What's included and what costs extra at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara includes heated saline pools (Main and Oval) open to all guests, free in-room Wi‑Fi, access to on-site fitness and tennis facilities, on-site dining outlets, and basic room amenities. Guests should expect extra charges for a mandatory daily resort fee, valet parking, spa treatments and some activities; pets incur a per-stay fee.
In this guide
What’s included with every stay
All guest rooms and suites include free in-room Wi‑Fi and wired Internet, standard toiletries, and daily housekeeping. Check-in is 4:00 PM and check-out is 11:00 AM; early/late requests are subject to availability.
Guests have access to the resort’s Main Pool and Oval Pool (both heated saline pools) plus public areas of the fitness center and tennis courts as described in the resort materials. In-room dining is available daily until midnight.
- Free in-room Wi‑Fi and wired Internet
- Access to Main Pool and Oval Pool (open to all ages)
- Fitness Center and four Har‑Tru tennis courts (fitness center hours apply)
- Daily housekeeping and in-room dining service
| Service | Included? |
|---|---|
| In-room Wi‑Fi | Yes |
| Main & Oval Pools | Yes |
| Spa treatments / Spa Pool | No (extra; spa pool adults-only) |
Mandatory fees and what they cover
The property charges a mandatory daily resort fee in addition to the room rate; the resort fee is separate from taxes and can vary over time. Third-party summaries and guest reports describe the fee as covering items such as Wi‑Fi, pool access, fitness center and some group classes, and occasionally shuttle or airport transport — specifics should be confirmed at booking.
There may also be a small tourism or local fee added on top of the resort fee in some reports; the exact amounts and local taxes change, so check your reservation folio or contact the hotel for current totals.
- Mandatory daily resort fee (amount varies; check your reservation)
- Reported inclusions: Wi‑Fi, pool access, fitness classes, occasional transport
- Possible additional small tourism/local fee
| Fee | Typical status |
|---|---|
| Resort fee | Mandatory (amount varies) |
| Local/tourism fee | May apply |
| Valet parking surcharge | Extra (see parking section) |
Parking, transportation and check-in notes
The resort offers valet parking only; there is no self-parking option on property. Public reports and recent guest accounts list a daily valet charge (reviewed amounts have varied), so expect an additional parking surcharge on your bill.
The closest airport is Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA), often a short drive (about 10 minutes) from the resort. Guests should confirm arrival transfer options at booking; some guest reports indicate the resort has offered complimentary transportation in connection with the resort fee in specific instances, but that is not guaranteed.
- Valet parking only (daily surcharge applies; rates reported in reviews vary)
- Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) is the nearest airport (short drive)
- Check-in from 4:00 PM; minimum age to check in is 18
| Service | Notes |
|---|---|
| Valet parking | Available; daily surcharge (varies) |
| Airport shuttle/transport | Occasionally reported as part of fee — confirm ahead |
| Check-in/Check-out | 4:00 PM / 11:00 AM (early/late subject to availability) |
Spa, pools and fitness: where charges apply
The Ritz-Carlton Spa Bacara, Santa Barbara is a 42,000-square-foot facility with an adults-only Spa Pool, redwood sauna, eucalyptus steam room, cold plunge, rooftop terrace and fireside lounges. Spa treatments require appointments and are charged separately from room rates.
The Main Pool and Oval Pool are heated saline pools open to all guests; the Spa Pool inside the spa is restricted to adults (18+). Fitness Center access and scheduled instructor-led classes are part of the resort offerings — guest materials list fitness center hours and an age minimum (16+) for fitness room use.
- Spa treatments and spa pool access billed separately (appointments required)
- Main Pool and Oval Pool: open to all guests (hours may be posted seasonally)
- Fitness Center: open daily; age minimum to use equipment is 16
| Facility | Included/Extra |
|---|---|
| Main Pool & Oval Pool | Included for guests |
| Spa treatments & Spa Pool | Extra (spa pool adults-only) |
| Fitness classes | Often included in resort materials but confirm (varies) |
Dining: which meals may cost extra
The resort is not an all‑inclusive property; room rates do not automatically include meals or drinks. On-site dining venues include Marisella (Italian), Lulio (Mediterranean), 'O' Bar & Terrace (bar), SunBar (poolside), Mission Market (cafe/market) and in-room dining (service to midnight).
Expect to pay for a la carte meals, alcoholic beverages, minibar items and specialty dining experiences. Some outlets publish hours and dress guidance; Marisella and Lulio have specific service hours, while Mission Market operates early daily for grab-and-go items.
- Meals and drinks are charged separately from room rate
- On-site restaurants: Marisella, Lulio, 'O' Bar & Terrace, SunBar, Mission Market
- In-room dining available daily until midnight (separate charges apply)
| Venue | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Marisella | Dinner (hours vary; Mon–Thu & Sun 4–8pm; Fri–Sat later) |
| Lulio | Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner Wed–Sun (hours vary) |
| Mission Market | Grab-and-go, coffee, pastries (early morning–afternoon) |
Pets, special requests and room types to know
The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara is dog-friendly; published policy welcomes dogs (only) up to 50 pounds and charges a pet fee per stay. Service animals are exempt from the pet fee. The resort provides pet amenities like beds and bowls per guest reports.
Room and suite types include names guests should use when booking — for example: Room, Resort View; Room, Ocean View; Room, Balcony, Pool View; Club Suite, 1 Bedroom; Club Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View; Suite, 1 Bedroom, Resort View; Club Room; Club Suite, 2 Bedrooms (Penthouse Suite, Balcony); Club Suite, Ocean View (Island); and Room. Ask the hotel about pet-friendly room locations and any additional cleaning or deposit requirements at booking.
- Pet fee applies per stay (reports list $250 per stay — confirm at booking)
- Only dogs allowed (weight limit and maximum two pets per room noted in reports)
- Service animals exempt from pet fees
| Room name examples | Notes |
|---|---|
| Room, Ocean View | 450 sq. ft.; 1 King Bed (example) |
| Club Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean View | 925 sq. ft.; larger suite option |
| Suite, 1 Bedroom, Resort View | 850 sq. ft.; sleeps up to 5 with sofa bed |
Activities and extras that usually cost more
On-property or arranged activities such as professional spa treatments, private tennis lessons, golf at nearby courses, motorized water sports, guided excursions and specialty classes typically carry additional charges. Free bicycles are listed among resort amenities, but specialty-guided tours and lessons generally incur fees.
Event and wedding venues, private dining or catering, meeting spaces and audio/visual services are all priced separately; wedding packages often include basic setup but extras and larger guest counts will increase costs. For meetings and weddings, consult the resort’s events team for current pricing.
- Spa treatments and rooftop services — extra, appointment required
- Tennis clinics, private lessons and court reservations — extra
- Guided excursions (kayaking, sailing, surfing) and equipment rentals — extra
- Event/wedding packages and A/V services — priced per event
| Activity | Usually extra? |
|---|---|
| Spa appointments | Yes |
| Private tennis lessons | Yes |
| Guided water-sports excursions | Yes |
