Ocean View Premium with Balcony Room

This room faces the water and has a private balcony for taking in the ocean views. La Bahia Hotel and Spa sits directly across from Main Beach, so sea air and morning light are part of the stay. Most of the hotel's 155 rooms have ocean views.

You can choose 1 King or 2 Queen Beds. The room sleeps up to 4 guests, which suits families, friends travelling together, or couples who want extra space. Bedding is hypo-allergenic, and a high chair is available for little ones.

The private bathroom has a bathtub or shower, plush towels, bathrobes and slippers. Shampoo, soap and other toiletries are complimentary. Nightly turndown service is part of the stay.

Guests pay a nightly resort fee of $50 (about $56 with tax). It covers a welcome beverage at check-in, in-room Nespresso Vertuo coffee and teas, complimentary wine and snacks, bottled water, unlimited Wi-Fi, nightly turndown and 24-hour fitness room access. It also includes complimentary beach cruiser bicycles and Tommy Bahama beach chairs, subject to availability. E-bikes can be rented.

Yes. La Bahia Hotel and Spa is family-friendly, welcomes children of all ages and gives families a complimentary stuffed-animal toy at check-in. The room sleeps four, and a high chair is available. The rooftop pool and hot tub are marketed as adults-only, and guests under 18 are not allowed in the spa, so plan family time around the beach, the Boardwalk and the restaurants.

The hotel is directly across from Main Beach, roughly 245 yards away, which is a couple of minutes on foot. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is about a 5-minute walk, and the Santa Cruz Wharf is about half a mile away.

There are several options on-site. Low Tide Bar & Grill serves breakfast from 7am to 11am and all-day dining until 9pm. High Tide is the ocean-facing dinner restaurant, open 5pm to 9pm. Pearl is the lobby bar and morning coffee bar, and Plunge is the poolside bar and grill. In-room dining runs daily from 7am to 10pm.

Check-in is from 4:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM. The front desk is staffed 24 hours. Valet parking is $55 per night, with a $10 surcharge for oversized vehicles, and height restrictions apply. Cancel at least 72 hours before arrival to avoid a one-night room-and-tax charge, unless your rate says otherwise. The main guest checking in must be at least 21.

The hotel is at 215 Beach Street in Santa Cruz. San Jose International Airport (SJC) is about a 45-minute drive, and San Francisco International (SFO) is just over an hour away. A public bus stop is about a 3-minute walk from the hotel.