This small inexpensive motel (we are respectful and careful not to use the word, cheap because cheap also mean bad quality, we use the word inexpensive which only mean about the money charged for the room), which located next to the entrance of freeway, a bit different location from the other National 9 with the bad review, this motel is nicer place. We intend to stay again if we have any weekends in the future. It is inexpensive, and of course, fewer conveniences such as no lotion, no coffee in the room, no continental breakfast, etc. But, it has a TV, a small fridge. But, those little missing things are not that essential. All we want is a clean, quiet, air comfort room so we can stay at night, sleep well, and this is what we have found at this small motel.

the price is a bit cheaper, like 10 bucks cheaper in weekdays, and in winter, and fall, in Spring, Summer, and weekend, the price go up a bit like 10 buck to 20 bucks.

we hope they try to keep their standard as well as the price the same level as it it all the time, we will be happy to return to stay here.

After reading good reviews for this motel, we booked a total of 4 rooms for a family event for ourselves and other relatives. Then, I saw some really terrible reviews and I became alarmed. Careful reading, though, showed me that there are TWO motels with the same name just a few blocks apart, one with a good reputation, and one with a poor reputation. Fortunately, we had booked the good one (and at a cheaper price than the lousy one). What a pleasant surprise to find that the rooms were very clean, quiet, and roomy enough for us all. The staff was quite friendly and helpful, and the location was very convenient. Considering all the dumps that a beach town like Santa Cruz has (at embarassingly high prices), this motel is a real find.

We arrived late in the night to this hotel, booked on the fly at arrival. I was positively surprised, good value for money, very cheap, but clean and tidy, Was very spacious room, with large bathroom, fridge, AC and TV. Parking in the court. Was having also a small pool. Coffee was offered in the morning.
I highly recommend this motel, I would stay also in the future there.

This motel has its quirks, but for the value it's a great find and we'd definitely return again. We had no issue with loud residents or traffic. The owner was very friendly. Amenities are limited, but sufficient for a good, comfortable night's sleep. We stayed in room 15 (second floor) and found the best deal on booking.com. Here's a few positive observations:

* WiFi was good enough to stream Netflix on our computer. You'll need to call the lobby to get the WiFi password.
* The bed was comfortable. We had a single-queen room, and the room didn't feel cramped at all. Our daughter (toddler) slept on the floor in her sleeping bag.
* Free parking (you have to give info about your car when you check in)
* Friendly staff
* The room (including sheets, pillows, towels) are well maintained. My wife is very sensitive to smoke because it easily triggers an asthma attack - even when I don't smell the smoke myself. Our non-smoking room was truly smoke-free.
* Swimming pool (it's located in front across from the lobby and is about as long as some pools are wide - it's kinda small)
* Easy access to the freeway
* Bath area is tiled with granite

Some of the quirks we observed:
* The room is heated with a gas wall furnace controlled by a separate thermostat. The thermostat seemed to need adjustment because we had to raise it pretty high to get it to switch on.
* The water pressure is kinda weak (maybe this was just because we were on the second floor?)
* There's no elevator
* The bathroom has a shower/bath combo, but there was no way to block the drain for filling the bath. We ended up covering the drain with a folded wash cloth and securing it down with the suctioned no-slip shower mat, which did the trick
* No hairdryer
* No microwave or fridge
* The door locks are low-tech. No electronic entry - you're given an old-fashioned key :)
* They supply a bar of soap for the sink and one for the shower, but no shampoo
* The sink and counter are noticeably low (about midpoint between your knee and hip)
* No alarm clock (no clock in the room at all)
* No breakfast - just coffee in the lobby
* Not within walking distance of the beach, so you'll want to drive closer to the boardwalk (beach parking is $1.50/hr for meters and $6/day for parking lots)
* No in-room movies

There were NO bed bugs, NO rude owners, and NO questionable vagabonds lingering around the place. We were very happy with what we got because we went with reasonable expectations. As long as you know this is a budget motel that aims primarily to give you a comfortable place to spend the night without all the other frills, I believe you'll be pleased with your stay.

NOTE: This motel is NOT pet friendly (several signs in the lobby window emphasize this). There's another National 9 Motel a few blocks down Ocean Street (1015 Ocean St) that *is* pet friendly.