Dream Inn Resort Hotel in Santa Cruz Review
175 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, California
One of my favorite places in California is the Dream Inn Resort Hotel in Santa Cruz! It’s the only beachfront hotel in Santa Cruz County, and features a heated beachfront pool, hot tub, fire pits, restaurant, coffee bar, room service, all rooms with ocean views and private balconies (or poolside patios)! The Dream Inn is only a short drive to Pacific Avene in downtown Santa Cruz, the University of California Santa Cruz, and the charming Capitola Villiage. Let me fill you in on what it’s like so you can decide if this might become one of your ideal destinations too!
Rooms
All of the Dream Inn Santa Cruz guest rooms have an ocean view with a patio or a private balcony. The private furnished balcony has glass panel railings so your view is not obstructed. Depending upon the location of your room, you will have views of Monterey Bay, the Santa Cruz Wharf, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the swimming pool, and Cowell Beach right in front of the hotel.
Check out the insane views I had from my room at different times during my stay!
Thoughtful amenities in the room include a mini refrigerator, safe, Keurig coffeemaker with pods, bathrobes, and free wifi!
They also provide two complimentary 16oz. aluminum water bottles meant to be refilled (at your tap or the water refill station in the lobby). I love seeing eco-friendly hotels’ dedication to reducing the evil single-use plastic water bottles.
My spacious room was a “Tower King”. I loved the seating area with a table, which is perfect for remote work with an ocean view! The king-sized bed was comfortable, though I must say, I noticed that the sheets were not particularly soft.
The private bathroom had a shower with an overhead waterfall shower head and a detachable rain water shower head. I asked for a room with a bathtub but apparently, the only bathtub rooms are the Queen Doubles at pool level.
It was wonderful keeping my sliding door open most of the day and night! That ocean breeze and the sound of crashing waves felt so relaxing and peaceful. By the way, be sure to ask for a high room and/ or a room away from the pool if the sounds of kids having fun all day is not what you’re looking for!
Beach Messages
One morning I looked out from my balcony to see messages written all over the beach. Apparently, you can hire someone to write messages to surprise your friends when you stay at the Dream Inn! (I don’t think this is through the hotel itself; the guy listed his phone number, so I will include a photo of that if you want to contact him!). Such a cool idea, and mesmerizing to watch him make these drawings in the sand.
Dining
The Dream Inn has its own restaurant Jack O’Neill, a coffee bar, room service and a poolside bar with snacks.
Places Nearby
The Dream Inn is within easy walking distance from Santa Cruz’s famous Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Wharf. There’s also a gorgeous walk you can take nearby on West Cliff Drive. All are fun places to check out!
West Cliff Drive
West Cliff Drive is a 3-mile road with nice cliff / oceanfront sidewalks and Monterey Bay views galore! Just turn left as you walk out of the Dream Inn and start walking. In about 15 minutes walk you will reach the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse which features a surfing museum inside, and a nice lawn area with some picnic tables. You should have a great view of surfers along this walk.
If you walk the 3 miles to the end of West Cliff Drive you will be rewarded with seeing Natural Bridges State Beach. This beach has a “bridge-shaped” rock formation, plus lots of tide pools.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
400 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk has been around since 1907, and it still retains much of its old charm. There are rides, restaurants, arcades, and shops. Be sure to check out the beautiful carousel and see if you can toss a ring into the painted clown’s mouth as you ride! I also love visiting the Fortune Telling machine in the arcade for fun.
If you’re a roller coaster fan don’t miss a ride on the 1924 Giant Dipper. It’s a really fun ride, and was one of my favorites before my neck couldn’t handle roller coasters anymore!
The Santa Cruz Boardwalk has been featured in lots of movies including Clint Eastwoods Dirty Harry: Sudden Impact, Harold and Maude, The Lost Boys, Transformers – Bumblebee, and the 2019 horror film Us.
Santa Cruz Wharf
The half-mile-long, current Santa Cruz Wharf has been around since 1914. There are dozens of shops and restaurants lining the wharf. Also, the Wharf has places where you can rent a boat or kayak or book a Whale Watching or Bay Cruise.
You can also look down through openings on the floor of the Wharf to see the sea lions who like to hang out there on the planks under the wharf! By the way, they can be pretty noisy, barking!, and you will probably hear them from your room at the Dream Inn. They are weird and fun to watch.
Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery
49a Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
There are many good restaurants on the Wharf, especially for fresh fish, but my favorite is the Makai Island Kitchen & Groggery! Yes, I admit, it’s my favorite because it’s got a rotating floor! (I never claimed to be a food connoisseur! Not that the food is bad!) I think I am still an 8-year-old at heart and get excited about things like a Tiki restaurant with a rotating floor!
There is a main dining room you can sit in, or you could sit outdoors, but I must sit at a table on the floor which revolves around the bar. The really cool thing about this is everyone at one of those tables will have an ocean (and Dream Inn) view for a 1/4 of their meal! So fun!
The food I’ve tried has been very good, and they have tons of fun tiki cocktails if you’re looking for that!
Ideal Bar & Grill
106 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA
The Ideal Bar & Grill is a short walk from the Dream Inn, at the entrance to the Wharf. They have a good-sized menu, and they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The thing I most enjoy about this place is its outdoor deck with views of the beach, Boardwalk and Pier! Great people watching!
In Summary
I highly recommend a getaway to the Dream Inn! The outdoor swimming pool facing the beach, and nearby Boardwalk make it an ideal family holiday spot, but I think it’s equally suited to a couple or solo traveler weekend escape! Please let me know if you’ve stayed here and what you think!
This hotel looks awesome! I love all of the ways they go above and beyond- the refillable water bottles and the messages on the beach are awesome! I’ll have to save this for when I visit.
Hotel looks lovely – and a really nice colour scheme! Also, the beach just outside looks really inviting. Pinning this for later – although I have no plans to go West, one never knows!
I have been to Santa Cruz several times, but I usually stay with friends. My friends who live in Santa Cruz are big fans of the Dream Inn! I will have to check it out next time I visit.
Yes, I live pretty close and had never really paid much attention to the Dream Inn till a few years ago. Now it’s one of my favorite places to stay! Like a real resort in our backyard!
Lovely photos and great storytelling! I assume it is kid-friendly? Do they have activities for children? Or a kids club? Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Yes, it is kid friendly! The pool was full of kids all day and night when I was there. I don’t think they have a kids club, but they have a poolside Kids Ice Cream Happy Hour each evening :). Of course, with the Beach and the Boardwalk right there it’s kind of a kid’s dream.
Great post! I’ve never been there but would definitely look for Dream Inn Resort!! Thanks for sharing your recommendation!