The Upham Hotel & Country House (Santa Barbara, USA)

Staff are courteous and charming from arrival to departure.

This is a quaint venue with lots of character and charm. (Please note: children are not allowed in the Country House.) Lovely architecture and stunning from the outside. Beautiful gardens and patio areas with chairs and tables are arranged throughout the grounds for reading, lounging and enjoying snacks or cocktails. Some rooms are set up around a courtyard area, which is serene for viewing, but not as private as the back rooms. A stroll away from many attractions of downtown Santa Barbara such as the Public Market and Louie's right next door. Rooms are nicely-equipped with bathrobes, fireplaces and excellent air conditioning.

The lovely continental breakfast is served up daily on the porch with a wider variation of choices than most hotels' complimentary options. Stop in during the afternoon for the wine and cheese, and don't miss cookies and milk in the evening - all favorites with most guests. There are plenty of restaurants in walking distance for more hearty lunches and dinners, such as Louie's which is conveniently right on the grounds.

Some felt the price for the provisions offered was too high, as their assigned units were unlike those depicted on the hotel website. Rooms were much smaller and the amenities weren't of the same quality.

If you're wearing comfortable shoes, you can easily walk downtown; otherwise, consider a cab.

Doorknobs fall off in your hand, toilets overflow while showering and some areas smell musty. Bathrooms were too small and parking was quite limited during busy times, which meant they had to park on the street or in the parking lot of a school around back - not ideal.