Recommendations for Lodging

The Dream Inn is a beachfront hotel located on Cowell Beach in Santa Cruz. Centrally located, the property is just a few blocks away from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and close to the UC Santa Cruz campus.

For more information, check the Dream Inn website, or call 866 774-7735.

Overlooking the Monterey Bay, this informal, contemporary hotel is a 10-minute walk from the Natural Bridges State Beach and 3 miles from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park. 

The unfussy rooms feature free high-speed Wi-Fi, flat-screen HDTVs, microwaves and minifridges, as well as tea and coffeemakers. Suites add living areas with pull-out couches; some have balconies that offer bay views.

Parking is complimentary, as is a breakfast buffet served in a casual dining room or next to a fire pit on a patio. There's a convenience store and a coin-operated laundry. Other amenities include a gym, an outdoor heated pool and a hot tub.

For more information, visit the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott website or call (831) 420-0777

On a leafy residential street, this modern hotel is a 14-minute walk from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park, a mile from Highway 1 and 3 miles from Lighthouse Field State Beach. 

Relaxed rooms offer sofa beds, as well as free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. Suites add separate living and dining areas. Room service is available.

A complimentary breakfast buffet is served in an informal dining room. There's also a laid-back cafe/bar and a mini-market, in addition to an outdoor pool and a gym.

For more information, visit the Hyatt Place Website or call (831) 226-2300

Look beyond the Surf City image of Santa Cruz and you find things hidden in plain sight: Rugged mountains, majestic redwoods and vibrant communities. This is where Hotel Paradox lives. From the architectural gridded façade to a sleek design and urban forest aesthetic, we challenge you with bold contradictions. Our engaging staff invites you to enjoy a curated experience where the ambiance is contemporary, inviting and a little bit mysterious. Around every corner, they stir your sense of adventure and make you question what is obvious. The outdoor pool and bar both soothes and stimulates your senses. Guest rooms are modern, sophisticated and alive with local style. Hotel Paradox… Expect the Unexpected.

For more information, check the Hotel Paradox website or call (831) 425-7100