I am picky when it comes to hotels, but this one pushed all the right buttons.

The room was large, 1/3rd larger than the Palmer House in Chicago at 1/2 the price, the room was quiet unlike the Palmer House, the continental breakfast was ample if not out of the ordinary, real newspapers in the lobby not just U.S. News Today or whatever the throwaway rag that is endemic to hotel lobby's' is called.

The front desk service was good and provided an excellent recommendation close by for a couple of travelers sick and tired of Amtrak's offerings.

The elevator is quaint, funky and once you master its quirks a bit of a delight. Probably dates to the hotel's construction in 1926. The room's thermostat actually works unlike most hotels we stay in. The room is even equipped with a night light most handy for a late night - early morning trip to the loo.

This place comes with my full endorsement. We normally stay at the Upham House when we are in Santa Barbra but may have found a new best choice. BUT the breakfast buffet at the Upham is superior but the price for a room is substantially more.

The reception area and entrance is very elegant and gives a great first impression. The hotel is well placed in the centre of the town on the main street. Our room was very nice but on the small side with little room to put two suitcases. Bathroom was nice with a large shower but no bath. Staff were fine. Breakfast was below our expectations, not a lot of choice and no toast/bread only bagels and sweet products. Our main gripe was that although the website says that valet car parking is available at an extra charge it should say ONLY valet parking is available and that parking is not included. So for an extra $15 a night you get someone who drives and parks your car literally to a car park across the road. We also had to wait twice for the valet person to turn up whereas we could have been getting on ourselves. For such an expensive hotel we though overall value for money was not great.