Extremely Dog-friendly

They rolled out the red carpet for my dog here. They really do have three dog-friendly patios. The food is amazing--great place for a fine-dining date, but there's also a lively bar atmosphere. When we were there, there was live music. The hostess went out of her way to accommodate our dog.

Jun. 18, 2023

Great Location

I was pleasantly surprised by the Motel 6. It is less than a block from Santa Barbara's East and West beaches. While dogs aren't allowed on those beaches, there are multiuse paths right beside the beach where we were able to walk our dog (and run in the morning). The room was very efficiently designed. Even though it was small the way they had furnished it made it feel big enough for two of us and our dog. The room was modern and everything felt clean. I appreciated the bright colors, hardwood floors and the shelves and drawers that actually made the space enough. There are no coffee pots in the room, but we brought our own. The pool closes at dark. You have to ask for housekeeping if you want it during your stay (which is fine, but important to know). They did a good job when they came.

Jun. 18, 2023

Spacious and great Location

I've stayed here at least six times, maybe more. The hotel has undergone a renovation over the past few years. The rooms are large with a bit of a living space next to the bed space. They're also well-equipped with a tiny kitchen sink/refrigerator counter area. The bathrooms are nice, with spa-jet tubs available. They recently redid the pool area and it looks nice. The jacuzzi works well. The pool is actually heated. They recently expanded parking, which took away from the area in which you can walk your dog. That is the one downside. However, there is a dog park just a few freeway exits away.

The fitness center could use a slight upgrade for the running equipment. Also, I wish breakfast were available just a bit earlier, though you can usually grab coffee before it opens. This is an incredibly convenient location, perfect if you're heading into L.A. or Orange County and don't want to spend a fortune on the hotel. They do charge a bit more for large dogs, but what's nice is that the fee is a per-stay fee, not a per-day fee.

Jun. 18, 2023

Dog-friendly as promised

This is definitely a budget hotel, but for the price (I paid $68), the value was very good. There was not one but TWO dog relief areas, which was super convenient. The room was recently redesigned to be stylish albeit bare bones. The woman at the front desk was friendly, helpful and professional. There was a snafu with my room but she resolved it quickly and successfully. Before that, and without my asking for it, she offered to preemptively move me from the 2nd floor room to a 1st floor room, which I did need because my dog is older and doesn't do stairs. If you need a 1st-floor dog-friendly room, be sure to state that in the special requests.

The location is excellent--just off the 8 and close to numerous restaurants including Chipotle, Del Taco, the Black Bear, McDonald's and Starbucks. It's right next to a Denny's and across the street from the mall. The room has the amenities you'd expect from a budget motel (soap bars instead of liquid shampoos, etc.). But they weren't stingy with the towels. The shower was clean. A laundry room seemed to be available. There was a convenient table in the room at which to eat. This is at Exit 2. Exit 1 has a park where we bring our dog and there are picnic tables there. This was way better than expected for the price--an affordable place to stop for the night if you're on the road.

Jun. 14, 2022

Best dog beach in San Diego

We brought our dog here every year for his annual beach vacation for years and he absolutely loved it. It's a great place to play fetch with your dog. Just the right level of waves where they can run into the water a ways and it's still shallow. One of the best parts about this beach is its location in a pedestrian-friendly beach town with many restaurants and two dog-friendly hotels in walking distance. Come out early in the morning if you want to have most of the beach to yourself for a few hours.

May. 31, 2021

Best dog beach ever

This is the best dog beach I've found so far. It's clean, safe and not too busy (there isn't much parking and it's not really walkable unless you live in the area). The dogs (and people) were all well-behaved. You have the option of an off-leash area or a much longer distance where on-leash dogs are welcome. Both areas are shorter in high tide. But generally this was far more expansive than other dog beaches I've been to. Also nice, it was a "normal" beach with shallow waves like you'd expect and the ability to wade in--not a deep beach that required swimming. Lots of people seemed to be there for the popular beachfront restaurant. It also welcomed our dog, though it took us several days of vacationing to finally land a (dog-friendly) table with no wait. But it was worth it.

May. 31, 2021

They welcomed my dog!

This diner is great if you're looking for low-key breakfast or lunch with your dog. The owner herself has come out to wait on us and she was always kind and welcoming to my dog. 5 bones for dog-friendliness. They also have a nice espresso bar.

May. 31, 2021