Arrival information

How To Reach UCSB

The most convenient way to travel to Santa Barbara is to fly. If you are arriving from outside the US, you will have to go through passport control and customs at the airport where your flight first lands. Then you can take a connecting flight to Santa Barbara. There are direct flights to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, and Seattle. If your international flight terminates in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, or New York, you will have to take two more connecting flights before you arrive in Santa Barbara. There is a local bus that stops at the airport and can take you directly to the UCSB campus for $1.25 (you must have the correct change). Some hotels have a free shuttle service if you have a room reservation. There are free phones for hotel shuttle buses in the baggage claim area of the airport. Taxis are very expensive. Even a 5 minute ride from the airport to campus will be $15.00.

If your end destination is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), there are no direct public bus or train connections to Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara Airbus makes stops outside on the arrival level of each terminal at LAX and goes to Goleta (near UCSB) for $40 one-way. The Airbus runs from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM. RESERVATIONS can be made AFTER your arrival by calling their toll free number: 1-800-423-1618 between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM. The Airbus makes 3 stops: Carpentaria, Santa Barbara and Goleta. The Goleta stop is not served by public transportation. If no one is meeting you, ask the bus driver to have the Airbus office call a taxi to pick you up when the bus arrives in Goleta.

Sometimes international travelers can wait a long time at passport control and customs at the airport where they arrive due to heavy volume or bad weather. It is not uncommon to miss your connecting flight to LAX or Santa Barbara. If this happens to you, ask the airline service representative to rebook your flight and help you find a hotel if you have to stay overnight. Usually the airline will NOT pay for your hotel if you are delayed by customs and immigration officials. Be sure to have at least $200 with you in case of an unexpected delay and stay over.

Temporary Accommodations

If you do not have accommodations prearranged, it may take you some time to find a place to live. We encourage you to arrive in Santa Barbara before the quarter begins.

Santa Cruz Residence Hall
Available: Saturday, August 30 to Saturday, September 20 (9 AM Checkout)
$51 per person per night, double occupancy
No reservations necessary
(Check-in hours: 7 AM-1AM)

UCSB opens a residence hall for students arriving early to find a place to live: Prior to September 1, 2008 or after the end date for occupancy in the UCSB residence hall, you will need to make your own arrangements for a place to stay. Hotel prices in the Santa Barbara area are very expensive. Below are a list of hotels near campus and the approximate price for a single room in winter 2008. These hotels are not necessarily recommended, but are listed in order to give you an idea of the price range for accommodations. Prices are likely to go up -- especially in the month before school starts.