How to Find Cheap Hotels in Santa Cruz California

Part beach town, part college town, and all laid-back, Santa Cruz offers visitors the quintessential 'California' experience. Historically, Santa Cruz was the site of the 12th mission built by the Spanish in California. Today, you're more likely to hear about the founding of O'Neill Wetsuits and Santa Cruz Surfboards than religious institutions. Activism and Berkeley-style politics are hallmarks of Santa Cruz as well.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A phone
• A credit card to book your accommodations
• A computer with access to the Internet

Know Your Destination

1. Surf it up. Santa Cruz calls itself Surf City, USA, although it's in a legal tangle with Southern California's Huntington Beach over the title. Bring your gear or rent it here.

2. Honor the Banana Slug. UCSC is the most laid-back of the UC campuses with a variety of disciplines divided into colleges, no formal letter grades given, and the banana slug as its mascot. The campus is well worth a visit.

3. Walk the mall. Pacific Avenue and the Pacific Garden Mall is the town's main street, offering tourists as well as the town's 55,000 residents a place to get books, clothing, CDs, and a variety of great meals.

Choose Your Cheap Accommodations in Santa Cruz, California

4. Find cheap, old-fashioned mom & pop motel accommodations in Santa Cruz. Many of these are located close to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This area can be a little 'iffy' at times so survey the surrounding blocks before choosing one.

5. Spend some serious time in Santa Cruz by renting one of the area's many beachfront cottages. Book slightly off-season (late spring or early fall) for better rates and all the great weather.

6. Camp at one of the Santa Cruz State Parks. The region has more than a dozen designated state parks, most of which offer camping.

Enjoy the Sun, Sand, Surf and Trees of Santa Cruz, California

7. Visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and visit the state's oldest amusement park. Built in 1907, the Boardwalk is just as fun today as it was when it opened.

8. Check out nearby Lighthouse Point and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. It's open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Tuesday.

9. Drive in from the ocean to experience the redwood forests. Nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park is close to Santa Cruz and boasts being the oldest state park in the whole state.

10. To book accommodations in Santa Cruz, California, call Santa Cruz CVB at 800-833-3494 or visit the link below.

Tips & Warnings

• Call ahead always. Santa Cruz is a summer-lover's town so accommodations can fill up fast.
• Beware the fog. If you're camping near the coast, you may experience mornings and even days that are socked-in with fog. Always bring your layers to keep warm.