Charming Aesthetic, Disappointing Experience Hotel Ynez has a charming exterior—the landscaping and large tree at the front give it an inviting, boutique feel. Unfortunately, the experience from there was underwhelming and at times uncomfortable. Upon check-in, the two staff members we interacted with were noticeably unfriendly. Rather than offering a warm welcome, they made us feel as if we were already in trouble for something. When I asked the concierge a simple question about slippers, he glazed over and instead launched into a warning about guests sneaking in dogs—asking if I’d signed the dog waiver. I found it both irrelevant and rude to be treated with suspicion based on the actions of previous guests. Cleanliness was also a major issue. Our shower was filthy—there was an eyelash, a used product wrapper, hair, mildew buildup, and some mysterious residue on the shower wall that wiped off with a tissue. It gave the impression that the bathroom hadn’t been cleaned in days, which raised serious concerns about whether the bedsheets had been changed either. It made relaxing in the room feel nearly impossible. While the front desk attendant did come to clean the shower, I expressed concern about the bed and was casually told that the couch pulls out into a bed—as if that was an acceptable solution. It’s not. We didn’t pay to sleep on a pullout—we paid for a clean, comfortable room. It’s such a shame because the property has potential. The common outdoor area is beautifully designed with plenty of seating, trees, and fire pits—but oddly, guests aren’t allowed to bring outside food or drinks into that space, which limits how much you can enjoy it. Overall, while Hotel Ynez is aesthetically pleasing, the lack of hospitality and cleanliness made for a disappointing stay. I hope management addresses these issues, as this hotel could be a gem with better service and attention to detail. I will also attach the rebuttal from the hotel management. I apologize for spelling the hotel name incorrectly. I’ve changed it in my updated review. Also the reservation is booked under my husband’s name. This just proves my point that the management is terrible here. Where else would I have gotten the photos of the room from if I’m not staying at the hotel?

Disorganized and Dishonest Handling of Fire Evacuation Cancellation I am incredibly disappointed with the way Hotel Ynez handled my reservation during the Kenneth Fire evacuation. We evacuated from our home Thursday but since Hotel Ynez was fully booked, we stayed somewhere else for the night. We planned to stay at Hotel Ynez starting Friday 1/10. At the time of booking, we were told if we needed to cancel our reservation, we would receive a full credit for future use. On Friday morning, we were relieved to learn the evacuation order was lifted and power restored. I immediately called the hotel, spoke with Beth, and she told us we would be refunded. Based on this assurance, we canceled and returned home. Days later, I found that only a partial refund had been issued. When we called the hotel, Ricky said they did not refund the first night since they were not going to be able to sell the room that day. To which I said, we were not informed of this when we canceled. Then Ricky said it wasn’t a full night’s rate but rather a non-refundable deposit. To which I said, again, we were not informed of this at the time when we canceled. They insisted Beth had disclosed these policies as it was in their notes, but if that were true, why would I be questioning the charges? Ricky also told us they would not typically refund anything, and they were doing so in consideration of our evacuation situation. However, their company policy is to refund all but the first night. Therefore, no change in policy was made and she is again speaking in error. We tried to resolve this with Beth and Ricky and expressed our frustration with them saying we were lying about what we were told. But they said to take it up with our credit card and hung up on us. This behavior is a bait-and-switch. My suspicion is that they changed their mind about how they were going to handle evacuee’s cancellations, which is why they couldn’t provide 1 concise explanation for the charges. Instead of honoring their word and treating evacuees with empathy, they are changing their story to fit their gains. This is not only disingenuous, it is a hurtful and insulting way of treating people. I cannot recommend Hotel Ynez to anyone who values honesty, transparency, and compassionate service.

While this hotel is charming and clean, the pet policy could be much clearer. The website states that all dogs are welcome with a $50 cleaning fee, but it doesn’t mention that dogs cannot be left unattended in the room under any circumstances. This critical detail was only shared with us at check-in when it was too late to make alternative plans. We had a New Year’s Eve dinner reservation that had been planned for weeks, so we carefully ensured our dog would be comfortable and stepped out briefly. Less than an hour later, we received a call stating our dog was barking and were told we needed to return within 10 minutes to avoid being charged a fee. This came as a shock, especially since our dog has stayed in hotels frequently and has never caused any issues. We promptly returned to the hotel and there was no barking audible outside the room. We even spoke with nearby guests at the fire pit, who confirmed they hadn’t heard anything. We respectfully discussed the situation with the staff, but despite our efforts, we were charged an unexpected $75 fee after check-out. Had we known how strict the pet policy was at booking, we would have chosen a different accommodation. I’m sharing this experience so that future guests with pets can make an informed decision before booking.

I’ve stayed here a few separate times now and I have loved each time. Every time they are welcoming and helpful. I’ve always had a comfortable and clean stay with my family. I just wish I could have longer stays.

Charming updated roadside motel/hotel! Cozy courtyard, nicely updated rooms+ bathrooms, dog friendly, slightly funny lamp/ lighting situation, decent beds but a bit hard to fall asleep, and no fridge. Overall really lovely, but would not book again at the inflated holiday weekend rates.