Name: Hotel Paradox, Autograph Collection
Address: 611 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, 95060, US

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Jaime

This is a great hotel. The rooms are nice, the staff is friendly and the pool and spa are great.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Brenda

Love this hotel! Beautiful accommodations, warm, friendly staff, awesome pool, very family friendly!

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jul 2026

Michele

Cool place. Very modern. Rooms a bit small

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2026

Yvette

One of the nicer hotels to stay in Santa Cruz. Loved the vibe, decor, and how kid/dog friendly this property is. The rooms are a little bit worn and outdated and there were some updates that probably need to be made to the hotel itself. The pool and amenities were nice. VERY expensive parking, food, and drinks - although the room booking itself was reasonable. No outside food or drinks are allowed, so just note that you'll be spending a lot hanging out at the hotel.

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jul 2026

Stacie

We stayed for 3 nights. The room was comfortable and the pool and bar staff were amazing.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jul 2026

Nicholas

Love The Paradox! Always a good time.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

19 Jul 2026

allyson

It was a very cute hotel, the staff were always friendly. Some things that were challenging is that if we had an early morning, coffee was not available. It was available at seven, and sometimes we left earlier than that. Also to get to the wharf or Boardwalk took about a 15 to 20 minute walk. I don’t know that it was the most desirable location for the hotel.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jul 2026

Kathleen

Great hotel

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jul 2026

Jennifer

Love this place. We come for the pool and hot tub.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

15 Jul 2026

kirsten

Was just okay… fire pit did not work and our room looked out on the parking lot (wish I had requested a different room/view). Pool was okay - not very heated. Pool service was a little off. Room was okay but not my favorite stay I have had recently.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

15 Jul 2026

Helen

The room was clean.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

14 Jul 2026

Andrea Adame

Perfect location for beach and historic downtown. Having a restaurant on site was helpful, but plenty of places around to eat. I suggest getting a room with a fire pit. And was grateful for the S’mores given out. Our family appreciated that.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

14 Jul 2026

Clifford

Wonderful stay. Very nice property.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jul 2026

Lynda

We enjoyed our stay at this hotel the room was clean the staff was friendly. Jacuzzi and pool was spacious and clean. Lobby is awesome. Restaurant was excellen. Nice touch was free s'mores for the kids between 7-8pm every night. I've stayed twice now I love it

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2026

Peter

Hello folks. Just spent the night at the Paradox. We decided to handle a dual bachelor / bachelorette party in santa cruz last night. Things went great as far as our group was concerned and. The hotel was clean. There was ample parking. And we didn't get and sound or noise complaints, which I thought was fantastic factoring how loud the bride to be and groom to be were. I'm assuming they did some sort of pre-planning.

8/10

Excellent

09 Jul 2026

Debbie

I liked the amenities and available free purified water and Coffee . Due to cool mornings and evenings there were fire pits around the pool and bar area ! Ground level rooms offer fire pits as well ! Rooms were clean and bedding was fresh ! Fresh linens is a big plus for me !
The only complaint I have is the first room they assigned , had no working phone for service ? The next room they offered a floor below and we moved our belongings there and the doors safety lock was broken? We stayed put, but were not comfortable.

Family

8/10

Excellent

09 Jul 2026

Thamar

The hotel is beautiful and well-maintained. The staff is very nice and friendly. Our only problem was that the AC did not cool the room fast enough, which was very hot when we walked in. I think they should keep some amount of air going before people check in.
Otherwise, beautiful property and good gluten-free options for us.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Kristina

Location is great for convenient walk to downtown or quick drive to the Boardwalk. Lobby has a friendly, fun, seemingly quintessential Santa Cruz vibe with art installations, games, drinks, fresh dog treats, and friendly staff. The pool and hot tub area have plenty of room for multiple guests to use until 10pm, unlike most hotels in Santa Cruz. There were a lot of kids this holiday weekend, but we’ve been here when there were more adults as well. Staff are available everywhere, but never hovering.
We enjoyed the breakfast twice. They made all of our dishes with gluten free substitutions and separated other allergens for us, so we could enjoy eggs Benedict, French toast, and an egg sandwich (which is a rarity, so this was such a win!!)
The room was comfortable, beds were great. The fan/AC in our room could use a tuneup, as it felt like the moisture in the air didn’t fully dry after showers and hanging wet beach towels in the bathroom.
We’ll be back.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Christopher

Easy check-in. Helpful staff, decent food, and bar. There were a bunch of families with younger kids. Just bringing that up in case you want a more adults-only vibe. This ain't it.

Self

8/10

Excellent

04 Jul 2026

Amy

The staff were super friendly in the restaurant. The property and common areas were beautiful. Our room was a little smelly and could have used some attention. We would stay again though. It felt safe and convenient to walk downtown and the boardwalk.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jul 2026

anna e

Hotel was cute, remodeled seemed nicer than hotels in Santa Cruz I’ve stayed at in the past. Would recommend.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jul 2026

Rian

Stayed 3 nights. Was awesome poolside with the fire pit. Pool was nice, parking was easy, rooms were great. Didn’t hear a lot of noise at all, which is rare. Shower was great, gym was good too.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

01 Jul 2026

Brittany

This was such an unexpected gem! I found myself really loving this place for the most part, so much so that I was able to look past other undesirable aspects of the hotel. First- what was amazing was the front desk, staff, lobby, and hotel and bar! The ambiance is insane! It's like being in an opulent forest. Absolutely gorgeous decor that I ended up taking pictures of! Even the artistic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling felt like something you'd see in an upscale art gallery. Truly beautiful.

I loved the highly filtered and purified free water station near my room. It was so convenient and tasted better than any bottled water I've ever purchased. The hotel rooms offer a glass carafe which I assume is meant to be used for the water fill up.

The room itself was nice. Some previous stay trash was missed during cleaning that I found, but the Starbucks coffee was wonderful! Decor and amenities were great.

Lastly, this hotel sounds like a motel as far as noise goes. I could hear everyone's footsteps and shutting doors on my walkway, and I was apparently next to the laundry room where I could hear the washers running the entire time. I would recommend booking the floor level rooms across from the pool. That walkway not only faces the best-looking part of the hotel, but is much quieter. The other side of the hotel, where I was, faces an unattractive parking lot and the noise is out of control. Call ahead to confirm which side you're booking on if that matters.

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

29 Jun 2026

Maggie

It was very busy and they seemed under staffed to accommodate that many guests.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2026

Carrie

The art and furniture in the lobby is so unique and is changed regularly. It was my 4th time here in the last two years and it just seems to be so loved by the staff and management

Family

10/10

Exceptional

26 Jun 2026

Michelle

Our room was very clean. The vibe was great throughout the hotel. Would recommend.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

24 Jun 2026

Dennis

Staff was great. Pool area was nice and very relaxing

8/10

Excellent

21 Jun 2026

Karen

We really like this place - laid back vibe, clean, helpful staff, good food, the only downside is it can be a little noisy if your room overlooks the pool

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jun 2026

Heather

I have had multiple stays at this property and it is always a lovely experience. From the delicious meals at the Solaire Restaurant (the the restaurant staff always going above and beyond, the kitchen staff were amazing on how fast food came out) to the front desk staff and hotel cleanliness us always exceptional. The pool has lots of loungers and perfect pool day fun. The lobby is so welcoming as space for both business and even family fun and the vibe alone makes you want to hang out in the lobby. The rooms are always clean and fresh, due to the design you will always hear people walking by your room but it doesn't disturb the stay if you are prepared.

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

21 Jun 2026

David

The hotel itself was acceptable, but it did not match how it was represented in the photos.

The wooden floor in our room was badly swollen and heavily lifted in front of the king bed, covering the entire walkway to the bathroom, which made it awkward to walk on. The bathroom sink was also severely cracked, with multiple fractures spreading from the center. We were unable to change rooms as the hotel was fully booked.

Overall, the experience fell well below the expected standard and was certainly not worth $500 for one night. Very disappointing.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

19 Jun 2026

Pamela

I have two customer service concerns:
When I visited the pool at approximately 3:15 I inquired about ordering a beverage at the bar the waiter shared a menu with me and let me know when I was ready to order that the two stuff that we’re coming on would help me when I made a decision and I said OK they never came out like 30 minutes to help me I tried to use a scam scanner on the outside in the pool that was not working. When I went back in there, the two workers were just like standing around not doing much. The main bartender was nice enough to make my beverage for me and was very friendly
He instructed the waitress to ring me up.
The point to this is the shift that was coming on could’ve done a better job of customer service.

The bellhop that was working the parking lot area at approximately 7:20 pm wasn’t very friendly on giving me my car keys. It was my perception that I was bothering him. This left an uneasy feeling.
I realize the establishment was having the parking lot repaved on this date and there was a lot of moving parts. However, no excuse to treat customers like this.

The room towels were dingy and stained. I couldn’t even use them for a shower.
I decided not to shower and left the premises on 6/19.

The above concerns will make me rethink staying at the establishment in the future

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jun 2026

Kimberly

Staff were wonderful all around! The lobby and restaurant have a great ambiance. The breakfast was great. The pool is nice. The room we stayed in (two queens) with our two boys (4&6 years old) was great for a short stay. But the room was somewhat small. Would stay again though!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jun 2026

Misty

It was a beautiful place!

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

16 Jun 2026

Girish

Globally water is provide in the room, here it was missing!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Jun 2026

JoAnna

The rooms were nicely, renovated and clean, and the staff was helpful. Short walk to downtown Santa Cruz or the beach. Quiet overall - we were on the 4th floor.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jun 2026

Heather

The lobby and pool area are very nice. The pool was packed with kids, at all hours. Overall, I was disappointed. The room was small, with scuffed floors and looking a little worse for wear. The shower still had hair from the last occupant. There was no microwave and the prices at the bar and for snacks was very high. Common areas (hallways, elevator) were dirty with leaves and debris. I sincerely question the 4 star rating and why I spent so much for the experience I had.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jun 2026

Kathy

I love the Hotel Paradox, great amenities, excellent customer service. My favorite hotel for my travels to Santa Cruz

Business

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2026

Pegah

Checking in was very easy. Staff very polite and helpful. Rooms were clean and neat. Pool area was clean and they had games for kids.

Family_with_children

4/10

Poor

06 Jun 2026

Bulgankhulan

It’s not Hotel, it’s Motel !!! Overrated!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

Christina

Stayed here for my kids tournament games and decided to stay a few days as a mini vacay. Kids loved the jacuzzi and pool. I really like how they offered popcorn & s’mores. Staff was super friendly and accommodating. Will stay here next time I come visit.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2026

carlie

46 and 48 year old couple from the UK: I booked this hotel as part of a trip we are doing down the west coast. Keeping our hotel costs to a minimum we booked to stay here for 1 night with no real expectations.

From our arrival to leaving we have been really impressed from start to finish. Highlights include

Early check in and upgraded room
Complimetary drinks in the evening
Smore kits for in the evening
Hire/borrow beach equipment
Free coffee at breakfast
AMAZING bed. Probably the most comfy bed I have ever slept in
Great breakfast

This place is good for couples and familys

Staff were really helpful

Partner

2/10

Poor

30 May 2026

Anastasia

.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Graciela

Great aesthetic and amenities!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Nour

Everything was perfect 👌

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

30 May 2026

Jon

Probably the best hotel in Santa Cruz. The staff was welcoming and the room was clean and up to date. It’s a dog friendly hotel so that was a plus. The restaurant is also top notch. We’re definitely rebooking for next year. Very cool hotel.

Pet

8/10

Excellent

27 May 2026

Phil

Nice place. Our room was small but nice.

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

Jonathan

The place is great but the staff really makes the place

8/10

Excellent

25 May 2026

Matthew

Comfy hotel for a family trip. We enjoyed the pool and hot tub, both heated and open until 10pm. The lobby also had comfortable places to chill and play games. The room was pretty comfy, but the AC unit could have been more modern. It was hard to keep the room the temp we wanted. We also would have liked an easy way to get hot water on demand for tea and making baby bottles. We had to ask the bar for hot water instead. Overall, we enjoyed this hotel and would come back again.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Shawn

Great

6/10

Pleasant

24 May 2026

Patsy

Had no idea from the description and the pictures that there would be so many kids there, in the pool and the lobby. My kids are grown and I was looking for a nice getaway hotel for me and my husband. Didn’t expect the hotel to be so full of children.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Codruta

The staff was very helpful and friendly.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2026

Dennis

Fabulous 4-night stay .

10/10

Exceptional

19 May 2026

Alicia

Great customer service from all employees I interacted with. Pleasant stay.

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2026

Danieli

Thank you

6/10

Pleasant

16 May 2026

Kathy

Loved the pool and lounge area, that was very nice

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

15 May 2026

Tracy

More shower

10/10

Exceptional

14 May 2026

Viviana

Hotel need more rodent boxes/traps around

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2026

Christina

Room was clean

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2026

Ryan

Staff was super helpful!

Business

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2026

Michael

Bartenders, front desk, waitstaff are awesome. Rooms are great, pool awesome!

Self

4/10

Poor

04 May 2026

Ricardo

The experience was pretty disappointing overall. While the place advertises a lot of amenities, several of them were not working during my stay, which made it feel misleading.

The room itself was extremely small, honestly felt like the size of a jail cell, and it was not clean. There was a noticeable weird smell that never really went away, which made it hard to relax.

Between the lack of functioning amenities, the cleanliness issues, and the uncomfortable room, it just was not a great stay.

Partner

4/10

Poor

02 May 2026

Juan

Parking fee!! Be aware!

Expedia informed me this would be a $376 stay and I was skeptical when others were saying there is a parking fee they charge and inform you about (they should include this! Being informed of the parking fee upon arrival is ridiculous)

When we arrived to the hotel, the front desk personnel informed us there is a usual parking fee but this time around it’s complementary.

After our stay, we still weren’t told what the price of the parking fee was. Come to find out it was $28/ per night!! We paid a total of $84 for parking!

We definitely won’t be returning to this hotel or any Marriot partners. Price gouging at its finest!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2026

Alexis

Great location, comfy beds and unique atmosphere, we loved our stay!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2026

Michael

Really cool decor. Loved the barn door to the bathroom. But there's no lock on it.

4/10

Poor

01 May 2026

david

Went to the local diner for food. Did not use the pool.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

01 May 2026

Dan

The room was top notch. We requested a 5th floor room which was very quiet. The restaurant was okay. Heated pool looked nice but we didn't use it.

I didn't expect to have to pay for parking though. There is plenty of area for parking.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

30 Apr 2026

Tara

Room was fine, beds comfy; pool lovely; food surprisingly good. However, we had issues with housekeeping. They didn't come two of our four days (I checked -- housekeeping was supposed to be daily), despite knocking on our door early every morning. The third evening, we returned to our room after a long day out to find our room deadbolted OPEN. My daughter and I were scared, but thankfully no one was in our room and things like her laptop weren't stolen. But it was rather disconcerting and rattling. The room was half-cleaned -- the housekeeper clearly got called away and then forgot to come back, but leaving the room deadbolted open is crazy.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Apr 2026

Deborah

Staff was helpful and very friendly. Loved the uniqueness of the property.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Apr 2026

Keith

great location, nice restaurant, relaxing pool, very much enjoyed

10/10

Exceptional

18 Apr 2026

Lee

Great heated pool. Happy to have a restaurant on-site and so many more within walking distance.

Pet

4/10

Poor

16 Apr 2026

Leslie

Walls are thin - can hear the guests next door blowing their nose, coughing, flushing the toilet, etc. Said they would waive parking if we signed up for a Marriott account, which we did, and then they charged our card anyway. Still trying to get a refund on it.

10/10

Exceptional

13 Apr 2026

Amber

Pool seating is so comfy and cozy. Hot tub is super warm and has powerful jets!

Friends_and_family Family

4/10

Poor

11 Apr 2026

Charles

Upon arrival, the service started off well. The gentleman at the front desk informed me that if I became a member, I would be able to check in early and receive free parking. Based on that, I decided to sign up. I was given a parking pass and we dropped our belongings off in the room before heading out to the board walk. First impression of room wasn’t delightful but we were in a rush.
When we returned later that evening, I was able to examine it more closely—and that’s when things changed. The room did not feel clean at all. There were what appeared to be ketchup or possibly blood stains on the wall, along with noticeable dirt marks. Even worse, we found a gummy bear in the bed, which made it clear that the sheets had not been properly changed. That completely turned me off. I felt uncomfortable the entire night and barely got any sleep. Bracelet in chair.

I brought my concerns to the front desk. Initially, I was offered free parking, which I already had, along with a $40 breakfast credit since I had become a member. Eventually, they refunded half of my stay, which I appreciated. However, I later realized that I was still charged for parking—despite being told it would be free.

The hotel’s entrance and overall appearance are nice, but the cleanliness of the room was unacceptable. It honestly feels like the cleaning service needs to be reevaluated. There needs to be more pride taken in maintaining the rooms.

At this point, I don’t feel like going through the hassle of cal

Friends_and_family Family

6/10

Pleasant

11 Apr 2026

Allison

Can it be a little cleaner and there a room that is bigger for the same price of the smaller one

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

11 Apr 2026

Galiana

Great pool, food, very family friendly

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2026

Megan

The gym was well equipped and the property was kept up nicely

Business Family

4/10

Poor

08 Apr 2026

Daniel V.

Our toilet overflowed the two mornings we stayed there! No effort to apologize.
We were charged for parking which came with our package!

4/10

Poor

02 Apr 2026

Thomas

everything is worn and dirty

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

02 Apr 2026

Nicholas

The front desk staff was wonderful and took care of all our needs.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

31 Mar 2026

Keith

Rooms were clean pool was fun and bartender Jeff was amazing

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

30 Mar 2026

Erin

The property was okay. Our room had a bathroom sink with cracks, a floor that had soft spots and a broken lamp. The place was packed with children at the pool. Not quite what I expected.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2026

Justin

This property has been completely transformed into a friendly, clean, and amenity heavy favorite of ours in Santa Cruz when we are traveling with our kids. Heads and tails above most of the other area hotels.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

25 Mar 2026

Alexis

Clean and quiet.

8/10

Excellent

22 Mar 2026

Bruce M

Pool was great and plenty of lounge chairs available.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

20 Mar 2026

Linda

We arrived later in the evening and could only stay one night. But the property is very nice. The room was very clean and well appointed, appears to have recently been updated. Our room overlooked the pool and it is amazing. Large beautiful pool, hot tub, fire pit area and more. We had breakfast at the restaurant in the morning before leaving and it was excellent. And the service in the restaurant was outstanding. The property called

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2026

George

Excellent value for the price. Microwaves and a small business center for printing would be great.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

16 Mar 2026

Diana

The restaurant was convenient and I enjoyed what I ordered.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

15 Mar 2026

Mucio

Great poool area

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

14 Mar 2026

Kelly

We always stay here when in the area. Love this hotel and VERY dog friendly. Restaurant and bar are great. Fun games too.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2026

Edward

This is a gem in Santa Cruz, everything about this hotel from the food to the room to the service was great.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Mar 2026

Patricia

Loved the pool, staff and fire pit outside my room!

Self

6/10

Pleasant

07 Mar 2026

Elena

If your assigned room 220 ask for a different room. Very noisy, we couldn’t sleep. Overall the hotel is nice, but the restaurant and bar close a little early.

6/10

Pleasant

03 Mar 2026

Laura

I personally did not go in the pool or pool area, however I'm the view from my room was absolutely stunning. The lights and outdoor bar area made in you feel as if your were staying at a exclusive resort.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

02 Mar 2026

Athena

The rooms need a lot of help. The fact that they have pets allowed in the rooms, makes it feel dirty. They try to make it feel current and clean by having laminate floors, which in turn makes it feel old and dirty instead. The rooms are not cozy at all. The bed was comfortable, the staff was nice. The grounds are nice for families.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2026

John

Great place to stay.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Mar 2026

Randy

Great place great vibe

Self

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2026

Marybel

Staff was great! We stayed one night over the holiday weekend and enjoyed our evening at the restaurant/bar.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2026

ALEX

Amenities and staff

Friends

6/10

Pleasant

23 Feb 2026

Jon

every time I stay here I tell them I am not parking in the lot and they ALWAYS charge me for parking anyway, then I have to take the time to call them, wait on hold and get the charges reversed. So annoying..

6/10

Pleasant

22 Feb 2026

Laurence

Rooms are good and staff too. It was after 10 pm when loud adults making noise throughout the night, very loud. Didn’t sleep well.

Partner