Stayed in Santa Cruz for two days, Ben's place was very nice! Admittedly, it's a bit hard to find without a GPS but I chalk that up to Santa Cruz having a seemingly haphazard street structure. It's not that far from downtown or the pier, but you will need to drive to reach both. Place was very clean and stocked with amenities. I was not expecting that but it was much appreciated. Visitor book had several tips and recommendations for sightseeing/eating in Santa Cruz - very helpful!
If we come back to Santa Cruz, I'd not hesitate to book Ben's place again.