I am pleased to report

After a recent visit to The Upham, I thought I would come here and leave "high marks" as a reward for my time spent in Santa Barbara. I read some of the other reviews and could not believe that this was the same place that I had visited. The rooms were not fluffy, but very handsome and well done for my needs. I like to walk to restaurants and enjoy a hotel were someone isn't standing waiting for a tip. My only negative about this hotel would be that the homemade goodies at breakfast were too good. I admit that I could have selected the Atkin's egg choice, but I have a real weakness for great tasting carbs! The staff should be congratulated for assisting all my needs and I look forward to another visit. I will ask for the same room. Thank you for this website, I am in business and enjoy applauding someone for a job well done. I will follow this with a letter to The Upham Hotel.

One of the best kept secrets in Santa Barbara

I highly recommend the Upham!! We have stayed at this wonderful B & B on many occasions and continue to enjoy the wonderful, relaxing setting the Inn offers. The rooms are very comfortable and spacious. We were especially pleased on this most recent trip to see that the Inn had put on a new face lift with new paint, carpets and furniture in each room.

We enjoyed the many nice touches offered like wine and appetizers in the evening that we enjoyed in the gazebo at sunset. The hosts are incredible - warm, friendly, helpful, and thorough. They gave us great recommendations for places to eat in Santa Barbara. The Inn's location is 2 blocks from State Street which is a real plus. It was so nice to just leave the car for 2 days and walk to all the attractions Santa Barbara has to offer especially a number of outstanding restaurants we enjoyed!! We definitely plan to return and look forward to another stay at the Upham.

Rate Problem

After returning home from our 2 night stay at the Upham we were curious to see if we were being unreasonable in our criticism of this property, We checked on the internet for reviews and weren't too surprised to find some negative ones. Our experience was that we were put on the defensive with their rates. When the tourist bureau called on our behalf, they were quoted a rate but when we checked in the rate had increased by $5.00. We were tired and decided not to mention it. We asked for a reduced rate for the second night and they obliged us with a $4.00 reductions. When we went to check out, the regular rate had been charged for the second night. The staff member was quite adament that we were to pay the higher rate for the 2nd night. We were put on the defensive and when they realized we were a walk-in they honoured the agreed upon rate and apologized twice.

Needless to say we left unsatisfied. The quality of the room was not suitable for the high price being charged - dirty carpets and it sometimes took 5 minutes to get hot water.

On the plus side the gardens are lovely and the breakfast had a nice variety with good quality food, though they did not make up for the other factors.

Not worth it

Not as good as I expected to beWhy? Because the quality, architecture and decor are far below standard for a Bed and Breakfast at this price range. The water wouldn't drain and the faucet was broken. The TV was miniscule and just everything seemed to be old, used, and definitely not updated? Breakfast, ?Cheese and Crackers? and ?Cookies and milk? were just any products you buy at the supermarket (Oreo?s? Cheap yogurts and even low priced bagels, juice, fruits? etc!). Anyways, to make it short, it is not worth it? and if you are planning on a vacation or weekend getaway, you definitely don?t want to waste time at this place or complaining at them? (that?s why I never complained? I?m there to rest and avoid problems, not to complain and get stress).Hope this helps.Martin Shin Martin_shin@ml.com

Love this place

My husband I visited the Tiffany House and we loved it. The wonderful smell of baked goods through out the house was unforgettable. the taste was just as wonderful, we had wine and cheese at check in a bottle of Champaign in our cozy room, cookies and milk at bed time and the most delightful breakfast with juice, baked goods French toast and quiche. I cant wait to visit again.

Helpful staff made for a terrific weekend...

We had a great girls weekend at this adorable Inn.The Executive two room suite was perfect for our group and very spacious. The old charm of the room was very cozy. We found the staff to be very helpful with restaurant recommendations and they even mailed us a bag of clothes we left behind.Breakfast was light, wine and cheese at night in the back garden was a treat as well as the cookies and milk searved after 6PM.

It is two blocks from State street so we were able to walk everywhere.

I would recommend it to a friend.

Too expensive and run down

I think the garden setting around which the Upham is situated is lovely and in past years I happily stayed here many times. However, for the past few visits, my husband and I both feel that the hotel is run down.

The carpets are faded, the paint is chipping, and, in two of our rooms, the bathroom doors won't open entirely due to the position of the toilets! Not to mention the skimpy breakfasts. My husband eats mostly protein the mornings and, while the Upham offers boiled eggs, you have to get up very early 7am and hurry to the table to get any. I was told recently that "when the basket is empty, we don't make more." Can you believe that?! For the prices you are charged, you would think they could throw a couple eggs into boil, change some carpets and upgrade the evening wine. Oh, and did I mention we were woken up by maids vacuuming at 7am on a Sunday! Won't stay there again ... ever!

Nice Guest House

While the Upham may be a little pricy it does offer some nice rooms, an decent location and most noticeable a relaxed B&B feel, with bread and juice in the morning and wine tasting in the evenings. Its nice to sit out in the back court yard and enjoy a complementary glass (or two) of wine. I recommend this above the standard hotels.

The Upham isn't headed up...

Once a charming large Victorian inn, the Upham's quality has not kept pace with its prices in recent years. With ceiling fans creaking, the paint in rooms chipping, and the carpets fading, the Upham has still seen fit to raise prices about $25 a night in the past five years. This inn is, regretabbly, driving on the fumes of its past...