Not looking for any miracles and not expecting luxury, just good location for under 200 bucks a night. Will be in SC on Sat night and SB on Monday. Not sure which of the 2 on Sunday. Any hidden Gems?

That'll be a tough one. Most anyplace available on the Saturday will require a 2 night minimum so your two night stay will pretty much have to be on the front end. Monday is a holiday for most government workers (and some others).

Even this one which is pretty basic -- but a great location right across from the beach/boardwalk/casino will run from just under $200 to maybe $250+

http://www.coastviewinn.com/

Hampton Inn in Goleta at the SB border is new and really nice with flat screen tvs and pillowtop beds for around $169 a night.
Pacifica suites in SB/Goleta has big suites and a cooked to order hot breakfast for around $169 as well..stayed in both and are great deals for the exclusive area.
check expedia.com

You should probably head down to Santa Barbara on Sunday, because with Monday being a holiday for a lot of people, the traffic will be really messy on Monday as it is the end of the long weekend. Perhaps an early afternoon drive while most people are barbecueing or at the beach?
The Eagle Inn would be a good choice there.

Have you checked the Holiday Inn Express Santa Cruz? Newest place in town...

Thanks for the recommendations. It would be a big plus being near the Boardwalk with the kids, so if I have to extend my budget again, I will.
Coastview looks like a winner, there goes another $100. Oh Well, you only live once.
I just what to ask your opinion of the University Inn and Conference centre. Reviews are mixed but location "seems" good.

I am leaning towards 2 nights at Santa Cruz and then leaving early on the Monday for a dash to Santa Barbara. Will look into the Eagle Inn there.

Sorry, That was "I just want to ask" not "what".

Booking Santa Barbara hotels over holiday weekends is not for the fainy of heart! The prices are astronomical and they book wat in a dvance.It has been my experience that most Santa Barbara hotels have a three night minimum on holiday weekends and the prices will NOT be what you are hoping!

kcuscat's suggestions are the best you will find and if you could book one of those properties I'd do it now... as soon as your itinerary is decided.

I hit send too soon. So sorry. Faint of heart...way in advance...

Thanks for the replies.

If not Santa Barbara, where else would be a good half way point between Santa Cruz and San Diego for a one night stay on the night of the 5th of July? It probably doesn't make sense paying big bucks for just a stopover.

That's a tough one because traffic could be so bad on the 5th, the end of a long holiday weekend, that you might not make it as far as you planned. Ventura is usually a much cheaper option than Santa Barbara, and you should be able to find something there on the night of the 5th that does not require pre-booking and pre-payment....but if you're headed to San Diego on the Tuesday the 6th you'll want to wait until 10am because that's back-to-work day for most people.

If the price at the University Inn works for you, take it. But the atmosphere is slightly dumpy. The area is uncharming and has lots of traffic. Accessibility to the Boardwalk is good, but getting there by car is still recommended. But good prices in town are hard to find.

Check out Pelican Point Inn. It really isn't THAT far from the Boardwalk (a short bike ride) and the area is close to the beach (you can be on a nice beach and still see the Boardwalk), a couple nice restaurants, bike rentals, etc. The price is under $200.

The main advantage w/ staying right across from the boardwalk/beach/pier is you can park your car (the Coast View has a covered parking area). Traffic and parking that weekend will be a mess and getting from place to place won't be easy.

I think you're right janis. Location is the key for us so the Coast View looks the go. I am trying to be tardy with my budget as we are travelling for over 30 nights. My $4500 "ideal" acommadation budget is closing on $6000 plus now, but that's the perils of travelling in the High season.

we just booked hampton inn at nearby goleta @ $149+/nite, fed govt rate for a sunday in may. our trip is also about 30 days, so we're opting for lower-priced places. read good things about this place & it comes w/ parking & free breakfast but is not nearly as well-located as the places you're considering.

we stayed at the dream in a lot when our kids were young. they had some rooms with an adjacent tv/pull out couch room where we would put the kids to sleep so we could have our own time while looking at the awesome pacific.

hot-tub and pool there are very kid friendly. small restaurant has good bar/restaurant and again awesome view. private stairs directly to beach/boardwalk/wharf.

the extra money was well worth it.

our daughter just graduated from uc santa barbara and i never once stayed in goleta while visiting her, YUK. santa barbara is soo beautiful. just about anything near the wharf is probably good. i like the doubletree on the beach there but we have also stayed in a bed/breakfast which was nice and have even rented condo/"villas" there.

between santa cruz and santa barbara, if you go down hwy one is beautiful and you can stop at big sur if you are willing to pay the price. cambria is much cheaper and probably more kid friendly. if you go down 101, i like pismo beach near the wharf (im an ocean person) beautiful view. also on north end of santa barbara is dolphin inn resort. awesome, very kid friendly.

stay away from goleta, trust me, it doesn't even begin to compare with santa barbara. by the way, take the kids to the zoo there, small, across from beach, fun chu chu train and you can walk there from doubletree. great shopping and more food on state street. fun art show every sunday from wharf area south towards doubletree.

whatever you do, get a rez NOW. i sometimes get a rez then look for better but got burned in santa barbara when a b and b wouldn't give me my one night deposit back. oh well, live and learn, still had an awesome time and quickly forgot about the deposit.

YIKES! after talking about santa cruz i decided to take the family there for a weekend in june and rooms are nearly $400, thats a basic room. prices have gone UP. still the best location.

University Inn ALSO doubles as dorms so can be quite noisy and funky.

Thanks onemoneygirl!
The above posts are some of the best deals for such a pricey place to stay in SB!

Hampton Inn is a great new place and bang for the buck!
Pacifica suites is a good deal with the hot made to order breakfast/suite. $159
Inn at the Spanish Garden $250 lovely in heart of SB
San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito..my fave but $$$.

expedia.com is a good place to check prices

For your Monday stay in Santa Barbara, check out the Pacifica Suites -

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...alifornia.html

or www.pacificasuites.com