Will be traveling to Santa Cruz with friend and her small children. Has anyone stayed at the Carousel Motel in Santa Cruz recently? What kind of feedback can you give me? Would children enjoy it? It seems near the beach/boardwalk. Is it within walking distance? How would you describe the pool?

Or are there any other budget motel/hotel recommendations in Santa Cruz near the boardwalk?

Thank you so much for your help.

That hotel is owned by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company which (coincidentally) also owns the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.

It's not the Ritz, but it's clean and well-managed. It's 3 buildings and one cross street away from the rides and fun of the Boardwalk.

The only way you could be closer to the Boardwalk, would be if you were actually _on_ the Boardwalk. 8-)

For CiCi and other readers in the future : Remember to stay away from Beach Flats area at late night. Some of the local Mexican transplants are feisty. Commonly, there are crime reports in the paper.

Not that recent, but we stayed one night at Carousel Motel in June 2002 and enjoyed it. As previously posted, it wasn't fancy, but was clean and well maintained. It had a kind of tropical feel. The motel had a small continental breakfast in the lobby. I don't recall the pool area.

Our rate included two wristbands for unlimited rides on the boardwalk, where there were some good kids' rides. It was nice to just walk across the street to the rides and beach, and there's also a pier nearby with restaurants and a few shops. We did see a few scruffy looking people on the street but no one bothered us.

Have fun!

Thank you so much for the responses! Basically what I'm looking for are clean rooms near the boardwalk, so this sounds like the right place.

One more question: TripleSecDelay is this motel in the Beach Flats area? Or do you just mean generally stay away from the Beach Flats area?

This motel is in the beach flats area.

Is it a great area at night? No

Would I stay there? Yes

But I don't have children so I can't help you there.

Yes, Beach Flats is nearby. The area near the river (believe it or not) has some original houses/apartments; they need some remodeling. I'm suggesting late night in that area statistically can be proven as sketchy. 11pm is the careful hour.

Sun is setting around 8:00 now.
Fog burning off near 11:00 a.m.
Some days it is very different.

Fairly anything on W.Cliff or Beach will be well-lit, well-populated, well-traveled by citizens and the good guys (police).

I would not consider staying inland from Beach St. The residential area to avoid will be obvious if you see it.

Santa Cruz is such a great place to live and visit that there are many people who want to preserve that sense here. You'll be fine on Beach St.

Think of the rest as "entering a restaurant near the garbage cans". Who does that? If a person works there, he/she is in tune with the cleanliness of the environs.
You'll be fine going through the front door, as normal.

Thank you again for your responses and explanations as to areas and times to be cautious in.

I agree with the general concensus - it is a convinient location and you will be totally fine during the day. Late at night things can get a bit sketchy. With little children, I don't imagine you will be out late at night anyway.