Near the center of Santa Cruz at the busy Soquel Ave/Ocean St intersection, the Best Western All Suite Inn is within 3 miles of all important sites in town, including the beaches, shopping mall, golf courses, and University of California-Santa Cruz. There are many restaurants close by, and the riverside amenities of San Lorenzo Park are one block west. A range of accommodation options are available, from single rooms to fireplace suites, some with whirlpool baths & business desks, all containing a refrigerator, coffee maker & ironing facilities. The hotel serves free full breakfast, and has a steam room, hot tub and fitness center, though no pool.

The smaller of the two Best Western hotels in Santa Cruz is located along a side road (Plymouth St), just south of the major highway 1-17 intersection on the north edge of town. Best Western Inn has only 26 rooms, in a 2 floor building with exterior corridors, but the accommodation is clean, the neighborhood fairly quiet & residential, and the hotel is within walking distance of several shops, restaurants, a park and the San Lorenzo River. The town center and Santa Cruz Beach are 1.5 miles away. Free hot breakfast is served, while for leisure the hotel offers a hot tub, spa and steam room.

Adjacent to the Best Western, the Comfort Inn Santa Cruz is a pleasant, recently-renovated motel along Plymouth Street near Highway 1, with a small roadside entrance that opens out to a sheltered courtyard with outdoor pool, hot tub & sun deck. The proximity to the highway makes this a good base from which to explore the many attractions of Monterey Bay and the coastal redwood forests in the hills to the north. Nearby are several 24 hour restaurants, Grant Street Park, San Lorenzo River and UC Santa Cruz. The hotel serves enhanced continental breakfast.

New for 2009, the 100 room Holiday Inn Express Santa Cruz is a modern, elegant addition to the choice of lodging along tree-lined Ocean St, near the junction with CA 1 (the Pacific Coast Highway). All the beaches and many other attractions in town are less than 3 miles away, while the hills to the north harbor several groves of giant redwoods within a half hour drive, including Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Accommodation includes 16 suites with divided sleeping/living areas and a private balcony; all rooms are equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, work desk and flat screen TV. A good quality free continental breakfast is served each morning, with several hot items. For relaxation the Holiday Inn Express offers a pool, fitness room and sauna.

One of many small, 2 floor motels in Santa Cruz, the Quality Inn has a central location along Ocean St, the main route to the boardwalk and beaches. There are many choices for shopping & dining nearby, and with Highway 1 just 0.3 miles to the north, the hotel is well connected to other nearby towns and attractions. The 63 rooms look out over the parking area & pool, and all contain a microwave & refrigerator.

The 28 room Comfort Inn provides basic, clean accommodation just 2 blocks from the famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk amusement arcade, located right on the beach. Rooms are on 2 floors, overlooking a small parking area and outdoor pool, along Riverside Avenue within sight of the San Lorenzo River. This part of town has many restaurants and a few shops; the main business districts of Santa Cruz are a mile or so to the north. Other services on offer are free continental breakfast, free newspaper and free wireless internet access.