10 Top-Rated Budget hotels in Santa Cruz: Carousel Beach Inn, Ocean Pacific Lodge, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Hostel, Rio Vista Inn & Suites Santa Cruz, Mission Inn, Pacific Blue Inn, Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West, Ca, Hitching Post Studios Inn, The Islander Motel
1. Carousel Beach Inn
110 Riverside Avenue , Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.3 based on 1 reviews
You're eligible for a Genius discount at Carousel Beach Inn! To save at this property, all you have to do is sign in.
This property is 2 minutes walk from the beach. Located 2 minutes’ walk away from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Carousel Beach Inn offers rooms equipped with a private balcony. It serves a daily continental breakfast.
A flat-screen TV with cable channels is featured in each room as well as a private patio, a microwave, a refrigerator, a hairdryer and an alarm clock. Free WiFi is available in every room. Select rooms offer a spa bath for two or views of the amusement park.
Guests are greeted by a 24-hour front desk at the Carousel Beach Inn. Free guest parking is available. Vending machines featuring snacks and drinks are offered on-site.
Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf is less than 2 mi away. A variety of activities are nearby, such as golf, water sports, fishing, sailing, and state parks. The University of Santa Cruz is 5 mi away. Shopping and dining opportunities in Santa Cruz town center are 6 minutes’ drive away.
Reviewed By Linda
This hotel is directly a cross the street from the Beach an d Boardwalk. 15 minute walk to the Wharf.They also serve a light breakfast with your stay and parking is free.
2. Ocean Pacific Lodge
301 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.3 based on 1 reviews
This property is a 5-minute walk from the beach. Located 3 blocks from the historic Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk, Ocean Pacific Lodge is 100% nonsmoking and offers guest rooms with free WiFi. Free on-site parking is available at this pet-friendly motel.
All guest rooms are equipped with a microwave, a coffee machine, and a refrigerator. A TV and free local calls are also included.
Ocean Pacific Lodge features an outdoor pool, seasonally heated, and a hot tub.
Guests can take advantage of the coin-operated laundry facilities.
The Santa Cruz Wharf, offering boating tours, shopping and dining, is 2 blocks from the Ocean Pacific Lodge. The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) is also nearby.
Reviewed By Tyler
Clean nice rooms. Close to beach, food, shopping, and night life. Helpful staff.
3. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz
550 2nd Street , Santa Cruz, 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.7 based on 124 reviews
In a prime location in the center of Santa Cruz, La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz provides air-conditioned rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, free WiFi and a fitness center. The property is around a 5-minute walk from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, 0.7 miles from Pacific Avenue and a 17-minute walk from Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse. Private parking is available on site.
All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. At La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz every room includes a private bathroom.
Guests at the accommodation can enjoy an American breakfast.
Popular points of interest near La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Cruz include Santa Cruz Beach, Cowell's Beach and Seabright State Beach. The nearest airport is Mineta San Jose International Airport, 28 miles from the hotel.
Reviewed By Angelica
The room was spacious. We had a King Suite on the 3rd floor facing the ocean. It was above the pool but with the 9pm close of the pool, noise was not an issue. Overall it was clean, new, fresh, walkable/great location.
4. Santa Cruz Hostel
321 Main St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.7 based on 128 reviews
This property is a 6-minute walk from the beach. Featuring barbecue facilities and a garden, Santa Cruz Hostel is located in Santa Cruz, 1,650 feet from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This property also provides guests with a sun terrace. Set in the Santa Cruz Boardwalk district, the hostel is within 0.9 mi of Pacific Avenue.
Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse is 1.3 mi from the accommodations. The nearest airport is Mineta San Jose International Airport, 34 mi from the property.
Reviewed By Wendy
The grounds and facilities are beautiful and cozy. It was me, my husband and our 2 kids(4&10), i do recommend for familys. The staff and other travelers were so nice and friendly. The staff is absolutely wonderful. The staff the day before were very accommodating to change our room to fit our family's needs. I would definitely book this place again over a chain hotel.
5. Rio Vista Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
611 Third Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.4 based on 656 reviews
This property is 1 minute walk from the beach. Styled in modern decor, this restored historic mansion offers 12 luxurious and refurbished suites. Free WiFi is included daily.
Offering a city or ocean view, each suite at Rio Vista Inn & Suites Santa Cruz features a flat-screen TV. A microwave and refrigerator are provided. Guests are pampered with free toiletries.
Refreshments are available in the lobby.
This inn is 5 minutes' walk from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. San Francisco International Airport is 49 mi away.
Reviewed By Maila
Very friendly staff, close to attractions, very clean rooms and comfortable bed
6. Mission Inn
2250 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.4 based on 762 reviews
This property is a 14-minute walk from the beach. Seymore Marine Discovery is 2 miles from this Santa Cruz area inn. A free breakfast is provided and all rooms offer free WiFi.
A flat-screen cable TV is featured in all rooms at the Mission Inn. A microwave, small fridge, and coffee-making facilities are also included. Free toiletries and a hairdryer are available in the private bathroom.
The free breakfast at the Santa Cruz Mission Inn includes eggs, waffles, cereal, and oatmeal. Fruit, bagels, toast, and yogurt are also available. Guests can also enjoy various breakfast beverages.
A hot tub and sauna are available for guest relaxation at the inn. Dry cleaning service is offered and free parking is on site.
The Boardwalk is less than 10 minutes’ drive from the Mission Inn. Roaring Camp Railroads is 7.5 miles away.
Reviewed By Lana
Great location, walking distance (20 min) to the Natural Bridges. Breakfast was OK, nothing too fancy, but decent choices.
7. Pacific Blue Inn
636 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.5 based on 447 reviews
This property is a 10-minute walk from the beach. Just 10 minutes’ walk from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, this eco-friendly hotel offers rooms with attached bathroom with flat-screen cable TVs and iPod docking stations.
Free WiFi is available in all of the rooms at the 100% nonsmoking Pacific Blue Inn. The brightly-colored rooms are also equipped with a DVD player, an electric fireplace and a work desk.
The Pacific Blue Inn offers complimentary baked goods and coffee available for guests throughout the day.
Pacific Blue Inn, Santa Cruz offers a courtyard for guests’ relaxation and the hotel features artwork from local artists in the lobby and dining area. Bicycles are also available.
The University of California Santa Cruz is 15 minutes’ drive away and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is 5 miles from the property. Santa Cruz town center is 15 minutes’ walk away.
Reviewed By Leslie
The room was nice, the shower was great, nice size.
8. Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West, Ca
2424 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
8.7 based on 181 reviews
Conveniently located 1.1 miles from the Natural Bridges State Beach, the Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West, Ca offers a fitness room and guest laundry room.. All rooms include free Wi-Fi.
A fridge, microwave and coffee facilities are provided in all rooms. Cable TV with in-room movies and a work desk are available.
Hampton Inn Santa Cruz West offers a continental breakfast and fax services are available in the hotel lobby.
An 8-minute drive from the hotel, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk offers guests recreational activities. Wilder Ranch State Park is 1.9 miles from the hotel.
Reviewed By Petey
it was quiet and clean and the staff were very friendly. what I liked the most was that the king suite was a good sized room. my daughter and son stayed in the hotel in seperate rooms but we were all able to get together in my king suite to spend a little chill time watching a movie on a projector I brought on this trip. i projected the movie onto a wall and we rearranged the couch to see the movie better. this hotel is close to the boardwalk and lots of restaurants which I liked but being older my wife and I got tired of doing so many activities that staying in the hotel was a treat
9. Hitching Post Studios Inn
1717 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, United States of America
Overall Ratings
7.9 based on 328 reviews
This Santa Cruz, California motel features free Wi-Fi. It is 5.3 mi from the University of California Santa Cruz and guest rooms provide a flat-screen HD TV with HBO channels.
The rooms at Hitching Post Studios Inn offer free local telephone calls. They are furnished with coffee facilities, a microwave and a refrigerator while select rooms provide a kitchenette.
Natural Bridges State Beach is 4.3 mi from the Hitching Post Studios Inn. The motel is minutes from Capitola Village.
Reviewed By Ashley
The room was very clean and the staff was friendly. It was a short drive away from everything we wanted to do in Santa Cruz.
10. The Islander Motel
522 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America
Overall Ratings
7.9 based on 444 reviews
Offering a seasonal outdoor pool, this motel is 5 minutes' walk from downtown Santa Cruz. It offers free WiFi and free parking.
The air-conditioned guest rooms at The Islander Motel are equipped with a 40-inch flat-screen HDTV and free local calls. A microwave and a refrigerator are featured in all rooms.
A 24-hour reception is available to guests of the smoke-free Islander Motel.
The famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk is 0.7 mi from this motel. Cowell's Beach is 5 minutes' drive away. The University of California, Santa Cruz is 2.5 miles away.
Reviewed By Eric
I had a short stay. Staff was friendly, bed comfortable, fine for a quick visit.
