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 holiday letting for a date in paradise!
Choose the perfect holiday letting
Holiday homes and cottages with a garden
Aiming to enjoy time outside during your stay in Santa Cruz? Book a holiday home with a garden for your trip. See our range of accommodation with gardens and find a holiday rental today - al-fresco dining, lawn games and outdoor fun with friends, family and pets await!
Most popular holiday lettings with a fireplace
Accommodation with a fireplace - what could make a stay in Santa Cruz cosier? Find a holiday rental for your snug escape today, and start looking forward to evenings in Santa Cruz spent wrapped up in front of a toasty, crackling fire.
Holiday lettings and apartments with air conditioning
Good weather while on holiday is always great - and it's a plus to be able to control the temperature in your accommodation too. Find holiday homes and apartments in Santa Cruz with air conditioning and cooling systems to ensure maximum comfort during your stay.
Best holiday rental deals in Santa Cruz
Save up to 69%
Explore 1,060 rentals listed in Santa Cruz and discover the ideal place to stay for your next holiday. HomeToGo directly highlights top offers by comparing all listed accommodation options.
Recommended holiday lettings in Santa Cruz
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Budget-friendly Holiday Homes in Santa Cruz
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Top-Rated Lettings and Properties in Santa Cruz
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Popular holiday rental amenities in Santa Cruz
You will have a lot of accommodation options from which to choose if you are looking for a short stay accommodation including a pool in Santa Cruz. Also, more hotel room have pools than any other type of accommodation. They are an excellent choice if you go in a group of 10, as that is the number of people they can most often accommodate. You could also choose accommodation with a pool near the water, which is the case for more than half of the lettings there.
Waterside Holiday Rentals in Santa Cruz
Looking for the perfect holiday home by the beach in Santa Cruz?
The Weather in Santa Cruz
Above are the weather conditions for Santa Cruz. In September, maximum temperatures climb above 25°. Conversely, January is the coolest month in Santa Cruz, with temperatures falling below 3°. The month of June has nice weather with only 2 rainy days.
7-Day Weather Forecast in Santa Cruz
Accommodation options for your holiday in Santa Cruz
Dining out
Santa Cruz offers visitors a range of international cuisines to choose from. While here, profit from the ocean-front restaurants and lounge bars that offer prolific coastal views. Santa Cruz's laid-back vibes are best-experienced at the Asian Rose Cafe which serves vegan, Californian and Sri Lankan cuisine. For Thai-Vietnamese fusion under ambient lamps and shimmery lights, Charlie Hong Kong awaits. El Palomar and Jalapeños Taqueria dish out Mexican staples such as tortillas and tacos with finesse. Or you can pick up Chinese takeaway for later at your Santa Cruz holiday lettings.
For a fun night out, Pacific Avenue in Downtown Santa Cruz is the place to go; this stretch has a number of bars and clubs.
A good time to visit
Summer is the undisputed peak season, however your Santa Cruz holiday lettings will need to be booked well in advance. Winter is a nicer time to visit and have the beach to yourself, as it never really gets cold here. Moreover, you're assured discounts on your Santa Cruz holiday homes, not to mention peace and quiet. The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn when colours change are recommended for nature lovers.
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 holiday homes.
Art and culture
For a lowdown on the surfing culture from 1885 until the present day, come visit the Surfing Museum. For families, the Seymour Marine Discovery Centre beckons with its native aquatic species in glass tanks, the dolphin-sighting area and terrific views of Monterey Bay after dusk.
Classic rock fans should check out the Grateful Dead Exhibit, which comprises an impressive collection of memorabilia and artifacts from the group. Jazz, bluegrass, folk, Celtic and world music enthusiasts should catch a gig at the Kuumbwa Jazz Centre.
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.
Regular events
The Santa Cruz Blues Festival in May attracts crowds from all over the state for its impressive lineup. Every fall, artists open their studios for a few weeks to the general public as part of the 'Open Studios Art Tour'.
Discover all aspects of surf culture at the Santa Cruz Surf Film Festival held each September. Every Sunday, all year round, salsa enthusiasts dance up a storm at the boardwalk with Salsa By The Sea.
It is easy to see how Santa Cruz welcomes those of all tastes and sensibilities. Book your Santa Cruz holiday letting and gear up for a fun holiday.
Creating memories in Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Centre
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 Centre
Make friends with a shark, learn about what scientists do, and enjoy views of the famous Monterey Bay at this centre 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 the family won't forget in a hurry.
Information about holiday rentals in Santa Cruz
🏡 Holiday homes available | 1,060 rentals |
---|---|
💳 Discounts available | up to 31% |
🌙 Nightly prices from | £98 |
⭐ Popular amenities | Pool, Pets allowed and Parking |
🐾 Pet friendly rentals | 128 properties |
🏊 Holiday rentals with pools | 426 properties |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many holiday lets are available to rent in Santa Cruz?
Most of House rentals and Bed and breakfast rental are usually available during April in Santa Cruz.
What is the most popular holiday home amenity in Santa Cruz?
When booking a holiday home in Santa Cruz, consider looking for a place with Pool, Pets allowed, or Parking, which are the most popular amenities for this destination.
How many holiday homes in Santa Cruz have a pool?
Holiday homes with pools are 40 of all in Santa Cruz on HomeToGo. In addition, there are 58 of rentals with pools near water.
May i bring my pet during my stay in a Santa Cruz holiday letting?
Pets are welcome in Santa Cruz with 128 pet-friendly holiday apartments.
What is the perfect time to travel to Santa Cruz?
Book your Santa Cruz holiday in June or August to avoid a washout; these are the months with the least amount of rain.
Can you get deals on holiday accommmodation in Santa Cruz?
You can find fabulous discounts on holiday homes in Santa Cruz with the nightly price of a letting starting at just £98 - and HomeToGo has created plenty of features that make it a piece of cake to uncover some outstanding offers. When thinking about the timing for your break, make use of HomeToGo's flexible dates technology to scan for great value time periods and get discounts of up to 31%. Moreover, HomeToGo's 'distance from' filter lets you find top quality accommodation offers in lower-price, under-the-radar locales which are still near to the area of your choice, whether that's a beach, lake, ski region or city centre. Start searching with time to spare to get the best of a wide range of offers and top discounts - and do so with confidence by clicking on HomeToGo's 'free cancellation' filter when using the website or app.
What are the benefits of booking a holiday letting in Santa Cruz with HomeToGo?
From serenity away from the crowds to plenty of room in which to have fun with your family, friends or partner, holiday rentals in Santa Cruz have a variety of bonuses. HomeToGo lets you read real reviews written by previous guests, and searching is secure, simple, and stress-free - so with 1,060 lettings from 14 providers in the vicinity, you're sure to discover the perfect place to stay with all of the amenities you need in Santa Cruz.
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