Ocean Pacific Lodge

I got a nice price, liked the room, and parking was easy. My ground-floor room picked up footsteps from the guests above, and the shower pressure was low. The larger fridge was handy, though the freezer was iced over. There are two spas, but one was taped off and the other wouldn't turn on. I called, but nobody offered to come check it. I also couldn't understand the answers I got.

We booked a two-bed unit listed to sleep four. My wife initially put down three people, then added a fourth at check-in. The staff member got upset and said there'd be an extra charge. Why charge extra for the fourth person in a unit for four? It's unbelievable what some hotels get away with these days.

We were on a road trip, and the spacious room was just what my friends and I needed to rest. The beds were clean and comfortable, and having a fridge and microwave was great. Nothing about the place was especially fancy, but the neighborhood felt completely safe and we slept well. My friends visiting from the UK said they'd stay again too. I was nervous because the price seemed like such a deal, but I'm happy to say we didn't run into the bed bug problem I worried about. The staff were incredibly friendly, lived at the hotel, and knew the area. It was about a 10-minute walk to the Santa Cruz boardwalk and to hula's, a delicious Tiki restaurant.

We've stayed here three times, and it's the best value we've found in the area. The rooms are clean, the beds are very comfortable, and the pool is nice. There are two hot tubs and plenty of parking too. You can walk to downtown, the beach, and the boardwalk. I've tried some cheaper places near the boardwalk, and they can feel sketchy. If you don't want to spend $400+ for one of the super fancy places, this is by far the best option I've found.