The Islander Motel Santa Cruz

The bed was huge and very comfortable! The receptionist was very kind and helpful. My friend and I stayed in this motel while seeing a concert in the Catalyst. My friend and I were perfectly comfortable walking around after dark. This hotel was in a perfect location, it isn’t too far from downtown (about a 10 minute walk) or the boardwalk (a 10 minute drive). Most importantly, my friend and I felt safe staying here. We really enjoyed our stay and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality place to stay.

Their wifi was very slow and we had to use our service instead of the wifi. Also their parking lot is a little small so when the lot started to fill up, parking was a little tedious.

Modest but well appointed room. I had been concerned about cleanliness, but it really was clean & sanitized. Bathroom appeared to have been renovated in last decade. Shower had plenty of hot water. Heating/AC unit below window produced enough heat to keep room warm in unusual frost conditions. Small fridge was just right to store snacks & restaurant leftovers. Office staff were friendly and helpful.

I like my towels a little bit fluffier. Because of unusual temperatures down to freezing, an extra blanket would have been nice.

Cleanliness is one of my top concerns, and the facilities & room were very clean and well-maintained, especially considering the building's age. Clean, newer microwave & mini-fridge. Bathroom had been remodelled and the furniture was in good condition. The hosts were friendly and accommodating.

Overall, it was a pleasant place to stay; however, it would have been quieter if the windows had been dual glazed rather than single because it is located on a rather busy street. However, the noise level wasn't such that we had any trouble sleeping. A bathroom fan would be helpful. Some of the pillows might have been a little softer & perhaps an extra couple of pillows might have been provided for sitting up in bed.

For the price and the location of only about a 5 min drive to the boardwalk it’s a very great motel. It had a friendly staff and the room itself was very clean. I would definitely come to the Islander again for my next trip to Santa Cruz.

The only complaint I’d say about the motel was unfortunately how thin the walls were, at night it seemed like we heard it when almost every car, motorcycle go by.

We had a wonderful stay. The bed was big and comfortable. There was air con available in the room. There was a full-length mirror. The location was outside the busiest part of the city, so our room was lovely and quiet at night. We had a fridge which was convenient to keep water and milk in. It is on a road with a gas station, shop, McDonalds, Starbucks, etc so it is very handy. It is only a 15 minute walk to the boardwalk. There is a swimming pool for guests to use.

Nothing, we had a great stay.

The quality of the room was far greater than I expected. The owners and staff were all more than just folks running a motel. I enjoyed my conversations with both owners especially as my visit coincided with their daughter's graduation from college! This is my go-to lodging when in Santa Cruz.

Truly nothing.

Clean, comfortable, basic roadside motel with helpful staff. Location was convenient with restaurants and Starbucks within easy walking distance. Beach was farther away, but you aren’t going to find a hotel on the beach at this price point.

Hotel is located on a busy street. Cars with super loud exhaust systems roared by at all times of the day and night. Definitely bring earplugs. Also, parking lot is rather small and might get crowded in peak season.

Everything was nice. We would certainly consider The Islander for a future stay. The Jury Room is just up the way and her honor will pour you a cocktail and maybe let you off with a warning or time served for good behavoir. Plus it's an easy walk to downtown, the boardwalk, and even the pier. You know you want to. Oh and easy parking.

Oh my The Islander is right on a busy street and is very noisy. But isn't that part of why one comes here? The pros outweigh the cons by far.

Our room was very comfortable and clean. We found it easy to relax there and rest after long days hiking in the state parks and walking at the beach. The location was great - an easy mile and a half drive to the wharf; across the street from my favorite Santa Cruz Thai restaurant, Sala Thai; walking distance to the Santa Cruz Diner, and a Starbucks.

I liked almost everything about it. The only improvement I can suggest would be coffee available on the property - an urn in the office would be ideal. Of less importance, but nice to have, would be a microwave.

It's become our favorite place to stay in this area. It's quiet and clean, and the beds are comfortable. My husband had a triple bypass and because of several serious storms we lost power for several days. So we stayed in this safe Motel. It was a blessing for us.

Missing bath tub plug. In only 1 of 4 different rooms we stayed at here.