The Polite Traveler

  Dear Polite Traveler, If you’ve read my review on this Hilton you know we needed a break, as many do, from the stress of last year.  So, we traveled eight hours from our home in Northern California to stay in the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.  And it is indeed  beachfront .  Pacific Ocean breezes soothed me into a calm I’m still enjoying.  Friendly faces awaited us at the extremely busy registration desk.   Not surprising since it was after 4 O’clock.   Since we’re Honors Members a lovely young person offered us the typical room upgrade and handed us bottles of water and drink coupons. Note The Daily $30 Resort Charge includes internet access for 2 devices, 2-hour bicycle rental; a glass of house wine (2 adults), 2 bottles of water available daily at front desk and a 20% discount on Spa services and tennis clinics. Room #491 Bougainvillea Building There are eight buildings full of rooms in this complex.   We were ass...

  Dear Polite Travelers, Lucky us.   With a credit card we use, we receive free nights each year at Hilton Properties, which is fortunate as we are Hilton Diamond Honors Members.   These nights can be used at any Hilton property.   So, as the pandemic waned here in California, we decided to hit the road and travel south to Santa Barbara, also known as the American Riviera.    Once here, we stayed three nights in the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.   ( Review ) Three nights doesn’t offer much time to offer you, my polite travelers, a vast amount of information.   I do, however, have some.   Here’s what I found. The Roundhouse Since we stayed for so few days, we never ate at the main breakfast restaurant , The Roundhouse.   I did, however, check the menu.   Basically, it was what one would find in a typical coffee house, minus the substantial amounts.   Peeking inside, I was surprised to find very few takin...

  A Conundrum of Contrasts Dear Polite Traveler, While breathtakingly beautiful grounds and impeccably designed interiors, I wouldn’t call this a “luxury” resort that should demand a premium daily rate.   Still, this is one of the few large hotels in Santa Barbara, CA, directly across the street from the Pacific Ocean in what is called “The American Riviera . ”   So here begins my explanation of why this hotel confuses me.  ( Video : Santa Barbara) The Pluses Take a deep breath, you have arrived in the land of Aww.... Damn straight, this is a beautiful place.   The grounds are massive, green and, well, just about all colors blended into a mosaic of California’s best.   The jasmine perfumes the air as the bougainvillea tantalizes the eyes.   Those are also two names of the eight buildings. While strolling through the well-manicured gardens , a stunning vision of the deep-blue Pacific Ocean peaks through the buildings to remind me of why we’...