Pacific Blue Inn

Hotels
8.7 (584 reviews)
636 Pacific Avenue , Santa Cruz , US
1-831-6008880
[email protected]

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Paid
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Air-conditioning
HD 37" Flat Screen TV
Cable TV
Wi-Fi
Clock
Electric fireplace
Iron & ironing board
Blow dryer
Private courtyard with two gas fire pits
Elevator serving all three floors
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Review Highlights

Pros:
Great, central location near dining/boardwalk/harbor
Friendly, helpful staff and easy check-in/after-hour arrival
Comfortable beds (reported by multiple guests) and clean rooms
Coffee machine, fresh-baked sweets and pleasant common areas (firepits)
Reliable in-room Wi‑Fi/router
Cons:
No consistent full breakfast (only coffee and sweets) and limited F&B options on-site
No in-room refrigerator/microwave in many rooms
Some rooms have lumpy/old mattresses or worn furnishings
Parking fee ($15) and reported security/parking-related safety incidents
Some guests found the hotel overpriced for Santa Cruz weekend rates

Categories

Cleanliness
8.6
Multiple reviewers called rooms and property clean; one report of ANTS and an unaddressed common-area disturbance slightly lowers score.
Service
9.2
Staff repeatedly described as friendly, helpful and excellent (easy check-in, after-hour arrival, individual mentions of staff like 'Calvin'), though there are isolated service/security lapses (no attendant overnight, staff didn’t address a disruptive guest).
Location
9.5
Consistently praised as convenient to downtown, dining, boardwalk and harbor; a couple noted it’s not quite as near the beach as advertised but overall location is a strong positive.
Room Quality
8.4
Mixed reports: several guests praised very comfortable beds and bathrooms, while others reported lumpy/shot mattresses, awkward plug placement and some furnishings due for replacement; no in-room fridge was frequently noted.
Amenities
8.9
Good on-site touches (coffee machine, fresh-baked sweets, firepits, common gathering spaces, reliable in-room Wi‑Fi/router) but limited by lack of formal breakfast, no in-room fridge/microwave for many rooms and paid external parking.
Value for Money
7.6
Mixed to negative: several guests felt the hotel was overpriced for Santa Cruz (explicit complaint it was 'ridiculously expensive'), while others called it budget-friendly or good value—overall leans below target.
Food and Beverage
8.6
Coffee and daily sweets were repeatedly praised and guests recommended nearby breakfast spots; absence of a full breakfast offering lowered the score slightly.
Overall Experience
8.8
Generally positive stay experiences with helpful staff, great location and pleasant amenities that 'exceeded expectations' for many, tempered by pricing concerns and a few significant safety/maintenance incidents for others.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-10-31 16:41

Property Description

The Pacific Blue Inn is a nine-room, eco-conscious bed and breakfast inn on Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz, halfway between the Beach Boardwalk and the downtown core, within walking distance of restaurants, cinemas, theatres, galleries, the beach, the wharf and the Roaring Camp Railroad stop at Depot Park. The inn was built with non-toxic long-lasting blue wood and recycled, reused and reclaimed materials, with bamboo flooring, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and low-water fixtures. Guest rooms have king or queen pillow-top beds with 100% Egyptian cotton sheets, hypoallergenic alternate-down comforters and pillows, private baths, eco-friendly electric fireplaces, air-conditioning and art by local artists. A private courtyard with two gas fire pits and seating is on site, and an elevator serves all three floors. Three of the nine rooms are fully wheelchair accessible and all nine have wheel-in showers. The property is smoke free; small to medium dogs are allowed in ground floor rooms for a $50 pet fee.

Important information:

Check in hours are from 1500 to 1700hrs. Please contact hotel for check in after 1700hrs. A code will be provided for a lock box that will have your room key.

A surcharge will be applied if pets are brought into the rooms.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.
Managed by a private host
A deposit may be required at the property.

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

Property Policies

  • Check-in / check-out

    Check-in from 15:00:00, check-out until 11:00:00.

  • Minimum age

    Guests must be at least 18 years old to check in.

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed; charges may apply.

  • Extra bed

    Extra bed available for ages 0–None: 25 per stay.

  • Important information

    Check in hours are from 1500 to 1700hrs. A code will be provided for a lock box that will have your room key.

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

8.7
Based on 584 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.6
Service: 9.2
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 8.4
Amenities: 8.9
Value for Money: 7.6
Food and Beverage: 8.6
Overall Experience: 8.8
J
Joseph • couple • us
9
Pros:

Clean, convenient and good value.

2026-11-07 • via Nuitee
T
Tara • couple • us
10
Pros:

Great location, clean comfortable room and a fantastic bed.

2026-10-31 • via Nuitee
M
Morag • solo_traveller • au
8
2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
P
Patty Fr. • family_with_children • us
9
Pros:

This is our second time here at the Pacific Blue Inn. It’s a very welcoming hotel, with spacious, clean rooms and a very comfortable bed. Big shower with all the amenities.Pacif Blue Inn is just a short walk from the city center and the ocean. The hotel offers delicious cookies and brownies, and there’s an area where you can have breakfast and enjoy a great cup of coffee. The staff is helpful and very nice. The hotel is also pet-friendly, which I must say is a big plus!

Cons:

Unfortunately, there is no fridge in the room.

2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
R
Roberto • couple • us
10
Calvin the property manager on site was very helpful kind and understanding really appreciated him
2026-10-29 • via Nuitee
C
Chad • couple • us
10
2026-10-22 • via Nuitee
G
Gavin • couple • us
10
Calm cool and just right
Pros:

Lovely flowers at the entrance. Calm and private courtyard for guests, expresses machine!

2026-10-21 • via Nuitee
M
Megan • couple • us
10
It was comfortable, clean and budget friendly
Pros:

Beautiful, Clean, Spacious Room! Great room for the price

2026-10-20 • via Nuitee
R
rick • couple • us
8
Pros:

No breakfast…. There was coffee and a few brownies. Some sort of bfast would have been nice

Cons:

Security was not in place at all. The area did not seem safe

2026-10-19 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

NA

Cons:

NA

2026-10-14 • via Nuitee
J
Jane • couple • us
9
2026-10-10 • via Nuitee
D
dsonoman320 • solo_traveller • us
2
Never again!
Pros:

location.

Cons:

No coffee in room, no refrigerator, no microwave, very soft and lumpy bed and ANTS! They charge $15 per night opt to park in "secure lot" half block away. I say secure because my car (plus another) car was broke into, mine with 2 broken windows and everything of value gone. No attendant on premise between 5 pm and 8 or 9 am.

2026-10-09 • via Nuitee
P
Pardo • couple • us
10
2026-10-07 • via Nuitee
B
Byungjune • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-09-08 • via Nuitee
E
Edith • solo_traveller • us
9
2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
S
Sonny • couple • us
6
Pros:

Staff and fire place outside. Location was good.

Cons:

My lift over dinner was taken out of the refrigerator by another guest and eaten. ShadowBrook stake:(

2026-09-04 • via Nuitee
G
gunn • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-09-03 • via Nuitee
V
Victor • couple • us
7
2026-09-01 • via Nuitee
E
Edith • solo_traveller • us
4
2026-08-24 • via Nuitee
B
Ben • couple • us
10
Pros:

Staff was excellent. Location was solid. coffee machine was a nice touch.

Cons:

The bed in room 202 is shot, i think, the springs are dying and the bed kinda droops in the middle. Hurt my back all night, but since was only there one night wasn't the end of the world. Might wanna look at replacing the mattress.

2026-08-24 • via Nuitee