There are several hotels on Ocean Avenue on the way into town. The advantage is also having downtown Santa Cruz nearby, but the walk to the beach is a bit of a huff. Check out several of the Best Westerns . If your vacation encompasses a wider area, there are several hotels and motels a bit further south. The Capitola Inn is close to the freeway and Capitola Village, just south of Santa Cruz.
Rooms have patios or balconies and larger rooms are available.
A bit more dramatic are the Capitola Venetian and the Harbor Lights Motel, right in the village and on the coast. Both are chock full of personality and incredibly reasonable for their Bay front location. In Aptos, Seacliff Inn offers accommodations close to Seacliff State Beach and the Rio Sands is steps away from the adjacent Rio del Mar Beach. Seacliff, a Best Western Hotel, has a nice restaurant and is close to the freeway. The Rio Sands, an affordable favorite, offers kitchens and extended stay rates and is fairly private for being so close to the ocean.