North America / North America Hotels / United States of America Hotels / Santa Cruz Hotels /

The Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in Santa Cruz

Where to Stay on Your First Trip to Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz, California

Visiting Santa Cruz, California for the first time can be an exciting, yet overwhelming experience. With so many incredible hotels to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to stay. If you're deciding where to stay for your first visit to Santa Cruz, we've compiled a list of the best hotels for first time visitors. We analyzed all of the hotels in Santa Cruz based on price, location, amenities, guest ratings, and more to determine which would be the ideal places to stay for first timers. Whether you're here for just a few days or longer, these hotels offer the perfect combination of amenities, location, and price. For those visiting Santa Cruz for the first time, it's important to choose a hotel in a safe and convenient area to make the most of your first visit. You'll want to be close to the activities, shopping, and dining options, of course. When looking for hotels, consider the amenities they offer. Some hotels may have a fitness center, a bar or restaurant, a pool, or even a spa. All of these features can add to your overall enjoyment if you've never been to Santa Cruz before. Also, guest ratings and reviews are also important to consider when choosing a hotel. Whether you're visiting Santa Cruz for the first time, or you're a seasoned traveler, the best hotels in Santa Cruz for first-timers offer the perfect combination of comfort, convenience, and affordability. So, here's our list of suggestions for your next trip.

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

La Bahia Hotel And Spa

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $499 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

Located at 215 Beach Street, La Bahia Hotel And Spa has great rooms from $499 (before taxes). It offers an outdoor pool, a pool bar, room service, a restaurant, and a fitness center. It has a terrific 9.20 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. Only 0.9 miles from the city center, first time visitors will especially love a bar, parking, laundry services, pet-friendly rooms, and a hot tub at this relaxing hotel. Getting room service delivered is always a nice luxury.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Pool bar
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
View Prices and Reviews


View hotels on the map:

Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $202 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

A great place to stay is Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley which has nice rooms starting at $202. Offering an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and scuba diving, it also has a great guest rating of 8.00 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 6001 La Madrona Drive. This convenient hotel is also nice because it offers a bar, parking, hiking, rooms with kitchenettes, and child care which visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 4.3 miles from the city center. Everyone loves a nice pool, and you won't be disappointed with this one. It's also less than the average price for first time trip hotels, so it's a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Airport shuttle
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Kitchenette
  • Babysitting / Child Care
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Dream Inn Santa Cruz

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $396 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Heated pool
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

We found Dream Inn Santa Cruz to be a great place to stay, and the price starts at $396. We loved that is has an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and parking, and it also has a terrific guest rating of 8.80 out of 10 from previous guests. It's located at 175 West Cliff Drive. You'll also find hiking, laundry services, golf, a hot tub, and laundry facilities which travelers will love. And this fun hotel is just 0.9 miles from the center of town. The heated pool is comfortable, relaxing, and fun for everyone.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Family rooms
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection

4-star Hotel with prices starting at $242 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Time in Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 4-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

With terrific rooms from $242, Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection, at 611 Ocean Street provides an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a fitness center, and a bar. Its terrific guest rating is 8.00 out of 10 from previous guests staying here. New visitors will really like this amazing hotel which also offers parking, pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a tour desk, and air-conditioning. It's located just 0.6 miles from the city center, too. The service at the restaurant is terrific, and so is the food.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
  • Parking
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $198 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for First-Timers
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Santa Cruz has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10, and offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center, scuba diving, snorkeling, and parking. The great rooms here start at $198 before taxes and depending on the season. It can be found at 2956 Mission Street. Furthermore, it also offers hiking, laundry services, golf, a free breakfast, and a hot tub, which is nice for first time visitors. Just 1.8 miles from the city center, this fantastic hotel is a terrific choice. Having a hot tub at this hotel is also a nice splurge. We found the price of this hotel to be a great value because the price is less than average for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Snorkeling
  • Parking
  • Free breakfast
  • Horse riding
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Hiking
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Bicycle rental
  • Heated pool
  • Tennis
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Ocean Pacific Lodge

Motel with prices starting at $136 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Among the Best Places to Stay for a First Visit to Santa Cruz
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 2-star hotels.
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

The great guest rating of Ocean Pacific Lodge is 8.30 out of 10. This place has an outdoor pool, an outdoor pool, laundry services, laundry services, and pet-friendly rooms. Prices for the terrific rooms are from $136, and it's located at 301 Pacific Avenue. We also love the pet-friendly rooms, a hot tub, a hot tub, free parking, and free parking which are great for visitors. And since it's just 0.7 miles from the center of the town, the location is great, too. The price of this hotel is less than average for first time trip hotels, which makes it a great value.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Outdoor pool
  • Family-Friendly
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Laundry service
  • Laundry service
  • Pets allowed
  • Pets allowed
  • Hot tub
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Free parking
View Prices and Reviews


Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $241 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect Hotel to Make the Most of Your First Visit
  • Heated pool
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

A cool place is Courtyard by Marriott Santa Cruz because it has great rooms that start at $241. It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant, a fitness center, a bar, and parking, it also earned a great guest rating of 8.20 out of 10 from people who have stayed here before. It's found at 313 Riverside Avenue. Only 0.8 miles from the city center, travelers will especially love laundry services, a spa, laundry facilities, a heated pool, and air-conditioning at this convenient hotel.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
  • Spa
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Heated pool
  • Microwave
View Prices and Reviews


The Inn at Pasatiempo

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $170 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Great Hotel for First Time Visitors
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

The Inn at Pasatiempo offers an outdoor pool, room service, a restaurant, a bar, and laundry services which we really like. The terrific rooms here start at $170 (before taxes). It's located at 555 Highway 17 and has earned a guest rating of 8.00/10. This fun hotel is also nice because it offers golf, free parking, laundry facilities, family rooms, and air-conditioning which new visitors will enjoy. Also, it's just 1.8 miles from the city center. It's a great value, too, because it's less than the average price for first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Room service
More Great Amenities
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Free parking
  • Family rooms
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


West Cliff Inn, A Four Sisters Inn

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $260 (before taxes) - See All Prices
Perfect for Your First Visit to Santa Cruz
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Family-Friendly
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

Located at 174 West Cliff Drive, West Cliff Inn, A Four Sisters Inn has great rooms from $260 (before taxes). It offers scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, golf, and a hot tub. It has a terrific 8.80 rating out of 10 from previous guests who have stayed here. You'll also find free parking, bicycle rental, a tour desk, a refrigerator, and balconies which first time visitors will love. And this amazing hotel is just 0.9 miles from the center of town.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Snorkeling
  • Family-Friendly
More Great Amenities
  • Hiking
  • Hot tub
  • Free parking
  • Bicycle rental
  • Refrigerator
  • Breakfast in the room
View Prices and Reviews


Hyatt Place Santa Cruz

3-star Hotel with prices starting at $210 (before taxes) - See All Prices
A Good Stay for Your First Trip
  • Great Value: the price is lower than average for 3-star hotels.
  • High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.
  • Heated pool
View Prices on Kayak Hidden Price
(Click to Reveal)
Location on Map

View more photos

A great place to stay is Hyatt Place Santa Cruz which has nice rooms starting at $210. Offering an outdoor pool, a fitness center, a bar, parking, and laundry services, it also has a great guest rating of 8.60 out of 10 from many previous guests. It's located at 407 Broadway. Visitors will really like this fantastic hotel which also offers a hot tub, laundry facilities, a heated pool, air-conditioning, and a 24-hour desk. It's located just 0.6 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 first time trip hotels.

First Time Trip Hotel Amenities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Parking
More Great Amenities
  • Fitness center
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Laundry service
  • Hot tub
  • Heated pool
  • Refrigerator
View Prices and Reviews


Also, take a look at the first time trip hotels in nearby destinations: San Francisco, San Jose, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Monterey, and Santa Cruz.

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


How much do hotels for first-time visitors cost in Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz Average First Time Trip Hotel Price
$235

Visitors will find a large range of terrific first time trip hotel choices when planning a visit to Santa Cruz, California. The price of these first time trip hotels can vary according to location, type, and amenities. The average first time trip hotel price in Santa Cruz, California based on data from 22 hotels is an affordable $235. 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 first time trip hotels by star rating:

  • 4-star hotels: $335
  • 3-star hotels: $230
  • 2-star hotels: $186


Budget Your Trip
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. On this website you can also find travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
About BudgetYourTrip.com
Share This Page

Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.