Santa Cruz Hostel
321 Main Street, Beach Hill, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5017
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About
4.0
#1 of 1 hostel in Santa CruzLocation
4.4
Cleanliness
4.1
Service
3.7
Value
3.7
The Santa Cruz Hostel offers private rooms and shared dorms in the historic Carmelita Cottages. Located 2 blocks from the beach, Boardwalk and Wharf, it is the ideal spot to experience all things Santa Cruz. It is perfect for solo travelers, surfers, friends and families visiting Santa Cruz. Book a bed today and see why everyone loves the Santa Cruz Hostel. **The Santa Cruz Hostel is a 501c3 nonprofit, every booking helps us further our mission.
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Property amenities
Paid public parking nearby
Wifi
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Beach
Patio
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Self-serve laundry
Complimentary tea
Board games / puzzles
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor fireplace
Outdoor furniture
Shared bathroom
Shared kitchen
Shared lounge / TV area
Room features
Dining area
Iron
Coffee / tea maker
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Electric kettle
Kitchenware
Room types
Mountain view
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Budget
Family
Location
321 Main Street, Beach Hill, Santa Cruz, CA 95060-5017
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 80 out of 100
80
San José Mineta International Airport
28 mi•
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Monterey Peninsula Airport
27.9 mi•
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Rental Cars
22 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
81Reviews5Q+A8Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
Close to the beach in a quiet location. About three blocks from the boardwalk and reasonable prices. Friendly service and clean. The old cottages are such a treat to stay in. Loretta is great at managing the place and making you feel welcome and safe. No alcohol on the premise which can be a blessing and keeps in quiet.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Freshly baked bread with coffee in the morning, gratis. The loan of an umbrella on a rainy day. Clean sheets and towels and a friendly smile. I screwed up my reservation (twice) and the staff fixed everything with no fuss. I was looking for a cheap bed, but what I found was a first class experience.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Tinger, General Manager at Santa Cruz Hostel
Responded Feb 17, 2024
We hope to see you again this year. Thank you for sharing about us.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Santa Cruz Hostel is located at the Carmelita Cottages atop Beach Hill at 321 Main St. It's two blocks from the sandy Main Beach (and Wharf and the Boardwalk Amusement Park) and close to downtown. Bus #7 stops nearby. The Hostel features dormitory style accommodations, but also has a couple of family rooms. Affinity groups of up to twenty can be accommodated, but need reservations. During the busy summer the 40-bed hostel is nearly always full and reservations are recommended. The Hostel opens at 5PM, curfew is 11PM and everyone leaves by 10AM. The Hostel is closed during the day. There is a free self-help kitchen, common rooms, and plenty of bathrooms. Linen is provided (sleeping bags are not allowed). The overnight fee is $18 for members, $3 more for those without a valid Hostel card. For under 18 it's less. Picture ID is required. There is a max. 3 night limit to stay. Hostels are not hotels or motels and courtesy and civility are part of the Hostel tradition. Phone number is 831-423-8304. Other nearby hostels are Monterey, Saratoga, Pigeon Pt. lighthouse and Montara lighthouse.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rocked up to this hostel today and was turned away until 5pm when I could check in. I've stayed in HI and YHA across the world and never have I known this rule. But what I really don't understand is why? Surely the staff member that turned me away could have spent 5 minutes checking me in. Paid for sitting at a computer and telling people no? I want your job.
Disappointed that this would even be under the HI membership. It's a shame too because it's a great location. Hopefully new management will take over. Change the rules and understand that after a long bus journey and a 20kg backpack on your back,you might just want to use the washroom and put your bag down in the room that you've already paid for.
Disappointed that this would even be under the HI membership. It's a shame too because it's a great location. Hopefully new management will take over. Change the rules and understand that after a long bus journey and a 20kg backpack on your back,you might just want to use the washroom and put your bag down in the room that you've already paid for.
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Date of stay: May 2013
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
best youth hostel we`ve seen on our trip.nice kitchen, living room....all is clean!!!!and a lot of "for free" stuff to eat.soeren been there in august 03
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I recently stayed at Santa Cruz Youth Hostel Carmelita Cottages. I'd stayed there once before, a couple years ago. It's in a good location, a few blocks from the Beach Boardwalk, but the cottages are severely lacking in quality and customer service. I stayed there for 5 nights the last time I was there - one night in the male dorms and 3 nights in private rooms. The travelers who stay there are pretty nice, cool people. The dorm room wasn't too crowded and cost $29 a night. I've stayed in worse hostels, but I don't really like dorm rooms in general. The first private room I stayed in, for $45 a night, was tiny, ugly and in a bad area of the hostel. It was adjacent to the front desk area and a common area, and the walls were thin, so I could hear everything that was said by guests and staff. The blinds didn't keep out much light in any of the private rooms. The second private room was $68 a night. It was in the cottage area and larger, with 2 beds and a fan. It was pretty quiet. The third room was about the same price, but smaller and there was no fan, so I had to buy one. The neighbors were loud and rude, and I heard the door slam at least 10 times in the early morning. I told the staff about this and they just laughed. The last room I stayed in there was $60, small and had 2 beds. Luckily, I found a guest at the hostel to share the cost of the room with me. This room also had no fan and I had to use my own. This room had no curtains or blinds. None of the rooms had a tv, and the free wifi only worked in certain areas. There is a communal kitchen. A very stupid rule here is that they lock guests out between 11 am and 5 pm every day. I've stayed at many hostels in my time, and this is the only one that had a lockout rule. It's bad enough to lock out dorm room guests, but to lock out guests who are paying full hotel room prices is just terrible. The only thing this hostel has going for it is the location. I'd recommend you pay a little more for a normal hotel with a respectful staff.
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Date of stay: June 2013Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'll start by saying that if this hostel changed some of its policies it would actually be a lovely hostel - pretty cottages, great location, clean rooms. BUT - their policy that you must leave the hostel between 11am and 5pm is just ridiculous - what kind of accomodation doesn't let you have access to the room you have paid for? The whole point of staying in accomodation is that you are travelling and need to use somewhere as a base. It's your home away from home - especially when you have been travelling for months like we have! There was some vague reasoning given that the cottages are a "public park" - but the cottages are not open to the public so I fail to see why paying guests should not be able to access their room and belongings for the day. It's an extremely limiting policy and one that frankly feels unhospitable and stingy.
Other issues were a midnight curfew (?? At a youth hostel??), no alcohol allowed on premises (we didn't realise this until too late and had to drink our wine in a nearby park!) and generally unfriendly staff. You get a real "us and them" vibe from the staff, with interactions focused on reiterating policies or checking in/out. Strangely the guest kitchen is in one building, but coffee is served in the staff area which made going there to get it feel like a bit of an imposition.
All in all a real disappointment unfortunately. Someone should shake this place up and bring some life to the place!! It's a beautiful spot and you could make it a relaxing 'non-party' hostel, without enforcing these ridiculous policies. I've stayed at many hostels that are tranquil and chilled out and they still allow full access to premises, alcohol on premises and no curfew. It's all about the atmosphere you create.
Other issues were a midnight curfew (?? At a youth hostel??), no alcohol allowed on premises (we didn't realise this until too late and had to drink our wine in a nearby park!) and generally unfriendly staff. You get a real "us and them" vibe from the staff, with interactions focused on reiterating policies or checking in/out. Strangely the guest kitchen is in one building, but coffee is served in the staff area which made going there to get it feel like a bit of an imposition.
All in all a real disappointment unfortunately. Someone should shake this place up and bring some life to the place!! It's a beautiful spot and you could make it a relaxing 'non-party' hostel, without enforcing these ridiculous policies. I've stayed at many hostels that are tranquil and chilled out and they still allow full access to premises, alcohol on premises and no curfew. It's all about the atmosphere you create.
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Date of stay: July 2017Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Sara Tinger, General Manager at Santa Cruz Hostel
Responded Feb 17, 2024
DONE! We hope to see you next time you visit Santa Cruz :)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Unhelpful rude staff… Not a place I would ever stay again
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Date of stay: January 2012Trip type: Traveled solo
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hostel is in a great location to get to the ocean, surfing museum, and Boardwalk but the parking is a BEAST, especially on weekends or holidays when the area is packed. Although they say you can reserve a parking pass, if the area has no openings, you are out of luck. The area parking lots don't allow overnight parking either. I ended up having to pay a motel a couple of blocks away to allow me to use their parking lot!
They are very strict about the times they are open because of an agreement with the neighbors. However, it is a nice little place with knowledgeable and friendly staff and definitely the cheapest place in the area to stay!
They are very strict about the times they are open because of an agreement with the neighbors. However, it is a nice little place with knowledgeable and friendly staff and definitely the cheapest place in the area to stay!
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I did not see on the website prior to booking that you are not allowed entry to the entire complex from 11am to 5pm regardless of whether you have booked 2 consecutive nights. No kitchen access and no access to any of your personal belongings! I returned at 4:58pm after a very long day of walking and sightseeing only to be refused the PIN number to enter my room (it is changed daily) I was told to wait, outside, for 5 minutes. Clearly it was not because they were busy because I could hear their entire conversation on whether Bernie should be elected for president or not! Dorm room is very small and smelly, tiny lockers only fit your handbag. Windows open but do not have a latch to keep them open so no fresh air circulating whatsoever. Not enough plugs in the room for 6 people. Well over-priced for what it is.
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Date of stay: February 2016Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
"A parking permit can be purchased from the office for $2.00/day. Park is located 2 & 3 short blocks away from the hostel."Read full review
"Cottages small. personal preference important if you want privacy. We liked room in main building better."Read full review
"I like the private rooms because there is less distractions from other people coming and going during the night."Read full review
PRICE RANGE
$52 - $59 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
santa cruz youth hostel carmelita cottages hotel santa cruz
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSanta Cruz
NUMBER OF ROOMS
11
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Cruz Hostel
Which popular attractions are close to Santa Cruz Hostel?
Nearby attractions include Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (0.3 miles), Santa Cruz Wharf (0.3 miles), and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Santa Cruz Hostel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include self serve laundry, baggage storage, and barbeque facilities.
Which room amenities are available at Santa Cruz Hostel?
Top room amenities include a refrigerator, a dining area, and a view of the mountains.
What food & drink options are available at Santa Cruz Hostel?
Guests can enjoy barbeque facilities, complimentary tea, and free instant coffee during their stay.
Is parking available at Santa Cruz Hostel?
Yes, paid public parking nearby is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Santa Cruz Hostel?
Conveniently located restaurants include Jack O'Neill Restaurant & Lounge, The Picnic Basket, and Ideal Bar & Grill.
Is Santa Cruz Hostel located near the city center?
Yes, it is 0.7 miles away from the center of Santa Cruz.
Are there any historical sites close to Santa Cruz Hostel?
Many travelers enjoy visiting San Lorenzo River Railroad Bridge (0.7 miles).
Does Santa Cruz Hostel have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the ocean view available here.