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The Best Beach Hotels in Santa Cruz

Where to Stay for an Oceanfront Vacation in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz, California can be a terrific beach vacation destination, so if you're wondering where to stay near the beach in Santa Cruz, we've got you covered. Here's our list of the best beach hotels in Santa Cruz for your next vacation based on amenities, location, price, activities, and traveler ratings. Many of these hotels offer terrific features such as pools, beachfront access, fitness centers, a spa, hot tubs, great views, safe areas, and more. With our analysis covering so many of Santa Cruz's beach resorts and hotels, you'll surely find the perfect hotel near the water or oceanfront for you. Whether you're looking for something family-friendly, romantic, or for a large group, below is our list of the top hotels near the beach in Santa Cruz for your next trip. So, here's our list of where to stay at the beach in Santa Cruz.

The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

(Prices are listed in U.S. Dollars.)

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $192 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Beach Location in Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
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Located at 2956 Mission St, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz has great rooms from $192 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, and parking. It has a terrific 8.50 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 1.8 miles from the city center, visitors will especially love a kid-friendly buffet, breakfast, hiking, laundry services, and golf at this beach hotel. The swimming pool is fantastic and lots of fun, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for beach hotels, which makes it a great value.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Parking
  • Laundry service
  • Free breakfast
  • Kids meals
  • Laundry facilities
  • Tennis
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
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Dream Inn Santa Cruz

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $377 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Perfect Beach Trip Hotel in Santa Cruz
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool
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A great place to stay is Dream Inn Santa Cruz which has nice rooms starting at $377. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and parking, it also has a great guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 175 West Cliff Drive. This terrific hotel is also nice because it offers hiking, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and laundry facilities which travelers will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.9 miles from the city center. Nothing says relaxation like having room service delivered.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Parking
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Air-conditioned
  • Refrigerator
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West Cliff Inn A Four Sisters Inn

Bed & Breakfast with prices starting at $309 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Beach Getaway Hotel
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
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We found West Cliff Inn A Four Sisters Inn to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $309. We loved that is has scuba diving, snorkeling, breakfast, hiking, and golf, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 9.20 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 174 West Cliff Drive. You'll also find a free breakfast, a hot tub, free parking, bicycle rental, and fishing which beach-goers will love. And this relaxing hotel is just 0.9 miles from the center of town. Everyone loves a good hot tub, and this one is really nice.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Scuba diving
  • Snorkeling
  • Breakfast included
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Free breakfast
  • Refrigerator
  • Picnic area
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Beach Street Inn and Suites

Inn with prices starting at $236 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places at the Beach in Santa Cruz
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool
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With terrific rooms from $236, Beach Street Inn and Suites, at 125 Beach Street provides an outdoor pool, room service, parking, hiking, and rooms with kitchenettes. Its terrific guest rating is 9.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. Visitors will really like this comfortable hotel which also offers laundry services, a hot tub, laundry facilities, family rooms, and a heated pool. It's located just 0.8 miles from the city center, too. After a busy day, the heated pool is a nice place to unwind.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Picnic area
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Edgewater Beach Inn & Suites

Inn with prices starting at $302 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Perfect Hotel for a Beach Vacation to Santa Cruz
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool
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Edgewater Beach Inn & Suites has a great guest rating of 7.90 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, room service, parking, rooms with kitchens, and rooms with kitchenettes. The great rooms here start at $302 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 525 Second Street. Furthermore, it also offers pet-friendly rooms, laundry facilities, family rooms, a heated pool, and a private pool, which is nice for visitors. Just 0.8 miles from the city center, this convenient hotel is a terrific choice. We find the kitchenette here to be a great way to get a good breakfast and save time and money.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Kitchen
  • Kitchenette
  • Laundry facilities
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
  • Picnic area
View Prices and Reviews


Pacific Blue Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $213 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Hotel at the Beach in Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
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The great guest rating of Pacific Blue Inn is 8.60 out of 10. This place has parking, breakfast, hiking, golf, and pet-friendly rooms. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $213, and it's located at 636 Pacific Avenue. We also love the a pool table, horse riding, table tennis, bicycle rental, and fishing which are great for travelers. And since it's just 0.5 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Breakfast included
  • Bicycle rental
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Parking
  • Pool table
  • Table tennis
  • Tennis
  • Air-conditioned
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Hotel Paradox Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $229 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Nice Oceanfront Hotel in Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
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A cool place is Hotel Paradox Autograph Collection because it has great rooms that start at $229. It has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.40 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 611 Ocean Street. Only 0.6 miles from the city center, beach-goers will especially love parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, city views, and laundry facilities at this fun hotel. Unwinding at the restaurant after sightseeing is a nice way to end the day.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Room service
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Parking
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Air-conditioned
View Prices and Reviews


Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $195 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Hotels Near the Water
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool
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Hyatt Place Santa Cruz offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and breakfast which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $195 (before taxes). It's located at 407 Broadway Ave and has earned a guest rating of 8.40/10. This beach hotel is also nice because it offers laundry services, a free breakfast, a hot tub, laundry facilities, and a heated pool which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 0.6 miles from the city center. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for beach hotels.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Parking
  • Laundry service
  • Free breakfast
  • Laundry facilities
  • Air-conditioned
View Prices and Reviews


Ocean Pacific Lodge

Motel with prices starting at $160 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Great Beach Location in Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Outdoor pool
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Located at 301 Pacific Avenue, Ocean Pacific Lodge has great rooms from $160 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, and free parking. It has a terrific 8.40 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find laundry facilities, family rooms, air-conditioning, a 24-hour desk, and wheelchair-accessible units which visitors will love. And this terrific hotel is just 0.7 miles from the center of town. It's a great value, as the price is less than the average for beach hotels.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Hot tub
  • Beach
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry facilities
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
View Prices and Reviews


Comfort Inn Santa Cruz

2-star Hotel with prices starting at $157 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Perfect Beach Trip Hotel in Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Outdoor pool
  • Heated pool
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A great place to stay is Comfort Inn Santa Cruz which has nice rooms starting at $157. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, laundry services, a free breakfast, and a hot tub, it also has a great guest rating of 7.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 110 Plymouth St. Travelers will really like this relaxing hotel which also offers free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, a heated pool, and air-conditioning. It's located just 0.9 miles from the city center, too. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for beach hotels.

Beach Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Beach
More Great Amenities
  • Laundry service
  • Free breakfast
  • Laundry facilities
  • Family rooms
  • Air-conditioned
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Also, take a look at the beach hotels in nearby destinations: Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pacific Grove, and Half Moon Bay.

For more terrific hotel ideas in Santa Cruz, make sure you also see Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in Santa Cruz, Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Santa Cruz, Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in Santa Cruz, Best Hotels for One Week in Santa Cruz, or Best Hotels for One Night in Santa Cruz.


How much do beach hotels and resorts cost in Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz Average Beach Hotel Price
$210

Visitors will find a large range of terrific beach hotel choices when planning a visit to Santa Cruz, California. The price of these beach hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average beach hotel price in Santa Cruz, California based on data from 26 hotels is an affordable $210. If you're interested in more information about hotels here, see our guide to hotel prices in Santa Cruz.

The average prices of our suggested beach hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $303
  • 3-star hotels: $239
  • 2-star hotels: $184


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