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Santa Barbara Lodging

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MONTECITO

San Ysidro Ranch

A standout among luxury Santa Barbara hotels and an ultimate romantic hideaway for over a century, “The Ranch” hosted the wedding of Vivien Leigh and Sir Laurence Olivier, and was the honeymoon retreat for John and Jackie Kennedy. There are 41 individually decorated private cottages and suites nestled along a creek and tree-lined paths. Among the amenities are outdoor hot tubs and rain showers on private patios, stone fireplaces, hand-selected antique furnishings and fine linens, pool, fitness center and in-room personalized spa services. The Ranch also hosts 2 world-class restaurants.1-805-565-1700

Rosewood Miramar Beach

A Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Resort, and recipient of numerous additional prestigious awards, Rosewood Miramar Beach is the reimagined and newly-constructed incarnation of Montecito’s much-loved “Miramar by the Sea.” Ultra-luxury guestrooms, specialty and beachfront suites, and multi-bedroom bungalows, as well as formal and informal dining, and a selection of wellness facilities comprise the hotel and resort.1-805-900-8388

Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore

Fondly referred to by locals and guests simply as “The Biltmore” since its opening in 1927, the pinnacle of classic hotel & resort luxury at beautiful Butterfly Beach in prestigious Montecito is currently closed until further notice. It is known for its sophisticated blend of Old World charm and world-renowned Four Seasons service and amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness facility, 11 room spa, tennis courts, 2 gourmet restaurants and guest privileges at the adjacent legendary Coral Casino Beach & Cabana Club. [Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore is closed until further notice.] 1-805-569-2742

Montecito Inn

Built by cinema legend Charlie Chaplin in 1928 as a retreat for his friends, today the inn welcomes guests from around the world who enjoy its relaxed sophistication. Located mere steps from the discriminating shops and restaurants of Montecito’s popular Coast Village Road and just two blocks from breathtaking Butterfly Beach, the inn is also home to the popular Montecito Café. 1-800-843-2017

SANTA BARBARA

El Encanto

Iconic El Encanto, A Belmond (formerly Orient Express) Hotel, opened in 1918 and, even today, reflects its original 1920s style, although substantially upgraded to include modern artistry and conveniences. This luxe hotel is perched above the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara’s Riviera district and showcases seven acres of lush, landscaped gardens, as well as spectacular ocean views. The refined, elegant guest rooms feature marble bathrooms and heated stone floors, with private outdoor space and fireplaces in many of the property’s guest suites. Amenities include an infinity pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full-service spa, and a posh on-site restaurant serving California Coastal cuisine, much of which is locally sourced. 1-805-845-5800

Canary Hotel

The only full-service luxury lodging among downtown Santa Barbara hotels. Rooftop pool, Jacuzzi and lounge; gourmet yet comfortable restaurant & bar; in-room spas and adjacent fitness facility; walk to shopping, dining and all downtown amenities.1-805-884-0300

Upham Hotel & Country House

A 58-room historic landmark, built in 1871, combining the intimacy of a bed & breakfast inn with the amenities of fine Santa Barbara hotesl. Renowned Louie’s Restaurant on-site; a short walk or ride to all that downtown Santa Barbara has to offer. 1-800-727-0876

Hotel Milo

A small, charming standout among beachfront Santa Barbara hotels, offering expansive, lush garden courtyards; 2 pools with private poolside cabanas; in-room spa service; convenience to the Santa Barbara Harbor, Stearn’s Wharf and numerous beachfront restaurants. Just a few blocks to downtown Santa Barbara. 1-805-965-4577

Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

A sprawling 24-acre beachfront resort hotel just ½ mile from downtown Santa Barbara and Montecito. Accommodations and amenities appropriate for an intimate getaway, family vacation, corporate retreat or convention. 1-805-564-4333

Palihouse

Intimate luxury boutique hotel located just a few blocks from downtown Santa Barbara in the city’s historic Presidio District. Lush gardens with fountains, in-room fireplaces and luxurious linens and baths. 1-805-564-4700

Simpson House Inn

North America’s only AAA Five Diamond-rated bed & breakfast inn. Nestled on an acre of English gardens and built as a private estate in 1874, the inn is just blocks from the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. Featuring 15 rooms, suites and cottages; fireplaces; personalized in-room spa services; guest privileges at Santa Barbara Athletic Club; gourmet breakfasts, wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres, afternoon tea and dessert buffet. 1-800-676-1280

Villa Rosa Inn

Built in 1931, this Spanish-Colonial Revival gem has been completely and tastefully renovated as one of Santa Barbara’s finest inns. Its 18 individually unique guest rooms – some featuring fireplaces — each offer a lovely view of the ocean, harbor, mountains or courtyard. 1-805-966-0851

Harbor View Inn

A luxury beachfront boutique resort hotel near Stearn’s Wharf and the Santa Barbara Harbor. Among the amenities are an ocean view pool with full food and beverage service and an adjacent fitness center, a full-service spa, and Eladio’s Restaurant. 1-800-755-0222

Santa Barbara Hotel Group

A one-stop shop for 5 charming inns.

SUMMERLAND

Inn On Summer Hill

An intimate retreat for over two decades, this cozy Craftsman style bed & breakfast shares historic Summerland’s Lillie Avenue with charming antique shops, home furnishings boutiques, a winery tasting room and an eclectic mix of small dining establishments – from a classic California beach town burger stand, to a chic French patisserie and café. Within walking distance to the beach, just 5 minutes from the sophisticated amenities of adjacent Montecito and 10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, the inn features ocean views from every cozy room, a relaxing spa and more. 1-800-845-5566

For additional lodging suggestions, rates and reservations, please click here.

GOLETA

Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Frequently a celebrity hideaway and resting on nearly 80 beachfront acres, this luxury Mediterranean village-style resort hotel is 15-20 minutes north of Santa Barbara. It offers 311 rooms, 49 suites, multiple pools and restaurants, a world-class spa, tennis and the well-known Sandpiper golf course. 1-805-968-0100




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Client Reviews

“It was an emotional experience selling our mother’s home in Montecito that we all loved so much but Cristal made the process easier on our whole family by guiding us through the transaction every step of the way. She knows the market so well and everything she recommended was on point including the asking price, painting, and staging the home, which looked beautiful and helped the buyer envision her new home. We sold it the first day it hit the market with an offer above asking! Cristal did an incredible job communicating with us and the buyer to ensure that the transaction would run smoothly. We highly recommend using Cristal, she was a pleasure to work with! ”

- J & A

“Cristal is a pleasure to work with! Her knowledge of the local real estate market coupled with her amazing listening skills resulted in her showing us an array of homes that were all excellent choices. Her low-pressure patient attitude made us feel extremely comfortable with the whole process. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

- M.F.

“Cristal Clarke is #1 in her field - and you don't become #1 by luck. Cristal works harder, and longer, and with more charm and patience than any real estate agent I have ever worked with in the past; her calendar has no weekend, her days have no clocks, her only concern is selling your property as soon as possible and for the best price on the market. Am I a fan? You bet!”

- P.B.

“We have used Cristal now several times and cannot express how grateful we are for her expertise, dedication, and unwavering support throughout the entire home-buying process. Cristal is knowledgeable, patient and attentive. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and she consistently went above and beyond to provide us with all the information and resources we needed to make informed decisions. Cristal is a skillful negotiator and advocate. She can navigate complex negotiations with professionalism and grace and felt like a true partner to us in the home-buying process. Cristal has a genuine passion for real estate and a deep commitment to her clients' satisfaction. I cannot speak highly enough of Cristal and her exceptional service. She is a true expert in her field and her dedication to excellence, combined with unwavering support is the reason we choose to work with her for all our real estate buying needs.”

- T.C.

“Cristal is a top-notch realtor who sold my home before it ever went on the market. I had two competing offers that enabled me to get top dollar for my home. Not only is Cristal superb but her team is extraordinary. I cannot say enough about Cristal and her team. They are simply phenomenal, the consummate professionals, who took care of every possible detail, making the sale and transition period, smooth from our end. They are also lovely, caring people, who knew all the right professionals, to get the job done. Thank you, everyone!”

- D.R.

“I could list lots of cool adjectives to describe Cristal. All good by the way. But, that is not why I or anyone should hire Cristal. My reason for hiring her, which proved to be correct, is very simple. She got the job done. And, she does it time and time again and with zero issues. And, that is why she is one of the top agents in the country. End of subject. ”

- M.A.

“Working with Cristal was a complete pleasure. Cristal was extremely patient with us as we evaluated nearly 2 dozen homes over a span of 2 years. Her knowledge of the market is unmatched. Cristal provided us with exceptional counsel as we evaluated opportunities and negotiated pricing. The closing process was handled thoroughly and efficiently. We could not be happier with our purchase and even more happy to now call Cristal our friend.”

- D.K.

“Cristal Clarke has conducted numerous real estate transactions for me beginning 13 years ago with the purchase of a Lemon Ranch. She has handled both large and small purchases and sales with equal dedication. As a negotiator, you can’t find anyone better. Her transactions are always conducted in the most appropriate and professional manner. Cristal has considerable knowledge of the Santa Barbara market.”

- S.N. Decker Ph.D.

“Living in Europe, we were to say the least, unaccustomed to the nuances of Real Estate acquisition in California and Cristal steered us through the process with absolute professionalism and personal attention to detail at every turn. Her in-depth knowledge of the market place combined with enthusiasm and drive was the only reason we secured the property of our dreams and will be forever grateful. If you are looking for personal discrete and private representation of the highest quality we suggest you look no further than Cristal Clarke.”

- Johan and Paula van den Berg

“Cristal is very straightforward, cheerful, helpful, professional and trustworthy….we felt very lucky to work with her.”

- John and Lacey Williams

“After considering our many choices, we are grateful it was Cristal Clarke of Sotheby’s International who represented the sale of our Montecito cottage. We are familiar with Cristal’s reputation of hard work and dedication to clients, but it was her attention to detail that made our experience so positive. She offered suggestions for staging the property, worked in harmony with potential buyers and was even able to secure back up offers. The sale of our cottage was completed much sooner than we expected, due in great part to Cristal’s professional skills and support. We highly recommend Cristal as a first choice for anyone needing representation with real estate.”

- Michael & Nancy Lee

“Our experience in working with Cristal Clarke resulted in the successful and discrete acquisition of a property which was not yet on the open market. Her knowledge of the Montecito/Santa Barbara area and vast expertise blended with her passion for real estate and architecture, provided us with the very highest level of professionalism and personalized services. Cristal exhibited a rare combination of excellent communications, attention to detail, creativity and patience.”

- Richard and Catherine Frinier

“Cristal really breaks the mold. She knows every nook and cranny of this real estate market, understands value, and follows up on everything, all the time. She was incredibly patient with our two year quest to find the perfect house. Every house hunting trip from across the country was well planned, and our time was never wasted. On top of her professionalism and expertise, she is delightful to spend time with. We are thrilled with the home we purchased, and grateful to Cristal for so wisely advising us through this process, right through to the close and beyond.”

- Laurie Siegel

“We met Cristal first in the course of renting a winter home (for three years), then buying a house using her as our agent. She was amazingly good at listening to our wants and showing us homes that fit our needs. Her mastery of the paperwork was perfect. Most importantly, there was never a situation where we doubted her straightforwardness or integrity. If we do another real estate transaction in Montecito (which I doubt, we’re happy with what we purchased), without question we’d use Cristal again.”

- Ken Saffir

“Susan and I just want to thank you for your efforts in the sale of our home. You are really quite amazing. Your competence, persistence, optimism and humor made the entire process effortless. Every problem that arose, you somehow fixed; any obstacle, you overcame. We have bought and sold many homes. It has never been such a painless and enjoyable process!”

- Michael & Susan Marquart

“A little something about “our” realtor, Cristal Clarke. My wife and I came to Santa Barbara about fifteen years ago looking for a seasonal home from which to enjoy the weather and amenities of the central coast. Being in the real estate business myself I was familiar with agents and brokers so entered the market with open eyes. We “flipped” a few houses in the early years, dealing with various agents and finally ended up in Montecito. That’s when good fortune put us together with Cristal. To say we were impressed is to put it mildly. Cristal really knows the market. She is familiar with the area, its history and trends. When we have questions about a particular property she either has the answers immediately or gets back to us by phone or email. There is no waiting or wondering with Cristal. She is an agent who is “on top of it.” Her recommendations as to price points, contractors, inspectors and title agents have proven to be exceptional, showing great insight and the highest professional standards. We consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate to say that Cristal Clarke is our realtor and would recommend her services to any serious buyer or seller.”

- Rob & Judi Kelch