Torch Lite Inn at the Beach Boardwalk

Convenient, comfortable, no frills place to spend the night after a long day at the Boardwalk. I was initially very apprehensive after seeing some less than desirable reviews. However, our stay was comfortable for an overnight stay. It is a short walk to the boardwalk, or about a two minute drive so you are really paying for the convenience.It is in a busy area which means there is lots of both auto and foot traffic, however none of it disturbed us during the night. Parking is also very tight but the front desk employee was so kind and helpful in helping us find spots to park. Also, although a $100 deposit was mentioned on several other reviews, we did not have to put a deposit down. As noted in other reviews, there is no longer a pool so that is something to be aware of. The property has a main building and a separate annexed building located close to an alley. I was located in the annexed building but it did require a key to enter the hallways as a security measure. The actual rooms were clean and spacious. They offered a small bathroom with shower and toilet. The sink and mirror are located in the general room area. There is a good sized refrigerator that would hold lots of snacks and packaged foods. Also, a microwave (hard to come by in most hotels) and a small coffee maker. The beds were comfortable enough, the A/C worked well. If you were staying for a longer vacation, I could see seeking out a place with more amenities, but it worked for our trip.

Very comfortable bed, nice atmosphere. The pool has been removed sjnce picture was taken

For the price its not bad, parking was convenient. No pool. All you get is your room, no amenities.

Front desk guy was very friendly and courteous. Pictures and description need to be updated qs far as no pool.

Clean room, decent size. The only hassle is the parking space for cars.

Rooms updated like pix, very clean, parking is good, extremely walkable to all the main Santa Cruz attractions beach, boardwalk, warf, West Cliff Drive, Pacific Garden Mall, Warrior area. Great value, this place has location and the rooms are clean. It's a safe area. The grounds needs some sprucing up and the pool has been removed.

There were a couple of hiccups at check-in. The room I was initially given hadn't been cleaned yet and the ice machine was broken. But the desk clerk was very apologetic and responsive, moving me to a new room immediately and helping me get ice elsewhere. Once in my room, I found it to be excellent. It had everything I needed, was very clean, the bed was very comfortable and the room appeared to have maybe been renovated recently. It's not "high end" but it worked well for me.

It's very clean, quiet area, the only minor con was parking not enough parking and small small space even for a Honda Civic it was very tight. And if you have a more bigger built person with you they would definitely unfortunately hit the other person car if you were to get out of the parking space parked. Doable if your other passengers get out of the vehicle before you park. And it's just you trying to squeeze out of the car.

No parking

The property was remodeled. It was a convenient location and easily walkable to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Unfortunately, the pool was filled in with dirt and the street adjacent to the property can be noisy due to the passing traffic.

My daughters room had a blood stain and cigarette burn on the sheets. When we asked to have it replaced we were told that the cleaner is old and has bad eye site and didnt see it. Her room sink handle was also broken. And had empty/ open courtesy coffee packets on the table My room had broken floor boards and stains on the bathroom wall. The parking lot is small with not enough parking spaces. Website shows and advertises a pool but there actually isnt one. Funds for my room was taken out of my acct right as i made reservations and then when i checked in i was charged a security deposit for both rooms. When asked why i was charged twice i was told because i made separate reservations for both rooms when i didnt. I made 1 reservation for 2 rooms. Idk if this is a new thing hotels are doing where the full charge for the stay is taken out of the clients acct before their stay. Same with the security deposits. The only good thing abt this place is the fact that it is walking distance to the boardwalk.

Not so impressed. The pictures are far nicer than what's presented, inside and outside especially. The bathroom didn't seem very clean, I could see that the shower hadn't been wiped down well if at all. There were cop cars present almost the entire time, at one point, several of them - some sort of incident seemed to be happening. The walls were paper-thin and I could clearly hear people talking, snoring, and moving around. It was very expensive and there was no mention of an additional $100 'incidental' deposit until we got there.

There was no blanket the cover was old shower Curtain old and dirty room smelled so bad of chemicals we couldn’t sleep out eyes and throat were burning slept with window open no screen in the middle of winter just a few things you can work on

The rooms are very clean and updated. For the price point we were very happy and would fine you stay here again. Perfect to just walk to the boardwalk or downtown for a meal. The room was very quiet we didn’t hear any other guests or street noise. Beds were comfortable and staff was friendly

We left before evening after seeing a cockroach.

This was horrible. The room was dirty with hair and toenail clippings upon check in and we were told they couldn’t do anything about it.

The sheets were filthy, unwashed and covered in bugs

My partner and I stayed for one night in a deluxe room. It was quiet, had blackout curtains, and the room appeared as advertised. There was also plenty of parking and the location is convenient. We were disappointed in the cleanliness - the floor was filthy and there were some insects. The one window in our corner room did not have a bug screen, so we weren't able to enjoy the fresh air.

Room was spotless! Beds were comfortable and we were within walking distance to the boardwalk.

Had a very pleasant stay. Room was very clean.

I got a fantastic deal on this place so I had almost no standards. This motel was a happy surprise and really helped me have a nice vacation. I was pleased with the clean room. It had some cool features like a great heater/ac at that has this “constant fan” setting which I liked. Fridge, microwave, full tub. Although no major complaints, it wasn’t perfect: Wi-Fi not good. the bed wasn’t the softest, strong sanitizer smell. It looked like they had some kind of breakfast but no times posted, so I missed it . Also I couldn’t figure out the motion sensor lighting. They turned off on me a few inconvenient times. Still its a quick walk to the pier /boardwalk and definitely in a fun part of town.

The outside light shines directly into the room.

Having a hotel be more budget friendly doesn't always mean sacrificing other qualities. I found our room was well kept, and provided all the basic amenities you would expect- a fridge, an ironing board, a desk, wall charging USB ports, a comfortable bed. I was pleasantly surprised to find all the furniture, finishings, and fixtures to be clean and in great condition. Whenever we went up to the front desk, the service was always friendly and helpful. Overall, my expectations were comfortably met for this price point, and I never thought any of the accommodations fell short or were disappointing. Above all, though, I would say the best quality of our stay here was its central location in Santa Cruz and proximity to major areas of interest: The boardwalk is just a brief walk down the street, and the Pacific Ave bars and shops are another short walk away along the San Lorenzo river walk (which runs adjacent to the hotel). There are also plenty of grocery stores, food trucks, and restaurants close by. If you want to go anywhere in central Santa Cruz, enjoy scenic strolls, and don't want to worry about driving around, then this place is great (and if you bring a bike, you probably won't have to drive anywhere at all). For a comfortable place to sleep and decompress while exploring Santa Cruz for a few days that won't take up the majority of your budget, I can definitely recommend this place.

Pillows too thin. Cheap toilet paper.

The beds are very very hard and uncomfortable to sleep on. The property was okay, there was few amenities, no pool and difficult parking (although there was plenty of parking) the spots were tight and scattered. Close to the boardwalk was nice.

Overall ok, but too loud at night,

Place was in a nice spot, worth the money I spent. Beds were not comfortable. Only complaint.

The television channel choices were poor. I wished they had streaming amazon etc, so you could log in and use your own account. All else was just fine. Clean nice and comfortable.

Very clean, thin walls

My recent stay at the Torch Lite Inn in Santa Cruz was, for the most part, absolutely delightful! The room itself was a highlight – very nice, spacious, and comfortable, providing a great base for my trip. The only significant downside was the noise from the room above me. There was frequent heavy walking and stomping in the middle of the night, along with the sound of running water, which unfortunately disrupted my sleep. Additionally, I was a bit surprised by the $100 deposit required for room damages at check-in. While I'm sure it was mentioned in the terms and conditions, it wasn't something I was expecting, so a heads-up beforehand would have been appreciated. Aside from these two points, I had no other complaints and thoroughly enjoyed my stay. The Torch Lite Inn offers a great location and comfortable accommodations.

Service was exceptional!!!

I put a do not disturb sign on my door and house keeping still came in without permission

Called to let them know I would be checking in late. Then when I ultimately got there to check in I called and they said that it was too late, and refused to check me in and hung up on me. Tried to call back and didn’t answer. They had no problem taking my money like thieves though. Had to book another room.

Pleasant hotel right next to the boardwalk and beach. Short walk to downtown also where you will find many of the best restaurants and bars. Customer service was also excellent. They allowed me to check in hours early and let me keep my car at the hotel after check out for an entire day.

Great front desk, very friendly and helpful

Very friendly and helpful staff and clean rooms 👍 Everything looked like recently renovated !

Very nice, helpful front desk. This hotel is in the perfect location to avoid the expensive parking at the nearby locations. Our room was comfortable. There is a nice view from the shared outdoor patio.

$100.00 deposit at check in was not returned, its been 2 weeks. Called the office.... they live there, and was told that they would mail a check even though the agreement was to return to my card in 3 to 5 buisness days. I always take videos of leaving the room up to dropping off the room keys. My kids felt unsafe. The better business bureau will be contacted. Unsure if I will trust Expedia as well at this point.

As usual it was wonderful. Great staff and always feel very welcome. This place is proof that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.

I give this review a 1star because the management was RUDE and so disrespectful. I have a mental illness and I require emotional support animal. I called the property numerous of times before my check in date. NO ONE answers the phone. When I do arrive, the male behind the counter tells me that they are not pet friendly. I explain to him that they are registered. He than became argumentative and said that people that are blind and deaf or who have surgery should only be allowed to have services dogs and that my illness isn’t relevant. I than explained while controlling myself from having a mental breakdown, that he needs more education and he has no right questioning me about my illness or my service dogs. He than requested that I pay a deposit fee of 100. Without hesitation I paid. I will see if I get back my deposit.

Convenient, comfortable, no frills place to spend the night after a long day at the Boardwalk. I was initially very apprehensive after seeing some less than desirable reviews. However, our stay was comfortable for an overnight stay. It is a short walk to the boardwalk, or about a two minute drive so you are really paying for the convenience.It is in a busy area which means there is lots of both auto and foot traffic, however none of it disturbed us during the night. Parking is also very tight but the front desk employee was so kind and helpful in helping us find spots to park. Also, although a $100 deposit was mentioned on several other reviews, we did not have to put a deposit down. As noted in other reviews, there is no longer a pool so that is something to be aware of. The property has a main building and a separate annexed building located close to an alley. I was located in the annexed building but it did require a key to enter the hallways as a security measure. The actual rooms were clean and spacious. They offered a small bathroom with shower and toilet. The sink and mirror are located in the general room area. There is a good sized refrigerator that would hold lots of snacks and packaged foods. Also, a microwave (hard to come by in most hotels) and a small coffee maker. The beds were comfortable enough, the A/C worked well. If you were staying for a longer vacation, I could see seeking out a place with more amenities, but it worked for our trip.

Great location

It was below average , it was a little out dated but overall clean . No issues with parking , the tiles in my room were lifting from the ground causing a hazard of potentialy cutting your foot on the edge so that wasn’t cool . Only reason it gets a three is the pricing , felt secure , and was reasonably clean. Just outdated

Pleasant hotel right next to the boardwalk and beach. Short walk to downtown also where you will find many of the best restaurants and bars. Customer service was also excellent. They allowed me to check in hours early and let me keep my car at the hotel after check out for an entire day.

Nice room but pictures can be misleading. Floors and walls are paper thin. And somewhat of a sketchy area.

Not where I normally stay in Santa Cruz but was in town for a night and didn't want to pay $300. Will probably stay here again, the room was nice, the location excellent, with lots of parking. Easy walk to the beach, boardwalk, wharf, and downtown, what else do you need?

Very nice, helpful front desk. This hotel is in the perfect location to avoid the expensive parking at the nearby locations. Our room was comfortable. There is a nice view from the shared outdoor patio.

The property was remodeled. It was a convenient location and easily walkable to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Unfortunately, the pool was filled in with dirt and the street adjacent to the property can be noisy due to the passing traffic.

Best property within walking distance of the boardwalk. I have had an exceptional time every time with the clean rooms.

When we first initially came to stay here we were excited to be able to be closer to the beach. That part was solely my fault because of my lack of research of how far it truly was. My father’s truck Got broken into and

Room was clean but they stopped putting cookies in the room. They used to serve breakfast when that stopped the added snacks to the room. Now they stopped that too. But the price is so much higher

Breakfast was supposed to be provided and this was not

Central location to tourist area of Santa Cruz. Clean. Nice bed comfortable. Modern updated feel to the rooms. Air conditioning unit was quieter then most. Parking is open so one must choose an open spot before parking is all gone or else park outside on a nearby street. I may be improvement if hotel assigned a space for each unit. The pool is gone only a gravel pit remains. In room breakfast snacks are small coffee machine and a store bought packaged sweet breakfast roll and instant oatmeal packet. Not fancy but ok due to location.

Super quick to the boardwalk. We walked there and back at least 3 times per day, took less than 8 minutes with a toddler and stroller. Parking was easy for us, unlike some reviews but we also didn’t drive anywhere at all. We just walked. Room was pretty clean. Property was a bit run down outside, but didn’t affect stay. Pool has been filled in, so don’t let photos fool you. Also there’s a breakfast room but they don’t offer breakfast. Seems they are trying to close everything down and make as much profit as possible. Stay was good though, and we’d stay again for the price and walkability.

False advertisement, said there was free breakfast, a pool, and a hot tub. Also, no privacy sign for house keeping. Housekeeping goes into room when you leave. Lastly, the walls are very thin. Only good thing about this hotel is that it is walking distance from the boardwalk.

Front desk was kind! No pool, not sure what they\'re doing there. There was a "homeless" person hanging out near the back parking. He didn\'t actually seem homeless, looked fairly clean, but also appeared to be on drugs. Came during storm weekend (1/7/23) and it felt like there was constantly noise and something hitting from maybe the roof because of all the wind. Doesn\'t seem like a family friendly place, but isn\'t bad for how near the beach and the area and price. 4/5 imo.

the vanity light didn't work, there was no breakfast offered and the pool is a dirt lot in the middle of the units

The beds were very uncomfortable and felt like cheap mattresses. The pillows were very thin. The water pressure in the shower was very low, not enjoyable. The pool and spa area was filled in with dirt, and thanks to the recent rain was a muddy, smelly mess. Signs pointed to continental breakfast / coffee room, but none was provided. The coffee maker in the room did not work. For the price that was paid I felt very disappointed.