Belmond El Encanto

My husband and I stay in very nice hotels and this was definitely one of the best. The rooms are beautiful and very clean and the restaurant is delicious. It has a beautiful feel to it and great view. The service is truly excellent!! I cannot say enough about how wonderful it is!

We stayed at this hotel for one night as a treat to ourselves at the end of a 3.5week road trip in Oregon & California and so glad we did. The pool is simply wonderful - salt water that leaves your skin feeling like you've just had a beauty treatment and the perfect temperature at 85 degrees. We were upgraded to a suite on arrival with the most amazing marble shower and bath. The service from all staff was fantastic - valet, waiters, reception. Food was wonderful. I will dream about returning one day and this has inspired me to look at other Belmond properties closer to home.

This resort has everything we always want--small in scale yet filled with the services and amenities of a large resort. Belmond El Encanto is set in the steep hills of Santa Barbara and overlooks the city all the way to the Pacific Ocean. It's about a 10-15 minute ride to the beach and all the action of the city yet sits in a leafy secluded area in a suburban neighborhood. Our bungalow room was very large and included a separate seating area, dressing area and expansive bathroom. The decor is very elegant transitional style with sumptuous bed linens and furnishings. You can tell that there was a lot of attention to every detail of the room. There was a lot of storage for our clothes, the bathroom was outfitted with lots of thick fluffy towels and luxury bath products. Our room felt very private yet was in the middle of all the action--the laid back, super relaxed action. The layout of the resort made you feel as if you were on the compound of well-heeled estate. There were beautiful flower beds everywhere and little twisting walkways of stone and brick. It was truly a world of it's own. The service was exemplary and every staff member I encountered at El Encanto was very friendly, welcoming and courteous, treating us as if we were visiting royalty. The housekeepers kept our room spotless twice a day. The El Encanto is a well-run machine that can be credited to its incredible staff. You can tell that they take pride in their work and in keeping their guests happy. Since the weather was so perfect during our stay, we spent some time at the beautiful infinity pool which had a stunning overlook as does the outdoor dining space off of the beautifully appointed lobby. The pool was overseen by a few pool attendants who greeted you at the pool and helped you get settled into your chaise with a icy cold water and extra towels. We had breakfast once at the resort which was a little pricey but the outdoor setting was gorgeous. I had the best stay at the Belmond El Encanto. It was truly sad to leave and I can't wait to stay there again. Heaven on earth. I have absolutely nothing negative to report. Perfection. Definitely try the non-alcoholic Blueberry mojito!

Everything about this place says that they put thought into it. The rooms work so well, the pool is spectacular, and the dining experience is amazing. Our only complaint was too many kids at the pool. If you don't like kids or you're looking for a getaway where there will be zero distractions, you might want to look elsewhere. But I don't think you'll find a better spot in Santa Barbara.

Belmond El Encanto has the most engaging, warm staff. From the welcoming smiles of the valets and efficiency and sweetness of the housekeeping team, we felt very well cared for. They provided the most flawless in-room dining experience we have ever had--it was perfect in every way. My son enjoyed the lily pond and was given pellets to feed the fish and turtles. Small touches from the Belmond El Encanto bookmark that was placed in my son's book to the complimentary choux choux treats from the pastry department make this an exceptional property to visit.