We recently stayed here to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, and had a great stay. It's the attention to details which made this place stand out.

LOCATION: is a semi residential area, which is about a 5-10 minute walk to State Street shopping and restaurants. Parking is in a small lot underneath the main part of the building.

STAFF: The front desk staff was among the best I've dealt with. They were polite, friendly and helpful, but not overly intrusive.

We worked with Christine the most- she helped with everything from restaurant advice to helping with the internet connection in our room. I wish I remembered the names of some of the other staff as well, as they were just as helpful.

For example, one morning I was trying to carry two coffee cups back to the room- I had some difficulty opening the door in the main lobby area. One of the staff came out from behind the desk to help me open the door. It was a simple gesture, but much appreciated.

ROOM: When we first entered our room after check in, classical music was playing on the clock radio, which was a nice touch. The bed was extremely comfortable, and the bathtub was large and deep, with a separate shower adjacent. The TV is a flat screen, with a DVD player. DVDs are available at the front desk for no additional fees, and they also offered free popcorn as well. No problems with the cleanliness of the room- I believe the staff even came in the evening when we were out to close all the curtains, turn the beds down, and leave a couple of chocolates on the bed.

We spent one night in a first floor room outside the courtyard, and there was some issue with noise- a group of people were up early , and their conversation was loud enough to be heard through the door. I have no idea if those people were out in the courtyard, or just outside the door.

FOOD AND DRINK: Continental breakfast was offered in the small dining area. There were muffins and scones, bagels, granola, yogurt, fruit, and quiche. Coffee and juices were also available; specialty coffee items were also available upon request. There is no table service, so you have to flag down one of the kitchen/ dining staff to request it.

Fresh baked chocolate cookies are at the front desk in the afternoon and evening. Wines are available for purchase by the glass and bottle in the early evening- they have a book with descriptions of the wines which was helpful.

ATTENTION TO DETAIL: As I mentioned, the attention to detail was impressive. In the evening, candles are lit in the main courtyard. Newspapers are in the lobby, and I think there was a book of local restaurant menus in the lobby as well. As we were checking out, the staff member offered us bottles of water to take for our drive home.

About one week after our stay, we even got a handwritten card in the mail from the general manager, thanking us for staying at the hotel.

Yes, the Inn of the Spanish Garden is a little on the pricey side, as it seems many Santa Barbara hotels are. (We also considered either the Four Seasons or San Ysidro Ranch which were significantly more expensive.) And the positive reviews on Trip Advisor may make for elevated (and possibly unrealistic) expectations for some.

However this hotel easily met our needs for location, comfort, and customer service.

Great stay this week. Really no complaints - and I am picky! I based my reservtaion on all the positive Trip Advisor reviews, along with the usual self-promotion on the hotels web site. Pricey - but you won't be dissapointed.

We stayed for a one night romantic getaway. We had a beautifully appointed room with a fireplace, huge sunken bath tub, great shower. There was a sitting area in front of the fireplace and comfy chairs. There was a dvd player, cd player for music and a nice flat screen tv. The front desk help was great with a very nice recommendation for dinner complete with a pre printed map with walking directions. They have menus for all the local restaurants at the front desk along with popcorn and movies to borrow at no charge for in room viewing.

Breakfast was very nice in the morning. They have a nice covered exercise area by the pool.

All in all a very beautiful, serene place to stay and we will definitely return.

This is one of the most pleasant and all-round enjoyable places I have stayed in, where everything seamlessly worked towards ensuring a relaxing, comfortable and enjoyable stay. From the quality of the reception, to room standard and general ambience just made you want to stay longer.

To be recommended for that special occasion, enjoying the best that California has to offer.