Phuong N.
Yelp
This is going to be a long review, so brace yourself.
TL, DR: amazing place to stay, staff is friendly and supportive; rooms are spacious, nice outdoor. No issue so far post-checkout.
Tip 1: Know that they have a cut-off for checking in at 11 PM. So, if you are running late, give them a call in advance to arrange for staff to be on-site to welcome you.
Tip 2: Check with staff about consuming alcohol in the room. Their policy states not to consume alcohol on-site, but they offer alcohol in the room. This is conflicting. So, check with staff to see if you can drink your brought wine in the room.
Tip 3: Bicycles are free to use; check with the front desk. Electric bicycles are not cost by the hour.
PARKING
They have a small parking in the front. It should not be as crowded as Saturday if you arrive on Friday night. On Saturday, it is almost packed around check-in time. If there is no more parking space, give them a call, and they will direct you to their parking in the back.
They will ask for your car information (make and model) at check-in, or you can request a parking pass instead to put on the dashboard.
CHECK-IN
The check-in office is right in the middle, with the pool and breakfast place next. Upon entering the office, I can see a spacious but cozy waiting room with a sofa, fireplace, and Christmas tree. Their marketplace next to the office is smaller than what I saw in the photo on their website, mostly filled with local products. I am informed that a $100 hold will be placed in my account and released at the end of my stay.
I saw another review about being double charged for the stay, so I was super cautious when I received the pre-check-in email and decided not to complete it because they asked me to enter my credit card again. Could this be the reason? I am not sure. But so far, I have not seen my charges being doubled.
ROOMS
I book two deluxe rooms, and they are super spacious. Yet, the two rooms are completely different in their structure and interior decoration. My parents' room has a full-size fridge and small coffee table, while mine has a mini fridge and no coffee table. This is new and exciting because it will be a different stay experience depending on which room you get. Though, my two rooms have a gas fireplace, huge TV (I saw a comment talking about small TVs, and I was like, you called this small?), a super cozy bed, outstanding bathroom with local products that are great (according to my mom, who is now totally into their hair conditioner - and they have it for sale for $25 at the marketplace next to the office). They also stock masks and wipes in the bathroom for guests to use, which we take advantage of.
The only downside of our rooms is the air conditioners. They blow directly to our bed, and we cannot adjust the direction up to the ceiling. We have to use the decorative pillow to redirect a portion of it away from our beds.
Back to the wet bar, it is a serious wet bar. Unlike hotels I have been to where they give you a coffee machine, coffee pods, tea bags, and call it done, this place stocks their wet bars with alcohol, ice maker, glasses, and tools for cocktails. But I am like, don't you say that you prohibit guests from consuming alcohol on-site, as stated on your website and small booklet? At this point, I realize (and may not be true, so don't quote me) that we can consume the drink in the room, but not outside. Nevertheless, we decide not to have alcohol, just in case we get fined. But I would recommend you check it with staff next time to understand their policy because it is really conflicting after knowing that they offer alcohol in the room. Note that the alcohol bottles will cost you and not for free. The only free things at the wet bar are coffee and tea bags.
BREAKFAST
Their continental breakfast is filled with the basis: oat milk, cereal, milk, yogurt, toasts, eggs, jam, honey, fruits, coffee, and tea bags. Their strawberry jam is delicious, and I highly recommend trying it. They also have two pitchers of juice if you are not into coffee and tea for breakfast. The dining room is somewhat small (three tables, each with three chairs), but they have an outdoor dining area right outside, on the deck, though it's too cold to sit there. Decent breakfast, as you can expect from any continental breakfast place.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
All the pillows and mattresses for outdoor seating/daybeds are put away in the morning for washing on Saturday and returned in the evening. Their bicycles are free to use, just need to talk to the front desk, but the electric ones come with a fee.
CONCLUSION
This place is amazing and worth staying when visiting Solvang/Santa Ynez. The staff is super friendly and responsive.