Standard Room, Balcony (Juliete Balcony)

This room faces Monterey Bay from its Juliette balcony. La Bahia Hotel and Spa sits directly across from Main Beach, so the outlook is the coast. A Juliette balcony brings the view and sea air into the room.

The room has one king bed dressed in hypo-allergenic bedding and sleeps two guests. Blackout drapes help with sleeping in, and heating and air conditioning let you set the temperature.

The private bathroom has a bathtub or shower, complimentary shampoo and soap, and towels that are changed on request. Bathrobes and slippers are provided for lounging.

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

A 65-inch smart TV offers cable channels plus streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. Free Wi-Fi at 25+ Mbps is included, and there is a laptop-compatible safe and a phone. Local maps and restaurant dining guides are also provided.

The hotel is at 215 Beach Street, about 245 yards from Main Beach, a couple of minutes' walk. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is roughly a 5-minute walk, about 100 steps by the hotel's own count. The Santa Cruz Wharf is around half a mile away.

La Bahia Hotel and Spa has three restaurants and bars. High Tide is an ocean-facing dinner restaurant, open 5pm to 9pm. Low Tide Bar & Grill serves breakfast from 7am and all-day dining until 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.

Yes, for two adults this room suits a romantic coastal stay. The heated outdoor pool is for hotel guests and is marketed as adults-only, open 9am to 8pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day and 9am to 7pm the rest of the year. The Spa at La Bahia is open 10am to 6pm daily and is not open to guests under 18. Its signature treatments include La Paz de La Bahía and Tides of Tranquility.

Check-in is from 4:00 PM and check-out is at 11:00 AM. The main guest must be at least 21, and the front desk is staffed around the clock. Valet parking is $55 per night, with height restrictions. San Jose International (SJC) is about a 45-minute drive. Cancel at least 72 hours before arrival to avoid a one-night room-and-tax charge, unless your rate says otherwise.