Santa Cruz Hostel

Stayed here recently with my two teenage daughters and one of their friends. Room (one queen and a bunk bed) was very clean and comfortable. The hostel shared kitchen is also a lovely, clean, shared space. Super cute, historic property (many small houses on nicely landscaped parcel). The neighborhood has many others pretty old home and is easy walking distance to the Boardwalk. If you drive, buy a parking pass from the front desk for every day that you are there or bring A LOT of quarters since the parking meters nearby don't take credit cards.

What a fabulous stay at the Santa Cruz Hostel. All the welcomes from in person to chalked on the pathways made us feel, well, welcome. The property itself is beautiful...trees and flowers and plants and many different outside seating areas in pretty places. And it was S'mores night! And Sunday breakfast was pancakes. Clean and comfortable. I wish we could have stayed longer. I'll be back.

The Santa Cruz Hostel is always a pleasure to visit. It's a nice getaway, even if you live nearby and just want to enjoy the setting. And the Hostel staff is also pleasant and knowledgeable. As a former member of the Board of Directors of the hostel, I am pleased to see that it is moving forward progressively. And I will certainly continue to visit and to promote its efforts in making its park setting of peaceful cottages a desirable place to visit. Also, a special shout out to Tony. He will be your host, and you will appreciate him, because he provides "Boomerang Customer Service," the kind that makes you want to come back. Have fun! Don Lucky

Beware, they hide behind being a nonprofit, will not give you your money back even if it is a emergency cancellation 48 hours before your reservations. We asked if we could move are reservations to another date, ( answer.) Only if they can book the room with another customer. Because we are a non profit. I have Airbnbs myself, we can work to help people out in emergency situations that come up. This is my personal experience Hope yours is better.

I recently had a stay here for a little over a week! The volunteers are amazing. Its not often you find such a connected community and it was beautiful to feel a part of it as a visitor. The room was clean and cozy. I felt safe. The app for the door locks were very helpful! The vibes in all the cottages were all cute, cozy, and felt like home. All other guests were friendly as well. Went out for dinner with some of them and often conversed and shared stories in the shared spaces. There seems to always be an activity hosted at the hostel. I participated in the pot luck as well as one of the porch serenades which were both lovely. Would love to stay here again someday and I am very greatful for the stay! ... Tip: For those unfamiliar with the area and with a rental car (like myself) don't leave anything in your vehicles as it is close to the boardwalk and you may become a victim of a smash-and-grab :'). Which is no fault to the hostel. Just have to know where you are.

Our stay was honestly amazing. The location is perfect, just one block from the beach and boardwalk. You can see the ocean from the street, and relaxing at the peaceful community garden every day was such a treat. My mom and I stayed in one of the private cottages, and it was relaxing. We heard birds chirping in the morning. Tony and Sara, the staff, were incredibly friendly and welcoming. They really made us feel at home. There was even a community potluck with neighbors one of the nights we stayed, such a nice local touch. We didn’t join because we had dinner plans at the Crow’s Nest that night and Shadowbrook in Capitola the next day, but it was great to be invited and to feel that sense of community. We had the perfect weekend getaway and would absolutely come back. The vibe is laid-back, peaceful, and we were treated exceptionally well. Thank you Tony and Sara. PS – One night, one of the nearby neighbors was being pretty loud after 10 PM. Tony stepped in and politely but firmly asked them to quiet down, and it stayed quiet and peaceful after that, which we really appreciated.

A wonderful, magical place to stay in a lovely city! I was so grateful for this option. It was by far the most affordable place I could find in Santa Cruz. It was so close to the beach - just a couple of blocks of walking. I could hardly believe my good fortune.

I spent a night in this hostel. It served my needs perfectly. I was running a half marathon in the morning at 7am. Nice, clean rooms. Helpful staff and volunteers. Within walking distance of Beach Boardwalk and downtown. I would stay here again when necessary.

Had a great experience overall ,I was welcomed by Mia in a very warm friendly way and immediately felt at home It's a great space ,very clean and well maintained. There are 3 bunk beds in the room.Everyone I met was friendly :). Only issue you might run into is one of your roomies snore then you've an issue if you're a light sleeper like me. But that's par for the course in a hostel situation. Missed signing the guest book and jot down musings this time but will definitely stay next time and make up for it ! Highly recommend:)

100% worth the money. If you can be okay sharing sleeping quarters with strangers then you will be happy to know you can be a few blocks from the beach/wharf/boardwalk for $50 a night! There is also a cute coffeeshop (Firefly) about a 5 min walk away and Pacific Ave (shops/dining) is only a 15-20 min walk too. Everyone I talked to was nice and everyone was respectful of space and quiet hours. The property is well taken care of and they have lots of nice amenities like a beautiful garden, keyless entry, laundry machines on site, cornhole, etc. I'm so glad this was my first hostel experience!

Love this little hostel! What a beautiful set of buildings and lovely garden. Easy to book online, and when I couldn't come the night I had originally booked, even though it was past the 48 hrs required to cancel, they let me move my reservation to a week later. I arrived and check-in was pretty simple. Doors were easy to open with the provided code. I was in the Captain Dame Cottage in the female dorm, which has two bunk beds, a couch, a side table, lots of outlets, and some small lockers you can use and lock if you bring your own lock, which I did. The cabin is beautiful and has one other room, a bathroom with a shower, and a half bath as well. There's also a kitchen sink and drinks fridge in the Captain Dame cottage. The check-in building has lots of games, seating, free tea and coffee, and lots of plates and baking/cooking tools. The group before me had left some free food which was great to have for dinner, and the caretakers of the place were so lovely and easy to contact. Fun meeting the other guests. Though I was supposed to have another person in my room, they never showed so I lucked out and had a room to myself! I had tea in the morning in the beautiful gardens and left my stuff in big outside lockers after I checked out (and picked it back up in the evening). Great location right near the beach and boardwalk! Would absolutely stay again.

Stayed here for my first hostel stay ever and loved every minute of it! My friends were racing a half marathon in Santa Cruz for the weekend so we decided to stay a night here. Staff were informative and resourceful -- check in and check out were a breeze, rooms were clean and comfortable, the grounds beautifully decorated, and hostel guidelines were easy to follow and understand. Kitchen was accessible and clean, and had all the plates pots utensils pans instruments we could have asked for. They brew fresh coffee in the morning and offer complimentary teas and hot cocoa. It's very easy to come and go during the day, and it seems like even guests are welcome to chill on the grounds. My hostel mates were also very respectful and quiet. Would stay again!!

HORRIBLE ! ! ! IM 69 and i had a reservation tonite but they didn't ask for ID when they took my money but they put me out on the street? I'm homelessness tonite and she put my money back on my card for all 7 days before law enforcement could get there and there was nothing he do? good luck but don't cross her im homeless tonite?

The rooms are very clean and spacious and the locale is in a great area of Santa Cruz. The staff is also very friendly and there is plenty of great dining and shopping nearby. Highly recommend!

I would 100% stay here again. The staff was super accommodating and kind. The place was very comfortable and home-y. It had a lot of personal touches to really make me feel welcome. I was given great recommendations for things to do in the area like going to the boardwalk and the Mystery Spot. I LOVED the outside patio with the swing and garden that I forgot to take pictures of. I was bummed that I didn't get a chance to use something from the garden. I really appreciated the attention to detail and the attentiveness of the staff even when they were off the clock. The only issue I had was the fruit flies in the kitchen, but the entire place was incredibly clean and I noticed the effort made to clean each area every day. The kitchen had free coffee, a BRITA, and lots of dishes for use. There was shared food, but not much so don't rely on it to eat. The main contact, Sara, was quick to respond and very helpful. Thank you again, Santa Cruz Hostel! I'll be back. :)

Freshly baked bread with coffee in the morning, gratis. The loan of an umbrella on a rainy day. Clean sheets and towels and a friendly smile. I screwed up my reservation (twice) and the staff fixed everything with no fuss. I was looking for a cheap bed, but what I found was a first class experience.

Headed north from LA on a spur of the moment road trip. Stopped around Santa Cruz past dark, around 8:15 pm or so unannounced as I think Hostel World wasn't working for me that day. The rooms were all booked, but everyone there helped me look up where to camp, other towns, or other places to stay. After a while of looking, they realized that one of the beds were still empty from a late traveler. They called the late traveler and he was behind schedule and would arrive the next day. Smart thinking to ask. I was so relieved. I made friends with them and we went out for pizza and tea late night. I really appreciate the help and hospitality! Great town to stop by with nice little cabin set ups, shared common areas, and kitchen. In comparison to some of the other hostel's I've stayed at in the USA, this one was more helpful and friendly, both employees and travelers. Unsure if it's the people, town, or way building is structured. Either way, stands out. Thanks again everybody!

Great staff always so patient in answering questions. Great deal, wait best deal in town right next to the beach as long as you don't mind the somewhat unpredictable community living style. 25/night, can't beat that anywhere. Wifi suffice for all my needs. Highly recommend this place.

I just visited this amazing Historic hostel in Santa Cruz. I had no idea what to expect although I had read great reviews of this place. SC Hostel exceeded all the reviews that I read. It's incredibly CLEAN!! Beautifully and 'cheerfully' decorated, so that you can feel like you can relax and 'chill' And!! Speaking of 'chilling' I was concerned about the lock out rule during the day that the reviews mentioned! Well, NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT This 'rule' is no longer in effect. Guests can and are even WELCOMED to hang out at the hostel all day. So I definitely recommend the Santa Cruz Hostel to travelers to come visit and hang out!

I had such a beautiful experience here. The grounds are lovely. The buildings are historic and full of charm. I had a great conversation with Loretta, and totally enjoyed my time here. All of the staff I encountered were kind and accommodating. I stayed in room D in the Johnson Cottage. The room was clean and simple. The sitting area with fireplace and diffuser was relaxing. The kitchen met my needs. I was able to make a cup of tea, make my breakfast, read, and do some journaling. I stayed here before and after a weekend trip to Esalen at Big Sur, and it was the perfect way to ease in and out of my workshop there. Absolutely worth the price I paid. Thank you so much to all of you for providing me a safe and comfortable place to stay. I will be back!

I was always a bit wary about staying at hostels, especially after watching those stupid hostel movies. I reserved a room about a month in advance, and wanted the private room, but unfortunately you have to book even further in advance for those. I'm guessing 2 - 3 months would be appropriate. So I ended up booking two beds in separate rooms. Check in was a breeze, the lady handed us our sheets, pillow cases, towels, etc. They also had a co - ed room available, so we were able to both be moved into the co-ed room! This hostel is located 2 blocks from the boardwalk, and was only $25 per night!!!!!! The price is unbeatable! I think the private rooms are a little bit more, around $60 a night. The beds, restroom, showers, kitchen were all immaculate! I would definitely come here again instead of going to a hotel, even though you are not allowed to be in the hostel from 11am to 5pm, I don't think you should be spending time indoors anyways when you are on vacation. Reserve in advance if you want a private or co-ed room !

Sign sign everywhere a sign don't waste your money unless you surf. So douche. Clean beautiful grounds. Attitude bites. Not informed no sense of place. Suspicious weird staff except for the Gardner lovely person

This hostel is the perfect place to stay in Santa Cruz. Several buildings surrounded by lovely gardens house dorms and private rooms. We scored a private room with two beds for only $30 each. Bathrooms were shared but there was more than enough bathrooms to accommodate all the guests. The hostel is also known as Carmalita Cottages and the name is appropriate because it reminds me more of a cottage than a hostel. Floral bedspreads, mismatched furniture, 2 minutes from the beach, and it even has a old clawfoot bath tub. The two dudes who checked us in were super cool, friendly, and chilled out. They gave us some solid ideas for things to do in Santa Cruz. A solid budget in Santa Cruz. Recommended.

A last minute trip to Santa Cruz for the 4th left me scrambling for a place to stay - I was happy to find a private room, at $100 per night. The room ("D") was adequate, nothing more, nothing less. But the location of the room, next to the office created a big problem. From between 10pm and 11pm, there was at least four incidents of people knocking on the door, the wall, the window- wanting to check in. I tried to ignore it - but finally asked "what do you want" I told them that the office was closed. I reported this to the clerk in the morning, less than satisfied with his "oh that's too bad." I emailed my concerns when I got back home - suggesting a discount or a credit for a night's stay in the future. Their response "we're not responsible for what our guests do." So they wrote off this guest, and I suggest other potential guests realize that this is their attitude.

I enjoyed my one night stay at this hostel. You can't really stay much closer to the beach in most cities for this little money. I opted for one bed in a five person mixed room. I brought earplugs and traveled from the East Coast so I went to bed early and was not disturbed until morning time. Very considerate guests here. The staff here are kind and welcoming. I called prior to my arrival to ask about luggage storage due to the 5 pm check-in, and they gave me clear instructions about where to find the lockers (behind the office; bring your own lock). The check-in staff member was very helpful as well. They provide coffee in the morning too. The different cottages on the grounds are cute, and the two kitchens are fairly well stocked with expired but still good pastries and fruits. My only qualms include one shower for ten people to share and no clear gathering space to meet other people (due to the separate cottages). The linens I received were stained, but I had no reason to believe they were otherwise dirty. I would stay here again.

HOSTEL - Santa Cruz Cottage - Hostelling Intl. Santa Cruz Hostel is a great, safe place to stay, single or with friends. I have stayed at many hostels both in the states and abroad and enjoy this style of meeting new friends and sleeping on the cheap. At hostels there is a common room for lounging about, a dorm (usually a room or two for each gender) , couple or family rooms, or private rooms, common kitchen and helpful staff that will tell you where to visit in their area. Sometimes there are free or inexpensive trips you can visit as a group, and its always a good time. Santa Cruz Hostel is near the boardwalk (yay - good times - go on the wild mouse and the big dipper and don't miss the fabulous merry go round with the brass ring you can grab as you go around) and a quiet and comfortable hostel. Helpful staff. I grew up over the mountain and used to spend a lot of time at Santa Cruz and Capitola as I grew up, so I didn't use the hostel until I moved away from California, and came back to visit all my favorite spots.

One of the best hostels I've stayed at. Very friendly, cozy and clean. They got rid of the lock out period over a year ago and are under new management. Super great location - close to da beach and downtown! No curfew either and the staff... come on... stellar! :P There is a no alcohol policy which keeps things quiet and clean for other guests.

First off let me say That I have a tremendous respect and appreciation for hostels all over the world. If it weren't for hostels, I wouldn't have been able to travel to many of the places I have with such relative ease. And on top of that, in recent years, I've been to virtually every hosel in California as a way to explore more of my native home State. Some hostels have been phenomenal others are outright abhorrent (Berkeley, I'm lookin at you!) I'd put Santa Cruz in the "meh!" category. Though, let me offer a qualification to start: I did not stay in the shared housing space and therefore can't comment on that aspect of this place. That said, the buildings and location of this place are nice and the staff seem professional. That's a huge plus when staff and protocol can be hit or miss. Now for the "but": the small private room D is just sad--cold and barren light blue walls with those cheap trashy thin horizontal blinds facing the street that don't cover the entire windows, stains on the blankets and pillows (of which are only two), kitsch 70s posters that I wouldn't even donate to hospice let alone hang in a bedroom, the overhead lighting is harshly glaring, just obnoxious to the eyes (a small lamp with a warm bulb would be a considerate touch) and the chair with table look like they were found on a street corner discard pile. The bed just looks out of place because it's disproportionate to the rest of the tiny 8'x10' room--it juts out over the window. The truly sad thing is...this place could easily be revamped for a couple hundred dollars look/feel pretty comfy and hospitable. Needless to say for $75, your money can be better spent on an AirB&B.

This hostel is a charming hostel with garden, ping pong tables and what not, also very affordable. I stayed in a private room with a queen sized bed along with a day bed for 63$, no complaints there. This hostel does however rear an ugly head that sneaks up on you, much after you check in, they don't voluntarily divulge upon check in. The hostel shuts down between 11am to 5pm, which means you must leave your room at 11am and cannot return there until 5pm. There is no ability to even get an important document that u forgot or use a bathroom. You are simply locked out for 6 hours. The other thing is wifi range is so short that a lot of the bungalows just don't make much range.

Ok so it's a hostel and apparently has cottages too. I stayed in one of 3 private rooms in the first building on your right as you walk into the joint. It was suggested as a budget lodging option by the friend who was married here... http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-sequoia-retreat-center-ben-lomond#hrid:S3elyOCjpDcbgbxqY0OTKw Anyhow, since it was the easiest option for booking something for the day after my friends' wedding on my little road trip back to LA, I decided to give it a shot. It was in a pretty decent location and a great value given that. What sucks though is parking... Apparently from mid-May to Oct, they make you park in a little stretch of meters on Front street. You pay 2 bucks a day for this honor, and have a 7 min walk or so to show for it. If you're lucky enough to arrive during acceptable hours to park, you can drop your stuff off and not have to make that aforementioned trek with all your junk! Check-in isn't till 5 pm and there's no access to the place from 11 am to 5 pm. We were able to snag a parking pass from a guy who was cleaning the rooms so we could kill a couple hours before check-in time. Also, I won't lie, I was a bit leery of picking up bed bugs or something so I was relieved to know they have a strict no outside linens policy.... The check-in lady gave us some linens to dress the bed (but um, we only got 3 pillow cases), but my sheet totally did not fit the bed! I just kinda made the covers into a taco to compensate, lest I touch the mattress cover which I had carefully inspected and had found no evidence of gross stuff like bed bugs. Compared to a hotel and not having to share your bathroom, it's not the most ideal setting. There's also a curfew of 11 pm and they claim the door codes won't work past that time. We didn't test that feature, because we were in before then due to being tired after days of wedding festivities! But if you're just passing through and not planning on doing anything in your lodging locale but showering and sleeping there, I say the value for a summer night in Santa Cruz is pretty good.

This place was great. Maybe I don't expect much from hostels, but this place was clean and comfortable. I stayed for 3 days in a shared dorm ($69) at the beginning of the off season (Sept). Unlike most people staying there I'm not from very far away (San Francisco) and just wanted a cheap place to crash while in SC. It was actually pretty interesting listening to so many euro-travelers who had been to hostels all over the place. The resounding impression was that this was the nicest they've stayed at. It does have weird rules - there was one girl who actually got locked out because she came back after eleven (or at least that's what she said... though I think she was headed for some kind of party the night before, hmm). And you're also locked out of the room from 11am - 5pm. There's lockers outside you can stash your stuff in, but bring your own lock - I had to buy one, which was annoying because I have at least four other locks at home, make that five. And don't get a migraine in the middle of the day like I did either, because you'll have to pass out on the beach like a crackhead until 5pm. Also, as appealing as having the top bunk sounds to your inner 7 year old, your grown up self thinks its a big pain in the ass when you have to pee at 3 in the morning. So yeah, bottom bunk, away from the door - people will be going in and out and waking you up - no mid-day-illness and bring your own lock. But those are just hints, it really is a great place to stay.

I've spent my fare share of time in hostels and lets just say that part of my life is behind me. I was not stoked to be back in a hostel, but when you're on a spontaneous road trip you gotta go with it. What started as ultimate frustration with the process, they only have office hours from 8-11 and 5-10 and only take same day reservations if you walk in and stand in line, ended as one of the more quality hostel stays I've had. By hostel terms the rooms were immaculate. They are divided amongst the collection of cottages on the property with each cottage housing a male and female dorm room as well as a living area and kitchenette. It really feels more like you're renting a cottage off airbnb then staying in a hostel. The beds were comfortable and the linens were what you'd expect from a stay in a friends guest room, warm and cozy. The cottages are tastefully decorated and really well maintained with comfortable furniture. Altogether the atmosphere makes you feel like you're at home in a beach house. The few quirky nuances, like the daily 11-5 lockout and midnight curfew, although troublesome in theory do little to disrupt your trip and actually help maintain the calm atmosphere of the place. These nuances can also probably be credited with helping raise the average age of the visitors, definitely not your typical 18-25 hostel crowd. Patrons were all nice and wildly respectful. Overall it was surprisingly wonderful stay and if faced with the choice between a sleezy motel for $59+ a night or staying here I'd definitely choose this place every time. Book early! It's small and fills quick.

I stayed 2 nights at this hostel. The place is very nice and very close to the beach. The hostel is close between 11am and 5pm and for that I won't come back again. It was raining outside and not being able to come back to you room when you want or take a shower after a swim is not really comfortable ! Lots of noises and people snoring like pigs in the night (I couldn't sleep). And the room smelled a lot. But you've got what you paid !

Badly run hostel that seems to attract not-particularly-considerate travelers. It's near downtown Santa Cruz and the beach, and is probably the only place to stay in Santa Cruz for $23/night other than camping. On the other hand, the first night (of two nights) that I stayed there, a group of teenagers who were staying in the same cottage of me blared a movie in the common area until 12:30 AM, laughing uproariously the whole time. ("Grease" isn't even that funny.) Quiet hours are posted as being from 10 PM to 8 AM, but I guess nobody cares about that. You can't enter the rooms in between 11 AM and 5 PM, which is inconvenient. Most other Hosteling International hostels find a way to do housekeeping without locking out all the guests for most of the day. Also, the doors use numeric codes which change every day, so you have to get back to the hostel sometime between 5 PM and 10 PM (but no later) every day to get the new code. Again, most other HI hostels use key cards or don't change the codes every day. I don't know why this one has to do those things. For a little more money, I would probably stay in a motel in the future.

My teen daughter, husband, friends, and some of my daughter's friends recently stayed at the Santa Cruz Hostel (AKA Carmelita Cottages). We were able to score a private cottage for all of us for an end-of-the-summer trip and truly had a wonderful time! The cottage was clean and comfortable with Victorian charm and charisma while also having the modern conveniences-- microwave, little fridge for food and drinks, a tv with vcr and dvd player, and an updated bathroom with a spacious shower, 2 toilets, 2 sinks with plenty of counter space and big mirror (a necessity with 7 teens/almost teens!). The grounds are lovely and well maintained. A nice large kitchen with indoor and patio dining area is situated in the same building as the office. You can store any of your groceries in the large refrigerators in the kitchen-- just be sure to put your name on anything that you don't want to share with other hostel guests otherwise it's considered gratis/free. The kitchen closes at 10:30 a.m. so that was challenging getting ready, preparing and eating breakfast, cleaning up and getting outta there with our little group... Parking isn't too far (just up one block, around a corner and partway down another street). We purchased from the office daily parking passes for $1.25 per day. The meter maids are brutal so be sure to get the passes and have them visibly displayed otherwise you'll get a ticket (3 of us got tickets despite having the passes which sucked). The location of the hostel is great because it is walking distance to the pier, beach and the Boardwalk. It's also a short drive to downtown for shopping and a variety of restaurants. There's plenty to do, see and enjoy while the hostel is closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. My only gripe would be the 11 p.m. curfew. Getting the girls rounded up from the Boardwalk and back by 11 was a challenge, but was manageable by car. The girls would have liked to stay until the Boardwalk's closing time before heading back but c'est la vie! Also, a few of the hostel workers are more strict and by the book... For the most part, though, all were helpful and most were super friendly and kind. I highly recommend Carmelita Cottages... it's really reasonable for a fun get-away to Santa Cruz.

Very clean facilities & great location. Only complaint is the mattress, which is memory foam but sagged in the middle. Other than that, where else can you stay in SC for $25 per night?

Great Stay at the Hostel. The buildings are beautiful and the location is ideal for a nice walking tour to the main High Street and back to the Pier and Arcade area. The facilities were clean, spacious, and it was not overcrowded at all during my stay. I have seen complaints about the daytime closing hours but I was in late and out early so no troubles whatsoever. I was also happy to see that during the off-peak season there is plenty of free parking out front. If you're planning a cheap visit to Santa Cruz or need a good place to sleep when passing through I can definitely recommend it.

This hostel is spectacular!! It's two blocks from the beach and the boardwalk and has great cozy little rooms in individual cottages.

Just stayed here this weekend. First time staying at a hostel. IT WAS GREAT. I don't know what else to say. The 3 C's: Cheap, cute, convenient. It's 2 blocks from the boardwalk, very affordable, and it was so cute! They have a kitchen and movie room thing. They provide some food like as snacks and such (how many cheap places have you stayed at that actually give you food besides coffee and toast?) I stayed in a private room with 3 friends. It was nice and warm in there. Clean too. Only complaint I have would be the toilet room was a tad tiny. Other than that, nothing negative. It was so peaceful and silent too! The people in the lobby are chill and nice. Excellent place to stay at. Tell your friends.

If you are looking for an hostel, cozy, cheap, nice and clean : do not hesitate. We had great time in Santa Cruz and great time at the hostel. Thanks again.

It is a good option if you want to enjoy Santa Cruz overnight at minimal price. I wish we could have the room with the queen bed on the picture though... There was nobody in the hostel as it was just after Thanksgiving. It was clean, comfortable and quiet. We had a terrible experience with the heater which was turned too high and made a ton of noise - we could not find how to turn it off. We finally decided to open the window and it was a freezing night (not a very "green" attitude). We did not get a resting night but I guess you go to other places for that. It was OK for 60 bucks.

Loved this place! Close to the beach, friendly staff and great rooms. It's made me want to use hostels more often! Would highly recommend.

Very clean, affordable hostel, friendly staff, great location, beautiful grounds and big kitchen! This is NOT A HOTEL so don't come in thinking it is. This is a place for travelers both international and out of town guests. There hours are 8-11am and 3-9pm not as yelp has stated.

Great for those on a budget for lodging as well as food. Individual cottages reduce the number of people in each space. Also creates nice intimate spaces to relax in. The next morning I ventured into the Long House. I was impressed with the amenities of washer/dryer, pay phone, full kitchen,etc... I was most impressed by the abundance of good food available to guests and the game/film screening room. I arrived on foot after a 20 mile hike from Watsonville as part of a Mission Walk from San Juan Bautista Mission To Mission Santa Cruz. I would like to come back and stay at this hostel to enjoy the area. I recommend this hostel to travelers who do not mind a little noise or sharing a room a strangers. Tip: Greet right away and you'll all be fast friends. This Hostel receives good donations from Safeway -keeping a well stocked kitchen. Travelers can opt to buy a few items to augment the meal & if you are lucky cook w/others and make a feast a fiesta!

Convenient place to stay right on the beach. Staff was really nice and the facilities were very clean. Our room was a bit tiny for two people but it served it's purpose. I would happily come back

Very friendly staff with lots of patience- I cannot thank you guys enough! The water is just right down the street from this place, and there's plenty of eateries and entertainment within walking distance. Free wifi, warm linens, kitchen with donated foods that everyone can snack on. Very reasonably priced for providing you with pretty much everything you'd need for a trip! Plus, it's more fun because you have all sorts of interesting roommates to talk to. As with any hostel, consider bringing earplugs and a mask- everyone has their own schedule going on.

I've stayed here a couples times in the past few years, and I must say the location and the property itself are both great! You can see the ocean from down the street. There are cute little cottages and the landscaping is nice. Santa Cruz Hostel has both private rooms and shared rooms which are clean and nice. The pricing is reasonable too. Only reason I took off a star is because one of the staff members seemed very cold and annoyed towards me and my friend who were staying there. That is the only time I have ever had any staff member here not be super nice and welcoming to me. Anyway! I still recommend this place to all my friends, and I will stay here in the future for sure!! 4 stars!

Everyone sleeps in different cottages. Friendly staff. No breakfast that sucked a lot. And wifi is kinda hard to figure out. Overall it was good. You will be close to the Broadway and the bars

I have chosen two stars for this establishment at this point in time because I have yet to stay there, I have however just called to ask about their check in policy for my reservation later this summer. Upon calling to ask, I was not entirely clear about my question. (I tend to misconstrue things when I'm nervous and don't think up the wording to my question in advance) but instead of simply asking me to rephrase my question or restate it, the girl on the line sounded mad and told me "I don't understand what you're saying!" Her lack of customer service skills reflect poorly on this establishment. Especially one that prides themselves on dealing with students from other countries (who often have trouble speaking clear English) So far, not a fan of the staff, but we'll see when we come face to face. Until then they should change from "Hostel" to "Hostile"

Hello Michelle, I spent $545 dollars there for private rooms. I have a few issues I encountered 2. I made the reservation with Courtney a few weeks prior to my arrival with no issues, but when I checked in on March 20th, Megan did a few things that concerned me. First, she never gave me my hostel international card or welcome packet and luckily I remembered later and got it. Also, later that evening after I paid and moved in, she came to my room and told me that I was not supposed to stay there because I was a local (we had a conversation earlier about how I used to live here and was travelling through California before moving up to San Francisco in June). Megan said she wouldn't tell anyone that I was a local though and that it was ok to for me to stay. I was never told of this policy by Courtney when I made the reservation. 2. One night in private room G, I came home late needing to shower to be up early the next morning. Around 10pm I go into the bathroom I share with just one other room in the building and it is a total mess. The guests in H got sand all over the shower, floor, wet clothes hanging dripping on all of the hooks, and bath mat soaked. I told office staff Erin about it (and wrote a note too that I gave to her) the same night and I was shocked when Erin said that I should just use another shower in another building. Erin did not say staff would clean it as soon as they could or would talk to the other residents about cleaning it. I told her that I was paying $55 a night to use the bathroom only shared by one other room and that I was not going to shower in a different building and that that suggestion was unacceptable. 3. I thought it was ok for me to stay there again since Megan said it was ok I was there, and I made a reservation for April 14th (my birthday) and April 17th and 18th when I would be in town. I called and made the reservation and no one told me anything like I could not stay there. I show up on April 14th around 9pm to check in and Erin refuses me because my ID has a Santa Cruz County address on it. She cancelled the two other reservations. a) I believe people should be informed before they make a reservation that if they have an id that says they live in Santa Cruz county, that they cannot stay there and this should be the standard for EVERY employee to tell on the phone or have in the disclaimer on the reservation website. b) I also believe that some of the staff don't do enough to offer good customer service, and this was exemplified by the comment by Erin that I should just use another shower instead of deal with the issue of my dirty bathroom. I also noticed since I stayed in the room right behind the office for 4 days that the staff doesn't seem to do much when they work and are on facebook chat often (always beeping with facebook instant messages) or are not doing things to keep the kitchen/bathrooms cleaned etc. For instance, there were several days when the bathroom didn't even have a bath rug, a simple problem to fix when the linen closet is right across the hall. I saw this lazy behavior in Erin and Megan. I did appreciate the work ethic of Courtney and Jack. I do appreciate the opportunity to stay there even though apparently I wasn't supposed to be there. I believe I was a quiet, clean, and respectful guest that did not deserve to be treated the way I was. * I never heard back from the manager.

I am sort of inflating my opinion of this place, mainly because it's my first hostel experience, and I did it with our family in a private room. I enjoyed it for what it was, but I had minor gripes too. First of all, I tried to get a room with the hostel at Pigeon Point Lighthouse. They were full, because of the annual lighting of the fresnel lens, which is why we were going. They recommended a 30 minute drive down the coast to SC, and gave me the number for the Carmelita Cottages. I called and arranged a private room with private bath. I was supposed to get an email confirmation, which I never received, so I called them on the way to Pescadero, and they had me in their computer. It still worried me until we were actually there. Check in is from 5-10 PM, so I was a little paranoid we wouldn't make it if there was fog, traffic, or if we got lost. We wanted to go out to dinner with our friends, but our daughter notified us just as the lens was lit that she was done*, so we packed up and headed to SC at 6:30. I was right to be concerned about getting there on time, we checked in at 8 PM. It took us about 35 minutes just to find the place, even with directions from both google and the hostel. Santa Cruz is kind of tricky as it is. If you are heading there from Pescadero, take the google maps directions, and when you get on Beach, look for a sign that says "CHANGE" on the beach side of the street. That is actually "MAIN" street, which is what the directions say, but you cannot see the streetsign from 3rd or Beach, which had us going around in circles for awhile. The office was kind of hard to find, as we arrived around 8 and it was pretty dark with all our stuff. FYI, it's in the back to the right, and once you make your first turn on the paths, there are little signs and lights that lead you right there. Hosteling with a kid: surprisingly easy. I cannot remember if we stayed in a hotel with her yet, but this was easy. She had a room to run around in, a yard to play in that morning, and mommy had coffee and cracked some walnuts while daddy slept in a bit. We were in the large private room, not a cottage, and we only had access to the kitchen/dining room. I'm a little jealous there were actual living spaces in some of the other buildings! Still, very cute. Our room was upstairs, which was sketchy with a toddler who likes to climb stairs. It had 2 bunk beds and a rollaway. The bunk we slept on was the double bed variety, and we all piled in. The bathroom was very spartan, bring your own soap and shampoos, but someone left some shaving cream in the medicine cabinet which made me laugh. Parking was a bit of a pain, we bought a day pass, but the street you have to park on is a few blocks away. This is not easy with a small child and a diaper bag, stroller and duffle bag. Yes, we could have double parked to unload. The point is, parking is a pain if you have a car. What I did like about this hostel: easy going, nice grounds. I liked the friendly staff. I liked that my kid could run around a bit, like at home. If I knew SC better, I would have felt more at home. I wanted to make pancakes with their bisquick, but there was no syrup. If I knew where to go, I would have run out and picked some up, but not knowing the town and not planning on staying, we just cracked walnuts and had coffee. I was otherwise very comfortable there, and chatted with other families who also were hosteling there and who had seen the lighthouse lit the night before. We made a full day of it and headed to the boardwalk after we checked out. I definitely recommend the hostel for families, especially with young children, and for parties of more than 4 people. It seemed like a nice option for single travelers too, as many people came into the kitchen while we were there and they were not with groups. I think it might work better for families, actually, because the kitchen is pretty nice and also because curfew is at 11 PM, which means unless someone opens the door for you, you spend the night in your car. Also, they lock the rooms from 11 to 5 PM, so you can't keep your stuff there, only in lockers. It's for minimalist travelers. *In toddler lingo, this means about to have a conniption, get the hell out before people think you are "one of those" parents.

Rating not based on going to the hostel - only on my experience calling in with questions. Called the hostel based on reviews from others and was told the curfew is midnight due to "the neighborhood". Then the attendant told me if I plan to stay out past midnight to look for someplace else. Really? Also there is no access to the hostel from 11am - 5pm. I have stayed in many hostels around the world and NEVER have there been restrictions like this. The attendant was very nice but these policies just lost them 4 guests.

This was my very first hostelling experience. I knew enough about the hostelling life to know what to expect, but I didn't expect the accomodations to be so nice. I can't believe that I haven't done this kind of traveling more as a young person, but now I will. I'm sure some hostels are better than others, but this Santa Cruz Hostel, also known as Carmelita Cottages, was a very pleasant experience. I stayed for 2 nights with 2 friends of mine and we were able to snag a private room, something that you can do with any hostel that provides them --- when you reserve far enough in advance. At Carmelita, the community spirit made for a wonderful place to temporarily live. The grounds were maintained very nicely, and the shared bath was maintained fairly, in a way that you'd expect from budget travel. At the same time, if you're not picky, travel lightly, but still don't want bare bones lodging, this is a pretty luxuruous place to stay for the money. A well-stocked kitchen offers storage for your groceries, and while it's possible to live off unmarked items (which are available to everyone), the atmosphere is so communal that you'll want to pitch in any way you can. CONS: inconsistent hospitality from the staff (one woman was particularly brusque), parking is dicey (you need a permit, and even then it can be hard to find a spot). The curfew is also inconvenient, but there are certainly ways around that if you're creative. Heh heh. Just make sure to chat in reasonable volumes. This isn't a partying hostel, it's a temporary place to call home. And homes have rules.

This place is great, one of the nicest hostels I've been in. It's well kept , the staff is friendly and gives you all the information you need. My bed was comfy, they give you fresh linens and a towel when you check in. You make your own bed and when you leave you just pull everything off and fold the blanket leave it on the bunk to check out.

Another great hostel. Cute cottages. Amazing staff. Clean, well-equipped kitchen. Okay, so the wifi was practically nonexistant. Hey, it's a hostel. Plus they have lockers outside, making it easier on us visitors. Can't wait to go back!! Definitely book ahead, people.

Stayed here for 3 nights in the private room behind the office/check-in area. It wasn't as noisy as other people have noted for being in a high traffic area and is largely dependent on who's working the front desk. The loudest girl is Courtney who is prone to whooping and HIGH VOLUME animated convos with guests/other staff. Everyone else was pretty low-key and after 10pm traffic really dies down as guests move out of the common areas surrounding that private room. The room itself was clean (although the shades aren't very good at keeping out morning sun at all), plenty of blankets, the bathroom was also clean and water pressure was good. For 2 ppl the bed was a bit small--at least for us but the price was great. The location was awesome and within walking distance to the beach, boardwalk, shops, and eateries. I would definitely stay here again as it was all I could ask for in a hostel. Clean, relatively quiet, nice atmosphere, place for a good shower, and a bed. As far as the lockout...who cares if you can't go back between 11-5pm? 11am is enough time to sleep in and 5pm is early enough to get dinner-ready or grab a jacket as weather cools down. One s/b taking advantage of the area and/or carpooling with new friends to visit the beautiful surrounding area.

This hostel is amazing! So clean, beautiful grounds, gardens, patio, rooms were perfect, and the staff was very friendly. In the check in area they have great lists of things to do in town. Met some great new friends at the hostel too and we had a lot of fun! Its in the perfect location if you want to explore Santa Cruz, walking distance to everything. I had such an enjoyable time there, that I stayed an extra night! Great place, definitely sending all my traveling friends this way. Thanks for the great experience Santa Cruz Hostel!