Hitching Post Studios Inn

The beds were uncomfortable. The staff was very friendly.

This was a basic, well maintained property and I had a comfortable night. My only specific complaint was that I got the full afternoon sun and for the life of me couldn't figure out how to get cold air out of the air conditioner.

Superb

Exceptional

Exceptional

Room very well maintained. Nice big kitchen. good price. No breakfast provide.

friendly staff. clean rooms

Good cleaning and parking staff very good

Not very ADA friendly, lots of steps and stairways only a couple of rooms that didn’t involve stairs on the property

Danny, the owner, keeps a very nice and safe place. Rooms are fresh and very clean. Love this place! Liked it all.

.

The room was clean but there was no soap or bodywash in the shower. The exterior was a bit dated but clean.

Best in town

A little off the beaten path from the boardwalk and town, but quiet and safe. Clean. Bedding made us wish we brought our own pillows and blankets however. Super basic and lightweight. Staff made check in easy. Decent spot for one night.

Quite Nothing all around great place awesome staff and management

Quite Nothing all around great place awesome staff and management

Good clean and secure

Exceptional

All good

Exceptional

Very good

All was perfect Location

All was perfect Location

Very good

Exceptional

Passable

This motel is conveniently located in the Eastside neighborhood, in the Soquel triangle. We love this neighborhood! A classic 50s style motel, very roomy, great wifi and cable tv, clean and spacious bathroom, comfy bed

I had an absolutely fantastic stay at the Hitching Post in Santa Cruz. From the moment I arrived, the service was impeccable—warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The location couldn’t be better—centrally situated, it’s just a short walk to all the major attractions, charming boutiques, and incredible restaurants. The room was cozy and clean. I can’t recommend this place enough—it’s a hidden gem in the heart of Santa Cruz!

I had an absolutely fantastic stay at the Hitching Post in Santa Cruz. From the moment I arrived, the service was impeccable—warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The location couldn’t be better—centrally situated, it’s just a short walk to all the major attractions, charming boutiques, and incredible restaurants. The room was cozy and clean. I can’t recommend this place enough—it’s a hidden gem in the heart of Santa Cruz!

The online pictures and the price led me to believe that this was a fully renovated old style motor lodge. When we arrived we found out that it was just an old motel that likely gets by with long term rentals for locals. I still don't understand why the Expedia price was so much higher when I booked compared to what it is today. After seeing the room we called Expedia to see what our options were. The service agent called the motel manager while I was put on hold. He came back on the line to tell us that he managed to get us a full refund. I will say that the room though dated and worn was very clean. Great job by Expedia customer service! Very rare to get such help these days.

Older yet well taken care of facilities, very comfortable

The room was clean and comfortable. The property was quiet. The check-in and check-out process went very smoothly. I really only needed a place to sleep for a few days and this worked out fine.

Did the trick. Perfect for a quick overnight. No frills, nothing fancy.

Plenty of parking available.

Overall the room was clean and more quiet than expected, given proximity to a busy road. Nice sized refrigerator for a motel room as well. Someone was smoking in the parking lot and that was unpleasant as we could smell it in our room. Otherwise the stay was good

This is a gem of a hotel in the Santa Cruz area. Very neat and clean; extremely spacious, ample parking, well equipped kitchen. And very reasonable pricing. I usually stay in the Courtyard or something similar. This time I tried out Hitching Post and was very pleasantly surprised. Will definitely repeat

Hitching Post came through for me again. They are now my go-to for expeditions to Santa Cruz. Convenient location, great prices.

Old place- fine for a night or two. Seemed safe, was clean- just dated. Typical for Santa Cruz motel vibe, people running the place were nice and helpful.

Wow like living in an apartment, and we had cooking and heating stove! Easy parking next to your room. Loved this facility. My wife loved the add on room next to the bathroom for clothes and bags and changing.

The floor was so filthy that it was noticeable through our shoes.

Convenient and affordable. I would definitely stay here on my next trip to Santa Cruz.

Really good value for the price. No frills but clean and comfortable. Well kept property. Easy, friendly check-in. Window in my room was screened and could be opened for fresh air, which is rare and appreciated. Good shower. The one complaint I have is the same one I have for every budget hotel: WAY too much febreeze or whatever spray is used to “freshen” the bed covers. It’s overpowering and nauseating (in my opinion)…hence my appreciation for the openable window.

Very large space great for families or to have that extra space . Good centralized, location, easy access to local points of interest.

Staff was super friendly. The room was clean. Parking was easy.

Parking was ok.but trying to make the turn in Parking lot was very tight

I’ve stayed here twice in the past year. Once with my kids. I really enjoy it. Full size kitchen, good shower, parking in front of the rooms, beds are comfortable, very clean, I did not use the wifi. It’s in walking or short driving distance to anything you could need or want to do. I will definitely be back.

Danny at the front desk was very accommodating. Not a bad little no-frills property. Good for a quick crash.

Friendly staff,clean room and convenient location. Highly recommended.

Staff was good and property was clean.

Clean and close to Capitola and Santa Cruz. Would stay here again.

I needed a place to stay near my friends and this was perfect, convenient, quiet and well equipped.

Surprisingly large room with a separate kitchen. Quiet location. Can't beat the price. Ill return

Rooms are clean and quiet

The room was nicely updated for the age of the hotel

Very nice has a full kitchen

Room was bigger and better than expected. Danny at the desk was very friendly and accommodating as we arranged for a cross-country move. The two room kitchenette and extra space really came in handy for family of 5. Thank you!

Dirty

The hitching post has it all: clean room spacious and a fantastic location.

It was a fine place to stay considering the price. Get what ya pay for. Make sure you bring your own coffee n filters, and you may want to bring a cozy blanket as there is basically a curtain for a comforter.

Unbelievable stench of strong disinfectant. Woke up with a major headache, and clothes out of the suitcase at home reeked strongly of it. This is highly unhealthy. Also towels didn't soak up water at all, likely from softening chemicals.

Yes clean property clean rooms walk to the beach in 10 min 10 min to downtown safe area and affordable

The room was ice cold and the heater didn’t work. It’s dirty with splatters of unknown origin but appear to of human waste.I definitely wouldn’t suggest gambling with picking a cost friendly location in this area of town

Managment suxks

A great value for the a clean, comfortable room with everything you need. The staff was helpful and friendly. Convenient parking right by your room. Although it’s quiet and I heard no street noise, the hotel is located on a busy street with lots of businesses, so if it’s a view or nature you want, this is not your choice. If you want convenient location with walkable stores and restaurants, this is perfect. Clean, safe and affordable- I’ll be back for sure!

I would have liked to see a pan or pot to use since they have a stove/oven. Our refrigerator was leaking into the veggie section. Don’t know how the water was coming from the freezer and dripping through the walls of the fridge to the bottom drawer! Definitely needs replacing! We didn’t complain about anything except the Internet because we were in town for a funeral. For the price of this place I could have stayed at the Best Western with a breakfast and always free hot coffee, and internet that works!

The room was just as expected. We chose this hotel because of location, price & the kitchen. Our son is attending UCSC, and we wanted to find a hotel that wouldn’t break the bank & allow us to not spend a fortune at restaurants. Thank you. We will be back.

Yes

Very quiet, clean,safe, and perfect for my 2 night stay. Nice new bathroom fixtures. I will stay here when I next come to town.

Shower- roomy and great water pressure Staff- kind and generous Bed- big and comfy Overall a great stay

Clean room. Quiet location. Easy check in.

The room was very clean staff was friendly. The heater was difficult to get to work and the blanket was thin.

Clean, quiet and spacious room. It's not Hilton, but it is good value. A full kitchen with all appliances. Kitchen ware is available for $5. I will definitely be back.

Nice size room and full kitchen. Bed was comfortable. There was an unpleasant smell in the kitchen and the fridge was leaking water.

Nice

Room was spotless and everyone very friendly and helpful! I was cold at night even after getting extra blankets from staff as the space heater provided took a while to heat up the room. Otherwise this place is a great option /bargain!!!

Thank you again for another memorable stay! B.Y.

We arrived after 11 p.m. and checkin was a breeze. Parking was available right across from our room in the center building. The heater seemed like it was going to be insufficient for the room, but we turned it off after 90 minutes because my gf was getting too hot. I would like to see a thicker blanket on the bed, but other than that the room was great. Note that there is a walk in shower, but no tub. This was our second stay here and we would stay again.

The shower head was broken....i had to hold it to use it and the blow dryer in the room was broken. Other than those two things, it was a comfortable place to stay.

Rooms are spacious and comfortable

This hotel had the cleanest room I think I have ever been in. There was no musty, funky smell, floors were clean walls were clean, shower. Everything was clean!

Would definitely stay here again! centrally located for easy access to many places. Great staff, clean and big rooms.

Pleasantly surprised about the cleanliness and space of the room. Will definitely stay here again

Just 2 star hotel, good location, guy in the front desk was good

We had a great stay, the manger, Danny, was welcoming and very helpful. Rooms were remodeled and great for the price. Will definitely go back.

7 points, but Danny was the best thing about the hitching post. Very friendly and welcoming. And it smelled good in the office. He remembered us. We like the activism center next door. There was a band there which we were invited to. We can easily access the bus back to 17 and to the beach. We love grocery outlet, the microwave and the fridge. Checking in is so simple, and I was so exhausted. The bed was huge and comfy. My only complaint was too much bleach on the sheets.

👍

Clean rooms, pleasant staff, lots of restaurants to choose from in the area.

Finding a budget friendly place with such nice grounds, comfortable beds, very clean rooms and each with its own little patio , not to mention the excellent, friendly staff, is a godsend. This was my 4th or 5th stay, and I expect to book there again.

Although this is an old motel, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed staying here. It was a very convenient, central location. It was quiet, clean and comfortable. Yes, it was a wee bit dated, but that just added to the character. The staff members were friendly and helpful. Keeping in mind this is not 4-star hotel, it certainly met all of my needs and I wouldn’t hesitate to stay here again. And it is very reasonably priced!

Cleanliness very lacking. Could not walk barefooted in unit without feet getting filthy. Bedding threadbare and pretty gross. Person in room next to us seemed to be a long term resident and hoarder. His room was filled to the brim with junk he was collecting that was overflowing from his truck. Strong smell of natural gas in unit that would come and go. We booked 3 nights but left after two. Do not recommend this place.

Hitching Post was a nice little motel. Can't expect much for $100 a night and I think they do a pretty good job.

Friendly staff

Little sketchy on the outside but the rooms were nice

I was pleasantly surprised to find the room remodeled. Everything was tastefully done. The mattress was a dream. It was very helpful to have a coffee maker, microwave and refrigerator. I would definitely recommend it.

As soon as we walked in the room there was an overwhelming smell of toxic cleaning supplies used. It was late and we were tired, but we stayed up for quite a while with both the window and door wide open. The odor was so strong that it was still present in the morning. The property worker was not available when we tried to address the strong "cleaning" odor.

Excellent Staff

As far as the stay, it was good. Nothing too extravagant. We've stayed here a couple of times, and probably will again since we have a few upcoming appointments in Santa Cruz (it's about a 4 hour drive one way for us). Nothing looks dirty, but sometimes I wonder if I should bring my own sheets . My husband and I have slept comfortably, but my in-laws have complained of not sleeping well both times. We got a room that had a separate kitchen with a fridge, stove, microwave and kitchen sink. If you plan on staying a couple nights, bring your supplies and take advantage of it. The neighborhood looks a little shady, but we felt safe. Not loud, not dirty.

Host was very kind, and made an effort to help us secure our bikes. The rooms are clean but are modestly appointed with furniture. Guests must pay extra to access kitchen tools and resources.

Very nice and clean

Had an amazing trip because of how awesome this location was. Quiet, easy to park (even my big truck fit the parking spaces) and the market across the way had all the right snacks for my birthday event on the beach! Thank you again!

The room we had was with a kitchen. It met our needs.

Very clean property with wonderful staff

Very nice clean property with wonderful staff.

I was a little concerned after reading a few negative reviews, but they must have been old. Clean, pleasant, and entirely convenient for our purposes. Our room had a kitchen as well, which would be really handy if you were looking to save money on vacation (there’s a grocery store just down the street).

Clean quiet

Very nice place. Host was very nice and hospitable. The location was quiet and comfortable. Amazing affordable place to stay in Santa Cruz. We’ll be visiting again.

Unknown

Would not go back again terrible side of town pictures are completely deceiving. Looks nothing like this in person completely waste of my money.

Great location and clean rooms.

Terrible air-conditioning.

We just needed a place to sleep. The room was adequate, nothing fancy. It was fine. We arrived late around 11pm and left by 9am. The morning was very noisy with cars leaving and guests shutting room doors. The walls are thin and with an open window the noise was even louder. The area is expensive in general so I searched for the cheapest room I could find and this was it. If you're looking for a one night quick stay then this place will be good enough. If you're looking for more I would suggest you look for another place and expect to pay more. I will add that the man at the front desk was also very friendly. My check-in was fast and easy.

Bathroom door hard to close. Toilet seat loose and room smelled.

Clean rooms. Sad area. Was fine for my purpose to be in Santa Cruz

Modest property but clean and the staff was very friendly. For the money I thought it was a bargain.

Staff was very friendly and accommodating

Very basic TV and room very dull and old

I liked the place. Would like to extend the stay but price went up.

I've past by this place countless times over the years because it looked questionable. Well, it’s a different place now. The staff is kind, the rooms are quiet and clean, and it's convenient and affordable. It’s not “fancy”, but it’s certainly not “trashy”. I would definitely stay here again.

Room smelt like poop when we walked in and there were only three towels for four people. Wouldn’t go back again.

No frills, comfortable stay. Friendly easy check in. Floor was dusty but everything else was clean and worked.

There’s really nothing around the property, but downtown and the pier are a short drive. However, the hotel is remodeled, clean and safe. The owner and staff are all very nice people. I’ll go back next time.

Only one small issue; the floors could have been cleaner.

This is an outdated property that is hard to keep dust-free and clean. They do as much as they could I suppose. The bed sheets are thin. There was a second room the size of the bed/bath with a kitchen and dining space. There's a full-size freezer and you can cook for an added $5 cleaning fee. You can also borrow utensils for cooking. That seems reasonable!

Very basic motel room. Suited our needs. Clean.

The room was small. One of the bedsheets has stain. Not too happy with this stay.

A nice surprise! Now if I want to cook meals on my trips to Santa Cruz, I know where to stay

They gave me and my wife a horrible room and when we complained we got put in a smaller room with no AC and a little old fan not friendly at all. We had no choice to stay there because we were tired from driving he even complained about my wife I forgot to put 2 people when I book the room he said you lucky I’m not charging you. Toilet seat where all nasty the need to be replaced the bolts had rust from urine

We only stayed one night, it was clean, comfortable with excellent parking and excellent facilities in the room.

Great

I like everything and easy check in and check out

Place was clean and quiet, front desk very helpful.

The bathroom, sink and shower have also been updated. , The mini fridge and microwave are in the bathroom area, but close to the closet-like section. Complaint, the shower leaks water, so place a couple of towels on the floor. Also, if you have more than one person staying in the room. You will have to request additional towels, provided - 1 face, 2 hand, and one body. Towel. The soap dispenser and hair shampoo/conditioner dispensers are ok. I suggest you bring your own. The bed... the bed was uncomfortable. It sinks in and lumpy. Outside. The hotel is off a busy street so occasionally you hear loud cars, (music, burn outs, etc). Some units have an outside/mini patio with 2 chairs, but the inside units do not (may or may not have a chair in front of the room window). They do have a gathering area with a BBQ grill and a couple of seating areas. Best part. Staff was excellent, nice, and friendly.. Overall. I give this inn a 4 out of 10. This place is ok for an overnight stay, but the price per night is overpriced.

It was fairly quiet, especially for being close to a major street. The room was clean and looked good. The desk clerk was very friendly and welcoming.

The inn is one of the long-standing businesses in the area. We appreciated the inn's upkeep and maintenance of the room's cleanliness and comfort. The bed felt nice and firm. We tend to sleep cold but avoid using AC for health/environmental reasons. We should have asked for an extra blanket. There was a blanket and a thin decorative cover (not a duvet). We felt a bit cold at night. Our room had a full kitchen and a dining table adjacent to the bedroom. We appreciated the place to sit and eat our takeout. Our room lacked pots, pans, plates, and utensils. There are many restaurants within a few blocks where you can dine, so I imagine there isn't much need for them. If you plan to use the kitchen, you might want to check with the inn whether kitchen supplies will be in your room. The only issue we had was a scent in the room. There was a noticeable scent, like laundry or cleaning detergent type, not offensive, but a "fresh" artificial scent. We thought a plug-in air freshener might be somewhere in the room. But we couldn't locate it. We both got a headache from it, and had to leave the window open during our stay.

Check in was fast and curteous

Very friendly staff. Clean room very spacious. They gave a nice little welcome bag with water & snacks. Conveniently located.

Good value. Clean, well maintained. Quiet sleep. Good location.

Fully equipped kitchen was a major feature for our 10-day stay. Courteous and helpful staff. Also very reasonable rate.

It’s a smaller Inn, which is nice because there’s less traffic/cars and people, making for a quiet and safe feeling stay

Certainly past its heyday, but it was exactly as described and pictured - and the fact that it was such a highly-reviewed and yet economical facility is precisely why I booked it. Not traveling with family, and not spending much time in the room - so perfect to come back to after a day hiking and at the beach. The TV has standard channel offerings plus multiple HBO, etc channels - but mine is niche viewing, and so I connected the TV to my laptop via my ever-present HDMI cable and am enjoying exactly what I want to watch via my own Netflix, Prime, and other subscription channels. The room is spacious, the bathroom is a long accompanying chamber separated from the bedroom by a sliding door. Inside the main sink area of the bathroom is a mini-fridge, microwave, coffeemaker and generous assortment of coffee packs - NO Decaf, which I consider to be a PLUS! No creamers or sugar, but that's fine as I prefer my coffee black. Broadband hangs a bit from time to time, and guests are advised to not run the air conditioner and the space heater at the same time (!) as "otherwise you lose your room power" - but I can't conceive of an occasion during which I WOULD want to run both simultaneously. The bed is comfy, the rooms themselves are well soundproofed from one another, but the tight parking area which wraps inside the horseshoe layout of the main facility and around the inner block of rooms means that you WILL hear vehicle noise - and especially from inconsiderate guests...

I had a reservation…. Paid in advance… good for them bc I would have left after waiting forever in the office. Rang the bell on the door at least 5 times and pounded on the desk. Got dirty looks from a lady there. Bite me!!!hairdryer was broken, Inadequate lighting on what was supposed to pass for a desk…bedclothes were inadequate. Kept slipping off the bed and pillows were flat flat flat… where did they get an 8.5 rating?

I had read a couple of negative reviews but found none to be true during my stay.

I had a great time with a couple friends here in late March and would highly recommend it! Staff was kind and attentive and the location was great

Comfortable, convenient

Staff was helpful

Room clean bed great

Great stay!

The owner was fabulous.Very helpful and friendly.

This is such a charming little gem that I almost hate to share the property -- especially on event/holiday bookings! This was my first time staying at this rustic hideaway and it was close to everything (yet quiet!), the proprietor and staff were SUPER Santa Cruz friendly and the rooms were clean and well-appointed. The full kitchen, dining and work areas (with a separating door!) makes it perfect for those travelling with kids or extended family to get some space. Any time I am on the Coast, this will definitely be my go to crash pad. Such a treasure!

Very happy with our stay. Host was very accommodating

Very nice little motel. Very clean and reasonable. It came with a large full kitchen with a gas range, which was amazing! It was the nicest this type of motel can be.

Always a great stay at the hitching post! Room was convenient and nicely remodeled recently. The was was so comfortable.

Very friendly place

Great staff! Thanks Dani! Clean room and surroundings. Felt safe.

great!!!

Close and walkable to the pizzeria, bar and grocery shop so we chose it for proximity. It was reasonable value but with no thick blanket, only a thin sheet, we were cold sleeping.

Staff was very friendly and accommodating

Helpful staff

Exactly what I needed, and a great price

Comfortable beds and spacious room with nice tv. WiFi was spotty. One pillow case had lipstick and a boot print on it and one towel was not clean. Quiet space.

Great!!

CONVENIENT

Such a cute little place. Seems newly renovated and check in was a breeze. Only downside was there is no hairdryer.

We spent 6 nights here for a visit with family in Soquel. What a great location! We were totally impressed with the room - the size was incredible, bed comfortable, and a fully functional kitchen. We asked for kitchenware at the front desk and got a bin with pots/pans, cleaning supplies and service for two. Went to Dollar Tree for additional supplies and had a well-equipped kitchen for our stay! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay here and would recommend it to others!

I was in town for one night and didn't spend much time in the room, but it was clean & spacious. I liked that it was close to where I needed to be, but far enough away to be quiet. The staff was very friendly and I would stay here again.

Always a pleasant stay at The Hitching Post.

We stayed at the Hitching Post so that I could do a virtual academy and still make it to a wedding at the Chaminade. The Hitching Post Studios Inn is a good little location, complete with a kitchenette and space to do work. My wife and I enjoyed our stay and pleased with the inn. Thank you.

Positively surprised by the cleanliness of the room and how quiet it was. The gentleman who checked me in was very professional and courteous. I would definitely consider it again.

The air conditioner was confusing but the staff helped us turn it on. Someone forgot to clean out the refrigerator. The bed was a bit soft but everything else was decent. Super convenient spot to walk around Santa Cruz.

I loved my stay. Room was clean and spacious and staff was incredibly friendly and helpful. Would definitely stay again

nice area.

Dirty small rooms with little privacy and gross smoking area right outside the room. Sketchy area and homeless people walking around. Property manager was rude and refused to offer refund for early checkout.

Service was excellent here! The room was perfect for us! Staff was very kind and helpful!

Great service very polite

Friendly and helpful manager. Rooms clean with newer towels. Convenient parking. Good mattress.

The room was clean and the full kitchen was unexpected but very nice to have. The night clerk was nice and accomodating.

Parking and driving around the property was tight in our truck . Beds were comfortable and room was clean liked the no carpet . I don’t like walking on hotel carpet !

The manager here was very kind and it was an extremely refreshing change from the hotel we had previously stayed at in S.F the rooms are a lil dated but it was very clean and not far from the boardwalk... Would stay again with hesitation

The Hitching Post Inn was better than I expected in person. My s.o. and I really enjoyed our stay. Our room was very clean, spacious and with a modern style interior. Too bad the exterior of the property doesn't match the interior. The only con were the king sized bed and pillows, they were too firm. Made for a restless night. Overall, this was a good overnight spot.

It was nice to stay close to the ocean without all the noisy tourist things. No pool insight but the AC worked perfectly.

This was perfect for our family of 5. The kitchen was a huge help. We did have to bring some of our own pans and utensils but so worth it. (U can ask to borrow at the front desk). We would definitely stay again. Its nicely updated. The only thing outdated was the couch, curtains and the top cover for the beds. The actual blanket did have bleach stains, and the beds are a bit hard for my liking. But overall it was perfect.