Name: Santa Cruz Dream Inn
Address: 175 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, 95060, US

10/10

Exceptional

07 Aug 2026

Mia

.

6/10

Pleasant

06 Aug 2026

clare

The room was very basic for the price and the lower rooms have a view of the pool umbrellas. The light from the pool deck shone in out room all night
The pool was open early and late and it’s heated so that was great! And the ease to walk everywhere was wonderful.
At the restaurant on site we had horrible service and overpriced, we wouldn’t eat there again.

10/10

Exceptional

05 Aug 2026

Will

This hotel is a bit expensive but the proximity to the boardwalk in the private beach that they have along with the pool with food and drinks is a real big plus, I definitely recommend this hotel good parking nice restaurant next to it. Every room hasn’t been , my family and I love this place.

2/10

Poor

05 Aug 2026

Amy

I booked a two bed delux room for my family of four and we arrived we got a single king bed. We showed them proof on the receipt we had booked a two-bed room but they could not accommodate us. They also had us email management but they never responded to the email. We did get one rollaway bed but couldn’t get two because of fire code, so one person had to sleep on the floor. We’ve booked her 5 summers in a row and unfortunately it will be our last.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2026

William

We found this hotel right on the beach in Santa Cruz to be ideal for a seaside night. The rooms are artfully decorated in a classic California beach theme and they are scrupulously maintained and cleaned. The amenities are excellent and beds comfortable. The pool is small but the chairs can face the ocean and, of course, the beach is just down a stair. The adjacent Jack O’Neill restaurant down the first floor corridor was very good with great evening views. Beach volleyball etc was available for the kids and young adults. The wharf is adjacent for a stroll off the sand or walk under it along a half mile of sand.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2026

Elizabeth

This place is literally like a Dream! My second time here but this time a longer stay so really got to experience the Dream Inn experience and all i can say is that my family and I will be back definitely!! My daughter is autistic and sometimes it’s hard to go to new places because i don’t know how she will do but she was in love with the view of the beach in the room that she didn’t even care about anything else. The other place we loved was the pool area it was so much fun and relaxing, love that you have beach access and able to wash off the sand before coming back. The whole property is beautiful and well kept, all the staff was very friendly and helpful. Thank you Dream Inn for a unforgettable vacation.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Aug 2026

ANDREW

Great

4/10

Poor

02 Aug 2026

Vicki

I wanted, and assumed I paid for an ocean view room. Instead, our room was on the pool level and right next door to the door to the pool. I requested a different room but was told there weren't any. The room was noisie and had no privacy. We probably will not be staying there again. That room was not worth the $1,000 per night we paid for it.

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2026

Michael

Love the views…

10/10

Exceptional

02 Aug 2026

Annette

Very nice stay.

10/10

Exceptional

01 Aug 2026

Meg

Lovely spot and views. Comfy beds, service oriented staff. Great location walk to wharf restaurants and amusement park in one direction , and lovely beach view path along the cliff in another.

10/10

Exceptional

25 Jul 2026

Dr. Donald

One of our favorite places to stay for a long weekend.

2/10

Poor

24 Jul 2026

Debra

I would never stay at this hotel. I had problems through Expedia and the hotel was no help in getting my money back. Not to mention that it’s outrageously priced! I would not recommend staying here ever.

8/10

Excellent

23 Jul 2026

david

I paid $507 for what was essentially a standard room with a great view. While the room itself was clean and comfortable, I don't feel it justified the price. The shower had some issues, and aside from the view, there wasn't much that made the room feel like a premium experience.

The restaurant was great when I went for dinner, but nothing particularly memorable for breakfast. The service throughout my stay was also just okay, and at times the customer service felt below what I'd expect for a hotel at this price point. The pool looked a little dirty, although the jacuzzi was nice and enjoyable. I loved that it was not chlorine!

One of the biggest frustrations during my stay was that I lost my car keys. (Of course, this is my fault and no one else's) But, unfortunately the front desk wasn't very helpful, and I didn't feel like they handled the situation with much urgency or empathy.

That said, I do want to give credit where it's due. After my stay, I filled out the guest survey and was contacted by the manager, Dan. He listened to my concerns, treated me with professionalism, and refunded part of my stay. His willingness to make things right significantly improved my overall impression of the hotel. While my initial experience was disappointing, I really appreciated how he handled the situation afterward. He was amazing.

Overall, I would consider staying here again, but only if the price were lower than what I paid for this visit. (originally)

10/10

Exceptional

23 Jul 2026

Jeanene

View was great, staff friendly . Only issue was the water temperature in the shower. It stayed really warm and we couldn’t get it cooler .

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jul 2026

Emilio

Awesome spot to post up, swim, tan, drink and chill by the beach, Friendly staff. One of my fav places to be.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jul 2026

Kiel

We came for a week to celebrate our honeymoon and from the attentiveness of the staff to the wonderful amenities we truly had a wonderful experience. I had an issue which when brought up was immediately rectified. The valet service was worth it and we felt/saw the same level of care taken with our Kia as the luxury cars and it was really nice. The best view of the bay and the quick access to the beach were the highlight. I’ve come to the dream inn for 20 years and I have never had a bad experience, there’s a reason they are so loved. We can’t wait to return with our son and make it a family tradition!

Partner

8/10

Excellent

19 Jul 2026

Sean

Shower spray sucked, other than that love it !😊

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

09 Jul 2026

Sarah

Great views and right on beach. Nice retro surf vibe.

If you have and/or love kids, this is a great place. However, if you want a quiet, couples trip, this is not the place. Pool and hot tub are jammed with kids all the time and quite dirty.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jul 2026

Adriana

This was the perfect destination for a quick getaway just outside the Bay Area. The hotel is in an ideal beachfront location, making it easy to enjoy the ocean all day. Our kids had an absolute blast, and we highly recommend it for families with little ones.

The pool was a huge hit, and there were plenty of activities nearby to keep everyone entertained. Having a restaurant right next door was incredibly convenient especially after a full day at the beach with the kids.

The hotel was clean, the staff was warm and welcoming, the beach views were stunning, and the private balcony was the perfect place to relax and take it all in. We can’t wait to come back!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2026

Biannca

Everything about our stay was wonderful! The only thing that was a little disappointing was that the spa was unavailable for a majority of our stay. It was chilly and that was our plan to hang out in the spa. But overall it was an awesome stay and we will definitely be back.

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 Jul 2026

Austin

Great experience and great staff. Cant beat the view and beach access.

Family_with_children

6/10

Pleasant

05 Jul 2026

lisa

Will not stay again. Outdated rooms especially bathrooms and furniture. Not worth $500 a night.

Pet

4/10

Poor

04 Jul 2026

Koyta

I expected better basics such as decent toilet paper for the price of the stay. Staff was great. Food was mediocre. Room was basic.

8/10

Excellent

04 Jul 2026

Gwendolyn

The restaurant in property was great. Good breakfast. Fair prices. The happy hour cocktails by the poool were great. Beautiful overlooking the beach. The room is a basic motel room though. Nothing special. Unsure what the big hype over this hotel is, but we enjoyed our stay being nearby the boardwalk.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jul 2026

Fabiola

It was a great stay. Will definitely book again!

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

30 Jun 2026

Erika

The best part about this property was that it was right on the beach. The view from our balcony was amazing! The staff was extremely helpful. The rooms were clean and it was located right next to the wharf and steps from the Beach Boardwalk. We were right next to the pool and they were hosting a junior lifeguard training, so it was a little noisy but not bad. Overall, this is a wonderful place to stay. I highly recommend it!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2026

Andy

There is no where else as accessible and accommodating as Dream Inn.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

30 Jun 2026

Nancy

Great location , easily walkable to boardwalk and Warf. Private balcony with ocean views

10/10

Exceptional

30 Jun 2026

Jenny

Only stayed one night, and quickly realized this is a multiple night stay kind of place!! Need to come back asap!

Partner

4/10

Poor

28 Jun 2026

Mary

There were a lot of children eating ice creams and other food in the hot tub. I understand this is a family hotel, but they were dropping food into the pool and there were napkins floating in the water. The kids whole face and hands were covered in chocolate as the mom sat chatting away, not cleaning her kid up. Hands wiped off clean in the hot tub. One of these kids spat the hot tub water on me. It was dirty and frankly very rude of the parents, not necessarily the hotels fault but plenty of staff present that didn’t care if the hot tub was a full on dining area for kids. Perhaps a large sign saying no food or eating in the hot tub, better staff supervision or even better offer a child free time frame for those that don’t want to swim in child waste matter in a Caddyshack chaotic free for all zoo. I know it’s the parents responsibility but it was extremely unappealing and now we know it’s a nursery not a relaxing time at the pool.
Rooms were very beautiful and clean. For the price of the rooms something more than a 1 ply toilet paper would be expected. Comfy beds and pillows, beautiful views.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Jun 2026

Wendy

Love this place. Will definitely be rebooking in the future

Partner

2/10

Poor

25 Jun 2026

kei

I get there at 10:30. Paying about 500 for the night, so was expecting something decent. Surprised that it didn’t look better than any roadside 3 star hotel.

The night manager at reception was rude from the outset. I was tired so I let it go. Then she told me there was an extra $100 dog charge. I told her that it wasn’t disclosed on Orbitz. She said it was.

I told her that it was late, I had made the reservation 20 minutes before that on a stop on the way to hotel, and I’d like to cancel.

She said I’d have to cancel with Orbitz. Orbitz then told me they have to call hotel. They then told me that they had talked to her, while she was twenty feet away from me, and she had refused.

I went to ask her about it, and she lectured me about not leaving my highly trained GSD whom I wanted to spare a potentially heated discussion from, sitting 5 feet away, calmly watching, minding his own business.

Left and stayed at the Chaminade that has better facilities, and FAR better service. I called/wrote to her manager, and his manager the next day, expecting an apology or refund.

No one even wrote or called back…

Have considered forwarding the paperwork to my company lawyers, both for Orbitz and the hotel. Haven’t had time yet.

Stay there if you are desperate to be close to the beach. Nothing else in the hotel is even worth 100/night.

Pet

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Sheryl

I left the pool area and soaking in the hot tub, which was the perfect temperature. The restaurant there was amazing. The staff was super kind and helpful. I do wish it wasn’t so expensive because it was a big splurge for us.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 Jun 2026

Mary Susan

Great location, fun mid-century modern vibe. Boardwalk is a short walk away. Would stay here again.

Friends_and_family Friends

6/10

Pleasant

22 Jun 2026

David

There was pool acse

Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Jun 2026

Natasha

I've frequent this establishment several times and absolutely love it. The view from the rooms are amazing. It is conveniently located near restarants and stores/shops. It's beach access is lovely. You can go out on the beach, people watch, or enjoy room service/drinks from your balcony which beats any view at any restaurant on the boardwalk (provided you have an ocean view room). The only downside is that my room this time had an annoyingly loud leaky shower and a very noisy aircondition unit.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jun 2026

Chandah

Perfect location. Adorable decore. Cant beat the view and beach access. Pool was fun with great service and tasty food and drinks.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jun 2026

Eric

Overall nice and clean. Folks were helpful and close to fun activities. Didn't like the force bell hops trying to walk me to my room, felt aggressive

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jun 2026

Matthew

Check in with seamless, valets were very helpful, the location is great, the property and amenities are well-maintained. Will definitely book here again!!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

18 Jun 2026

Edgar

.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

18 Jun 2026

Jacob

Came for sons birthday with a couple of his friends close to boardwalk and nice pool for them to hang in.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2026

Benjamin

Everything was awesome.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2026

kristina

Wonderful stay. Love the pool which is situated facing beach with stairs onto beach from pool deck. Wharf for dinner and boardwalk are easy walk from hotel.

6/10

Pleasant

11 Jun 2026

Laura

There was no hot water for the shower and the room service took twice the time they said. Beautiful view of the ocean from our room though. The hotel is nice but is pretty bare bones with the amenities. Plan on using valet isles you want to drag all your stuff across the street to the parking lot.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

Joe

1st..all rooms have a balcony view...with glass fencing. The food is good...the location is THE best in Santa Cruz!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jun 2026

Lynne

Love Dream Inn - property and pool were amazing with attentive staff! Spotless rooms with amazing ocean views!

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

10 Jun 2026

Janet

The room was clean and beds were comfy. The hotel is in a great location and the views from the balcony were great. I also liked that the coffee bar opened at 6:30am.

The bathroom was clean but could use a little upgrade.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

10 Jun 2026

fernando

Just wish had a microwave

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Jun 2026

Mark

Such a wonderful property. Our oceanfront rooms were spectacular. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Special thanks to the front desk staff and the valet staff.

Friends_and_family Family

8/10

Excellent

07 Jun 2026

Tracy

Great water view. Clean room. Balcony was a bonus to enjoy the ocean waves and let in ocean breeze. Valet service worth the extra few dollars. On site restaurant/bar was nice.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2026

Fahm

Great location and good for family. They had beach volleyball balls for the kids to check out to play. The pool looked cleaned but some construction was on site. We enjoyed our stay. The view was so nice and relaxing. Wished we stayed longer than two days.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

05 Jun 2026

Erin

Great family place. Rooms were clean & updated to a very cool surf vibe!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

03 Jun 2026

Emily

The beach view was beautiful. And the pool/hot tub area was very kid and adult friendly.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

02 Jun 2026

Shannon

Great location and views of the ocean. Very kid friendly so sometimes loud. The water filling station always had an out of order sign. The staff was very friendly!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Jun 2026

James

Great trip with my wife for our anniversary.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

29 May 2026

Ana

The only thing we disliked was that the air conditioner was very loud. Hotel has free valet parking which was a nice surprise. We enjoyed the restaurant with ocean view and our room was also ocean view.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2026

Esther

Beautiful Beach front property steps from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and the Wharf! Rooms were exceptionally clean and room was beach front with a balcony. At night there were lounge chairs and firepits to relax at. We spent 2 nights and just hearing the waves hitting the beach was awesome! Great place to relax, rewind, or even head to the boardwalk for fun for adults and kids! Would recommend adults time only or familys with kids.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

28 May 2026

Heather

Gorgeous view from the balcony, highly recommend the cloud rooms. Lovely stay, helpful staff. Getting from hotel down to the beach in a wheelchair requires a bit of a maze but it is doable and the staff knew how to direct me through that maze without having to look it up which is always nice from an accessibility training standpoint.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 May 2026

karen

Great time for our 10th anniversary! Thank you for making it special

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

26 May 2026

Bradley

Awesome rooms facing the ocean. Clean room, comfortable bed and bathroom had good water pressure. Very cool surfer vibe hotel. Excellent customer service by staff and valet....

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Gina

The beach view from our room on the 8th floor was amazing. So nice to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of the ocean. Definitely coming back.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 May 2026

Larryn

Staying at the Dream Inn was a dream. My room was on the second floor with a phenomenal beach view overlooking the ocean, wharf, and boardwalk. Woke up each morning to the sound of crashing waves on the shore. Everything is in walking distance. Parking is available in a designated lot across the street that can be accessed with your room key. Staff were friendly and accommodating. The only minor negative is that the walls are a bit thin and my room was right by the elevators, so you could hear the occasional noise and chatter. But overall it was a great experience and will definitely stay at the Dream Inn on my next trip to Santa Cruz!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Maria Antonieta

.

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Michelle

The location is perfect directly on the beach is the best. The hotels esthetic is beautiful. The onsite restaurant-Jack O’Neill’s is delicious and so is the little coffee shop. Friendly staff . Clean property. Love staying in the vaulted ceiling room!

Family

10/10

Exceptional

24 May 2026

Jessika

Loved our stay. Bathrooms were fairly small.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 May 2026

Ashley

Beach view. Truly heated pool. Great staff.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 May 2026

Melizza

I would come back. They also surprised me for my bday with sweet treats and bday card!! Very grateful and happy trip. I recommend the Dream Inn!!

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Patricia

Wonderful beach view from our balcony. Room was very clean and spacious. Nice to have the option of ordering breakfast brought to our room, although the food was mediocre.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 May 2026

Lauren

Love the retro vibe at this hotel! Bed was comfortable and decorations were nice. The ac didn’t work great in our room but otherwise, we enjoyed the stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2026

Michelle

Beautiful property, very clean, pool area is outstanding. The only thing that could be improved upon is bathroom- grout and bathtub starting to look a little worn and dirty so could use a refresh- but compared to everything else dream inn has to offer, this is minor.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 May 2026

Carl

Location on the beach and great vintage vibe. Easy access to the wharf and boardwalk.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 May 2026

Kevin

One of the best locations I've ever stayed in.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

19 May 2026

COURTNEY

Nice views. Front desk was bland and not helpful. The coffee area employees were amazing and very nice!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2026

Amber

Beautiful hotel, perfect walking location to pier and wharf

10/10

Exceptional

17 May 2026

Debbra

Beautiful resort. Loved the retro vibe!

10/10

Exceptional

14 May 2026

May

The hotel was clean and beautiful. Loved the beach view. The restaurant had great food and the staff was friendly.

10/10

Exceptional

12 May 2026

Elise

Loved every bit of it and can’t wait for our next trip

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

12 May 2026

Regina

Stayed at the Dream Inn for Mother's Day weekend and this place never disappoints. The location is perfect, staff is pleasant, woke up to a \"Happy Mother's Day\" sign written in the sand. Room service is good and reasonably priced.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2026

JV

Five stars

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2026

Annette

Perfect location. The room was clean and spacious.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

10 May 2026

Don

Excellent stay although we had to leave a day early due to a family emergency.. I was hoping for some credit maybe but that never happened. Just an unfortunate situation for us.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 May 2026

Molly

Terrific location in great views. It was really nice that they also accept small dogs. We had a lovely visit.

Pet

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2026

Ashley

Checking and out was quick and staff were friendly. Pool heated and hot tub relaxing. The ocean view is perfect.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 May 2026

Rose

The staff were so accommodating! Special hour out to Ashton the valet and waitress Sophie!

Friends

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2026

Natasha

Lived the location, beach access, and views of the ocean from my balcony.

Friends_and_family Family

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2026

Derek Smith

The pool area and the amenities were very enjoyable.

Self

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2026

Leanne

We liked it so much that we’re gonna make it a yearly trip. My grandchildren loved it my daughter loved it my husband loved it. I am so glad. I finally stayed there.

Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

04 May 2026

Yvette

Yes

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

04 May 2026

Marnie

Wonderful. I’ve never had a nicer time in Santa Cruz.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Angela

Rooms are a bit dated, but excellent location and views. Bed was very comfortable. Jack O’Niels has excellent breakfast!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Christa

Great

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Joshua

Will stay again. Great location!

10/10

Exceptional

03 May 2026

Piyush

Property offers beautiful views of the beach. The pool is amazing. Beach access and the private showers was a big plus.

We were traveling with a 3 month old for our anniversary. They made several accommodations for us. They gave us early check-in and late checkout. They brought treats and champagne for us complimentary to the room.

Valet and bellhop staff was amazing.

The only let down was the check-in staff. They didn’t make us feel welcome or bother explaining anything about the property or the amenities. I think check-in staff can improve experience by being more warm and welcoming.

Family_with_children

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2026

William

Beauty vibe !

Partner

8/10

Excellent

03 May 2026

Barbara

1970 vibe