Name: Dream Inn Santa Cruz
Address: 175 West Cliff Drive, Westside Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, US
Price range: $257–$1,006 per night
Rating: 8.95

What guests think

Across many reviews of Dream Inn Santa Cruz, guests praise the true-on-the-beach location with sweeping ocean views and balconies, friendly staff, and a lively pool and hot tub scene that’s popular with families and convenient for boardwalk visits.

Common drawbacks include noise from hallways, doors, and the pool area, plus dated or basic bathrooms and occasional maintenance issues. Several guests mention pool or hot tub closures, crowded seating, and added costs like parking, while a few found check-in slow or staff interactions uneven. On-site dining is often enjoyed but can be pricey, so expect a scenic, family-friendly beachfront stay with vibrant vibes and some trade-offs.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Beach access from the pool area, a heated pool and hot tub, and a poolside bar are highlights. Multiple reviews note closures or maintenance, cold water at times, crowded seating, and paid parking across the street; some mention loud music or early bar/fire-pit shutdowns.

Related guest reviews

8

sara

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

If you get there at check in time , it's very hard to park with valet there's limited space...so keep that in mind. It's a big place in a great location overlooking the water, you can hear the waves crashing, that was wonderful, but you also hear everybody else. It's very loud and family friendly. So there's lots of children running around. Having a balcony is really, really nice. But the doors shutting in other rooms shakes your wall.

8

Tom

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

A great property, right on the beach, decent pool-could have been warmer, staff was great. The rooms absolutely need a little updating and love, otherwise we had fun!

10

Vicki

Aug 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I loved the ocean view and the heated pool. The pool music was a little loud as I could hear it from my room.

10

Janine

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Location was great! The pool and beach were perfect! Food poolside was good. Easy walk to the boardwalk. Clean hotel ad fun surf decor!!!

8

Frederic

Nov 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

I loved the pool and hot tub but sometimes the pool got a little cold.

8

Gretchen

Jan 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in and valet service was perfect. Pool and hot tub area was closed for resurfacing. This is my go to when I’m in Santa Cruz. Broken shutters that wouldn’t open in our room so we couldn’t see out of some of the windows. Shower grout needs to be re-done….. peeling and stained.

10

mike

Aug 6, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great hotel. Expensive but great location. Excellent pool.

10

Thomas C.

Aug 27, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The pool was not all that.. needs to be resurface and too noisy

10

Janine

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great location. Super kid friendly. Warm hot tub. Taco bar for lunch. Easy beach access and easy walking to boardwalk. Kids had a blast! Ages 3 & 6.

2

Joh

Jan 7, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We came for the pool. Their website says it reopened yesterday, it did not. Our whole mini vacation was planned around the pool, this money wasted. The person at reception was also super rude about it.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Many guests report clean rooms and well-kept spaces. However, several note stained grout, worn carpets, musty or smelly bathrooms, and inconsistent housekeeping.

Related guest reviews

10

Manja

Nov 12, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Clean

6

Vanessa

May 8, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room carpet was not clean, lights were not clean, bathroom door so hard and noisy to open/close, rooms and balcony not up to its price, needs a lot of maintenance, beds were clean and confortable.

6

chris

Aug 12, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Over priced. Very expensive per night but objectively does not meet that quality. Being on the beach, you pick this hotel for location but it became easily evident that that wasn’t required, especially at the price point. The rooms were not clean, very dated, and not properly maintained. Even to the point of dangerous for some potential patrons.

8

Sherry

Mar 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

some grout/ chaulk around shower was black, water stains on ceiling, due for some updates for the price being paid. the sound of the ocean waves was worth the slightly subpar room.

6

Valerie

Aug 7, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This place is just okay. I liked having a view, and the pool are and general location are great. You don’t need a car - lots of things are very walkable. I felt for the price, the hotel was very run down; flies swarming in the front lobby, chipped paint, stains on hotel drapes, room decor and fixtures hanging on by a thread, and the bathroom in our room specifically didn’t seem all that clean. You are paying for the location, which is pretty great. Just don’t look too close at anything or have expectations of a pristine or well-kept inn.

10

Diane

Aug 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, right on the beach. Close to boardwalk, downtown and west cliff for walking or running. Staff was friendly and helpful. Our room was spacious and clean, wonderful little balcony too. We'll be back.

4

Angelika

Jul 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Our expectations were high since we had stayed there once before. This trip was a tad disappointing. The hotel overall was nice in the lobby but other than that was pretty worn down for the price. Our room was dirty on the walls with old scuff marks and the shower and floors being pretty smelly. I get that we are near the beach but was not worth the price we paid. We also paid 30 dollars to park across the street and there was no parking! There were big metal storage containers also taking up so many parking spots. That we felt was a tad unfair to pay 30 dollars and not be able to park. I mean we waited around for almost an hour for someone to leave. The pool area was overly crowded and the round cabana area were dirty with old food in between the cushions. We were celebrating my sons birthday and although we were excited about staying there other than the location which that in itself was not as appealing with with homeless sleeping on hotel side beach our concern for safety was sad. Sadly we will not be returning or recommending.

8

jennifer

Apr 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beautiful view and clean rooms.

10

Cynthia

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was great, spacious, clean and loved our ocean view. Bed and pillows comfortable. Staff was nice, kind, welcoming and helpful.

10

Maria

Jun 7, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean rooms

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms feature balconies with striking ocean views and a fun retro surf style, often spacious and comfortable. Recurring issues include noise transfer (doors, halls, elevators, pool), dated or basic bathrooms, and mixed bed comfort or loud AC/heater units.

Related guest reviews

8

sara

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

If you get there at check in time , it's very hard to park with valet there's limited space...so keep that in mind. It's a big place in a great location overlooking the water, you can hear the waves crashing, that was wonderful, but you also hear everybody else. It's very loud and family friendly. So there's lots of children running around. Having a balcony is really, really nice. But the doors shutting in other rooms shakes your wall.

10

MICHELLE

Nov 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

boutique retro room was decorated with surf vibe. Vibrant colors/decor made you smile upon arrival. Balcony ocean view - PRICELESS

10

Sadie

Mar 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The beds are incredibly soft and uncomfortable- don’t expect to get a good nights sleep

2

Patrick

Mar 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Noisy neighbors, halls, and mechanical room. Infinity room was across the hall from the mechanical room which services the elevator. Anyone who uses the elevator at night will trigger noise. Tub was clogged. Infinity room view was looking at poolside bar hut.

8

Lucia

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location and views are great. However, the room needs lots of updates, specially in the bathroom ( grout on the floor/corners coming apart, gray/black grout in the bathroom, scratches and wholes in the cabinets). It was also very noisy, you could hear everything from the rooms next to us and people walking in the hallways. The pool was nice but needs a good clean. There is a lot of buildup around the pool, specially in the jacuzzi. We didn’t stay long. The worst part was the hostess at the restaurant. She was very rude and condescending. Even though the restaurant had many open seats, she asked if we would leave by 11am “because a lot of people like to camp out and stay long.” What kind of welcome is that?! Food was ok, but we didn’t return during our stay. Overall great location, but the amenities and our room need updates to be at the high-end level that is advertised as.

6

Olga

Jun 16, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

The room was very outdated and the bed was very hard and uncomfortable. I expected a more fancy hotel room for my $800 a night. The location is great but the superior room that I paid extra money for was totally not worth it.

10

Tamara

Jun 4, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The view was amazing from this hotel. I was not crazy about the bathroom, but overall we will definitely return.

10

Frank

Feb 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Centrally located walking distance to the wharf and Boardwalk. Beautiful ocean view. Cool retro room furnishings. Nice shower. Great balcony. Very nice staff. Wonderful morning breakfast room service you order the night before and select delivery time. Like the unique beach writing on sand in the morning (I think that is done by the hotel) Only one bad thing, the 1970's style noisy wall unit Heater/AC. Sounded like the surf crashing or a train rumbling by every time it went on. Really? Fix that and it is perfect!

10

stephanie

Nov 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was spacious and comfortable. Great location. Staff was friendly.

6

Jennifer

Jul 25, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

we have been coming to the Dream Inn for over 6 years. The room was clean but the bed was very uncomfortable and our room was on the corner just above the pool in the tower, The light shined in the room all night long and we could hear the elevator. I don't normally complain but I paid a lot of money for the room as well as upgraded the room when they are all the same. There were not extra amenities added to the room and we had to pay.

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Service

Staff are frequently described as friendly, helpful, and accommodating, including valet and restaurant teams. That said, a few guests encountered slow responses, rude interactions, or check-in delays.

Related guest reviews

10

Farhad

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great service. Staff was very friendly and helpful.

10

Bonnie

Nov 22, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff was amazing. From the valet to the front desk personnel, first class

10

Diane

Aug 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location, right on the beach. Close to boardwalk, downtown and west cliff for walking or running. Staff was friendly and helpful. Our room was spacious and clean, wonderful little balcony too. We'll be back.

10

Lee

Apr 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hotel was booked based on other people’s reviews, and it didn’t disappoint, the hotel on the outside looks like any other hotel, but the rooms are very spacious with good decoration, and my view from the balcony had a view right onto the beach. The greeting was amazing. I spoke to a lady called Ann, she was extremely helpful and informative about the local area. Car parking is pretty easy. You can pull to the drop up zone outside the hotel, then when you’ve got your luggage in the hotel, you drive across the street and park in the open space Carr park of which your room key will let you access. This hotel was in an amazing location right next to the beach, the pier and the boardwalk, which is essentially a fun fair on the seaside. You could have a 30 minute walk to get to a local lighthouse, which is well worth the trip. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, the coffee shop in the hotel is fantastic or locally your options would be trying coffee, which will be near the lighthouse next to the hotel. They also do very good coffee. The hotel restaurant also serves amazing food. I opted for the steak, which was very enjoyable, and the service was second to none. If you are a light sleeper, while there was no noise from the hotel, you could hear the waves crashing on the beach - which from my point of view helped with me getting to sleep.

10

Robin

Nov 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk staff was so friendly and professional. Our room had phenomenal views and was beautiful and spacious. I highly recommend this gorgeous hotel!!

6

Jonathan

Apr 24, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Everything was great except that it took 7 hours to fix a clogged toilet and the second time they cleaned the room it was not well done

2

Josh

Jul 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It’s a nice property great for families however, the staff is very rude and not accommodatable

10

kerwin

Sep 6, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff especially bartender Eric was fantastic! Went way above to ensure we had a wonderful stay

2

Kevin

Apr 14, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

During our stay, the heater made an insanely loud noise the entire night, and no one would come and fix it. Normally, I wouldn't mind not using a heater but it was in the low 40s when we stayed at the hotel so it was either a) freeze your butt off or b) have a terrible night of sleep. Unfortunately, we chose the latter. On top of that, the next morning at check-out we talked to an older lady and she was rude, stand-offish, and not at all helpful. In fact, she just kept interrupting me when I tried to tell her about the issues (other things I won't get into) in my room. I have a feeling she was the manager since employees looked like they kowtowed to her. In any case, I don't think I'll be staying here again.

10

Marcella

Jan 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff were friendly and attentive. The room view to the ocean was stunning .

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Outstanding beachfront location beside the wharf and Boardwalk, walkable to dining and attractions, with great views. Some felt the immediate area less appealing, but most praised the convenience.

Related guest reviews

8

Jose

Aug 28, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very nice beachfront hotel with awesome views. Great place to stay with many dining options in the area.

10

Sebastien

Oct 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Stunning ocean views, easy beach and pier access. Great family fun!

8

maria

Sep 10, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Loved the location, right on the beach. Everything is walking distance. The Staff were excellent! Can’t wait to go back!

10

Tolya

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This property was located on the beach and just a few feet from the boardwalk. Excellent!

8

Aaron

Mar 29, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

The only hotel right on the beach in Santa Cruz. Nice staff and quite clean. Beds are comfortable and room was very clean.

10

Helen

Aug 9, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Best hotel in Santa Cruz! Walking distance to the wharf and the boardwalk! Best of all, all rooms have an ocean view! We always crack the patio door at night and sleep to the sound of the sea!

10

Jason

Feb 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great view located right next to the Wharf/Boardwalk

10

Andrea

Dec 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved our stay at Dream Inn! Definitely recommend for location, quietness, and ease of walking to wharf and boardwalk!!

10

Stephen

Nov 13, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Ideal location for all the main reasons to go to Santa Cruz!

10

LEESA

Nov 23, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Easy check in offered a late check out with was appreciated. The room was clean and large with a great shower and comfortable bed. Amazing views from our balcony, make sure you are awake for sunrise. The food at the Jack O'Neill restaurant was delicious and the staff were friendly. Would definitely recommend this restaurant and hotel. A must do when in Santa Cruz.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

On-site restaurant and poolside options receive many compliments for quality and breakfast, and room service is generally positive. Pricing is often considered high, a few meals disappointed or a host was rude, and in-room coffee drew criticism.

Related guest reviews

10

Dave

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Spacious, modern room with balcony and great sea view. Nice restaurant served nice breakfast. Couldn’t fault it.

8

Paul

Dec 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

We had a lovely stay overnight at the Dream Inn. Our one complaint was that the coffee was terrible in the rooms. Especially for the price of the rooms they could have better coffee service.

10

Stephanie

Jun 13, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is a really cute Hotel. It is PERFECTLY located in Santa Cruz away from the boardwalk but right on the beach. The pool overlooks the beach and the wharf. There is a restaurant onsite that is decent--great views and service was great!! Food was good (not a ton of selections but some seasonal specials-but pricey--like everything these days. Would have liked to have more fresh seafood and some oysters on the menu and more salads ). There is a great trail to walk or bike along the beach adjacent to the hotel and one can walk to the wharf for lots of dining options. Pool service at the bar would be great, but there is a bar one can walk to and a taco bar as well. Lots of kids in the pool so if you want quiet, this is not the place for you to lounge. Overall would stay here again!!

10

Sheila

May 31, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Dream Inn has a fantastic restaurant named after local surfer and surf shop legend Jack O’Neill which has beautiful views of the beach, cliffs, wharf and bay. The Dream Inn also has a heated pool and a large hot tub, which we enjoyed very much while sipping a pina colada from the pool bar. :) Our room was beautifully decorated and we had a balcony overlooking the bay. We had MAID SERVICE every day, which is so rare these days. Coffee shop in lobby. Valet /or self-parking in their parking lot ($30), new movies on demand ($20), room service, etc. Walking distance to boardwalk. We highly recommend the Dream Inn!

10

Michelle

Apr 15, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Always love coming to this hotel in Santa Cruz. Staff is very friendly, restaurant attached to the hotel is amazing and you can’t beat the beautiful views.

10

Jennifer

Mar 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great hotel…was not a fan of their dinner that we had delivered through room service, but their breakfast the next day was delicious!

8

Lucia

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The location and views are great. However, the room needs lots of updates, specially in the bathroom ( grout on the floor/corners coming apart, gray/black grout in the bathroom, scratches and wholes in the cabinets). It was also very noisy, you could hear everything from the rooms next to us and people walking in the hallways. The pool was nice but needs a good clean. There is a lot of buildup around the pool, specially in the jacuzzi. We didn’t stay long. The worst part was the hostess at the restaurant. She was very rude and condescending. Even though the restaurant had many open seats, she asked if we would leave by 11am “because a lot of people like to camp out and stay long.” What kind of welcome is that?! Food was ok, but we didn’t return during our stay. Overall great location, but the amenities and our room need updates to be at the high-end level that is advertised as.

10

Lee

Apr 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This hotel was booked based on other people’s reviews, and it didn’t disappoint, the hotel on the outside looks like any other hotel, but the rooms are very spacious with good decoration, and my view from the balcony had a view right onto the beach. The greeting was amazing. I spoke to a lady called Ann, she was extremely helpful and informative about the local area. Car parking is pretty easy. You can pull to the drop up zone outside the hotel, then when you’ve got your luggage in the hotel, you drive across the street and park in the open space Carr park of which your room key will let you access. This hotel was in an amazing location right next to the beach, the pier and the boardwalk, which is essentially a fun fair on the seaside. You could have a 30 minute walk to get to a local lighthouse, which is well worth the trip. If you’re a coffee connoisseur, the coffee shop in the hotel is fantastic or locally your options would be trying coffee, which will be near the lighthouse next to the hotel. They also do very good coffee. The hotel restaurant also serves amazing food. I opted for the steak, which was very enjoyable, and the service was second to none. If you are a light sleeper, while there was no noise from the hotel, you could hear the waves crashing on the beach - which from my point of view helped with me getting to sleep.

10

Robert

Nov 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Location, views, convenient restaurant restaurant that has pleasant service and good food

10

Janine

Aug 4, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Location was great! The pool and beach were perfect! Food poolside was good. Easy walk to the boardwalk. Clean hotel ad fun surf decor!!!

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$233
February	$258
March	$299
April	$321
May	$302
June	$400
July	$445
August	$469
September	$377
October	$326
November	$272
December	$241

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14 $278	15 $275	16 $324	17 $342	18	19
20 $272	21 $270	22 $304	23 $369	24 $367	25 $918	26 $918
27 $351	28 $367	29 $550	30 $381

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $398	2 $649	3 $944
4 $313	5 $325	6 $279	7 $307	8 $362	9 $617	10 $919
11 $376	12 $637	13 $919	14 $460	15 $551	16 $706	17 $679
18 $398	19 $365	20 $371	21 $371	22 $352	23 $591	24 $918
25 $365	26 $365	27 $380	28 $296	29 $257	30 $456	31 $1,006

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds, Ocean View, Tower (Ocean View Tower Two Queen Beach Le)

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View, Tower (Ocean View Deluxe Tower King)

Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View (Ocean View Cloud King)

Superior Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View (Ocean View Cathedral Executive King)

Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds, Ocean View (Ocean View Infinity Two Queen Beach)

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Ocean View (Ocean View Tower Two Queen Wave Lev)

Superior Room, 2 Queen Beds, Ocean View (Ocean View Tower Two Queen Cloud Le)

Superior Room, 2 Queen Beds, Ocean View (Ocean View Cathedral Two Queen Beac)

Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View (Ocean View Infinity King Adapted Beach )

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View (Ocean View Deluxe King Adapted)

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View (Ocean View Tower King Wave Level)

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, Ocean View (Ocean View Two Queen Beach Level)

Guest reviews

Fabulous

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Dream Inn Santa Cruz

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