Hostel
 Santa Cruz Hostel

Beach

321 Main St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, United States of America – Excellent location – show map

Excellent location – rated 9.6/10! (score from 158 reviews)

Real guests • Real stays • Real opinions

8.7
Excellent
158 reviews

Everything! The hostel is clean and pristine, with nice upgrades in the shared kitchen/living space and from the rooms to the bathrooms. This hostel exceeded my expectation. Would definitely come back.

Jessica United States of America

Clean, comfy, spacious, great roommates, safe, secure, attention to details, loved the gardens, the neighborhood, great kitchen, free fruit, tasty coffee. Sheets and towels smelled so good!

Rbendahman United States of America

tbh it was perfect and the staff were so kind. everything went great. nice location too!

Sophia United States of America

Communication could be approval ,contact with staff and office is a must….

Shane United States of America

Location was within easy walking of the beach, food, and the light house. Lots of outdoor seating options. Fast internet. USB ports and electrical outlets by the bed. Shampoo/conditioner in the shower.

Liggett United States of America

!We had never stayed at a hostel before so we were a bit nervous. But it was a fantastic time! We loved it and we will be booking it again!

Jamie United States of America

The cottage was really cute & comfortable. We had a really nice stay there. It is in a great location, close to the beach & boardwalk. I just loved the quiet, beautiful property. There’s lots of history & I enjoyed learning about it. We were very grateful that we were allowed to park on the property, because it was hard to find a spot on the street. The only real con was the ants that invaded our cottage. All food had to be in the fridge or in our car. Not a big deal, just a minor annoyance. We will be coming back to stay again.

Bonnie United States of America

This is a great hostel. Close to all the top spots in Santa Cruz. I also liked the crowds, met some cool people. This is my to go place in Santa Cruz. I hope I don't outgrow hostels for quite some time, cos I would totally miss this! Free parking arond the hostel (only out of season, during the season, the hostel offers heavily discounted day parking).

Davorin United States of America

There is not enough space to express the enjoyable time here. The staff and the Hostel exceed my Expectations. This was my second time back and will be a returning. Felt like home. Thank you again for a great time.

David United States of America

Great common areas 2 kitchens, outside patio, cottages, old historic buildings,so many trees, good parking, and community food diy..dry oats, fruit and bread there was random good things. Salt n pepper... it's the little things sometimes.. Beach super close best part😎😍

Jolie United States of America
8.7
Excellent
158 reviews
  • What guests loved the most:
  • “Everything! The hostel is clean and pristine, with nice upgrades in the shared kitchen/living space and from the rooms to the bathrooms. This hostel exceeded my expectation.”
    Jessica Jessica United States of America United States of America
  • “Clean, comfy, spacious, great roommates, safe, secure, attention to details, loved the gardens, the neighborhood, great kitchen, free fruit, tasty coffee. Sheets and towels smelled so good!”
    Rbendahman Rbendahman United States of America United States of America
  • “tbh it was perfect and the staff were so kind. everything went great. nice location too!”
    Sophia Sophia United States of America United States of America
  • “Communication could be approval ,contact with staff and office is a must….”
    Shane Shane United States of America United States of America
  • “Location was within easy walking of the beach, food, and the light house. Lots of outdoor seating options. Fast internet. USB ports and electrical outlets by the bed.”
    Liggett Liggett United States of America United States of America
  • “!We had never stayed at a hostel before so we were a bit nervous. But it was a fantastic time! We loved it and we will be booking it again!”
    Jamie Jamie United States of America United States of America
  • “The cottage was really cute & comfortable. We had a really nice stay there. It is in a great location, close to the beach & boardwalk. I just loved the quiet, beautiful property.”
    Bonnie Bonnie United States of America United States of America
  • “This is a great hostel. Close to all the top spots in Santa Cruz. I also liked the crowds, met some cool people. This is my to go place in Santa Cruz.”
    Davorin Davorin United States of America United States of America
  • “There is not enough space to express the enjoyable time here. The staff and the Hostel exceed my Expectations. This was my second time back and will be a returning. Felt like home.”
    David David United States of America United States of America
  • “Great common areas 2 kitchens, outside patio, cottages, old historic buildings,so many trees, good parking, and community food diy..dry oats, fruit and bread there was random good things.”
    Jolie Jolie United States of America United States of America

Categories:

  • Staff9.0
  • Facilities8.6
  • Cleanliness8.9
  • Comfort8.7
  • Value for money 8.4
  • Location 9.6
  • Free WiFi7.5
High score for Santa Cruz

Stay in the heart of Santa Cruz – Excellent location – show map

This property is a 6-minute walk from the beach. Featuring barbecue facilities and a garden, Santa Cruz Hostel is located in Santa Cruz, 1,650 feet from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This property also provides guests with a sun terrace. Set in the Santa Cruz Boardwalk district, the hostel is within 0.9 mi of Pacific Avenue.

Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse is 1.3 mi from the accommodations. The nearest airport is Mineta San Jose International Airport, 34 mi from the property.

This is our guests' favorite part of Santa Cruz, according to independent reviews.

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 9.5 for a two-person trip.

Santa Cruz Hostel has been welcoming Booking.com guests since May 24, 2018

Show me more

Most popular amenities

Free WiFi
Family rooms
Non-smoking rooms
Facilities for disabled guests

Property Highlights

Located in the real heart of Santa Cruz, this property has an excellent location score of 9.6!

Saved to 289 lists

Availability

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4 reasons to choose Santa Cruz Hostel

  • Prices you can't beat!
  • Booking is safe
  • Manage your bookings online
  • The staff speaks English
Closest beaches

  • Santa Cruz Beach

    8.6 Excellent beach
    900 feet from property
  • Cowell's Beach

    Cowell's Beach

    8.7 Excellent beach
    1,100 feet from property

  • Seabright State Beach

    8.6 Excellent beach
    3,400 feet from property

  • Lighthouse Field State Beach

    8.9 Excellent beach
    5,200 feet from property
  • Santa Cruz Harbor Beach

    Santa Cruz Harbor Beach

    8.6 Excellent beach
    1.2 miles from property

  • Mitchell's Cove Beach

    8.9 Excellent beach
    1.2 miles from property

  • Black’s Beach

    8.6 Excellent beach
    1.5 miles from property

Guest reviews

8.7
Excellent · 158 reviews
Read all reviews
Categories:
  • Staff9.0
  • Facilities8.6
  • Cleanliness8.9
  • Comfort8.7
  • Value for money 8.4
  • Location 9.6
  • Free WiFi7.5
High score for Santa Cruz

Select topics to read reviews:

See what guests loved the most:

  • Jessica
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Everything! The hostel is clean and pristine, with nice upgrades in the shared kitchen/living space and from the rooms to the bathrooms. This hostel exceeded my expectation. Would definitely come back.”
  • Rbendahman
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Clean, comfy, spacious, great roommates, safe, secure, attention to details, loved the gardens, the neighborhood, great kitchen, free fruit, tasty coffee. Sheets and towels smelled so good!”
  • S
    Sophia
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “tbh it was perfect and the staff were so kind. everything went great. nice location too!”
  • S
    Shane
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Communication could be approval ,contact with staff and office is a must….”
  • Liggett
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Location was within easy walking of the beach, food, and the light house. Lots of outdoor seating options. Fast internet. USB ports and electrical outlets by the bed. Shampoo/conditioner in the shower.”
  • Jamie
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “!We had never stayed at a hostel before so we were a bit nervous. But it was a fantastic time! We loved it and we will be booking it again!”
  • Bonnie
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “The cottage was really cute & comfortable. We had a really nice stay there. It is in a great location, close to the beach & boardwalk. I just loved the quiet, beautiful property. There’s lots of history & I enjoyed learning about it. We were very...”
  • Davorin
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “This is a great hostel. Close to all the top spots in Santa Cruz. I also liked the crowds, met some cool people. This is my to go place in Santa Cruz. I hope I don't outgrow hostels for quite some time, cos I would totally miss this! Free parking...”
  • David
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “There is not enough space to express the enjoyable time here. The staff and the Hostel exceed my Expectations. This was my second time back and will be a returning. Felt like home. Thank you again for a great time.”
  • Jolie
    United States of AmericaUnited States of America
    “Great common areas 2 kitchens, outside patio, cottages, old historic buildings,so many trees, good parking, and community food diy..dry oats, fruit and bread there was random good things. Salt n pepper... it's the little things sometimes.. Beach...”
Property questions and answers
Browse questions from guests for anything extra you want to know about the property

The property usually replies within a few days

  • is the cleaning fee refundable? seems like a lot for a hostel.
    Unfortunately, Covid-19 has initiated the use of outside contractors for cleaning. We are a small non-profit business and care greatly about the safety of all of our guests. As an essential need for our business, the cost is higher than normal.
    Answered on January 28, 2021
  • Is there parking onsite?
    There is free parking on the street from September until May. From May until September, we have parking passes available for $3.00 per day at the metered spots approx. a 5 minute walk from the hostel.
    Answered on March 4, 2021
  • Hello is this unit adjacent to the double room with Shared bathroom? We are a family of 7 and I wouldn't eant my kids in separate bungalow alone
    Our property is pretty unique. You would need to contact us directly to book a full cottage, booking 2 private rooms does not guarantee that you will be in the same cottage. We have full cottages that sleep 5-12 guests. Cheers, Sara
    Asked about: 4-Bed Mixed Dormitory Room • Answered on February 28, 2022
  • For the shared bathroom is that shared with other guest ?
    Yes, the bathroom is shared with other guests.
    Asked about: Double Room with Shared Bathroom • Answered on February 13, 2022
  • we're a group of 11 and we were wondering if there's anyway we can have one of the cottages all to ourselves; so we can be arranged comfortable without having to be divided or in anyone else's way.
    Please reach out to us directly about group bookings so we can learn more about your group and see if they would be a good fit for the hostel. Cheers
    Answered on April 11, 2022

  • Still looking?

    Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.

Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.

Area Info *
Guests loved walking around the neighborhood!
Excellent location – show map
What's nearby
  • Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
    0.2 miles
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    0.2 miles
  • Pacific Garden Mall
    0.3 miles
  • Sky Glider
    0.3 miles
  • Nickelodeon Theatre
    0.5 miles
  • Pacific Avenue
    0.6 miles
  • McPherson Center
    0.6 miles
  • Museum of Art and History
    0.6 miles
  • Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History
    0.8 miles
  • Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse
    1 miles
Restaurants & cafes
  • Restaurant Ideal Bar and Grill
    0.3 miles
Top attractions
  • Roaring Camp, Big Trees and Pacific Rail
    4 miles
Natural Beauty
  • Ocean/Sea Boardwalk
    0.3 miles
  • Ocean/Sea Wharf
    0.3 miles
Beaches in the Neighborhood
  • Santa Cruz Beach
    900 feet
  • Cowell's Beach
    1,100 feet
  • Seabright State Beach
    3,400 feet
  • Lighthouse Field State Beach
    5,200 feet
  • Santa Cruz Harbor Beach
    1.2 miles
Closest Airports
  • Monterey Peninsula Airport
    28 miles
  • Mineta San Jose International Airport
    28.2 miles
  • San Francisco International Airport
    49.3 miles
* All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.
Missing some information? Yes / No
Great! Thanks for your response.
Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.
Amenities of Santa Cruz Hostel

Most popular amenities

Free WiFi
Family rooms
Non-smoking rooms
Facilities for disabled guests
Outdoors
  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Sun deck
  • Garden
Kitchen
  • Shared kitchen
Activities
  • Beach
  • Ping-pong
Internet
WiFi is available in some hotel rooms and is free of charge.
Parking
No parking available.
Services
  • Shared lounge/TV area
  • Lockers
  • Baggage storage
Front Desk Services
  • Invoice provided
Entertainment & Family Services
  • Board games/Puzzles
Safety & security
  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV outside property
  • CCTV in common areas
  • Smoke alarms
General
  • Smoke-free property
  • Heating
  • Family rooms
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Non-smoking rooms
Accessibility
  • Raised toilet
  • Wheelchair accessible
Languages Spoken
  • English
Missing some information? Yes / No
Great! Thanks for your response.
Thanks! You'll receive an email as soon as the property answers your question.
Sustainability initiatives
This property has taken steps to provide more sustainable and eco-friendly travel

House rules Santa Cruz Hostel takes special requests – add in the next step!

Check-in

4:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card at check-in

Check-out

12:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Cancellation/
prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodations type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check what conditions apply to your preferred room.

Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 18 and above are considered adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

There's no capacity for cribs at this property.

This property doesn't offer extra beds.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Pets

Pets are not allowed.

Mastercard Visa Discover American Express Santa Cruz Hostel accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

The fine print

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), make sure you're booking this property in accordance with the destination's local government guidelines, including (but not limited to) the purpose of travel and maximum group size.

In accordance with government guidelines to minimize transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property may request additional documentation from guests to validate identity, travel itinerary, and other relevant info on dates where such guidelines exist.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property is taking steps to protect the safety of guests and staff. Certain services and amenities may be reduced or unavailable as a result.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), this property has reduced reception and service hours.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), this property adheres to strict physical distancing measures.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), wearing a face mask is mandatory in all indoor common areas.

Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Santa Cruz Hostel of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

FAQs about Santa Cruz Hostel

  • The nearest beach is 1,650 feet from Santa Cruz Hostel.

  • Check-in at Santa Cruz Hostel is from 4:00 PM, and check-out is until 11:00 AM.

  • From the nearest airport, you can get to Santa Cruz Hostel by:

    • Car 45min

  • The prices at Santa Cruz Hostel may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates, hotel's policy etc.). To see prices, enter your dates.

  • Santa Cruz Hostel is 1,000 feet from the center of Santa Cruz.

  • Santa Cruz Hostel offers the following activities/services (charges may apply):

    • Ping-pong
    • Beach