Took a very last minute family trip to Santa Cruz on a Saturday afternoon so we had to try and find a vacancy once we got there. We found no vacancy at 5 other motels before we saw this one, which looked somewhat inviting from the exterior. We were desperate at this point anyway and it was nearly dark out. Our 3rd floor room had one king bed and a sofa bed. Paid too much at $179 plus 10% tax. We did NOT get what we paid for.

The room was pretty bad - worst I've been to in a while. I couldn't go by Tripadvisor reviews this time since we had no reservations and boy am I sorry I didn't have time to check around more. Hard bed, very poor soundproofing - heard the guy in the next room clear as day coughing all night plus the kids outside in the pool were extremely loud long after our kids were ready to be asleep. Holes and water damage and cracking paint on the ceiling of the bathroom, especially above shower. The showerhead was not all the way in the wall.....it was sort of hanging out there like it could fall out. One exposed pipe ran along the ceiling from one end of the bedroom/bathroom to the other. Nasty brown stains up high on the wall, toilet was not secure....it rattled and rocked when you sat on it and the sink didn't drain well at all. When I went to retrieve something from under the bed, the floor felt sticky to the touch - YUCK! The rest of the unit seemed fairly clean overall - just so run down that it felt dirty and of course the stains didn't help. Thankfully this was a quick stay - we were checked out before 8am the next morning and skipped the continental breakfast for fear of more of the same experience.

The only features I appreciated were free parking & the need for the 'card key' in order to access the stairways that led up to other levels of rooms. At least that made me feel a little more safe. Beyond that, there is very little I can say good about this hotel - the front desk was very uninterested (not rude but just kind of there) and I was dying for them to ask how our stay was at check out but they didn't say a word about it. I guess they have probably had enough negative responses by now! Will not return here ever again.

Stayed there last summer for one day to check out the university with the family. I'd rather have root canal than stay there again.

Rooms are average motel quality. Breakfast was much better: it's "continental", but this means a major layout of waffles, bagels, cereals, fruits, etc., not just donuts and bad coffee. Pool is good sized. Right next door is a park. 10 min walk to central shopping/dining district (Boardwalk much farther). When there were some room mix-ups at check-in, they knocked $10 per night off the entire bill. Given the high prices and poor quality of "budget" accommodation in Santa Cruz, this place was a real steal.

Ugh.. imagine a cement block building with metal stairways that lead from one floor to the other..(which make lots of noise when people stump down the stairs late at night) When you reach your dorm, oops, door to your room, the front wall is all glass, (not very good soundproofing). Once you open the door, you'll see dorm room furniture, hooks on the walls where artwork might have once hung, dingy carpeting, musty smells, and no hot water!! This place was the worst I"ve ever stayed in.. and the only reason we stayed two nights is that there wasn't anything else available.. Icky lumpy soft mattresses, and no hot water for showers.. when i complained, the front desk gave me attitude and then said, "well, it happens every sunday morning when everyone is checking out" I asked for a discount which was refused, and when i suggested they inform their customers about the hot water shortage, the desk person replied, "well, it doesn't happen all the time." (now which is it.. it happens every sunday, or not all the time). These folks do not understand the term "hospitality" or "customer service" .. they are just used to dealing with college students who have no clue.. I'll never stay here again....