Sea & Sand Inn

Hotels
8.9 (300 reviews)
201 West Cliff Drive , Santa Cruz , us

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
24-hour front desk
Heating
Terrace
Family rooms
Garden
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Great location
Beautiful views
Friendly staff
Cons:
Noise issues
Renovation disturbances
Limited amenities

Categories

Cleanliness
8.43
The large renovation created dust which affected the stay.
Service
9.4
Staff were kind, but the checkout process was frustrating.
Location
9.94
Great views and proximity to attractions.
Room Quality
7.89
Rooms were small and lacked temperature control.
Amenities
9.42
The complementary breakfast, cookies, and evening wine were enjoyable.
Value for Money
7.38
Overpriced for the experience, especially with recent issues.
Food and Beverage
8.93
Breakfast was appreciated, but some guests felt it was lacking.
Overall Experience
9.8
Despite some setbacks, many enjoyed their stay.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-16 05:23

Property Description

Oceanfront Rooms with Free Wi-Fi
Experience the perfect beach getaway at Sea & Sand Inn, just steps away from Santa Cruz Wharf and Boardwalk. Each room offers stunning sea views and comes equipped with free Wi-Fi, a TV, and a DVD player.

Complimentary Breakfast and Parking
Start your day right with a delicious continental breakfast featuring fresh baked goods, boiled eggs, and more. Take advantage of our free guest parking and explore nearby attractions like Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

Convenient Amenities and Nearby Attractions
Relax in our comfortable rooms with a seating area and en suite bathroom. With a 24-hour reception, you'll always have support during your stay. Don't miss the chance to visit the University of California Santa Cruz just 2 miles away. Book your stay at Sea & Sand Inn now for a memorable coastal experience.

Important information:

Please note: Parking is limited to 1 space per room booked.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

Location

Guest Reviews

8.9
Based on 300 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.43
Service: 9.4
Location: 9.94
Room Quality: 7.89
Amenities: 9.42
Value for Money: 7.38
Food and Beverage: 8.93
Overall Experience: 9.8
M
Maureen • solo_traveller • us
10
A gorgeous, relaxing place to stay with beautiful views of boardwalk, wharf, trails - totally walkable, surfing beaches,
Pros:

Location, amenities, view - far above expectations! Don’t let roadside appearance fool you!

Cons:

Nothing! I loved the staff, friendly, helpful, kind. The breakfasts, afternoon snacks, and early evening snacks and wine were really nice.

2026-08-29 • via Nuitee
P
Peng • family_with_children • us
9
Nice little Inn with great views of the water from all the rooms
Pros:

Beautiful view of the harbor and pier. Comfortable rooms. Nice ocean view lawn. Easy walk to the beach and restaurants

2026-08-22 • via Nuitee
M
Moises • couple • us
10
2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
L
Louie • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Great location private and romantic

Cons:

Could use a ac

2026-08-17 • via Nuitee
J
Joseph • couple • us
9
2026-08-11 • via Nuitee
M
Margaret • couple • us
10
Excellent, would visit again.
Pros:

The grounds were wonderful, great views, fire pits etc. Loved the wine and cheese evenings. Gas fire in the room for cold evenings.

Cons:

We had a regular room, could have been a bit more spacious, otherwise very good.

2026-08-09 • via Nuitee
J
Julie • extended_group • us
10
The view and location are perfect! Little touches by the staff made stay special!
Pros:

The view and location are perfect! Little touches by the staff (wine, cheese, cookies) made this stay feel so special!

Cons:

No complaints.

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
S
Steve • couple • us
9
We'll be back!
Pros:

It was great to listen to the surf from our room!

Cons:

Parking and exiting the property were a little difficult but still very acceptable!

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
M
Meryl • family_with_children • us
7
Pros:

Beautiful ocean views

Cons:

The breakfast was low quality

2026-07-25 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • couple • us
8
This is great renovated motel if you want a beach view and easy access to the West Cliff area.
Pros:

The location is great in terms of its access to the beach and walks in the West Cliff neighborhood along the ocean. The breakfast was above average, including yogurt parfaits, good coffee, and water with fresh oranges. The cleaning and kitchen staff were wonderful.

Cons:

The location is both a plus and minus since there is so much traffic on the road outside, and some drivers insist on playing loud music as they pass. It was not always easy to find the person at the front desk, and there was not always any real back-up if you had a question or wanted change.

2026-07-24 • via Nuitee
K
Katherine • couple • us
10
Everything was wonderful! Look forward to staying here again in the future
Pros:

Staff was so friendly, loved the fire pits outside and the beautiful view of the ocean

2026-07-06 • via Nuitee
M
Michele • family_with_children • us
10
2026-06-30 • via Nuitee
J
John • couple • us
6
You pay for the view so you’d better REALLY like a view of the ocean and pray the weather is clear
Pros:

Views were incredible. The property was well maintained

Cons:

No beach access. Rooms were small and of average quality. No in room coffee

2026-06-26 • via Nuitee
B
Burns • couple • us
6
Overpriced Motel with a beautiful view
Pros:

The views from the walkway and terraces was beautiful!

Cons:

We paid over $600/night. It was worth $250 because of the view. The rooms were like very basic motel rooms. The night stands were scratched and dented. You got thin plastic glasses in plastic wrap in your room. The breakfast was like a Hampton in for 1/3 the price. There is no AC. You can open your window but there is an outdoor walkway 4 feet from your bed.

2026-06-25 • via Nuitee
K
kaylee • couple • us
8
Cons:

No AC or big fan

2026-06-20 • via Nuitee
S
Sarah • couple • gb
10
I would recommend it highly. So much nicer than big corporate hotels.
Pros:

Loved everything. Apart from great location, lovely big room, great view, nice fire for the cold evenings, we loved the special touch of the afternoon tea/ coffee in the lounge and the early evening wine and cheese, and also a great breakfast. The garden and terraces are fabulous.

Cons:

All great

2026-06-11 • via Nuitee
N
Nicole • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Comfortable bed, nice clean room, atmosphere was amazing, grounds and views were awesome

Cons:

Everything was amazing. No complaints.

2026-06-08 • via Nuitee
A
Alali • family_with_children • us
8
2026-06-07 • via Nuitee
C
Cynthia • extended_group • us
10
2026-06-06 • via Nuitee
S
Sandra • couple • us
10
Pros:

The location is perfect.

2026-05-31 • via Nuitee