Situated at the north end of Monterrey in California is Santa Cruz, a small coastal city that captures the essence of the “Endless Summer” life. Bohemian vibes, sun-drenched beaches, a vibrant uni-culture, surf-mad grommets and a super chill lifestyle manages to keep this relaxed beach town perpetually stoked and youthful. With 29 miles (49 km) of pristine coastline, a gravity-defying Mystery Spot in the midst of redwoods, pumping surf-able waves, a vintage amusement park, and an exceptional selection of wineries in the region, Santa Cruz delivers all that is needed for you to hit the sweet spot in life. Check out this list of the top 10 vacation rentals in Santa Cruz that will give you the ultimate holiday experience and help you make the most of this sunny beach town.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on April 07, 2024.
1. House by the beach (from USD 228)
This well furnished, spotless and aesthetically appealing beach house is perfect for a romantic couple’s getaway. It is located near the pier and the boardwalk and is convenient to explore the best of what Santa Cruz has to offer. The host is super friendly and welcomes you with a bottle of wine during check-in.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
a very comfortable space with all amenitiesthe bed was comfortable and the floors and carpets were very cleanthe bed is super comfywe were very comfortable and had everything we neededthe house is just beautiful with a super comfortable bed and several relaxing outdoor area’sCleanliness:
super clean and comfortableit was very modern clean and spacioussuper clean space with plenty of floor spacethe house was extremely clean and freshexpect a clean place ready for any stayHost:
kendall was a fabulous hostkendall is a wonderful hostkendall was an excellent hosthighly recommend :-) great helpful hostkendall was a responsive and helpful hostRead more reviewsLocation:
great walking distance from everythingability to walk to so muchcool place centrally located close to the wharfgreat location walking distance to everything but not too close to hear the traffic/ night noisethe location was perfect walking distance to the boardwalk and wharf
Superhost
2. Independent studio with a lovely garden (from USD 93)
This blissful, relaxing retreat house offers you naturally well-lit rooms, a fully stocked kitchen, a sunny deck, a fabulous selection of books, a beautiful Zen garden and close access to the beach and the best cafes in town. The loft space is ideal for anyone looking for an escape from the city to enjoy a relaxing and mind rejuvenating getaway. Sip a cup of coffee in the balcony, watching the birds flutter around or sit in the garden and get your mind, body and soul rejuvenated in this peaceful, serene retreat.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
also the deck for eating breakfast on the next morning was lovelya comfortable place with a great balcony to enjoy morning teait’s a beautiful idyllic space that is entirely peaceful and comfortablethere are lots of beautiful comfortable normal airbnbs in santa cruzcharming garden & thoughtful touches in the room including fruitCleanliness:
expect clean and beautiful studiosuper clean and well furnishedit was clean and had sweet welcoming touchesvery clean extremely comfortable bed and nice showerthe studio was sparkling clean cozy and full of comfortable and thoughtful touchesHost:
marie & peter were very nice hostsgreat hospitality very kind peoplelovely home and hosts would stay again for surewonderful place with kind hostslovely hosts with a gorgeous home and wallet friendly pricesRead more reviewsLocation:
perfect location and cozy placegreat location for walking to the beachit is a short walk from a gorgeous strip of beachi loved being close to the cliffsamazing location and just wonderful experience
3. Stylish bungalow (from USD 127)
Situated in a safe and quiet neighborhood, this attractively designed house has amenities and facilities that will provide you with all the comforts of home. Designed and managed with the guest’s privacy as the top priority, this beach house is recommended for small families and couples looking to spend some quality time together. The patio in the house with seating arrangements, plants and flowers is a wonderful place to relax and unwind.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
i did use the space heater which made it quite comfortablewe spent mornings on the patio listening to music and enjoying coffee and breakfasti especially appreciated kitchen amenities cooking facilities tea and condiments in the fridge(butter ketchup yogurt etcgreat for a couple and includes a fold out bedthe apartment has all the comforts of homeCleanliness:
quiet clean comfortable and adorablecomfortable clean and quietit’s clean comfortable and quietcozy clean and quietplace is clean and well appointedHost:
she is also extremely responsivebarbara is a great hostbarbara is a great hostbarbara is an excellent hostshe was helpful without being intrusiveRead more reviewsLocation:
close enough to downtown but in a cute quiet neighborhoodgreat location and nice placeit's located in a great central part of townreally cute and lovely placeright in seabright comfortable walking distance from exploring the surrounding area
4. Cozy and centrally located suite (from USD 122)
Conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood, this clean, spacious, comfortable house has its own private entrance and a serene, beautiful backyard. This place can be used as a great base to explore Santa Cruz as well as spend some delightful, private time indoors. The host is super helpful and gracious and fittingly welcomes you to Santa Cruz with cookies, bagels, muffins and milk that will make your stay enjoyable right from the start.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
same as the rest of the reviews; very comfy bed nice to have coffee/creamer/sugar bagels and cream cheeseit was a great stay nice amenities very comfortablebest air bnb no complaints super comfy bedhaving a kitchen and a sitting area are nice amenities as wellnice conversation and awesome breakfast recommendationCleanliness:
it was clean and comfortableclean towels hot water clean bed and the most comfortable mattresseverything was clean and the bed was extremely comfortablethe space was very clean and well appointedtoni's space was clean and privateHost:
toni is a great hosttoni was a very helpful hosttoni is a perfect hosttoni is a welcoming hostgreat property and very thoughtful hostRead more reviewsLocation:
good central location toogreat location in townthe location is very goodthe location was walking distance to pretty much everythingthis is an ideal location in santa cruz
5. House with stunning views (from USD 725)
Located close to the famous Santa Cruz boardwalk and hiking trails, this comfortable, warm, well-stocked house is perfect to catch sight of some extraordinary views of the ocean. You can choose to set a campfire gathering on the beach, lounge around in the living room listening to the calm sounds of the waves crashing or hit the beach and watch your kids play with the beach toys provided by the host. There is also a beautiful, outdoor backyard perfect for spending some time with yourself.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
Also the carpet in the living room is filthythe kitchen was fitted with everything you would need to prepare all mealsThere was plenty of room for 6 adults and 2 kidsAlso the dinning chairs need to be recoveredThe bathroom in the master bedroom is updated and very niceCleanliness:
Not the "sleeps 10" as statedThis property was located close to everything we wanted to doThe beds were amazing and the view especially the sunsets were so beautifulHost:
After rental issues our host was quick to helpShe was very helpful with our pre visit questionsManager responds timely and was very understanding once she heard our issue would recommendThis home was very well described and suited our group very wellWould enjoy working with her againRead more reviewsLocation:
The best thing about this property was the neighborhood and locationThe place was perfect for 2 families with kids Steps from the beach and well located to explore both Santa Cruz and CapitolaBeautiful place needs window cleaningThe view from the house was amazing and we were just steps from the beachKitchen was well stocked lots of pans and dishes but
6. Beach cottage in a wonderful neighborhood (from USD 350)
This cozy, comfortable house located at a stone’s throw away from a beach is ideal for a family vacation. The place offers a fully equipped kitchen, a lovely front yard, spacious rooms, a beautiful backyard with BBQs, comfy beds and loads of cute, little personal touches from the host that will deliver you an enjoyable stay. Fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves, or wake up to refreshing ocean breezes, take a walk to the beach and watch the local surfers ripping waves, or hang loose in the fireplace after a day full of adventures in this cute, unique beach cottage. The host also provides you with wet-suits, boogie boards, beach chairs, beach toys, and a brilliant selection of children’s books and movies.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The only downfall is that the beds are very uncomfortable and probably need to be updatedThe toys and books were perfect our children LOVED playing legos in the living roomThe fireplace was cozy at nightThe home was spacious comfortable and sunnyIt had so many wonderful amenities for people with children including playpen highchairCleanliness:
the distance was perfect the beach was cleanHost:
Such a beautiful cottage for our family gracious hostWe appreciated all the details including the wetsuits for kidsthe cat was always a welcome visit Very happy with our stayWe are already talking about next yearShe was there upon our arrival to greet us and go over details of the rental propertyRead more reviewsLocation:
A easy couple of block walk to beach access Quiet neighborhood and a lovely well appointed homeit was a vacation full of memoriesit was great for my teenage daughter and her friend to walk to the beachThe house is immaculate and the finishing touches are lovelyI brought my family out to my hometown of Santa Cruz and this was the perfect place for non-tourist visit Close to the beachYard for the kids to play inGreat kitchen for preparing meals inAmazing ...
7. Spacious house on Seabright Beach (from USD 1700)
This spectacularly set up house is comfortable, well appointed, clean and is within a walking distance from the boardwalk, museum and the pier. With an attic, fully stocked kitchens, comfortable beds, and loads of DVDs, books and games, this roomy house is perfect for a family gathering. Don’t miss out on the incredible sunsets which you can catch from the master bedroom on the second floor or the occasional sights of the whale breachings from the deck.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
The kitchen was stocked with everything you could want or needThe outdoor shower was greatI expected the view to be a bit exaggerated in the picturesThe kitchen was amply stockedThe kitchen has everything you needHost:
The owner was very accommodating as wellI met Karen who gave me a tourGabriella was fantastic in helping to book the last minute rental and was very accommodatingOur grandchildren loved the dress up attire and the attic areaswing hot tub pool tableRead more reviewsLocation:
but I did not expect "out of this worldsome stayed at another house nearthe Boardwalk Amusement Park a mile away kept beckoningI looked at Vistamar many times in my searchLocation on the beach is perfect Walking distance to restaurants and stores
8. House in Pleasure Point Beach (from USD 400)
Situated in a cul de sac, this beach house is all that is needed for a memorable family beach holiday. Guests having a fun, safe, comfortable vacation is the host’s top priority. He provides all necessary amenities along with a BBQ, pool table, beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, surfboards, wet-suits, a foosball table, arcade games, beach toys and an outdoor dining set.
Top guest reviews
Amenities & Room:
There was ample room for every child to have their own bedroomThe kitchen was great as we cooked all our meals at "home" Plenty of room for all us at the table for meals and Apples to Apples marathonsMy granddaughters loved the game room and we took advantage of all the amenities/Ms PacMan (try to beat my Galaga score) and the always hot hot tub2 littles & one black labbieCleanliness:
kitchen lots of clean towelsHost:
We had a fire one night and roasted marshmallowsbusy and happy Owners are super nice andWe were a family reunion group and really enjoyed all the space and toys available to usA great family vacation for our three generations plus dognew BBQ Battle lines were drawn with the ping pong tableRead more reviewsLocation:
The labbie did a lot of sunbathing out thereThe location is great within short walking distance from the beach restaurants and shopping We would stay here againThere is a great little park barely a block away and the kids and the labbie enjoyed playtimeThis house is well stocked and pretty much has everything you could need all within walking distance to the beach and 41st street shops and restaurants We will be backWe had such a great time at this house Location was awesome for walking to the beach or getting to the freeway for taking day trips
Hit the coast and crack a few chillers
With the beach boardwalk that is replete with fun-filled activities and the ever-pumping beaches where surf pioneers once caught waves, Santa Cruz is hands down one of the best beach holiday destinations in the USA. Take a pick from the list of vacation rentals above or pick a cozy cabin rental nearby and hang loose in this laid-back beach town.
History
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