Yikes! Avoid. I’m starting off this review by saying I never actually stayed the night. Upon checking in I felt a vibe that left me feeling unsettled. Homeless walking thru the parking lot. Everything felt dirty. We got our room on the 3rd floor (no elevators), walked past the rusted out stairwells held together with masking tape up to our room. The room is dated and stale. Stains on the sheets kept it from feeling like a comfortable stay for myself and family. As a review below stated. I’d avoid if staying with your family. I walked back down and got a refund and stayed elsewhere.

Don’t do it!! I was planning a Santa Cruz trip during a marathon in August 2022 and knew prices were going to be high. I chose the Motel Santa Cruz because of the price and walking distance, although it was a 25 minute walk to Boardwalk. I asked representative if rooms were refundable, he said they were. When I received confirmation, it stated non refundable. I called back and it was corrected to refundable with a price for 2 days of $283.00. however, when I checked my credit card statement, they had charged me twice as much for two separate reservations with a $1200.00 total! I called again to cancel everything especially after reading really sketchy reviews, and am still disputing with my credit card company. Good grief, what a hassle. We ended up getting a room in Capitola and will drive to Santa Cruz the morning of the marathon. Save yourself the grief and do not choose this motel.

Don't do it, REALLY don't do it! This place is NASTY!!! 1. Front desk=meth heads 2. Many, many, many meth heads (or pick a hard drug) hanging out in parking lot/around hotel rooms. There was one lady having a very loud argument WITH HERSELF. 3. Place is rundown and outdated , to say the least. 4. Place is to ghetto for a food vending machine BUT you can buy 3-4 snacks from the front office. 5. Did I mention meth heads? BC there is a constant flow of meth heads on bikes coming in and out of this place. Definitely seen at least 2 drug deals. 6. Front desk, bc they're druggies don't give a damn about their guests safety. 7. This place was so bad, we ate the $160 dollar cancellation fee (we booked 2 nights) to find another hotel, which was worth it . Didn't feel safe there at all! Don't come here, unless you approve the info provided above.

Don't stay at Motel Santa Cruz. Take your business elsewhere! We stayed at Motel Santa Cruz when we evacuated from our home due to CZU Lightning Complex fire in August 2020. We arrived at 1:30AM, along with a number of other CZU Fire evacuees. When checking in somehow the rate given AND listed online of $90 / night had magically increased to $365 / night. Others checking in reported the same sort of price gouging. At 1:30AM what are you going to do in the midst of a mass evacuation and all the other hotels / motels being fully filled due to emergency fire evacuations? Room was sad, with broken bedside lights. It reminded me of a poorly maintained military barracks. The bathroom did not look like it had been cleaned since last occupant. It was bad enough that my spouse refused to use the shower. Towels were very worn and thin. The bed was made up with only top sheets, no fitted bottom sheet. Both sheets were well worn from use. Noise came through from rooms on both sides and above. When we asked about the cleanliness issues with the bathroom, the lady behind the desk had a prolonged rant about how "you don't understand about how hard it is to get good housekeeping staff. And being Mexican they don't understand what you are saying to them half the time anyway." This said by a Desi person from Southeastern Asia. We left at 7:30AM, having used the room for just 6 hours = $60 / hour. We both said it reminded us of one of those sad, decrepit hotels on the TV show "Hotel Impossible". Unfortunately, the pictures provided by the hotel management / owners on the website do not represent reality. Yes, this hotel is pet friendly, however after our stay, I wouldn't ever put any animal there, let alone a human. You would be better off to sleep in your car.

Do not stay here Don't stay at this horrible hotel the owner sabrina is a piece of crap who doesn't care about anything but money . Horrible stay are bathroom was flooded and she knew about the problem and still placed us in it . The unit above us backed up the toilet and it was coming thru the ceiling and fan area. Dirty rooms smell of mildew , dirty towels , staff dont use face mask ... blood on mattresses no lights in some rooms and no ac at times , tv has horrible reception .the list can go on please take your business to a different hotel I promise they will treat you better