With a stay at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG in Santa Cruz (Westside Santa Cruz), you'll be a 4-minute drive from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and 6 minutes from Monterey Bay. .This hotel is 3.1 mi (5 km) from University of California, Santa Cruz and 3.2 mi (5.1 km) from Mystery Spot.
What's nearby
Ocean Street - 1 min walk - 0.0 km
Pacific Avenue - 12 min walk - 1.0 km
Santa Cruz Wharf - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 4 min drive - 2.9 km
Mystery Spot - 6 min drive - 5.8 km
Getting around
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 40 min drive
Restaurants
McDonald's - 2 min walk
Starbucks - 7 min walk
Taqueria Los Pericos - 12 min walk
Jack in the Box - 9 min walk
Chipotle Mexican Grill - 11 min walk
About this property
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG
Hotel with free breakfast, near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG offers 100 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. LCD televisions come with cable channels.
Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones; free local calls are provided (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Microwaves and change of towels can be requested. Housekeeping is provided on request.
Recreational amenities at the hotel include a seasonal outdoor pool.
Make yourself at home in one of the 100 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms have hair dryers and toothbrushes and toothpaste. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, as well as phones with free local calls.
Take advantage of recreation opportunities such as a seasonal outdoor pool, or other amenities including complimentary wireless internet access and a vending machine.
A complimentary full breakfast is served daily.
Featured amenities include a computer station, express check-out, and a 24-hour front desk. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Guests are offered a complimentary full breakfast each morning.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Electric car charging station on site
Height restrictions apply for on-site parking
Covered parking on site (USD 10 per night; includes in/out privileges)
Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available
Food and drink
Free full breakfast available daily
Coffee and tea in common areas
Things to do
Seasonal outdoor pool
Family friendly
Cot (surcharge)
In-room refrigerator
Laundry facilities
Microwave on request
Seasonal outdoor pool
Conveniences
24-hour front desk
Laundry facilities
Luggage storage
Vending machine
Water dispenser
Guest services
Change of towels on request
Housekeeping (on request)
Multilingual staff
Business services
Computer station
Outdoors
Pool loungers
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Assistive listening devices
Braille/raised signage
Lift
Stair-free path to entrance
Well-lit path to entrance
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible lounge
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible public bathroom
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
Wheelchair-accessible van parking
More
1 building
3 floors
Built in 2009
Smoke-free property
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Cot (surcharge)
Bathroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Toothbrush and toothpaste (on request)
Towels provided
Entertainment
LCD TV with cable channels
Food and drink
Coffee/tea maker
Microwave on request
Refrigerator
More
Air conditioning
Desk
Free local calls
Heating
Iron/ironing board
Phone
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11 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
Guests will receive an email within 24 hours before arrival with check-in instructions; front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Renovations and closures
The following facilities or services will be unavailable from January 18 2025 to December 31 2025 (dates subject to change):
Business center
Meeting facilities
Sauna
The following facilities are closed seasonally each year. They will be closed from December 1 to March 31:
Swimming pool
Access methods
Staffed front desk
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
2 children, up to the age of 12 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 20.0 per night
Cribs (infant beds) are available for USD 20.0 per night
Payment types
Important information
Fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Deposit: USD 200 per accommodation, per stay
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Covered self parking fee: USD 10 per night (in/out privileges)
Late check-out is available for a fee (subject to availability)
Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 20.0 per night
Rollaway bed fee: USD 20.0 per night
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
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a smoke detector
This property affirms that it follows the cleaning and disinfection practices of Clean Promise (IHG)
We should mention
The seasonal pool will be open from April to November
Pool access available from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Parking height restrictions apply
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)
Property is also known as
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Santa Cruz
Holiday Inn Express Santa Cruz
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Santa Cruz
Inn Express Santa Cruz
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Santa Cruz
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites Santa Cruz by IHG
Reviews
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Santa Cruz by IHG Reviews
8.6
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
8.8/10
Cleanliness
8.8/10
Staff & service
8.6/10
Amenities
8.6/10
Property conditions & facilities
8.4/10
Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 654 out of 1154 reviews
10 - Excellent
654
Rating 8 - Good. 265 out of 1154 reviews
8 - Good
265
Rating 6 - Okay. 125 out of 1154 reviews
6 - Okay
125
Rating 4 - Poor. 53 out of 1154 reviews
4 - Poor
53
Rating 2 - Terrible. 57 out of 1154 reviews
2 - Terrible
57
Reviews
6/10 Okay
Laurinda
Travelled with family and small children
3 Aug 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
We came on a Saturday and the price did not reflect the hotel. Our bathroom was a bit run down—but clean. Breakfast was good. Staff saw us struggling with bags and jumped in to help. Biggest complaint was parking. Huge pillars intruded on spaces. When we returned after dinner only parking spaces with pillars were available. Everyone was circling like sharks. We had to unload, fold in mirrors and be guided inch by inch to get into our car—Subaru Ascent (not a huge vehicle). We had to do the reverse upon leaving. Never have I seen such tight spaces. And…we were charged $10 to park like this! My mom was in a walker and my daughter was with us with our grandson and stroller. Not fun
Wonderful stay with the family. The hotel had friendly staff and the amenities were great. Room was very comfortable and clean, would definitely stay here again!
Overall it was good. Just the mattresses/spring frame make noise when you take turns during sleep. Only shower head , no bottom faucet so had hard time giving kids bath.
no towels on day two - had to ask for them
shower was slippery - needs a grip handle and non-slip stickers on the floor of the shower. Beyond this the place was perfect
Nice hotel in center of the city surrounded by good eateries and all city attractions closeby . The Santa Cruz boardwalk is close and the hotel rooms were very comfortable and spacious for a family stay . Highly recommend the hotel .