Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz

2.5 star property

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(51 reviews)
  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(48 reviews)
  • 26 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Family Room

Family Room

Family Room

8.6 out of 10
Excellent
(8 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Queen Beds

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About the area

Santa Cruz

With a stay at Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz (Westside Santa Cruz), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. .This motel is 5.1 mi (8.1 km) from Capitola Beach and 0.1 mi (0.1 km) from Pacific Avenue.
View more Motels in Santa CruzOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Pacific Avenue - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
  • Main Beach - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Santa Cruz Main Beach - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 8 min walk - 0.7 km

Getting around

  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 43 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Las Palmas Taco Bar - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪Ideal Bar & Grill - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Boardwalk Bowl - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Picnic Basket - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge - ‬7 min walk

About this property

Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz

Bayside motel in Santa Cruz with a seasonal outdoor pool
Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz offers 38 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators and microwaves.

This Santa Cruz motel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. 32-inch flat-screen televisions come with cable channels. Housekeeping is provided on request.

Recreational amenities at the motel include a seasonal outdoor pool.
Make yourself at home in one of the 38 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. 32-inch flat-screen televisions with cable programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a seasonal outdoor pool or take in the view from a terrace and a garden. Additional features at this motel include complimentary wireless internet access, a picnic area, and a vending machine.
Featured amenities include express check-out and a vending machine. Limited parking is available onsite.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Offsite parking available from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (USD 15 per day)
  • Street parking available
  • Limited on-site parking

Things to do

  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Seasonal outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping on request

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • On the bay
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No lift
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 2 floors
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 32-inch flat-screen TV with cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:30 PM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 25
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
A late check-out fee will be charged
Express check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
If you are planning to arrive after 6:30 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Renovations and closures

The following facilities are closed seasonally each year. They will be closed from September 22 to March 20:
  • Swimming pool

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours), lockbox

Pets

Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 25 per pet, per night
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 100 per accommodation, per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Offsite parking fee: USD 15 per day (0.15 mi away; open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM)
  • Pet fee: USD 25 per pet, per night
  • Service animals are exempt from fees
  • Early check-in fee: USD 25 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Minimum Spring Break check-in age is 21 years old
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
The seasonal pool will be open from March 19 to September 13
Construction is underway at a neighboring building and there may be noise disturbance from the construction work

Property is also known as

Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz
Bay Front Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Bay Front Inn
Bay Front Hotel Santa Cruz
Bay Front Motel
Bay Front Inn
Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz Motel
Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz Santa Cruz
Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz Motel Santa Cruz

Bay Front Inn Santa Cruz Reviews

Reviews

7.2

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 330 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 235 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 200 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 119 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 116 out of 1000 reviews

7.4/10

Cleanliness

7.6/10

Staff & service

6.6/10

Amenities

7.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

2/10 Terrible

Chris

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Venus

Disliked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Diana

Travelled with family
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities
The room was technically clean. But it's rundown. The walls are dirty, like stains and actual dust/dirt and overall the place needs some TLC. There is no one after 9 pm and from 12 pm - 3 pm there is no one at the reception. The pool also needs some repairs. I guess for the price, the convenience of the 3 beds, and the location I would probably stay there again, but would not be looking forward to it. Sucks to settle down based on the price, but that's how it is.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Scott

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Veronica

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Nicholas

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Ana

Limited parking and front desk close at most of the day.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

4/10 Poor

Janet

Travelled with family, Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Only one working plug in the room (the one on the lamp doesn’t work and is loose), only one small roll of toilet paper, and worse is limited parking. You are not guaranteed a spot, which I didn’t know so when I arrived and was told, I had to change my plans to not leave or lose my spot. My son came late at night and luckily found a street spot two blocks away. Parking around hotel is limited, a lot of restrictions. Curtain in the room does not close completely in the center so you are hit with the parking lights all night. One pillow case had a yellow stain on it.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Jacob

Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The biggest problem for my family was the chain-smoking of Tabacco and green outside. Facility was worn. No parking as stated. Homeless walked the sidewalk looking into guest cars.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberly

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I will definitely come back and stay here again once I visit Santa Cruz. Very quiet and safe area
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laurren

Liked: Cleanliness
Hotel is cute. Close to the beach. Walkable to many places. Easy to uber from. Parking is rough- not enough spots. I would park and walk. Close to boardwalk.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Sean

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The quailty was good
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tormar

Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

abraham

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
i like this place i have stay here a couple times , the only problem is that i haven't got my security deposit back, and is been 10 days.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

4/10 Poor

Nina

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Boardwalk was walkable from here. One of the AC units in my room was not working so they moved us to a different room for the night only for them to keep switching us back and forth since we paid for 1 king not 2 queens. Such an inconvenience we had to walk all the way back from where we were at just to switch rooms before 3 and it was 2pm when they called. For the amount of rooms they have there is no parking on property yet still charge for the parking pass. There was a $100 deposit required on top of your hotel fee, which was not disclosed when booking online. Overall I think this place can do better.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Jhon

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Lance

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
This is a small motel and parking is a premium. It is super close to the beach and boardwalk. There are plenty of places to eat thatnare within a couple of blocks away. It was less than 5 mins to the boardwalk. We would come back for sure
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maci

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Danielle

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved the two bedrooms and convenience to the boardwalk!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

David

Liked: Cleanliness
Very walkable location, but room needs a significant makeover. Keycard system is very flakey and parking is a pain.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

John

Liked: Cleanliness
Really clean and quiet
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Fantastic comfortable bed and very close broadwalk, we be back again
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Maria

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025