Moxy Santa Barbara

The tiny room was overpriced and unattractive, especially with the ceiling in the hallway with a tarp to prevent it from dropping unto the floor. Have never paid so much for so little.

We initially booked this hotel for its central location, walkable to the beach and State street. The room we got was very small, but it had a bunk bed, and my daughter absolutely loved it. It was a whole new adventure for her sleeping on a bunk bed. Mattresses are super comfy actually. The pool area is very pleasant with various games for entertainment . The front desk personal is so nice and friendly. It’s one of the places you start liking as you go.

I am a loyal Marriott rewards member but the word disappointed doesn't even begin to cover it. This is not a hotel. It should be classified as a motel or even a hostel. The marketing pictures are very misleading and the cost doesn't match the quality. Here's why: At check-in we learned that the 'Waterman' is being converted into a 'Moxy' Hotel. I recognize it's in a college town but I wasn't prepared for the dorm-like vibe they are leaning into. Once you get past the construction zone that consumed the first floor/main entrance, the rooms are very juvenile and the walls are paper thin. I am honestly in shock that they feel it's appropriate to charge $500 for a one-night stay. There is no separation between the hallway and your room - suffice to say, you hear everything outside your door. EVERYTHING. The bathroom door is frosted glass so there is zero to no privacy. There was a mold-rot-type smell in the bathroom that would not go away. This may have something to do with the fact that the sink didn't drain and the toilet is essentially in the shower. So if you happen to shower and want to use the toilet, it's a wet sloppy mess. This place is false advertising at its finest. I will never come back and am honestly feel like we were misled and ripped off. Expecting customers to pay a 5-star rate while under construction doesn't reconcile with me as a good business practice. Shame on you Marriott.

There were many rooms available the day of checkout, and yet the staff refused to accommodate a late checkout for our poolside room. My lowly Gold status at Marriott (having been platinum & titanium for 10 years prior) did not guaranteed late checkout, but I have literally never been denied late checkout at any other Marriott. They said they "could only try to accommodate it for my status" at the desk, but then denied the request in spite of discounted rooms being available on Hotel tonight - which clearly implies low occupancy for the night. Stay away from the nightmare of customer service you will get at this establishment!

We loved our stay at the Waterman! All of the staff we met were super friendly and personable, and the location was perfect for walking to other places in Santa Barbara. The hotel is in the Funk Zone neighborhood, which has the cutest restaurants, cafes, and wineries. If you're looking for a more local, quieter feel than the more crowded restaurants on State street, check out Funk Zone! We could also walk to the beach and to the pier which we appreciated. We were able to use the hotel's bikes for free for an hour and enjoyed biking along the coast and exploring the beaches. We celebrated my birthday there, and Jean Luc made me feel super special. Jean Luc, Kathleen, and Julie were all so friendly and recommended great places to check out in the area! We loved the quiet feel of the hotel, and how it never felt crowded. The pool area was really nice and we enjoyed using the communal kitchen in the lobby area. The only downside to this hotel is the size of the rooms. They are small, including the bathroom, so if you are expecting a resort with big rooms and a ton of amenities, this isn't the place for you. But if location and excellent service are high on your list where you plan on being out of the room for most of your stay, then Waterman is a great place to stay.

This is a very basic hotel pretending to be a boutique property. The rooms are small and spartan, the amenities are minimal. We felt that we were overpaying at $275/night, and then the construction noise started. Without the noise this hotel is worth maybe $150/night. With the noise, even that is a stretch. The walls are paper thin, so even on the morning when there wasn't construction we were woken up by housekeeping staff cleaning the room across the hall. They were just going about their business and quieted down when I asked, so no complaint about the staff, but the sounds seemed to be amplified through the walls. We were also treated to the sound of the television from the neighboring room, as well as a cell phone alarm that sounded close enough I was convinced it was my own. The fact they have the gall to charge $30/night for parking is pretty offensive. They have only a small lot out front that's carved out of a public lot. This property is currently listed as a Category 6 for Bonvoy, and I understand that it will be converted to a Moxy. This hotel was less well appointed than most lower tier Bonvoy properties I've staid at. Moxy isn't my favorite brand, but this seems even below those standards. When I was offered either points or a food & bev credit due to my status, it turned out that the credit applied only to their little market which sold water, soda, chips, etc. How is that even a benefit? Truly the two things this place had going for it are location and a comfortable bed.