and Art on the "Real Estate Tour".

Frank in dark and cool SBA

P.S. I just checked the former El Prado. They are asking $279.00 a night...

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sbalax
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Rich--

I think I know what's going on. I searched graduation at UCSB. The first of three graduation ceremonies is on Sunday, 8 June. Could you come mid-week? Everything in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Carpinteria is high or not available that weekend and the next.

Frank in dark and cool SBA

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notelvis
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FWIW - I reread Rich's original post.

He is seeking SBA lodging on June 16 which is a Monday. That may loosen up his options a bit.

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David Pressley

Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!

Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes.

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RRRICH
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Thanks David! -- yes I will be there on 6/16. At this point, I cannot change my reservations, since this trip was booked in October (for better rates, and more AMTRAK sleeper availability). I'll look into La Quinta -- I looked at the Holiday Inn web site, and they too are expensive. I may have to just take what's available, however expensive........
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sbalax
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Rich--

Mea culpa, mea culpa! I misread the date! Yes, you might do better on a Monday.

I just checked the La Quinta site and it looks as if $209 is the best rate they are offering on 06/16. That does include breakfast, though.

Frank in sunny and cool SBA

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DonNadeau
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Frank, Interesting you mentioned El Prado Inn. That's the last place I stayed in Santa Barbara. Although in need of any upgrade, it was comfortable, with a wonderful location, and overall pleasant.

Glad you have done well in So Cal real estate market. A person has to be really unlucky to do terribly there, but my family has been up to the challenge in a big way!

Here's a home and an entire block of land sold by a distant relative far too soon:

http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/Remi-Nadeau-Home-Future-Site-of-LA-Biltmore-Hotel

Not to be outdone, his son didn't keep this in the family:
http://losangelespast.blogspot.ca/2010/06/new-spring-street-treasures.html

I could go on. [Smile]

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@DonNadeau

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sbalax
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Thanks for the great links, Don. My father was involved in the design/construction of the rather ordinary addition to the Times building. (The rear part in the picture you posted.)

He was also involved in the design/build of the "Jet Age" LAX and the Theme Building was a special project to him. Sadly, the restaurant there has just closed. The viewing platform on top remains open.

He also worked on the current Madison Square Garden but we won't talk about that on a rail forum…

Frank in dark and still warm SBA

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Geoff Mayo
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quote:
Originally posted by DonNadeau:
Glad you have done well in So Cal real estate market. A person has to be really unlucky to do terribly there, but my family has been up to the challenge in a big way!

Having been here in the US for nearly two years, we now sort of exist. Well, the spammers and cold callers latched on immediately, but your credit score is virtually worthless without any history behind it - and UK Experian and US Experian may well be the same company to all intents and purposes, but your credit is worthless in either direction. Mine was 999 out of 1000 in the UK before I came here.

So we're just dipping our toe into the real estate market here in the LA 'burbs. And what a variety! Everything from a closet sized 2-bed with a flower pot for a garden going for a cool million to a 5-bed 2500sqft cookie cutter with all mod cons going for $350k a mile away. I'm lucky: I don't commute, working from home. The wife is a CC RN so while she has a current place of employment, she does have the possibility of a transfer elsewhere. And given that her hours are generally 7am to 7:30pm, quite often that misses the worst of the traffic too. So our main issue is schools - and again, there is whole gamut from those rated 2-3 on average in one city with 9-10 in the next city over.

Huge choice with so many variables!

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Geoff M.

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RRRICH
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Thanks everybody!!! After reading your ideas and looking on line, about the best I can do is a small room at the Hotel Indigo for $170/nt plus tax. When I first booked it, I thought I was getting it for $130/nt, but then when the confirmation came up, I saw that I had the wrong date!! I had me down for January 27, not June 16!! ("Senior moment?") So I changed it.

Indigo appears from Google Earth to be within a block of Santa Barbara AMTRAK -- is that right, Frank? I could probably walk from the station, eh? I'm getting one of the smallest rooms they have (a "compact room"), but I'll only be there from 6 PM Monday evening or so (if the CS is on time!) until 9 AM the next morning, when I catch #774 to LAX, so I don't need a fancy all-amenities included room. I may change my Surfliner reservation to a later departure, since the SWC doesn't leave LAX until 6:15 PM. If I am successful in changing that, I may have time to check out the famous Santa Barbara Beach in the AM before I leave!

Funny, but after I booked Hotel Indigo in Santa Barbara on line, I looked at the Intellicast weather site, then I logged into Train Web. On both the Intellicast site and on Train Web, an ad appeared for "Hotel Indigo" -- in New Orleans!! I guess Big Brother is watching all of our web activity after all, eh?

By the way, speaking of New Orleans, I have already booked a room at the downtown Holiday Inn there for June 20 -- a hotel I have stayed at several times, and have found to be quite adequate.

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sbalax
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Rich--

The Hotel Indigo is DIRECTLY across the tracks from the station. For years it was a sort of budget hotel that appealed to European travelers on a budget -- shared baths, etc. About a year ago investors bought it and upgraded it to "Boutique" status. I don't know anyone who has stayed there but you should be able to see and feel some trains as they rumble by in the night.

YES, try to get a later Surfliner. You could easily walk to the beach for breakfast. My first choice would be the Shoreline Cafe -- walk down State Street to Cabrillo Blvd and turn right. Walk along the beach until you pass the Marina and continue through the parking lot to the restaurant. It doesn't look like much but you can sit ON the sand if you want. Second choice would be the original Sambo's Pancake House -- the only one left and still owned by the original family. Same directions but on the land side of Cabrillo and just before the Marina. Third choice would be Moby Dick out on the wharf. Breakfast is the only meal I would recommend there. Fourth choice would be East Beach Grill. Turn LEFT on Cabrillo and walk to the Cabrillo Bath House. The restaurant is downstairs on the beach.

I hope that helps.

Frank in clear and sunny SBA

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Gilbert B Norman
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Rich, after my one and only stay at an Indigo, you will be feeling Blue.

That is an Intercontinental brand think thinks they can emulate Starwood's 'W' on the cheap.

How did I end up staying at a place like that? Well, it was during '12 visiting my Indianapolis friends for Thanx. It seemed that the Express in Fishers IN had suddenly left the chain to become a Baymont, but the Indigo X the street had now become the Express - don't see where the market in suburban Indy was for such a brand. Nevertheless, the Indigo motif was still in place. I remember the desk girl saying to me they changed brands because Indigo required both a bar and a full service restaurant. She said they could never keep a bartender because no tips and the full service restaurant often served 'Zero' Dinners.

Well, I don't stay there anymore; now use a Hampton closer to my friends home.

Finally RICH, best way to get rid of Big Brother is to do a Tools/Delete Browsing History. You will have to re login at all sites such as here, but you will feel a little less spied upon. Somehow, I think I will get hit on by Indigo myself after I post this.

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DonNadeau
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Thanks, Frank. Have you seen this never implemented plan for LAX?

http://www.phaidon.com/agenda/architecture/articles/2013/january/17/new-show-uncovers-la-has-it-might-have-been/

For others reading this, Frank's father's involvement in the design of the iconic "Jet Age" LAX, was a very big deal. Sadly, the brilliance of the design has been diminished in recent years by the pressure to add ever more flights with their resulting overcrowding.

Geoff, I don't envy you. This is not an easy time to jump into the So Cal real estate market. Your credit situation also comes up trans-border Canada/USA. You would think in this supposedly interconnected world that the same companies doing business in different countries would communicate.

If your budget permits, consider the Las Virgenes Unified School District in the far western portion of LA County. I'll let you research its academic reputation. Its location with easy access to fine beaches such as Zuma and the Santa Monica National Recreation Area is ideal for children.

Rich, I hope that you take that later train.

When Santa Barbara was flattened by a major earthquake in the 1920's, the townspeople decided to build something really special and to have the architectural restrictions in place to keep it that way.

Walk north on State Street to the downtown area and experience the best city center in any major town in North America. Note the gardens around buildings and the style of these commercial properties. Those attributes are no accident.

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@DonNadeau

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Geoff Mayo
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Ah, Calabasas. Certainly a nice area, and we do have relatives in Tarzana who would love for us to be nearby. But the traffic on the 101! Thanks Don though, we'll add it to the list.

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Geoff M.

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RRRICH
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Thanks, Frank & Don -- breakfast on the beach sounds like a GREAT idea!!! In looking at my current tt, the next train after Surfliner #774 is #784, leaving SBA at 2:03 PM with a 4:55 arrival at LAUPT, and the SWC departs at 6:15. Of course, that is from the July 2013 tt, the latest one I have -- it's definitely doable, as I don't believe there are many "issues" with the Surfliners' OTP short of a major earthquake, fire, or accident. I do wish there was a "noon-ish" Surfliner from SBA to LAX, but apparently there is not.

I don't worry about feeling "blue," Gil -- the Indigo sounds fine for me, especially since it has apparently been somewhat "upgraded" recently, as Frank says. My hotel preferences are likely "not quite as" sophisticated as yours are!!

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sbalax
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Don--

Thanks for the link. I'd seen some of that in an article in the LA Times. I have a wonderful rendering of LAX as it was when it opened. All "Satellite" boarding areas connected by tunnels. A few of those still exist and are open to the public. There is one between Terminal 5 and 6. (The story my father told was that Bob Six of Continental fame INSISTED that they be in that terminal.)

Rich--

It's a great location except for the train noise. I hadn't realized it was part of a chain.

Frank in sunny and warm SBA where we are on Extreme Fire Watch.

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