Cheap Hotels in Santa Cruz, CA from $69

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Pick from 3 Santa Cruz Cheap Hotels and compare room rates, reviews, and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.

"Staff is always so friendly and helpful. Rooms are clean. Its a Great location. Between downtown and the boardwalk/wharf. Can easily walk to either direction (although we usually take our bikes). Theres a great little cafe market right across the street. Its cash only, but the food is good. "

$149 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

Queen Room | Individually furnished, desk, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

"Staff were so nice and polite- we stay here 2-3x a month!"

$101 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

"The staff was very courteous and friendly and helpful ✌️✌️"

$106 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

More Popular Santa Cruz Hotels

370 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA

$69

$86 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

Stay at this motel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Mystery ...

4.2/10 (1,004 reviews)

"Quite a noisy area and the windows and doors to the rooms invite outside sound quite easily. Area is not the best but not horrible."

Reviewed on May 28, 2024

2424 Mission Street, Santa Cruz, CA

$179

$204 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 23 - Jun 24

Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful ...

9.2/10 Wonderful! (369 reviews)

"The room was clean and so fresh, staff were super responsive and helpful in all areas. Food was great. Thank you for your warmth and hospitality. You have repeat customers in us."

Reviewed on Jun 1, 2024

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz, an IHG Hotel

1410 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA

$161

$184 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 5 - Jun 6

Stay at this hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a sauna. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular ...

7.8/10 Good! (1,008 reviews)

"It was a good stay, my wife and daughter enjoyed it so that’s all that matters to me"

Reviewed on May 31, 2024

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611 Ocean St, Santa Cruz, CA

$139

$162 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 6 - Jun 7

Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...

8.4/10 Very Good! (954 reviews)

"Very good hotel"

Reviewed on May 31, 2024

407 Broadway, Santa Cruz, CA

$141

$162 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 6 - Jun 7

Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and a fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool ...

8.8/10 Excellent! (1,005 reviews)

"Great place to stay"

Reviewed on May 31, 2024

6001 La Madrona Drive, Santa Cruz, CA

$119

$137 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 10 - Jun 11

Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in our ...

8/10 Very Good! (1,047 reviews)

"I didn’t like that I had to pay for parking"

Reviewed on Jun 2, 2024

313 Riverside Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA

$139

$158 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 6 - Jun 7

Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. ...

8.2/10 Very Good! (416 reviews)

"Loved it!"

Reviewed on May 29, 2024

1 Chaminade Ln, Santa Cruz, CA

$197

$266 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 26 - Jun 27

Book a stay at this spa resort in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, free valet parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in our ...

7.6/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)

"Hidden gem in Santa Cruz- lots to do on site. Resort went above and beyond to make our staycation comfortable and fun. Will return!"

Reviewed on Jun 1, 2024

101 Main St, Santa Cruz, CA

$199

$261 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

Stay at this 3.5-star beach hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the convenient ...

8.6/10 Excellent! (1,239 reviews)

"Great views, close to the boardwalk, and beach. Helpful and friendly staff, and a private parking area, that was tight."

Reviewed on May 30, 2024

175 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA

$273

$311 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

Book a stay at this beach resort in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free WiFi, a beach locale, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the restaurant in ...

9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)

"Exceptional property, the provided excellent service. The location is perfect and offers easy access to the beach, pier shopping and dining . I would highly recommend to families traveling with children ."

Reviewed on May 31, 2024

Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

2-star hotels in Santa Cruz

Beach Street Inn and Suites

125 Beach Street, Santa Cruz, CA

$250

$284 total

includes taxes & fees

Jun 4 - Jun 5

9.4/10 Exceptional! (1,006 reviews)

How can I get cheap hotels in Santa Cruz?

Best tips to find a cheap hotel in Santa Cruz

If you're looking to travel to Santa Cruz on a budget, you'll be happy to know that you can find hotels for as low as $69. Of course, that price is affected by amenities, star rating, and even the time of year you visit. At most, hotel prices can be as high as $273. Staying a short amount of time in Santa Cruz is an effective way to reduce hotel costs.
When you cut your vacation down to just a few days, you don't have to worry as much about hotel prices since you don't have that many nights to stay. For budget hotels in Santa Cruz, 3 to 4 days should be all the nights you need. That's generally enough to enjoy the city's top attractions, though there's certainly enough to do to warrant a week-long trip.
When booking cheap hotel rooms in Santa Cruz, it's typically best to book about 3 weeks in advance. Book further in advance than that and you could be paying too much for your room, as hotels will often overestimate future demand. However, if you wait too long, you might find that the hotel has been completely booked.
When you utilize search filters on Expedia, you'll be able to narrow down your results in a flash. These search filters cover a wide variety of factors you may be interested in when it comes to finding a cheap hotel in Santa Cruz, including amenities such as Free Breakfast, 2-star rating, or proximity to local attractions. You can even set filters for price limits to ensure that all the displayed results are within your budget.

Santa Cruz Cheap Hotels information

Cheap Hotels in Santa Cruz	3
Highest price	$273
Cheapest price	$69
Number of guest reviews	2,985
Total number of hotels in Santa Cruz	692

Frequently asked questions

What is Santa Cruz like for travelers on a budget?

Santa Cruz has a variety of cheap accommodations and things to do, making it a great getaway spot for budget travelers. In addition to its well-known attractions like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay, this destination is home to University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum and Pleasure Point Park, which you can enjoy while spending very little.

What's the best accommodation for a budget-friendly stay in Santa Cruz?

Based on our traveler reviews, Ocean Pacific Lodge is a top choice for a less expensive stay. Other choices to stay on the cheap include Beachview Inn and Torch Lite Inn.

How many inexpensive hotels should I expect to find in Santa Cruz?

Choose a hotel that suits your wallet among Expedia’s 16 budget hotels in Santa Cruz.

What's the weather like in Santa Cruz?

Weather will likely play an important role when you plan your trip to Santa Cruz, and keep in mind that cheaper options are usually available when the weather isn’t as good. The hottest months are usually September and August with an average temp of 63°F, while the coldest months are February and March with an average of 52°F. Average annual precipitation for Santa Cruz is 27 inches.

What is there to see and do in Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz is known for its sporting events and surfing, and offers plenty to see and do without spending a fortune. You can budget for the top local attractions that interest you most, such as Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay, and then look for sights and activities that cost little or nothing at all. Enjoy the outdoors at Main Beach and Santa Cruz Main Beach, or hunt for bargains with some shopping at Ocean Street.

How can I get to Santa Cruz and get around on a budget?

Scoping out the transportation options in Santa Cruz is a smart way to keep your trip affordable. The most convenient airport is 13.4 mi (21.6 km) from the center in Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal). However, if that doesn’t suit your budget, you can look into flights to Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC), which is 27.6 mi (44.3 km) away. Santa Cruz might not have very many public transit options so a rental car could be a reasonable alternative to see the area.