1/40
About
Offering a seasonal outdoor pool, this motel is 5 minutes' walk from downtown Santa Cruz. It offers free WiFi and free parking. The air-conditioned guest rooms at The Islander Motel are equipped with a 40-inch flat-screen HDTV and free local calls. A microwave and a refrigerator are featured in all rooms. A 24-hour reception is available to guests of the smoke-free Islander Motel. The famous Santa Cruz Boardwalk is 0.7 mi from this motel. Cowell's Beach is 5 minutes' drive away. The University of California, Santa Cruz is 2.5 miles away.
309 Reviews
- Cleanliness
- 8.7
- Staff
- 8.7
- Location
- 8.7
What Guests Say
- “The owners were friendly and helpful.”
Top Amenities
- Swimming Pool
- Free Internet Access
- Accessible Rooms / Facilities
- Non-Smoking Rooms
Room Options
Our Best Price. GUARANTEED.
Exclusively for Priceline members Details
1/4Single Room - Disability Access
- Accessible bath/shower
- Accessible room
- Accessible toilet
- Air conditioning
1/42 Queen Bed
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Body soap
- Carbon monoxide detector
1/4King Bed
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Body soap
- Carbon monoxide detector
1/4Family Double Room
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Body soap
- Carbon monoxide detector
1/41 King Bed & 1 Full Bed
- Air conditioning
- Bath or Shower
- Body soap
- Carbon monoxide detector
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What Guests Loved
Based on 309 reviews
Pros +
- Cleanliness, amenities, close to a lot of restaurants in walking distance
- Comfortable bed and clean sheets, etc.
- It's a place to lay your head at night, don't expect much more. We didn't use the pool, and I am very thankful for the ice machine. I read the reviews about the owners and didn't have any problems.
Cons -
- Space,
- Office manager rude and argumentative manner. No coffee maker or coffee/tea/cups available. Only very minimal supplies, like towels, washcloths, etc. considering near beach and pool at motel.
- Low-income area, noisy, parking is crammed, not walking distance to anywhere you want to walk. Tried to enjoy my cigars at night only to be confronted by literally every homeless person in town asking for a "spare dollar".
Cleanliness, amenities, close to a lot of restaurants in walking distance
Space,
Comfortable bed and clean sheets, etc.
Office manager rude and argumentative manner. No coffee maker or coffee/tea/cups available. Only very minimal supplies, like towels, washcloths, etc. considering near beach and pool at motel.
It's a place to lay your head at night, don't expect much more. We didn't use the pool, and I am very thankful for the ice machine. I read the reviews about the owners and didn't have any problems.
Low-income area, noisy, parking is crammed, not walking distance to anywhere you want to walk. Tried to enjoy my cigars at night only to be confronted by literally every homeless person in town asking for a "spare dollar".
Clean and comfortable, Retro vibe.
No coffee in room.
Cleanliness
The staff really needs to take a customer relations class, they were rude, curt and defensive. If they are going to ask for an additional deposit, it should be stated in their and your online description. Their accents were hard to understand.
Clean, comfortable bed, nice staff (manager?).
A bit pricy, but probably right for the area.
Check in was fast and easy. Location was good- right on Ocean Ave. Parking was adequate. The spots are a bit tight and only limited covered parking.
The room, while clean, had a musky odor. The bed was too firm for my wife's liking. I didn't mind.
Older Motel, but don't let that fool you! Rooms have been remodeled, new air conditionersand flat screen.The bed was very comfortable.Room has refrigerator and microwave.No problems with internet.
Lots of Cable TV channels, but lower channels were very hard to watch (lines and "hash" in the picture.This is the first motel that did NOT have an alarm clock (or any clock).
Small small parking hard to get into. Noisy. Steep outside staircase. Only toast n cereal available for breakfast.
We had a queen room, which was very small and had outdated furniture, BUT the bed and pillows were comfortable (there were extra pillows in the closet), everything was clean and the location was awesome. For a one-star place, it was great!
The easy place to go anywhere in Santa Cruz. You can walk or drive.
Location to downtown and warf
Bed was little lumpy
Very nice staff and my room was always clean
The bed was comfortable and the room was extremely clean.
Basic but comfortable and very clean
Noisy , busy street
Yes the bad was used & not cleaned I felt like I was cattle
Super clean compared to other budget lodgings in the area. The manager was a sweetheart.
Within walking distance of the boardwalk. Plus it was nice and clean
The staff were so nice when we got there! And we're really nice when we left.
Amenities & Policies
Amenities
Swimming & Soaking
- Swimming Pool
- Fence around pool
- Kids' pool
- Outdoor pool
Media & Technology
- Free Internet Access
Transportation
- Accessible parking
Health & Safety
- Health Services
- Daily disinfection
Accessibility
- Handicapped Rooms/Facilities
- Accessible toilet
- Facilities for disabled guests available
- Wheelchair accessible
Kid Friendly
- Family Friendly
General
- No Smoking Rooms/Facilities
- Lower bathroom sinks available
Guest policies
| Check-in | After 3:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Check-out | Before 11:00 AM |
| Internet | Free Wi-Fi is available. |
| Children & Extra Beds | Guests age 5 and older are welcome. |
| Pets | Pets are not allowed. |
| Room Rates | All rates displayed are for two guests unless otherwise noted. |
Important info
This property pre-authorizes credit cards for late check-in arrivals. The credit card used to book the reservation must be presented by the cardholder at check-in along with matching photo identification. Any other arrangements must be coordinated with the property prior to arrival. Guests are kindly requested to confirm their reservation before 16:00 on the day of arrival. Please contact the hotel for further details. Guests must present confirmation upon check in. Guests must be 21 years of age to make a reservation at this hotel. This hotel does not accept reservations made with an American Express card. This is a 100% nonsmoking property. If a guest smokes in a room, the hotel will charge an additional fee. Pets are not allowed on the property premises. Parking is limited to 1 car per room. No extra beds are available. A deposit is required for stays. Please contact motel for details. Please note: There is an early check-in fee. Contact the property for more details.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation. Guests under the age of 18 can only check in with a parent or official guardian. Swimming pool: Closed from Fri, Oct 16, 2026 until Wed, Mar 31, 2027 Managed by a private host A damage deposit of USD 100.0 is required at checkin. This will be collected by credit card. You should be reimbursed on checkout via credit card, subject to an inspection of the property.
Location
522 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA
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