Dream Inn

2 visits in 2025. Both A+. First visit: fun, high-floor tower room, perfect Santa Cruz adult getaway. Second visit: traveling solo with my 12-year-old after a long family trip. The Dream Inn team showed up hard with welcome treats, seamless help with bags, reservations, special requests, and real care when mom was exhausted and kiddo wasn’t feeling great. The vibe is rare: historic, soulful, authentic and personal without sacrificing modern comfort. Cool, boutique experiences with this level of service just don’t exist much anymore. Whatever the Dream Inn corporate hiring, training team is doing should be made SOP and broadcasted. They are running a clinic. Major thanks to Aaliyah (reservation magician who 💯 understood the assignment), Katelyn (super thoughtful check-in), Cameron C (swift, smooth room assist), and Ervil (majorly accommodating/effortless send-off). ❤️ thank you. Here’s the thing, though I feel like anyone at this hotel Would’ve been terrific to work just haven’t had a chance yet. 2026! Corporate events, retreats, and VIP client experiences would be next. Always looking for great south of SF options that hasn’t been a white washed by national corporate DNA. Authentic, local and full of character are what people want but with all the service and comfort.

This is my favorite hotel in the entire world. All rooms face the ocean. Fun retro vibe. Clean and bright. Kind and welcoming staff. Great pool and hot tub. Beach access-- literally on the beach! Short stroll to the boardwalk. It is literally the best. I only wish the prices were a bit more accessible to the average working person. This is about a once-every-5-years-and-when-there's-a-sale place for me, but I LOVE it and am grateful anytime I can stay here.

I don't think I will ever stay somewhere else again when coming to Santa Cruz. The rooms are spotless. I love that they come with robes, and a full size couch and table with beautiful balcony's. The views are unmatched. The pool is amazing, with tequila sunsets and ice cream sandwiches in the afternoon. The service is wonderful. I've been met with smiles and kindness every time I talk to someone here, and the valet workers are doing an amazing job! Location is perfect, 2 minutes to the pier and the boardwalk with a private entrance to the beach with foot washing stations on your way back in! Must stay!

We had a perfect weekend at the Dream Inn. Service was spectacular throughout, from booking to check in to room service. The staff here is so sweet and genuine, and really want you to have a fabulous stay. This hotel is ideal for families with kids, because the pool is super clean and heated to about 85, and you can walk right down the stairs from the pool deck and onto the beach. Theres also a little bar on deck where you can order food etc. The hotel is at the end of the boardwalk pretty much, so you’re close to everything in the main part of SC and can easily walk everywhere. But by far the standout in our stay was the spectacular service and cleanliness at the hotel. We will definitely stay here again!!

Love the Dream Inn. I'm in town solo for business and stayed in Santa Cruz as a stopover, first time there. The entire place is beautiful. Your right on the beach, the hotel is new and has this great vintage surfer vibe, which goes well with the tons of actual surfers you can watch from your balcony. The wharf (pier) was great and its right there, so a nice little stroll to these great little beach vibe bard and restaurants right on the wharf. Things I like about the hotel. Valet parking, Santa Cruz seems a little tight to drive around, lots of pedestrians, people going to/from the beach, the wharf etc, so was great to ditch the car and not worry about it. The beds were super comfy, the rooms were very clean and smelled nice, TV is modern and easy, vintage 50's vibe all over the hotel is great, and best of all, you can hear the ocean all night, and wake up to the sound of the waves. I'm working in the room this morning and don't want the TV on, just cracked the door open and listening to the sound of the ocean and the seagulls (you can hear the seals too), just a beautiful beach here. One other note that I really think is cool, is the water. They don't have the usual plastic bottles, they give you these two nice reusable water bottles that you can take with you, and they have a refill station in the lobby. I love this. Having water is always so nice when traveling and usually you end up having to buy it from the hotel. This is all free, sustainable, thoughtful, just awesome. All in, would highly recommend this hotel for a great stay in Santa Cruz. Would come back anytime.

Driving up to San Francisco, this was our last overnight stop before we got there.|A well maintained and tastefully beach style decorated older hotel|All rooms appeared to have ocean views, ours had a balcony on which we could watch the ocean and the beach volleyball in the morning. We walked to the wharf and also along West Cliff drive in the morning, as the hotel was between the two,|Room was large, bed was comfortable.|Staff were friendly and helpful.|We didn’t really use the facilities as we were only there overnight. We ate in downtown, which was a short drive away.|My only gripe was that they had a big parking lot over the road, which was empty and yet they still charged $35:for self parking and $45 for valet, which is ridiculous for a small town. We found free on street parking less than 5 minutes walk away.

The location is terrific, and they are selling that. Very nice staff. Clean. We had a large suite, overlooking the beach, although I think all of the rooms do, at least in the Tower. But, older hotel, with little remodeling (although had electrical outlets for computers and a phone charger. Just somewhat tired. Hard pillows. Noisy wall a/c units. No desk. GREAT restaurant.

This is our third time staying at this hotel and it is always super clean, the views are always amazing and it is a reasonable value for the location and service, although one of the more costly hotels in SC. The coffee shop in the lobby is also awesome and a great perk. Highly recommend. One caveat is that the pull out couch in the suite is super uncomfortable. I don't recommend. However the suites also have a huge single cushion seating area that also makes a great bed. Use that instead. Finally, get a cloud room if you can, as it's on the higher floors.

We've been here three times best experience I love how the boardwalk is right next to it now so it's sad that the wharf passed down and the pool was great. Best hotel ever since another one in Santa Cruz passed down that one was our favorite now so about the rooms there's a birthday my birthday. I love how it came with chocolates such a big room great views the employees are so nice. They take your baggage up that crazy like some hotels do that and that one is one of them like the best part about this hotel is like they have a pool. They have a restaurant they have 12 floors I think they have the best food they have spaghetti so good so good that's my top five favorite food and it's my second. It's below five. I love the pool the spa.

Let's start with the good things. The staff is outstanding and the lobby is fun. The location is perfect. The bed and linens were nice. We didn't eat in the restaurant but we did get a drink and it was good. The man, who paints the sand every morning, is amazing. We had a wonderful view from our room. OK, things that need to be corrected. The walls are paper thin so bring your earplugs. You can hear all the plumbing in the wall and everyone speaking in the hallways. The shower was really dangerous. The step down out of the shower, which is a little too high, is slippery. They haven't worked out how the water, from the shower, doesn't damage the wood trim on the slider and the frame. There is layer after layer of bondo which isn't solving the problem. Lastly, the clear, shower door caulking has black mold which can't be cleaned by housekeeping. This hotel should be fantastic but it isn't.

Staycation, can't beat the location and Santa Cruz lifestyle boutique Hotel we enjoyed the sunrise & Jacuzzi immensely after our annual New Year's Day swim at Cowell's Beach.

This is not our first stay here, but it will be our last. It's clear the hotel is relying on their location to justify the price. The rooms certainly haven't been touched since they last renovated many years ago. To begin with, when you reserve your room you're charged the first night plus taxes and fees, you even get a confirmation email stating that. So imagine my surprise when I check in and I'm told I was never charged the deposit and now I have to pay the entire cost for the stay. At no point in the last 7 months since I booked the room was I informed the deposit wasn't paid. I requested a higher floor for our room, we were put on the 3rd floor which is the lobby floor so incredibly busy. Don't bother with room service, which we only ordered because the 3 other places we tried to get food from were already closed at 6 pm. The air conditioner/heater doesn't work. The wall controller literally says Err on it. Last night an employee of the hotel tried to enter our room around 10:30 pm to deliver towels we didn't request. Luckily we had the safety latch on the door which prevented him from getting in. We have had prior negative experiences at this hotel and gave it a second chance. The location can't be beat, but for the off season price of $400/night the quality of the rooms should reflect what is being paid. We have a reservation for spring break, $600/night for a regular room, that I will be canceling.

It's been years since our last stay but we still love it! Perfect for a quick weekend mental health break. Cannot beat the view and location. Everything was clean and well designed, love the cheerful colors and mid century + surf vibe. Bath products smell awesome. Yummy hash browns for room service breakfast. Agree the beds are a little hard, but overall a wonderful stay.

Everything was amazing from start to finish! Katie set us up on a last minute request for a poolside room. It was perfect and we lucked out with great weather! Thank you Katie!! Makayla at the front desk was kind and helpful. She allowed us to hang by the pool while we waited for our room to be ready. (We arrived early). And then there was Eric, the poolside bartender full of style & riz for days! He's always good for a great cocktail and a laugh!! Room service arrived quick and was delicious. We definitely will be back, it's the perfect staycation spot for us!!

Best location ever for a marathon, 10k or 5K in Santa Cruz! I booked here for She is Beautiful Run, and Wharf to Wharf. You are in walking distance to the boardwalk, which is near starting line. The beds are comfortable. The evening Happy Hour is amazing! They have a heated pool and a jacuzzi. The pool area also serves delicious food at the poolside. I slept well in preparation for my run. Great place to stay when in Santa Cruz!

Not a bad way to blow off some steam on a Friday night...... We shot up there (last minute) from the South Bay. Arrived around 7pm and were greeted with smiles and the most polite, friendliest valet attendants. Room was average, the view was what you pay for. After a few rides at the Boardwalk, we ventured back to the hotel hoping to relax by the firepit (pretty much why we came there) I mean what else do you do to blow off some steam other than enjoy something cold by the firepit. NOT AT THIS PLACE....Needless to say, we were extremely disappointed that pretty much everything closed at 10:00 pm. I would have hoped for the amount of money we paid per night there that the firepit area poolside would at least be open till midnight. We enjoyed the pool area Saturday and thought it had way more potential than how they constructed it. Sad that the drink bar blocks 1/2 the view and firepits were stuck in a corner that felt (dead). When they decide to open the pool till at least midnight for us high end paying customers we will be back, but until then.........

The dream team at the Dream Inn is nothing short of spectacular. We enjoyed a three-night-stay over the July 4th weekend, to celebrate our two-month-wedding anniversary and wow, it was wonderful. We had Colin as a valet/bellhop on arrival and departure. Helpful and accommodating. Our room cannot truly be described. We had a king bed with a private balcony and ocean/wharf/beach view. Breathtaking. Our room was on the 10th floor, top of the building, so we were sure to leave the slider open all night and enjoy those waves crashing. Furnishings were modern and crisp but with a 'beachy' feel. Daily room attention which is nice - since so many places are cutting back on that. When in a hotel, daily service is a necessity not a luxury, so much appreciated. Finally - the food!! Room service for breakfast, chocolate chip pancakes and a classic egg/bacon/sausage/toast meal. Simple, yet arrived to our room hot, and tasty. Dinner at Jack o'Neills - first night: we enjoyed the beef rib and whippy potatoes, and the pork ribs in a raspberry vinaigrette with on the cob corn and whole baby roasted potatoes. Beyond delish! Last night of our stay: Once again the beef rib for both of us, so nice I ordered it twice. Overall, an enthusiastic thumbs-up and yes, you absolutely must book your stay there. A sidenote - this hotel is easily within walking distance of the Boardwalk, and there are tons of souvenir shops and food vendors to choose from. Beautiful at night with all the carnival ride lighting.

Had a room on the 2nd floor for two nights. Room was perfect, no complaints. Great view. Staff was pleasant and helpful. Ordered room service one morning , had the basic breakfast. Was perfect, bacon cooked just right, even my scrambled eggs which I ordered hard were perfect ( many places fail to cook the hard enough), hash browns and toast tasty. Recommend the hotel and restaurant. I came with a large group of 30 travelers, all were happy with the stay.

A lovely place to stay for a getaway in Santa Cruz. You can't beat the location, as it is right on the water. It takes no more than 7 minutes to walk to the actual water, depending on where your room is. I stayed here a few times now, once with family and once with friends. You can't beat the closeness to the beach and the wharf. We loved being able to walk to dinner every night as well as watch the ocean and pool from our room. Can't wait to return here for another escape!

I'm done with this place. The bed is like concrete! It's so incredibly hard and painful. The rooms are falling apart and need to be overhauled. The bathroom floor was sticky. The hot tub was lukewarm. And the shower was broken. The only positive thing I have to say is that they let me check in at 11:00 AM, which I really appreciated. Otherwise, this place sucks. I'm not going back until they overhaul it.

Beautiful photos but customer service was lacking. I reached out to get a quote for a wedding venue package. I was called and immediately asked my budget. I stated I was looking to stay at about 15k. After this the call went downhill. The lady was snarky and kind of laughed it off saying that's a bit of a stretch. She then stated she could get me priced at 18k and asked if that was something I could do. She didn't go into what is offered in the package. She didn't offer a different day/time that may be cheaper or even offer to build a proposal with a smaller guest count. I would have been okay with spending more but after I mentioned a budget that she didn't like she didn't seem to want to chat with me. I've been in sales I know upselling is important but I would've liked to have been listened to or given details about quality of services prior to getting me to agree to anything. Luckily I found a great venue in Monterey for 17k with food, cake, DJ, decor and ceremony included. I truly just hate how I judged I felt during that call and how belittled I felt after revealing a budget that didn't meet her standards.

We have made it a place we must visit every summer. Location, the staff, food, ocean front rooms , decor, and close by is the pier and the boardwalk :)

Great moderately priced hotel. Great views and a decent restaurant. Wish the heated pool was 2degrees warmer

Fun hotel! I really liked the vibes. It was cute, fun, updated decor. Service was great. Downside is that its very loud. Walls are thin so you can hear neighbors, people in the hallway, and people on the beach. I had my airpods on noise cancelling so it was fine for me. The view was pretty nice tho. Features and fixtures are updated.

You can hear the ocean waves and it's close to the boardwalk. Other than the rooms feeling a little older than most hotels, it does house the jack oneill's restaurant. Walls are quite thin so you can hear everything.... Everything..

Very old. Nothing soundproof. One of the beds squeaked and creaked every time you moved. No monitoring of halls on ground floor with yelling and running kids and people at all hours! "Private balcony" with "ocean view" was on ground floor right over the pool with the ocean behind it. Balcony was SHARED with a cloth separating each room. Not private. Toilet was beyond loud and the tile was older than I am! Overall nothing special. Bell and valet staff were all super nice and helpful. That's about the best thing I can say about the place. Not worth the price, at least not for the room we had.

The Employees Were Very Personable and Knowledgeable ! Our Room Had A View Showing The Whole Monterey Bay With The Wharf/Pier Right In Front Of Us ; Close Enough We Could Just Walk It , Enjoy The Shops , Sit And Relax With A Cup Of Coffee ! Only One Issue That Gave Me Pain Was The NEW BEDS They Installed Were Like Laying On A Rock & Made My Lower Back and Hips Hurt Like Hell - I got some extra Comforters and Made A Makeshift Cushion, but my Hips & Lower Back From The First Nights Sleep Did Not Get Any Relief ! We Enjoyed Our Stay Besides This, Went To Dinner At Shadowbrook Restaurant To End Out our Beautiful Stay - Even The Rain Didn't Detour Our Stay

We had the best weekend at Dream inn for my birthday. It was a little bit of a splurge but sooo worth it! You hardly even need to leave the property the pool and spa are amazing, there is a bar and tacos right by the pool, the beach is steps away. I attended the yoga class on Saturday morning and that was very relaxing. The restaurant on site is spectacular. Can't beat hearing the waves while you sleep. They gave me amazing chocolates at check in for my birthday. You can walk to the boardwalk in just a few minutes. Will absolutely be back!

Our favorite place to stay in Santa Cruz and it's close enough to the Pier to walk to dinner and shops. All of the rooms have a balcony and view of the ocean. And there's a taco bar near the pool and a bar on the opposite side near the fire pits. Parking is across the street for fee.

We hosted a corporate retreat here for ~90 people, and it was great! Would recommend this location and hotel for anyone planning a corporate event with a budget. Corporate: The event planners at Dream Inn that we worked with were helpful - providing guidance on how to plan a good corporate event. I do wish they had been more responsive though and had more suggestions of activities around Santa Cruz. Rooms: Rooms are clean and spacious, if a bit outdated in terms of décor. Every room faces the ocean, so everyone gets to wake up to a beautiful sunrise. However, you do hear waves crashing at night, which can be loud for light sleepers. Food: We had buffets from the hotel's kitchen for most meals, and they were surprisingly good for mass-produced meals. The food options are a bit expensive though. Service: The staff were all super friendly and helpful. Nothing but smiles during our stay :)

We love the Dream Inn..they have free bikes, beach access, pool and spa right above the beach and fabulous rooms with fabulous views. Great location for walking along West Cliff Dr, walking to the Boardwalk or onto the wharf. Take a swim around the wharf while your here too! Paddle boarding and surfing right outside the door, also.

Valet parking $27 and self parking ( same price). Might as well go with Valet parking. Beauty room ! I feel as though there wasn't enough space to put my clothing away. Patio with two chairs and glass table. NO SMOKING ALLOWED . " Patio is for enjoying the view , not smoking" read the coaster. Bed was comfortable, but the pillows were to soft for my liking. The view and sounds of waves was amazing. Go down to the pier and you will hear and see so many seals! Literally about 30 of them!! I love that there pool and jacuzzi was heated ! And a bar also , wow! The bartender was funny. Great guy and worker! Somehow someone ordered breakfast and it was sent to our room. I made sure we weren't charged since we didn't even make not one single phone call. The front receptionist handled it and made sure I wasn't charged. Thank you all so much for your accommodations and professionalism. 10/10 hotel

Lovely hotel - amazing views, kind service, and great food! We've stayed at several hotels in the area over the last few years - this is the best so far. The view is unmatched and our balcony on the 8th floor felt private and peaceful. Everyone working at the hotel were super nice and accommodating. And room service was so fast - all the food was delicious! Dinner was particularly well cooked. I recommend the chocolate cake! Can't wait to return.

Enrique assisted us in reservation's for or Holiday vacation in Santa Cruz. He is the epitome of customer service relations, we booked the room we use for all our trips.

Was here for the Ironman 2023, so my cousin specifically booked this room for me to have close and convenient access to the event. Hotel is a perfect Santa Cruz location, right on the beach. Our room overlooked the water, the view was fantastic. Walking distance to everything downtown. Next to the Santa Cruz Wharf. Overlooking Jack O'Neill's Restaurant. Couple of restaurants at the hotel. The hotel is clean, room was nice and clean. The staff was very accommodating. Gave us many restaurant recommendations and directions. Shout out to the Valet staff -- speedy, polite, professional. There is a convenient self-parking lot. A cool thing was that there is a local individual who does cool writings in the sand -- greetings, birthday messages, and such. We woke up every morning to beautiful art in the sand. Will definitely be staying here next visit to Santa Cruz !!

Amazing place to stay. The staff is friendly, the location is great, and the view is absolutely breathtaking. I also like the size of the rooms, and the tv had all the channels. It's extremely family friendly. Thanks for the wonderful experience.

Overall the hotel was really nice, and every single staff member we talked to was super friendly. Gotta give it to the valet dudes, we dealt with them the most and they were all super helpful, friendly and just down to earth. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because of the cleanliness. The shower had quiet a few long long black hairs in it (I'm blonde and my partner has short gray hair). The elevator could also use a vacuum more than once a day as their was a lot of sand it in from the people coming back from the beach. The pool area is really nice, the bartender at the pool was friendly. We ate at Jack and both loved our food!

These views were everything to me . I loved how I can hear the waves and just step out to the balcony and get a glimpse of this . The staff were amazing and friendly and helpful too . Their breakfast was delicious as well . No noise in the middle of the night. Slept with the slider door open to hear the waves . I'll definitely be coming back

We had a lovely time at the Dream Inn. I spent a lot of time in Santa Cruz and have never stayed at this hotel before. It's a wonderful hotel to bring children and is ideally located right next to the boardwalk. The lobby is beautiful although a bit small. We stayed in an Ocean View Deluxe on the first floor and we had more of a pool view, right in front of the walkway ramp. So, there were people walking by our window quite often. But still great ocean views nonetheless. There are some areas that do need a little renovating like the hallway outside of our room, which is a bit more open-air. At night, the noise level is pretty high on the first floor from other hotel guests. We would love to return, and maybe try a different room!

Where to start. Well how about " WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED OUR STAY"!!! Great location right next to the pier. Great views of the ocean as we were right on the beach and the amusement park is right down the street. Dream Inn has a very retro beachy vibe. Which is totally us. So I'm not sure about some other comments about outdated. Honestly that's what they're going for. Just look at the jukebox. Or the Volkswagen bus out front. It's all part of the vibe. The front desk or concierge where extremely welcoming and accommodating. Jenn was a total joy to interact with. I also believe we crossed paths with Lindsey in between and Alex on our way out at the end of our stay. All are very professional but beyond that they were just as my wife was saying so nice. I should also give a shout out to Eric at the pool bar. Made some awesome margarita's with a Grand Marnier floater. I guess we had about four or five rounds during our stay. That's the problem when you find a good bartender that makes a great drink. Thank you again, Eric. We had loved the proximity to the pier. There are restaurants and bars there that we really enjoyed. And also some good souvenir shops with quality products. In essence, we did not have to get back into our car often though we did, to travel to Whole Foods, which is about a mile and a half from the hotel. I would like to give a shout out to Jenna Carrera as well. As I had the pleasure to speak with her also. You guys are awesome. We will be back! Final note.. my wife and I are both in the hospitality industry. We totally understand how overwhelming it can be sometimes when you're dealing with hundreds of people a day. In my business sometimes thousands. So it's a little more difficult than some may realize. so we recognize great employees. And Dream Inn did not disappoint. Thank you again so much. My wife and I enjoyed our stay so much. To the point in which she was a little watery eye upon our departure. Now that's good stuff!

ONLY BEACHFRONT hotel in Santa Cruz. The Dream Inn has been a Central California Coast destination since its establishment in 1963. Originally a 4 story low-rise, The Santa Cruz Dream Inn now has an additional 10-story tower and boasts 165 ocean-view guestrooms. The hotel was rebranded and designed by the Arcsine interior design consultancy in Oakland to give it a retro and fun midcentury model theme. It's done well and puts you immediately into vacation-mode. The prices were great and if you choose not to valet you can park in the parking lot across the street. Many rooms have a great view of Cowell Beach with its own balcony and with a wall made of glass to not obscure the view. You can walk right onto the beach through a back entrance near the pool, you will need a keycard to get back in. It's also a short 10 minute walk away from the Boardwalk and we felt the convenient location and fast access to so many beaches and restaurants made it a perfect place for our first visit and somewhere we would repeat in the future. Room service was also quick and the food pretty good. I could immediately tell they use kennebec potatoes for their french fries which are far superior to normal potato fries, worth ordering if you've never had them.

Booked a 2 Queen room for 3 guests, only to check in and get 1 Queen bed and a couch. Oops they said, that 2 Queen room was no longer available. $400 to sleep on the couch with my buddies. Don't waste your time in this trap.

Honest review!!!!! PROS: - THE LOCATION!! On the beach, walking distance to boardwalk and pier! - The staff, super helpful, kind and accommodating - lobby aesthetic CONS: - THE ROOMS are falling apart and are very very dated. It's time for a remodel guys! Our room smelled like old CIGARETTES, it was disgusting. I was concerned about the air quality for my baby, he's already sensitive it worried me the entire stay. I had a headache whenever sitting in the sofa area. They gave me a $75 discount and offer to move my room the following day. We declined to move because we didn't want to spend half a day moving to a different room instead of spending the day with our family on the beach. - Many things were BROKEN - the shower, the window AC unit, paint is chipping, the carpets just feel old and crusty under ur feet. It makes you want to wear shoes. Thankfully our baby doesn't crawl yet I would have had a heart attack. Everything that touched the ground was dirty to me. - We requested a crib a month prior while making our reservation and were told no problem. We didn't bring a crib because we for sure thought they'd have one ready for us. However when we arrive after a long travel day late in the evening after it's already past our baby's bedtime they tell us they don't have cribs. 10 mins later they bring a BROKEN pac and play to our room and say sorry this is the last one we have and it's broken. My husband says no problem because you know how neutral and nice husbands are, but I am OFFENDED. We all know how serious baby safety is and this is crazyyyyyy to bring to someone's room. I call them and tell them they need to THROW THIS AWAY and never offer it to anyone it is a huge liability. I end up ordering a pac and play from target for $100. It arrives at 9:45pm, my baby didn't have a place to sleep until after 10pm. They comp me parking for the troubles. - CLEANLINESS - it's the first time shower shoes have crossed my mind in like 15 years. It's crusty!! It smelled like old stale cigarettes in our room which is awful. There was an old liquor bottle (NOT OURS) under my nightstand and tape on the walls from party that was had. - The FOOD - it's not good at all. I tried many menu items from room service and the restaurant Jack O'Neil it's not great and very expensive. The breakfast is solid but that's about it! - THE POOL - you can see how cloudy it is from our room balcony it looks disgusting. There's like 50 kids that swim in it all day. The hot tub was a teenage takeover not kidding like 20 teenagers in it. The water is not swimmable at all. There's also no lounge chairs available at all, there aren't very many so it's people have an attitude when asking if they can scoot down one chair. As soon as the shadow cast from the building hits, it's FREEZING outside. The pool service was pretty decent with a solid menu. - ITS LOUD - hella noisy, single-pang windows, you can hear people talking on the beach, every motorcycle that drives by etc. We came weekend after 4th of July and people were setting fireworks off on the beach literally all night, it's so loud my baby would jump every time, super sad :/ during the week days they have a lifeguard summer camp right in front of the hotel with kids YELLING military style all morning every morning. - THE BEDS - they're AWFUL, rock hard, the pillows are huge and too fat for a human neck to sleep comfortably. My neck hurt the first 2 nights, my husbands neck hurt terribly the day of check out. The blankets are thin and cheap, the duvet cover is 2 sheets over the comforter. The AC unit was broken our entire stay, they came EVERYDAY to fix it and it was still broken. They brought us a fan but my husband and I didn't feel comfortable putting a fan on the dirty floor to blow dirt around. My Mom and sister said the ones in their rooms didn't work well either and my sister had to force reset hers on multiple occasions? So this must be a a problem for all the rooms. They asked if I wanted to manager to call me to follow up and someone texted me but never returned my call. We also never received our folio or receipts for our stay. Overall we work very hard, have a baby and could really use a relaxing vacation. I was pretty stressed about various things the entire stay and do not recommend this hotel if you want to feel relaxed or rejuvenated after your vacation. For the first time I think ever, I couldn't WAIT to go home from vacation. Save your time and go elsewhere.

Easy parking awesome staff clean beautiful place ! Sue is amazing and Jason and Bartenders!

Nice place, visited multiple times. They have kids running the place, customer service is not up to par with the location / Realestate. Charging far more than they deserve. But I'll go back because it's the best in the area. Not motorcycle friendly.

The best place To stay ever in Santa Cruz. Great restaurant and customer service is awesome

So fun! We arrived at 5:30 on a Friday. I wish we had gotten an earlier start but was not meant to be. I got an email the day before to check in. I had to log in and upload my cc number and a photo of my Id which made me nervous but it worked fine. Day of as we were en route, I received a text message that our room was ready. We arrived, valet took our bags and parked the car. Very nice guys and careful with the car. It's the same cost as self park, so why not? They won't let you use the bag cart without service, something I usually prefer not to pay for but it was part of the experience. Hotel is right on the beach. View was magnificent. Our room was nice not anything too special but 2 queens and a nice balcony with hooks to hang your bathing suits. The pool was warm, friendly, with tacos and drinks poolside. And cabana like bed things which were nice for mommy reading time. Hot tub is extra big and was full but not too full. They have happy hour morning and evening at the pool bar. It's a 5 min walk to the boardwalk. We didn't check out the restaurant, it looked super pricey with not great reviews. I did have a delicious maple latte with good conversation with the staff this morning. Minus one star just for how overall expensive it was but I did expect that in advance.

It's a great location, no doubt. However, they assigned us a room that was next to the elevator, even though we came in early at 12:30 PM, which had a heavy traffic since people used the elevator and the hallway to get to the pool. It was very noisy the whole day up to 11:30 PM, and it started getting noisy again at 7:00 AM in the next morning. The vent hood in the bathroom did not work. The phone in our room did not work. We tried calling front desk by dialing 9 and 0, per instructions, but no one picked up the phone. By the way, we tried calling (831) 740-8069 during the booking time, but no one picked up the phone. They charged us immediately after booking. We booked it in May, and we stayed there in July. So, they charged us in May. They did not provide us with an invoice in the next morning, like other hotels. Couple days later, we noticed that we were charged $33.00 extra, without knowing what that fee was for. In overall, it was not worth the $663.78 that we paid for just one night in Dream Inn.

*Dreamy views. Yummy restaurant. Great location* My company held their grand opening party here. Wow. As soon as I walked in, I was in awe by the breath taking views. The staff was so friendly. The room was spacious but inviting and well lit. What I ate: Assorted veggies & dips Lobster rolls Grilled cheese sandwiches on brioche toast More was coming but I was getting full and had to go. Absolutely lovely. Highly recommend for group parties.

We've stayed here a few times. This is our go to place when we visit Santa Cruz. The location is great. You have direct access to the beach and the boardwalk and restaurants are within walking distance. The staff is friendly and the hotel is very clean. We love the lobby coffee cart. They have very unique latte flavors. We tried a new one each day. It's great for grab and go breakfast items too. The pool area is very spacious and has three fire tables, for chilly nights. The pool bar staff is very friendly. You can order food and drinks at the pool bar. There is a spacious hot tub too. There is a large size connect four to play. Towels are available for guests. Off the pool level there is a staircase with direct access to the beach. There are showers to wash off the sand before going back into the hotel. Food from the restaurant was great too. This hotel really does not have you wanting for more. They have everything!

A bit shocked with all the bad reviews. It seems people take time to complain and not to write something positive. Guests are always happy here and frequent visitors. We stay here several times a year. It is high price in the summer, but very affordable in the spring, fall and winter. There are many accommodations that create a relaxing and luxury vacation. When arriving the valet and bell boys are always super cool and fun to chat with, very helpful and excited about your arrival. If our room isn't ready we hang by the pool and they place our bags in the room for us. Also filled our ice bucket for us as well. So thoughtful! The pool area is so fun, staff is great and yes the gorgeous views. Having such easy access to the beach, showers for the sand, and even umbrella/chair rentals for beach is the best. We loved the bartenders at the bar, tacos and nachos by the pool. After relaxing days by the pool or beach, having a delicious dinner at Jack O'neils is always enjoyable. Room service has always been great for us. Breakfast comes hot and fast to our room. Portions are large and easy to share. Never had a bad meal there. Coffee is always on point too. In addition to all of the amenities, fun and friendly staff, you cannot beat the location. The views, and being able to walk to the wharf, boardwalk, and beach is always a highlight for our son. They do offer cheaper rooms that are older, but also have mid to upscale rooms. We never stay any where else and always look forward to our trip!!!

travelers beware! This hotel is spectacularly unsafe! we were in the hotel less than 4 hours when some local vandals tried to break down our door. we called for security a small young man that looked like he was in high school showed up. this did no make us feel secure. we noticed that the second floor we were on had a side entrance, open to the public beach and restrooms where a local drug population was hanging out. this entrance is unmanned and next to an open driveway. we left immediately. this hotel caters to families with children. it is a tragedy waiting to happen. three teenage boys tried to break down our door and we were lucky. they could have had weapons, they could have been adults, and behind our door could have been children. if you value your safety please take your family to another hotel!

We came here last year and have now made it a tradition to come every year for New Years. The staff is always helpful and friendly. From the person answering the phones to the front desk to the valet! Everyone is fast, they make it super easy to check in and check out. Offer free valet and have a dedicated parking lot across the street. Parking is $25/day so be aware. Pricing and view of this hotel I think is PERFECT! It might seem higher than most but every room faces the ocean and they have their own entrance to the beach which is a little more private and secluded from the crowds. It's steps away from the pier and literally only a ten minute walk to the boardwalk! There's so much to do around this town, just takes a little research. We decided to do the railroad camp ride through the redwoods and went to the Santa Cruz kids discovery center! This place can be both romantic and family friendly. Highly recommend this hotel!

Horrible service, the pool employees are very rude and judgmental . Food was expensive and gross the pool is pee filled as a local i hate this place their are so many more hotels that are 10x better for cheaper. There are used needles by the pool and rusty nails be safe when swimming

The staff is very friendly but they work for tips and you can tell everyone expected to get paid. I do agree they should be tipped too but I just felt every interaction was so fake and very friendly it was over excessive. The restaurant was also booked to capacity so we opted for room service. I ordered a rib eye steak and they didn't bring steak sauce however the steak was pretty good without. I just would of preferred a good steak with A1 for that price. Our bowl of clam chowder was also on the tiny side of dishes and we paid for a bowl. Granted this is the restaurant's fault and not the dream inn. As for the actual room it was pretty dated. There was no bathtub in our room just an oversized shower that made it impossible to wash our baby. There was a small table and dining area and everything seemed like it hasn't been updated in years. We also had no cable for the first few days in the middle of summer. Was a bummer but they credited movies that they had special for about $50 a flick

I can't say enough about how much I love this place. From the moment you drive up the service is impeccable! They have a very friendly and helpful valet parking. They help you unload your vehicle onto a cart and take you and your belongings to your awesome room. When you are ready to leave they help you load the cart again and meet you out front with your car and luggage. The rooms are clean and comfortable. The views are amazing. Great patios. We live in town but treat ourselves to a few days here at least once a year, usually for Valentines Day. Great pool and hot tub. There is a poolside bar to enjoy as well. Love, love, love the restaurant too.

Wow, this place is simply amazing! Talk about California dreamin'. Visiting Santa Cruz for a day and a night has made me rethink our decision to not stay here longer as this hotel, truly, is magnificent. I mean, who doesn't want to relax or wake up to the sounds of crashing waves, of a fantastic wharf view, sea creatures calling to one another, sailboats sailing, the sun rising! Even a little bit of a sunset view! A very (and I mean, very) unassuming place. There is an onsite restaurant called Jack O'Neill which also doubles as a lounge/hangout place if you don't feel like going anywhere else for the night. We valet parked our car, otherwise, I'm not really sure where one would park as there seems to be limited space for parking. The lobby is located on the third floor and we were on first so we went down from the lobby to our room. Our room (and every single room here) has a magnificent beach view and a view of the wharf. I love the color schemes of teal, and whites, and light and dark blue! The room is pretty simplistic but does have a small L-shaped couch for lounging and a patio with outdoor furnitures to sit and enjoy the view of the beach with. The room was clean, great water pressure in the shower and the sinks. The towels were quite soft but did leave a lot of lint. Not a deal breaker though. They have complimentary bottles of water, a Keurig and some coffee pods in the room if you're not feeling like going out for some coffee in the morning. I can't say enough great things about this hotel. The staff were lovely and friendly and our entire stay was fantastic!