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Rio Vista Suites

California Coast - CA · United States

611 Third StreetView location

8.6/10Excellent1,001 Reviews
Cleanliness9.0/109.0
Service8.8/108.8
Comfort8.4/108.4
Condition8.6/108.6
Location9.6/109.6
Neighborhood8.6/108.6
Amenities8.2/108.2
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Room prices, availability, meal plans and cancellation terms are confirmed for your selected dates.

About Rio Vista Suites

Enjoy garden views at Rio Vista Suites, located in Santa Cruz's Westside. This hotel offers complimentary wired internet access, coffee/tea in the common area, and limited onsite parking. Each of the 12 guestrooms features a fireplace, LED television with cable programming, an iPod docking station, a refrigerator, and a microwave.

Housekeeping is provided daily. You'll be within a 5-minute drive of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay, and a short distance from attractions like the Boardwalk Bowl, Cocoanut Grove, and Main Beach.

Rio Vista Suites is also conveniently located near the Santa Cruz Wharf and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

Read more about this hotelShow less

With a stay at Rio Vista Suites in Santa Cruz (Westside Santa Cruz), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay. This hotel is 3.3 mi (5.3 km) from University of California, Santa Cruz and 4.6 mi (7.4 km) from Capitola Beach.

Make yourself at home in one of the 12 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Cable programming along with iPod docking stations are provided for your entertainment. Private bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include microwaves and complimentary bottled water, and housekeeping is provided daily.

Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access and coffee/tea in a common area. Limited parking is available onsite.

Popular amenities

Free WiFi
Parking available
Concierge
Entertainment
Smoking areas

Check-in and check-out

Check-in from 3:00 PM
Check-in until 9:00 PM
Check-out until 11:00 AM
Minimum check-in age 21

Hotel policies

Beach nearby No rollaway/extra beds available No cribs (infant beds) available No elevators Children not allowed LGBTQIA+ friendly Professional property host/manager Pets not allowed

Cleaning and safety

Sanitization
Contactless check-out is available Cashless transactions are available
Essential Travel
Essential workers only - NO

Important information

  • You need to know
    • This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties.
    • Children 18 years old and younger are not permitted at this property.
    • Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.
    • Contactless check-out is available.
    • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
  • Special Instructions
    The front desk is open daily from 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM. If you are planning to arrive after 8:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation. The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools.
  • Instructions
    • Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
    • Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
    • Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
    • This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
    • Cashless transactions are available
    • Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
  • Minimal age
    21
  • Optional fees
    • Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge

    The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

  • Spoken Language

    English

    Spanish

Nearby attractions

Boardwalk Bowl 0.4 km / 0.3 mi
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 0.4 km / 0.3 mi
Cocoanut Grove 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Sky Glider 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Santa Cruz Main Beach 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Pacific Avenue 0.5 km / 0.3 mi
Ocean Street 0.6 km / 0.3 mi
Mimi De Marta Dog Park 0.6 km / 0.4 mi
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
Pacific Garden Mall 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
Santa Cruz Wharf 0.8 km / 0.5 mi
Cowell's Beach 1 km / 0.6 mi
Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History 1 km / 0.6 mi
Seabright Beach 1.3 km / 0.8 mi
Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1.4 km / 0.9 mi

Hotel facilities & services

Services and fees can vary. Check the selected room details and hotel policies before booking.

  • Total number of rooms: 12
  • hotel
  • Beach
  • Wheelchair-accessible
  • Car park
  • Check-in hour
  • Check-out hour
  • Wired Internet
  • Wi-fi
  • Garden
  • Non-smoking establishment
Meal plans

Meal plan types

Meal options depend on the room and rate you choose. Search your dates to see which meal plans are included.

RO

Room Only

Accommodation only. Meals are usually not included.

Upon availability

Room types

These are the hotel's room types, rather than live offers. Choose your travel dates to see available rooms, prices and booking conditions. Check availability

  • HOUSE DELUXE QUEEN BEDHOUSE • DELUXE QUEEN BEDCTG.DX-QN

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Rio Vista Suites

    HOUSE DELUXE QUEEN BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 2–8 • Adults: max. 8 • Children: max. 4
    Room type
    HOUSE
    View / characteristic
    DELUXE QUEEN BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: CTG.DX-QN

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE DELUXE QUEEN BEDDOUBLE • DELUXE QUEEN BEDDBL.DX-QN

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Rio Vista Suites

    DOUBLE DELUXE QUEEN BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    DELUXE QUEEN BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.DX-QN

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE Accesible DeluxeDOUBLE • Accesible DeluxeDBL.H6-DX

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Rio Vista Suites

    DOUBLE Accesible Deluxe

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    Accesible Deluxe

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.H6-DX

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE QUEEN SIZE BEDDOUBLE • QUEEN SIZE BEDDBL.QN

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Rio Vista Suites

    DOUBLE QUEEN SIZE BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    QUEEN SIZE BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.QN

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • DOUBLE ECONOMYDOUBLE • ECONOMYDBL.EY

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Rio Vista Suites

    DOUBLE ECONOMY

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 1–4 • Adults: max. 4 • Children: max. 3
    Room type
    DOUBLE
    View / characteristic
    ECONOMY

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: DBL.EY

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

  • HOUSE QUEEN SIZE BEDHOUSE • QUEEN SIZE BEDCTG.QN

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Rio Vista Suites

    HOUSE QUEEN SIZE BED

    Room photos

    Photos are not available for this room type.

    Room overview

    Occupancy
    Guests: 2–8 • Adults: max. 8 • Children: max. 4
    Room type
    HOUSE
    View / characteristic
    QUEEN SIZE BED

    Adult and child limits apply within the room's total guest limit.

    Room code: CTG.QN

    Limited room details from hotel

    Available rooms, prices and included facilities are confirmed after you choose your dates and rate.

Guest reviews

What other guests saying about Rio Vista Suites

8.6
Excellent
1,001 Reviews
Cleanliness
9.0 /10
Service
8.8 /10
Comfort
8.4 /10
Condition
8.6 /10
Location
9.6 /10
Neighborhood
8.6 /10
Amenities
8.2 /10
100 reviews shown
10/10
Exceptional
17 Jul 2026
Jon
We stayed one night and actually own a luxury resort ourselves. Have to say this property is beyond exceptional. Everything was perfect, and frankly cheaper than our place. Ten stars out of five.
Friends_and_family Friends
10/10
Exceptional
08 Jul 2026
Kelly
Cute place. Very clean and quiet.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
29 Jun 2026
Cristian
It was overall good
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
27 Jun 2026
Jeanette
Absolutely recommended.
Awesome and friendly staff
Super clean property
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
20 Jun 2026
Charlene
Complimentary sodas and beautiful ambience is awesome! And very close to the beach boardwalk, a perfect spot!
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
19 Jun 2026
Amber
This was such a quaint stay. The atmosphere was beautiful.Eclectic had good history, well appointed, good location. The staff is not ever present like a.Typical hotel, this is a boutique, so there will be times where you are on your own. Our rome was very nice, but we stayed in the attic, it is fairly small and gets stuffy, but it does have a window that opens to vent. I would absolutely recommend this place but I may stay in a lower room. The bed was very comfortable.The shower had new nice tile. There was filtered water, sparkling water, soda, coffee, and t complimentary available around the clock. The main issue was that a large group came in for a family funeral and took up all of the parking.When there are only so many spots for so many people.So we didn't have our place to stay after coming in for the evening.It had been taken up by this large group, and there was nobody working at the front desk to help. We ended up parking in the handicapped spot and kind of felt weird about it.
Partner
2/10
Poor
19 Jun 2026
Vijaya
We stayed in the attic room. It felt so claustrophobic, there was barely any space to walk without fearing hitting the ceiling. We had to haul our luggage two floors up the stairs with no elevator. I tried to iron my clothes and the iron stand had no legs and there was no surface to put the iron stand! Maybe the other rooms in the hotel are ok, but our stay felt horrible. The hotel looked really cute and charming online, now I am doubting myself booking hotels.
Friends_and_family Family
6/10
Pleasant
16 Jun 2026
linda
Great location. Comfortable bed. Pretty building with gorgeous stain glass windows and stairs. Easy parking.

Thin walls. Walls and baseboards were dirty in the room I was assigned. The shower didn't have a closure, so the water would splash out, and it was cold even though the restroom was tiny. Some of the furniture were definitely showing their age. My room (one queen bed) was very small. More than one person occupying the room would be uncomfortable. The room had nice features such as a fireplace and robes, but they do not matter if the walls are dirty.

Moreover, the front desk didn't apologize after making me wait around 15 minutes to check in and the other guest around 10 minutes. No one was there helping. Instead, she was arguing with me about how she did answer the phone when I called. A simple quick apology would have sufficed.
Self
10/10
Exceptional
29 May 2026
Jan
A pleasant stay in a clean and beautifully renovated hotel—I recommend it to everyone!
Family
2/10
Poor
29 May 2026
Charlotte
This was a disappointing stay. The rooms are tiny, the toilet didn't flush properly, the room wasn't clean and it was so loud from the road and walkway outside! The only thing I liked was the convenient parking. Not worth your money, book something else.
Self
10/10
Exceptional
27 Apr 2026
Claudia
Great room wish we could have stayed longer.
10/10
Exceptional
25 Apr 2026
Andre
The remote to the tv didn’t fully work
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
19 Apr 2026
dorothy
I stayed four nights and I liked the location right along the Riverwalk and a few blocks from the beach and boardwalk. Interesting architecture. Free off-street parking was a great perk.

BUT: comes with little soundproofing especially if you have guests in the room above you. So definitely NOT quiet.
The mattress was quite comfortable but the pillows were absolutely awful (imagine a huge very lumpy bag filled with rolled pairs of socks that compress to about 8\" tall). When I asked for a thinner pillow I was told they didn't have any.
In addition be aware that unless you specifically ask your room will not be cleaned or serviced.
Self
10/10
Exceptional
04 Apr 2026
Brad
Clean and comfortable room, quiet, great location walkable to beach and downtown, off street parking
Self
10/10
Exceptional
04 Apr 2026
Rigoberto
Great stay
10/10
Exceptional
01 Apr 2026
Michael
Very nice victorian in a great location. Close to the boardwalk. Our room was small but very comfortable. The staff was great especially when we had a little issue w/the fireplace. Would definitely stay there again.
Family
6/10
Pleasant
29 Mar 2026
Edwin
Nice Victorian house. Location is excellent. Staff was friendly. Unfortunately, this hotel is severely understaffed. This is not a criticism on the staff’s performance (they are doing the best they can) but the way the operation is being managed needs attention.
10/10
Exceptional
20 Mar 2026
kelley
Beautiful quaint Victorian home made into a hotel. Found it on the last-minute deal. What a great day parking is included. It’s in a great part of town. Highly recommend.
Self
8/10
Excellent
19 Mar 2026
Rebecca
This room was definitely good for its reasonable price! Room was clean, check in smooth, and close to both the boardwalk and downtown. Could use some upgrades like a window ac unit and some more insulation, or thicker curtains to block outside noise.
6/10
Pleasant
15 Mar 2026
Donna
Was hoping that there was some original features to the old house, sadly only the outside, staircase and dune Windows. The room was furnished with cheap modern hotel furniture. Very noisy, too. Nice selection of free beverages. Close to boardwalk.
2/10
Poor
24 Feb 2026
Russell
Hidden Gem.
Self
10/10
Exceptional
22 Feb 2026
Nancy
Very clean and quiet!! Such a quaint hotel
Friends
10/10
Exceptional
16 Feb 2026
Verified traveler
The home was nicely renovated, neat and clean. Staff was friendly and helpful. The bed was quite comfortable. The location was ideal, and neighborhood quiet with the river near by.
We were surprised to find out that the photo of breakfast offered is incorrect. Coffee and tea are the only things offered, the photo on Expedia shows pastries and fruit. We were told that was no longer offered.
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
15 Feb 2026
Lizeth
Cute, quiet, and a great location near the beach. Staff was friendly and our room was clean and spacious.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
15 Feb 2026
Sierra
Very clean
10/10
Exceptional
13 Feb 2026
Anthony
Great place for a one night stop. Friendly staff. Nice coffee setup in main level. Would happily stay again!
Leisure Self
8/10
Excellent
12 Feb 2026
Neli
Clean. Comfortable, but not all the rooms are the same because it is a mansion. I stayed in three rooms over 12 days. First room was small but had a nice balcony overlooking the river. The shower was tile and enclosed. Second room for a week was large and had a tub with jets and a small sofa, but also an impractical but attractive sink. Not enough towel racks. And there was room for a desk in this room but there wasn't one. All rooms had microwaves, minifridges and wardrobes with nice white bathrobes. Third room was very small. Shower did not have a door. It was noisier and at the front of the house. Same rain shower head as the others. Concierges were nice. Limited in person desk but you could call. They responded. Garbage cans were small if you are buying your own food for a time. There was bottled water available. Towels were very white, nicely folded and rough texture, as I like them. One night it sounded like construction above me.This is an old mansion with hardwood floors that creak and you should know that if you are upstairs tossing off your shoes. Upper floors are not really for older people or people who have balance or walking issues. There is no elevator. Lost my makeup. The lovely grand staircase is long with a landing, flight of stairs, and another flight of stairs past an original stained glass window. If you want something other than a cookie cutter hotel you might like RVS. Reasonable price, too. I liked it.
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
11 Feb 2026
Sarah
Clean, pleasant, fun room. Friendly clerk.
Business_and_leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
11 Feb 2026
Shawn
Easy check-in, clean, convenient...
4/10
Poor
09 Feb 2026
Gail
We had to wait quite a bit of time upon checking for someone to arrive to let us in as well as a few other people then later in the evening, our room lost power to half of the room. And we had no heat, we alerted the staff and they fixed it only to have it happen again. A half an hour later, not sure.I will spend the money to stay at this facility next time..
10/10
Exceptional
23 Jan 2026
Tonya
Absolutely beautiful place to stay! Rooms are a bit small but all renovated and very clean. Staff was very helpful and quick to respond to a small issue we had. And only two blocks away from the boardwalk….highly recommend!
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
02 Jan 2026
David
Rooms were excellent and staff as well. They locked our bikes up in storage so that we did not have to lug them upstairs. Rio Vista is a real find in Santa Cruz. Will stay there again. A really great value.
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
02 Jan 2026
Shantay
Amazing service
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
11 Nov 2025
Ildy
Adorable place! Great location. Very cozy. And there's a hotel kitty named Rio who's just adorable. Highly recommend.
Friends_and_family Family
10/10
Exceptional
09 Nov 2025
Mario
Clean!!
10/10
Exceptional
25 Oct 2025
Eric
Rio Vista Suites is a great find in Santa Cruz. Very close to a bike trial, so I was able to get to leave my car there and get to everything I wanted to get to by bike. Neighborhood was pretty quiet and felt safe. I will definitely return.
Self
10/10
Exceptional
24 Oct 2025
Sunil
place is really good. great service, best hotel in santa cruz
Business_and_leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
21 Oct 2025
Natalie
Staff were great! Super helpful and kind. Will definitely be staying here again and have already recommended to others.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
12 Oct 2025
Sridhar
The property was in great condition and the staff were very helpful and friendly. Loved the access to free beverages during our stay. The location is in perfect proximity to the boardwalk as well as downtown. We were able to walk just about everywhere that we wanted to go.
8/10
Excellent
05 Oct 2025
Kelly
Rio Vista Suites is a great option if you want to be near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk at a reasonable price if you book ahead of time
Leisure Partner
4/10
Poor
28 Sep 2025
Nicholas
1st night there car was broken into backpack stolen in a 20 minute window, my fault for leaving something in the car but to be there for 20 mins and already get stolen from not a great sign. Good thing the first thing they made me sign was a waiver to NOT hold them responsible for such a transgression. House was from 1890, but I’m pretty sure they kept the original mattress as it was as stiff as a board. Refrigerator did not work in room, TV required me to play tech support to get it unfrozen and usable, while navigating multiple remotes that had stuck keys. Shower is poorly designed, and requires you to open windows in the room in order to avoid the steam triggering the fire alarm and waking the whole house up, with the towel holder as far as possible AWAY from the door. Not to mention the sink has no room to place your things aside from a thin strip by the faucet. Forget staying in the room with another person because one side of the bed doesn’t have a nightstand. Front attendant was nice and the building did offer free drinks and coffee, and the outside patio area would be quite nice if the weather permitted
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
21 Sep 2025
Jessica
Rio Vista is the cutest little Victorian house turned B&B located super conveniently between the river walk and the beach/boardwalk. As a solo female traveler, I felt a little nervous walking around the neighborhoods directly around it at night, but overall I felt super comfy and at home there, and loved the room so much I added on an extra night to my stay! Really appreciated how close it was to everything I needed, from shopping and restaurants to nature, the beach, and all the activities I was looking to do. The staff was lovely and very accommodating, and I really enjoyed my stay here!
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
09 Sep 2025
Cynthia
Walkable to boardwalk and restaurants. Nice staff. Parking onsite.
10/10
Exceptional
07 Sep 2025
Glenn
For us it was perfect!
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
06 Sep 2025
Nadia
Lilly was so wonderful! She upgraded our room and the service was great. We only stayed one night, but would visit again. The location was perfect.
Leisure
10/10
Exceptional
26 Aug 2025
Stacy

Great property and location in Santa Cruz

From the moment we checked in until the day we left, the owner, Ela, was fantastic. She was very attentive to our needs and accommodated us in any way she could. She made check in easy and gave us the lay of the land. The house is beautifully restored and the location is walking distance to the beach and downtown. If you want an experience opposite from something large and corporate, this is the place to stay.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
19 Aug 2025
Deanna
Unexpectedly amazing!!
Leisure Friends
10/10
Exceptional
10 Aug 2025
Michael
It was a really nice location and very cute from the lobby to the room.
Friends_and_family Family
10/10
Exceptional
01 Aug 2025
jeffrey
The receptionist who checked me in was very kind and made me feel very welcome. Great little gem of a hotel. Super charming and very well appointed. A definite diamond in the ruff.
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
25 Jul 2025
Ivan
Great environment! Going to book again
Leisure Partner
4/10
Poor
20 Jul 2025
Carl
The AC hose was ripped from the wall and hanging there (I have photos). I let the front desk gal know and she just kind of laughed it off. There were quite few spiders in the room. The chords from the tv to the outlets were just hanging there and tangled and it looked very cheap and unorganized (have photos of this too)
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
14 Jul 2025
Martin T
Good for the price and location
Leisure Family
8/10
Excellent
13 Jul 2025
Grace

Would come back in a heart beat!

We loved our stay here! I so enjoyed the history of the mansion which made it so much more inviting. The coffee selection in the am was good, but oh how we wish we had been offered some kind of danish rather than those prepackaged bars. Otherwise a 5/5!
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
05 Jul 2025
william
Very unique property very old mansion completely redone just beautiful…
8/10
Excellent
28 Jun 2025
christina
I love the location and quaint size of this historic home/hotel. It’s perfect for a single traveler desiring proximity to attractions yet solitude in the quaint quarters of this Victorian brought back to life. No children or animals are allowed so this is a very quiet spot . Thank you to everyone who contributed to making it available for the public . It would be good to have some plain cream option for the coffee /tea station for those who don’t like sweets as all the creamers were flavored and sweet. I was very grateful to see the open station that could be accessed at any hour ,thank you so much.
Business_and_leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
26 Jun 2025
Anthony
I will stay there again
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
25 Jun 2025
Maureen
Very nice place
Leisure Partner
8/10
Excellent
22 Jun 2025
Natasha
Great location! Very cute hotel and nice room. A little noisy since we were on the first floor right by the entrance. Friendly service. Towels were a little small and scratchy. Overall, a nice stay!
Leisure Partner
8/10
Excellent
21 Jun 2025
laura

Highly recommend

This place is beautiful. It has the river in the front and the boardwalk from the back.

Our room was tiny but super clean with a fireplace and private balcony. We also had a peekaboo ocean view and a view of the boardwalk rides.

Lily was wonderful and friendly. We enjoyed sipping coffee while sitting at the front porch.

The only compliant is that there is a huge sign in the front yard that obstructs some of the river view.
6/10
Pleasant
19 Jun 2025
Genaro
It was a cute little place. We had a good time, but the facility was too small.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
18 Jun 2025
Adam
Great
10/10
Exceptional
09 Jun 2025
elizabeth
Lilly was so nice at check in. Place was gorgeous. If you have a lot of bags you have some stairs to climb fyi. The bed was comfy and shower was nice. Had problems with wifi in my room maybe I was to far from a router? Loved the fireplace. Would stay again. Thank you
Business_and_leisure
10/10
Exceptional
02 Jun 2025
James
We were able to book a room here last minute and so glad we found this little hotel that's in a mansion built in 1890. It was so clean and we love how the design and how they renovated everything with modern conveniences like a gas fireplace, A/C, and walk in shower for 2. We would love to stay here again this time.
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
02 Jun 2025
Scott
GREAT LOCATION. VERY NICE PLACE TO STAY WITH FRIENDS. CLEAN & QUIET.
Friends_and_family Friends
4/10
Poor
29 May 2025
Joe
No doubt very clean but very noisy. Right by busy street and walls are far from sound proof. Left a $200 battery backup by mistake. Called the employees, they said they’d mail it to if I paid to ship, they never did and won’t return my calls. When we return to Santa Cruz will be staying at courtyard instead
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
21 May 2025
Anabelle
The staff was super kind and accommodating and the room was lovely.
10/10
Exceptional
20 May 2025
Jeff

Santa Cruz Fun!!!

Very quiet and cozy. The beds are very comfortable. And a 3 minute walk to the boardwalk!
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
15 May 2025
Gregory

Great people and great location!

Lily the front desk person is great-very helpful. The property is historic and unique and close to the boardwalk and downtown. Great location!
Partner
2/10
Poor
15 May 2025
Michael

Avoid this place at all costs!

Our review is based on the fact that we could NOT stay at this hotel, despite having a valid reservation. When we arrived to check in at 5pm, no one was at the desk - we were provided with a phone number to call to get assistance. That's annoying, but okay. After we called the employee to the desk, she cheerfully informed us that the hotel had double-booked our room and it was occupied, with no other vacancies at the hotel. No apology, no apparent concern for our being stranded in another city on a Friday night with no place to go. She then told us that we should call their other hotel to see if they had vacancy - she did not offer to call for us. I cannot stress how little she cared about her hotel's mistake, as if we were lucky just to have been considered as guests. This was, hands down, the single worst customer service experience I have ever had at a hotel. P.S. We did NOT call the other hotel but found another spot on this website, which fortunately worked out.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
14 May 2025
Angelina

Worth it.

The House was so quaint and beautiful, very well taken care of and clean. Check-in was fast, although parking was a little tight. The room was comfy with plenty of storage for our luggage in a wardrobe, with a balcony and private shower. The Bed was So Comfy! We didnt want to wake up. Great place!
Partner
8/10
Excellent
11 May 2025
Lana
Just be street smart...
Business_and_leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
10 May 2025
Cynthia
Highly recommend. Overall clean and staff is friendly but often have to wait for them as they are not exactly in prem but close. Felt safe. There were some ants in bathroom and only decaf coffee available in the common area? Minor notes overall would stay again.
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
07 May 2025
Adrian

Perfect place

It was a great experience, the room was beautiful and the staff is very friendly and make you feel at home
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
01 May 2025
Rosa
Heater did not work properly. Sink was decorative but provided no counter space AT ALL. On initial and on subsequent entries into the room there was a strong overly sweet fragrance (odor) in the room that required opening the windows to air out the room.
10/10
Exceptional
21 Apr 2025
Melanie
Lilly was lovely and gave us an upgrade so we didn't have to pull our heavy suitcases up lots of stairs. Great location for downtown and the boardwalk.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
16 Apr 2025
Howard
Quaint Victorian house very proximal to the Boardwalk, easy check in and check out. Would stay again if in the area.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
15 Apr 2025
Margaret
This is a place with real “character” – an old Victorian that retains much of its original grandeur but updated with good lighting, digital locks, modern bathroom fixtures, wi-fi, and other conveniences. The bed was comfortable, and the room was very quiet. Special thanks to the proprieter who made a heroic effort to track us down after we had checked out to tell us we had accidentally dropped an object of value in the parking lot as we were packing up the car. We had only driven as far as Davenport (10 miles) for breakfast, so we were lucky to get the call when it was easy to return back to the inn.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
12 Apr 2025
Ignacio
The area is perfect for walking to the main boardwalk. You can also walk to the main downtown strip from here. Overall enjoyed the room and area would recomend staying here to others.
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
10 Apr 2025
Julian
I booked the Rio Vista Suites for a last minute trip in the area and very glad it was available. Lily is an incredible host and makes sure you’re set perfectly for your stay. I loved the attic room - it was the perfect size for 1-2 people, very comfortable and had lovely views. Would definitely recommend
Business_and_leisure Self
2/10
Poor
05 Apr 2025
Michaela
Wasn’t able to get a refund on my booking when a family emergency came up. They were not flexible at all. Shame on them.
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
30 Mar 2025
Tony

love this place

my girlfriend chose it for us and ever since we have loved to stay here any time we are here for Santa Cruz

the owner is really nice and the rooms are just one of a kind!
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
30 Mar 2025
Catherine
It was a beautiful renovated Victorian house. Just lovely!
Leisure Partner
8/10
Excellent
29 Mar 2025
Michael

A+cleanliness, location, great staff

Very clean, great staff. Nice coffee/tea/water/soda bar. Could use softer towels and warmer bedding, we couldn’t figure out how to turn on the wall fireplace/heater. Great location, we enjoyed reading the history of the property and the parts of the original home that was preserved in the renovation.
Partner
6/10
Pleasant
28 Mar 2025
Sergio
The mattress was uncomfortable- hard. Heater/A/C noisy. You can hear the people in the next room. You can hear the next room over heater/AC if on.
Only had decaf coffee pods. Location was great.
Partner
10/10
Exceptional
04 Mar 2025
Bill
Nice rooms and renovations. portable AC and gas fireplace for comfort. No closet to hang items wasn't missed too much, but might be for a longer stay.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
09 Feb 2025
Eric

In town for a conference

A perfect room for 1 person attending a conference in the area. Walkable distence to everywhere i needed to go. The room was small, but incredibly comfortable. Loved the view from my deck.
Business
8/10
Excellent
26 Jan 2025
Anne
This was a very attractive guest house. However, it was freezing inside . There was a heater to heat up the bathroom, but I could never get the bathroom warm enough to take a shower. It took me a while to realize that the gas fireplace in the bedroom, would heat that room. But I spent a lot of my stay shivering.
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
11 Jan 2025
Amy

My room was slightly smaller than I imagined, but I've never stayed in an old Victorian, so I had nothing to compare it to. I loved the restoration work done. (Built in 1890). It's a beautiful hotel. Though not listed among amenities, I was very happy to find my room had a mini fridge and microwave. It also had a lovely fireplace, which came in handy, as Santa Cruz can get chilly in the evening. (It is January, after all.)

Lilly was exceptionally helpful and attended to all details, both checking in and out. I really appreciated her going the extra mile to make sure that I was happy with my stay. I look forward to booking here again. 😊
Business_and_leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
04 Jan 2025
Tristan
Warm hospitality, and cozy rooms with unique charm. The fireplace and tub were our favorite amenities.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
31 Dec 2024
Stephen
Everything
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
26 Dec 2024
Stephen
A
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
16 Dec 2024
Yuva
I booked this hotel for a night stay.
The room is clean and neat. Bathroom was wonderful.
The checkin time is 3PM to 9PM.
Lily stayed until 9.45PM for my check in , because I was bit late all the way from Los Angeles.
Lily is so generous and was very helpful.
I had a wonderful stay here. Everything is walkable including the beach.
I will stay again.
Leisure Self
2/10
Poor
04 Dec 2024
Mindy
When we arrived at our room we were greeted with the overwhelming smell of ammonia cleanser. We hoped it would dissipate but our one of two nights scheduled stay was miserable. When we called to cancel our second night's stay at 8:30 am the next morning, we were told by the desk person that she would call us back in 10 minutes. Three hours later we called her to confirm a cancellation and refund which was the minimum we could expect although no effort was made to find us an alternative room. Additionally, the back entrance to on site parking is woefully narrow and risks car damage on entry and exit. We would not stay here ever again.
Leisure Family
10/10
Exceptional
30 Nov 2024
Suzanne
Adorable historic home. Walking distance to beach, boardwalk and restaurants.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
29 Nov 2024
Ruth
Relaxing, comfortable suite.
10/10
Exceptional
19 Nov 2024
Troy
Lilly was amazing at check in. She gave us some history on this amazing property that is over 130 yrs old. Absolutely stunning. Easy walk to the boardwalk and wharf areas. This was an unbelievable find for lodging and we now have a permanent option when visiting Santa Cruz or nearby areas.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
16 Nov 2024
Patricia
It is located along the riverwalk area, beautiful view from room. Checkin easy and we were given option of another room due to construction noise near original room. Much appreciated. We went to a Warriors game which was within walking distance. Boardwalk is also within walking distance. Only issue was we could not find remote to fireplace or any indication of how else to operate it. Room was a little chilly. Would definitely stay again.
Leisure Partner
10/10
Exceptional
13 Nov 2024
Cassandra
Lovely!
Leisure Self
10/10
Exceptional
13 Nov 2024
Cynthia

Lovely place to stay

Great location for visiting a family member. Very close to wharf t where there are sea lions hanging out. Close to Lighthouse State park where you can walk along coastline which is beautiful. Room comfortable, clean. Soft drinks and coffee/ tea available.
Friends_and_family Family
8/10
Excellent
03 Nov 2024
Carrie
The property is beautiful and the building is fantastic.
Business Family

Location & surroundings

Rio Vista Suites
611 Third Street, Santa Cruz, United States

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Rio Vista Suites

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