Dream Inn Santa Cruz

Hotels
9 (1365 reviews)
175 West Cliff Drive , Santa Cruz , us

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Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Restaurant
Room service
Heating
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Excellent service
Cons:
Inconsistent room quality
Disappointing food service

Categories

Cleanliness
8.5
Overall cleanliness was generally mentioned as good, but older hotel might show some wear.
Service
10
Outstanding service highlighted, especially by staff member Dolores and overall positive staff interactions.
Location
9.5
Excellent location with beach views and nearby attractions.
Room Quality
8.5
Rooms were described as spacious and comfortable, but some outdated features noted.
Amenities
9.5
Amenities praised, including beautiful views and swimming pool.
Value for Money
8.5
Standard quality for this hotel tier; mentioned as run down in some reviews.
Food and Beverage
8
Mixed reviews on food quality, with room service being notably disappointing.
Overall Experience
9.5
Overall positive experience with highlights on service and location.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 01:17

Property Description

Ocean-Inspired Atmosphere
Experience a natural, laid-back ambiance at The Dream Inn, where every room offers a private balcony or patio overlooking the stunning Monterey Bay. Let the soothing ocean views inspire your stay.

Relaxation on the Deck
Unwind on the hotel's spacious deck, complete with a refreshing pool and inviting hot tub. Whether you're looking to soak up the sun or stargaze in the evening, our deck provides the perfect setting for relaxation.

Ideal Location for Business or Pleasure
Located next to Santa Cruz's famous boardwalk and close to the city center, The Dream Inn offers a prime location for both corporate events and leisure getaways. With luxurious amenities and a picturesque setting, make your reservation today for an unforgettable stay.

Important information:

When booking more than 5 rooms, different policies and supplements may apply.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SJC

Property Policies

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

  • Parking

    Private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed) and costs USD 30 per day.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 1 year old stay for free when using an available cot.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    People no matter the age stay for US$30 per person per night when using an available extra bed.
    Any type of extra bed or child's cot/crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by management.
    Supplements are not calculated automatically in the total costs and will have to be paid for separately during your stay.

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 1365 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.5
Service: 10
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 8.5
Amenities: 9.5
Value for Money: 8.5
Food and Beverage: 8
Overall Experience: 9.5
T
terryhW7251AG • Family
10
Fun at the beach
Pros:

Loved watching the junior life guards training and the food at the pool was great and reasonably priced. All of the staff were friendly, courteous and helpful. Will gladly recommend The Dream Inn to family and friends.

2026-07-11 • via Tripadvisor
J
Jimmie • couple • us
10
Although it is pricey, I do appreciate the security, cleanliness and the staff are amazing.
Pros:

Location is perfect for beach, boardwalk and pier

2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
B
Branka • family_with_children • us
10
2026-07-10 • via Nuitee
C
Casillas • extended_group • us
1
Hire better customer service representatives
Pros:

Stunning views, amazing food, beautiful clean rooms

Cons:

Unfortunately though, staff specifically at the front desk were extremely rude. I had no problem with the people from the restaurant, nor the people serving by the pool. But the people at the front were extremely rude

2026-07-09 • via Nuitee
Y
Y6510WPmarkj • NONE
4
Love it, but Value is No Longer There
Pros:

The Dream Inn is always great for the whole family. However, the price is jumping dramatically and now the value just isn't there anymore. Rooms are not being kept up, and the price for everything has skyrocketed. I understand this is happening everywhere, but literally for the price I paid I could get much better value staying on a beach in Hawaii. We've been going every year for the last 6 years, and unless things change, we won't be going back, which makes us sad.

2026-07-08 • via Tripadvisor
H
HusksLoveTravel • NONE
6
Overrated but Location is everything
Pros:

Stayed at the Dream Inn for the 4th of July after years of wanting to stay there. Rooms were very clean albiet small. Front desk staff not super welcoming or friendly at check in. The heater in room 212 made a loud high pitched noise everytime we used it. Bottom line you are paying for the location and proximity to the beach. Food is expensive and average at the pool side taco truck. I would say I was expecting more friendly staff for $900 a night. I think it was also the crowded holiday weekend the staff looked annoyed. Valet was great. Housekeeping was great. Coffee cart was friendly.

2026-07-08 • via Tripadvisor
T
topppcattt • NONE • San Francisco, California
10
Great stay at the beach/boardwalk!
Pros:

You cannot beat the location of this hotel. Right on the water, every room has a view and a balcony. Decor is very cute - 60's retro. Rooms were clean, although the place is old, so don't expect perfection. Staff was uniformly pleasant, friendly and accommodating. Nice coffee cart in the lobby. They don't sell in the hotel lobby other than what they have at the coffee cart, but there is an upscale restaurant on-site, which we did not try. Walking distance to the boardwalk and various shops and things. Coffee maker in the room and a fridge. No complaints other than it is really expensive for what it is; you are paying for the view and proximity to the beach and boardwalk. We found it to be quiet, but we were on the top floor. We had two rooms, one in the old building and one in the new - the only difference was the view, and the ceilings were a little higher in one of the rooms. Dog-friendly, but you will get rooms right by the pool on the lobby level if you bring one, so fyi. There is an upcharge for that as well. Family friendly. Small pool area that was very well used while we were there; the hot tub water looked a little gross due to lots of kids and sunscreen.

2026-07-07 • via Tripadvisor
S
stephaniemV474ZJ • NONE
10
Best spot in Santa Cruz!!
Pros:

This is the best hotel in Santa Cruz!! We love it for family fun, vintage vibe, and the proximity to the beach and boardwalk. We even brought our dog this time which was so fun and easy! The staff were all super helpful and nice and made the experience top notch. Highly recommend!!

2026-07-07 • via Tripadvisor
D
djleblanc77 • NONE • San Francisco, California
4
Not worth it
Pros:

None transparent pricing, hidden fees upon checkout. Had better in room coffee at cheaper hotels. Dingy in some areas; bathroom tile corners and hallways. Pool is to small for the occupancy rate; overfilled with kids and parents standing around waiting for somebody to get up.

2026-07-07 • via Tripadvisor
L
Latrelle • family_with_children • us
10
2026-07-07 • via Nuitee
M
marias94804 • Couples • Richmond, California
10
Reliable weekend getaway
Pros:

I've stayed at the Dream Inn a handful of times over the past 10+ years, and it's always a solid spot to make home base on a quick trip to Santa Cruz (coming down from the Bay Area). Yes, it is unnecessarily expensive, but that's Santa Cruz for you, and you won't find much else this central to the action that is actually nice. The rooms are a good size with a guaranteed ocean view. The pool gets crowded but we still managed to get 2 pool chairs right up to the ocean view, and the access straight to a more mellow part of the beach is great. Just a 10 minute walk to the board walk. We even managed to find neighborhood street parking and avoided paying for the hotel parking. Will be back, again!

2026-07-05 • via Tripadvisor
C
Christoph Felix • extended_group • at
7
2026-07-05 • via Nuitee
C
Curtis • couple • us
6
Cons:

We love to stay at The Dream Inn because of the location, staff, pool overlooking the beach with a bar and Mavericks restaurant. We usually love the rooms too but this time the air conditioning wasn't working properly and was confusing to operate. There was a thermostat on the wall that we were used to using but it didn't work. Then we saw a separate air conditioner unit installed in the window and found a separate remote control. Problem is it didnt work properly and was really loud. I dknt know what the Dream Inn is doing or why they installed separate air conditioning units but seems like its cost cutting and not up to the standards we are used to from previous visits.

2026-07-05 • via Nuitee
C
Carlos • couple • us
10
2026-07-05 • via Nuitee
B
Baxay • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-07-04 • via Nuitee
A
alyssaw799 • NONE • Tracy, California
6
One off trip
Pros:

We enjoy coming here each year for a group excursion. This past stay was not as appealing as it has been in the past. We hope it is just a one off.

2026-07-03 • via Tripadvisor
9
941boo • Couples
10
Santa Cruz at its best!
Pros:

We stay there at least twice a year: Great location, great view, great staff, especially Sebastian (front desk) and Hayden and Caden (poolside service). The noteworthy food includes Jack O'Neil restaurant and made-to-order poolside tacos, fajitas, ceviche, etc.

2026-07-03 • via Tripadvisor
D
Doris • couple • us
9
Very relaxing stay.
Pros:

Right on the beach, being able to hear and see the ocean from my room.

Cons:

The pool was crowded.

2026-07-03 • via Nuitee
0
0ndabeach • Family • Cupertino, California
10
Amazing service
Pros:

Max was incredible in helping us resolve a reservation issue -- thank you so so much!

2026-07-02 • via Tripadvisor
J
Jeffrey • family_with_children • us
9
Would consider staying here again
Pros:

view

2026-07-02 • via Nuitee