Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz - HomeToGo base64Hash

Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz - HomeToGo

Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

Browse 1,185 available vacation homes and compared across 11 trusted partners

Price per night
- Up to $100
- $100 - $199
- From $200
Accommodation types
- Condo
- Cabin
- House
Distance to center
- 1 mi
- 2 mi
- 3 mi
Rating
- 4.5+
- 4+
Services
- Pool
- Hot tub
- WiFi
- Kitchen
- Parking
- TV
- Balcony/patio
- Fireplace
- Air conditioning
- Washing machine
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
- Yard
- Crib
Show more
Accommodation type
- Pet-friendly
- No smoking
- Wheelchair access
- No pets
Activities
- Grill
- Fishing

Top 15 most Recommended Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz

Discover your ideal Santa Cruz vacation rental with real-time comparisons of 1,185 properties, featuring recommended options based on the property location, value for money, and verified guest reviews.

Vacation houses with Balconies or Patios

Vacation rentals and apartments with air conditioning

Vacation Rentals With Fireplaces

Budget-friendly rental options

Enjoy affordable vacation rentals in Santa Cruz offering exceptional value for money

Top-Rated Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

Book the highest-rated Santa Cruz vacation rentals, rated by real guests for comfort, location, cleanliness, services and value for money

Why choose HomeToGo?

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Choose local, trusted payment methods, plus trip insurance and add-on services.

Award-winning customer service

Experience seamless, hands-on support for any booking questions or concerns.

Verified reviews

Trust in the quality and comfort of your stay with verified guest reviews.

Price clarity, no surprises

Spend your budget exactly as planned by comparing thousands of providers.

Smart search made simple

Transform vacation planning into a joy with advanced, AI-powered search tools.

Find your dream stay

Explore 15 million+ rentals, the world’s biggest selection of vacation homes.

Popular Features & Amenities in Santa Cruz

Pet-friendly (282)
Pool (551)
Hot tub (88)
WiFi (1,099)
Kitchen (249)
Parking (63)
TV (1,024)
Balcony/patio (573)
Fireplace (434)
No smoking (1,103)
Air conditioning (831)
Washing machine (334)

Many users spend more time comparing vacation rentals offering pools. Nearly half of the properties have a pool for guests. In addition, more hotel room offer a pool than motel. Usually, hotel room with pools in Santa Cruz can welcome 8 vacationers and cost $422 per night. nearly half of Santa Cruz's rentals offering a pool are located within two miles of water, divide your time between the pool and the waterfront

Oceanfront Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz

Searching for an amazing beach house in Santa Cruz?

Apply the 'distance to water' filter during your search and narrow your results to show only the best beach houses for your vacation. You can choose from a range of accommodations in Santa Cruz that are within walking distance from the coast. From pet-friendly rentals by the beach to waterfront offers with hot tubs, the dream accommodation in Santa Cruz awaits - book it now with HomeToGo.

Sun, Surf and Sand Await at Your Santa Cruz Vacation Rental

A university town, Santa Cruz is a popular weekend spot with students taking a well-deserved break here, but the laid-back locals also make it a memorable destination. Several nearby beaches have often been referred to as the finest in the Western Hemisphere — how's that for a reason to visit? Book your Santa Cruz vacation rental for a date in paradise!

What are the best activities for families in Santa Cruz?

The Best Beaches Near Santa Cruz

1. Lighthouse Field State Beach: Also known as ‘dog beach,’ as it a pet-friendly area, this beach is one of California's urban area's last open headlands.

2. Natural Bridges State Beach: A fabulous place to whale watch and catch a glimpse of Monarch butterflies.

3. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: With its world-class surfing amenities and beautiful landscape, Santa Cruz Beach is a favorite with both locals and visitors.

4. Seabright State Beach: Charming, grass-covered hills and the lighthouse that make this beach an alluring place to explore.

5. Wilder Ranch State Park: With nearly 7,000 acres, 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian paths woven through seaside gardens and channels, the beach at this state park is a can't-miss.

What are the top sights in Santa Cruz?

Things to Do and See

The pedestrian-friendly downtown strip enjoys its proximity to the beach, and is perfect for a family stroll after dusk. Downtown Santa Cruz regales with its people-watching opportunities, restaurants with global cuisine, cool indie shops and clubs. The city's star attraction is the Beach Boardwalk, which is the only original boardwalk amusement park still in use on the West Coast. Municipal Wharf meanwhile is a great viewing point for the sea lions and pelicans. During winter, stop by Steamers Lane and watch the surfers and sea lions doing their bit to impress cheering onlookers.

Popular with tourists, the Mystery Spot is a visual illusion–based attraction that calls itself a 'gravitational anomaly' for the strange phenomena that take place here. See for yourselves and decide! A hike up to the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) will fetch you stunning bay views, redwood forests and the UCSC Arboretum. Rejuvenate at the clothing-optional family spa Kiva Retreat House, and unwind in your Santa Cruz vacation homes.

Where are the unique attractions in Santa Cruz?

Excursion Destinations

The kids will love the Delaveaga Disk Golf Course, which offers free entry and superb views. Next is the oldest state park in California, Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Año Nuevo State Park is home to one of the highest populations of elephant seals. The Natural Bridges State Beach thrills with its monarch butterflies and windsurfing opportunities, while the heavily-forested Henry Cowell State Park boasts the San Lorenzo River that flows through it.

Watersports enthusiasts should definitely indulge in some surfing, sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding in Santa Cruz. Mountain biking is a popular activity in the Santa Cruz mountains — note that some inclines can get steep.

What are the must-see attractions in Santa Cruz?

Creating Memories in Santa Cruz

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center

Overlooking the ocean, this hyper-modern building houses an exciting interactive marine animal sanctuary. Exploring the exhibits and marine inhabitants is rewarding for the whole family.

Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Make friends with a shark, learn about what scientists do, and enjoy views of the famous Monterey Bay at this center which is part of the University of California.

Mystery Spot

A supposed gravitational anomaly, this area has seen strange things happening ever since there have been people to observe them. Visit for quirky visual illusions and lots of fun.

Santa Cruz Wharf

Head to this lively wharf for great shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. It's also the starting point for various water sports and boat tours.

Natural Bridges State Beach

Monarch butterflies flood this stunning beach from the end of October until January. It's a natural wonder that the family won't forget in a hurry.

Information about vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

🏡 Vacation rentals available	1,185 rentals
🌙 Nightly prices starting at	$163
⭐ Popular amenities	Pets allowed, Pool and Hot tub
🐾 Pet friendly homes	293 homes
🏊 Vacation rentals with pools	573 homes

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average price per night for a vacation rental in Santa Cruz?

The price of a night's stay in Santa Cruz starts at $163. $886 is the average nightly price for house rentals in Santa Cruz. Bed and breakfast rentals in Santa Cruz cost on average $404 per night.

How many vacation rentals are available to book in Santa Cruz?

There are 1,185 rentals in Santa Cruz to choose from and rent for your trip.

What amenities are most popular for vacation rentals in Santa Cruz?

If you're looking to book a vacation rental in Santa Cruz, travelers search for vacation homes with these amenities: Pets allowed, Pool and Hot tub.

How many vacation homes with pools are there in Santa Cruz?

There are 573 vacation homes from 11 providers in Santa Cruz.

Are pets allowed in vacation rentals in Santa Cruz?

Sure, currently there are 293 vacation homes in Santa Cruz that allow pets , with an average nightly rate of $526.

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Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz

Price per night

Accommodation types

Distance to center

Rating

Services

Accommodation type

Activities

Top 15 most Recommended Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz

Vacation home with patio & barbecue

Family-oriented ample vacation home with terrace, barbecue & jacuzzi | City view | Next to the beach | Good for workation

Family-friendly vacation home with patio & barbecue | Beach nearby

Fully equipped vacation home with hot tub, garden & grill | Next to the beach | Suitable for remote work | Pets are welcome

Family-oriented charming vacation home with yard, barbecue & patio | Close to the beach | Good for workation

Children-friendly charming vacation home with grill & terrace | Next to the beach | Suitable for remote work

Family-friendly house with barbecue | Beach nearby

Holiday apartment with terrace | Suitable for remote work

Villa with grill

Family-oriented house with BBQ | Next to the beach | Perfect for remote work

House with BBQ, patio & garden | Nature view | Good for workation

Child-friendly lovely apartment with patio & BBQ | Nature view | Next to the beach

Fully equipped vacation home with barbeque & terrace | Nature view | Close to the beach

Family-oriented spacious house with garden, patio & grill | Nature view | Close to the beach

Family-oriented beautiful house with garden, patio & barbeque | Beach nearby | Good for workation

Vacation houses with Balconies or Patios

House with yard, barbecue & terrace | Nature view

Child-friendly beautiful house with terrace, yard & grill | City view

Children-friendly lovely cabin with barbeque, yard & patio | Nature view | Beach nearby