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May 2024 by Sabba Keynejad
I had a really great time here. Check in was really smooth and I enjoyed the welcome cocktail. The staff were super nice and the rooms, although small were really comfortable.
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May 2024 by Paul Negrete
Do not recommend. No central HVAC it’s a small split ac in the room that did not work. Room was at 78 degrees and was humid at night. Difficult to get any sleep. There was no accommodations made just brushed off by staff. This was a huge disappointment.
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April 2024 by Andrea Molero
The hotel has a good location and the facilities are nice but the customer service was a bit strange.
We arrived on Saturday at 1pm and we wanted to check in early and they told us that it was not possible, which we understood and returned a few hours later at 4pm as they said. I wanted to use the pool but that Saturday was cloudy and cold. On Sunday it was still cloudy during the morning but it was going to be sunny around 11 am and we asked if we could check out a little later, like 1 or 2 pm maximum. So I could enjoy the pool for a bit and then take a bath. My husband has Gold status at Marriott (having been platinum & titanium for 10 years prior) we have never had a negative response to such a request. They explained to us that all the rooms were already fully occupied and that we could not check out late which was disappointing but we understood it at the time. Then we checked online and they had plenty rooms available!! We asked again and her rude response was that I could use the pool after 12 but I wouldn't have access to the room. I asked her if they had outdoor showers or a place where I could take a quick shower and change my clothes after using the pool and she replied " There are showers on the beach” which was very confusing for me and I don't understand what's helpful about her suggestion to going to a public beach to bathe and change my clothes. Seeing that we got upset because of how uncooperative they were, they told us to leave (it was 10 in the morning) we had every right to be there because that's what we paid for, they weren't doing us any favors, that's how I felt. DO NOT go to this hotel, very unprofessional and not friendly at all, they like to respond sarcastically with a smile on their face.
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April 2024 by Thomas Taggart
There were many rooms available the day of checkout, and yet the staff refused to accommodate a late checkout for our poolside room. My lowly Gold status at Marriott (having been platinum & titanium for 10 years prior) did not guaranteed late checkout, but I have literally never been denied late checkout at any other Marriott. They said they “could only try to accommodate it for my status” at the desk, but then denied the request in spite of discounted rooms being available on Hotel tonight - which clearly implies low occupancy for the night. Stay away from the nightmare of customer service you will get at this establishment!
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April 2024 by Raffi Arabian
Summary: Choose a different hotel. I DONT RECOMMEND!
Let me start by saying I'm a Lifetime Bonvoy customer. I travel over 150 days per year which means I stay in a lot of hotels. The Moxy aka Waterman in Santa Barbara has to be by far one of if not worse experiences I've had at a Bonvoy property. Location was great... But expect to hear the cars going under the 101 on State St. It did not feel like the hotel was insulated well.
At check-in the front desk did not seem interested in welcoming guest. Looks like they were too busy on the computer. Most Bonvoy hotels recognize and acknowledge my Titanium Status, but not this hotel. I was told I received a complimentary upgrade for the room. I really would have hated to see what the room they were originally planning to give me.
I was expecting the room to be small from the description when I booked, but I also booked letting them know I was with a 1year old toddler and would need a crib. The room was so small we could barely squeeze in the pack and play crib they gave us.
We also needed a fridge to put the baby's milk but none available in the room. They did have a communal fridge in the lobby which was pretty big. Beware: they do not clean that fridge. There's a note to put the date of you check out on a postit on the food you put in the fridge. Which is great, but they don't clean out the fridge. I saw and smelled food with dates from a few weeks back. When I told the front desk that there seemed to be some old food there, all they said was "thank you" and did nothing.
The first night in the room was loud from the cars mufflers echoing through the underpass and the room was extremely cold. I thought maybe I had set the AC wrong. The next morning we experienced the contractors opening and slamming the door at the end of the hallway. Our room was at the end of the hallway.
Let's talk about the tiny bathroom, which basically had the toilet in the shower. The shower head was a bit moldy and corroding. Luckily the upgraded room meant we had a door that accessed the pool. The light above the shower was hanging out of its ballast.
The door leading to the pool would jam and open very difficult and when it closed, it would not lock. The pool was very nice and heated. That was nice. After spending the day around Santa Barbara we went back to the room to let the baby take a nap. Even though it was in the mid 60°s and a sunny day in Santa Barbara, the room was a stuffy and hot. The AC was not working. When I called the front desk at 4:15p they told me the maintenance person and the manager already had left for the day so there was nothing they could do other then give me a fan. The front desk was next to useless anytime we needed anything.
I think this hotel needs a lesson in hospitality.
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March 2024 by Zachary Reusing
After years of staying at great MOXY properties around the country (and world), we were really disappointed by The Waterman.
The rooms are FUNKY; don't get me wrong, part of The Moxy's charm is cozy rooms. But other locations do a great job of making cozy (i.e., small) layouts comfortable and efficient. At The Waterman, it's shockingly bad; Large TVs float on the wall to the side of the bed, making it almost impossible to watch (especially for the person on that side). The glass wall (not just the shower door - but the actual wall) of the shower is on hinges, and has to be moved in order to access the toilet. Overall, it's just too weird and uncomfortable.
Additionally, and to our shock, there's no bar. Part of the charm of The Moxy is a great bar and free welcome cocktail. While the front desk at The Waterman were incredibly friendly and offered a welcome canned beer, it's just not the same - so much of The Moxy's appeal is in the communal spaces offered - which The Waterman completely lacks.
In short - don't bother with this spot. There's no shortage of great accommodations in SB, and this - sadly - just isn't one of them.
Rooms: Just too tiny to be comfortable. Poor layout, misused space, and almost unusable bathroom/shower.
Nearby activities: The Funk Zone is well known for great food and modern wineries. We love The Lark, Helena Avenue Bakery, Oku, Pearl Social, and Lucky Penny.
Walkability: This is pretty much The Waterman's only saving grace; it's in the heart of the Funk Zone. So, while there's not much to be excited about at the hotel itself, there's a lot of great dining and entertainment just a few steps away.
Food & drinks: Unlike all other Moxy properties we've visited, this location does NOT offer a bar or food (other than packaged snacks / concessions).
Noteworthy details: Rooms are TINY and difficult to navigate. For a new hotel, amenities - like the pool - feel old and run down.
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February 2024 by Simona Tsinman
The hotel was going under renovation while we stayed there on valentine's day, the problem for me was that the bathroom / shower ( was literally connected) had no lock on the bathroom door, I called the front desk and they told me every room doesn't have a lock on the bathroom door, which I found to be so weird, besides that the room was tiny.
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February 2024 by Jumblo Binley
Moxy's are quirky. This place is no exception. Nice pool, small rooms, friendly staff. Close to lots of fun in Santa Barbara
Nearby activities: State Street is filled with food, drinks, and nightlife. The hotel is right in the Funk Zone, no shortage of wine tasting.
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January 2024 by Angela Spahr
The hotel is in a great location & is also pet-friendly. We have stayed here 2x now due to the location & convenience. The rooms are very small & cozy. The bathroom is a bit odd, you cant use the shower & toilet simultaneously due to the moving glass shower wall. The rooms have an upgraded feel & comfortable beds. The windows do open & give a nice breeze. Both times I have stayed on 2nd floor in King rooms. They did give us 2 tokens at check-in for complimentary drinks & also a card that provided complimentary coffee and breakfast at Helena Ave Bakery. I stay at Marriotts frequently & have earned titanium status. I redeemed my free-night award to stay here and it was totally worth it. I would stay at this hotel for pleasure but not for business. There isn’t a true work-space. Both of my rooms have had a desk but no chair.
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December 2023 by K S
Location is outstanding. Rooms were on the smaller side but not a deal breaker. Just didn't like that one side of the bed is up against the wall. We were on the first floor and it was noisy but not from the street. Not sure what the front desk was doing in the early AM but it was loud enough to wake us up, two nights in a row. Parking on the weekend was a nightmare. We arrived back at the hotel mid afternoon and there was no parking. Was told to park in a 90 minute lot and try again. Apparently non-guests park in hotel parking. There was no signage to let people know not to do this until we asked the front desk where we should park. Then they went out and put signs up to let people know. This was a bit frustrating both days of our stay. We were given a handicap room but didn't know that tell we got to the room. Shower head was extremely low for my 6 foot plus husband. So overall, there was just a general lack of communication from the front desk. I'm glad we tried this hotel but there are so many better options in SB then here that it is doubtful we'll be back.Rooms: On the small side but not bad. Beds are pushed up to the wall so not the most comfortable if you have a significant other. Automatic window shades did not work easily and they certainly did not make the room dark. Our east facing room was very bright very early every morning.Walkability: Great location to walk to the pier or to State Street.
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December 2023 by Kathryn O
Bugs!!!!!!!!This is the worst experience I’ve had at a Marriott hotel by far. When I arrived there was a ton of construction and even though there were about 4 cars in the parking lot they said they couldn’t check me in before the 4 PM check in time. When I checked in the girl said I had been upgraded for being a gold member and would be in one of their queen rooms. I booked the queen room so I’m not sure why she’d try and tell me this was an upgrade.When I got to my room I think I actually laughed out loud, it was the smallest hotel room I’d ever seen. There is barely enough room around the bed to roll your suitcase to a place where you can open it. The bathroom was worse, the toilet is so insanely close to the shower & the shower didn’t have actual doors or much structure so the water goes everywhere.When I checked in she asked if I wanted daily housekeeping and I said that I did. Both days the room was not cleaned. When I came back to my room on my 2nd day I noticed bugs in the shower and on the bathroom floor, I went to grab my suitcase and saw more of them!! I went to the front desk and was able to get a new room for my final night.I’ve noticed that Marriott hotels don’t clean daily even when you request it(this is the 3rd hotel where I’ve had this issue). In this case, If the room had been cleaned properly we may not have had a bug issue at all or it would’ve been caught earlier. I will never stay here and and would never recommend it to anyone.
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December 2023 by Atul K
Old hotel and poor design of bathroom. Cannot understand why they charge $35 for parking. Total ripoff pricing. Bathroom design (see picture) cannot be explained! Breakfast is included but you have to DRIVE 2.4 miles (or take their Uber) to the Courtyard hotel.
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November 2023 by Jeff L.
The Waterman was one of the newer Marriott spots here in the Santa Barbara area. I was finally able to stay here because the prices dipped down a little bit.It's in a very cool funk zone area. The rooms are very cozy and eventually they will become part of the Moxy brand under Marriott. It's a very cool spot. I'm not sure what it used to be in the past. Maybe a warehouse like most of the other establishments around here? The front staff was very accommodating hospitable. There's a general kitchen area that was communal and fun where you could buy drinks and snacks. The rooms are not the biggest here. I was in a room that had a Murphy bed come out above on top. I was very tempted to unlock it, but it look like it would be really tough for me to push back into the wall. There's a lot of character here and a cool place to visit if this is your vibe. Not sure if I would come back again since I like larger spaces, but if you want to stay in the Funk Zone this is where to go.Had a great view of the pool and a lot of cool things were in walking distance so were able to explore parts of Santa Barbara that I hadn't the time to walk-through in the past.
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November 2023 by Sophie Masson
On one side the hotel is well located. A walking distance to the beaches and trendy Funk Zone neighborhood BUT on the other side it's right by the highway. Which make it impossible to relax by the pool. IMPOSSIBLE. It's so noisy you will feel your lounging chair is on the highway shoulder. We were hoping to chill by the pool in the afternoon after a long bike ride but the highway traffic noise was simply unbearable. They charged us near $500 per night trying to make you believe you are in a chic hotel because the decor is cute BUT you are not. The experience is somehow very similar to a Holiday Inn by the highway. With just a bit more soul. Other things to note: the window in our room was broken so no access to fresh air, the TV was not working either and couldn't be fixed (we called maintenance), we couldn't just read in a cozy environment because the bedside lights were also out of order. The only light working in our room was the bright ceiling light (think emergency room light). So what you get is a comfortable bed. That's it. From what I saw on the website, I was expecting more. Oh, and I forgot, we had two bottles of conditioner in the shower. No shampoo. No big deal but at one point all the malfunctions add up and ruin the experience. If you pay more than $200-$300 / night you will be highly disappointed. They will also charge you $6 for a stupid muffin in the morning!!
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October 2023 by Nick
This was the worst stay I’ve had at a Marriott property (and I’ve stayed at a couple Moxy properties). The room smelled musty, the split unit AC (room 110) had something wrong with it where it would get progressively louder and quieter throughout the night, the walls were paper thin (and no one could do anything about the guest who appeared to be jumping up and down upstairs). The only redeeming fact was the location.Additionally, this location was understaffed where they unfortunately had the same person working 7am-7pm each day I was there as the only person working.
