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Torch Lite Inn

2.5 star property
Art Deco motel within easy reach of Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

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Photo gallery for Torch Lite Inn

Signature Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, desk, blackout drapes
Front of property
Terrace/patio
Lobby sitting area
Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, desk, blackout drapes
Torch Lite Inn, near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, offers a relaxed vibe with outdoor furniture and a spacious terrace. Unwind here and enjoy in-room WiFi, free self parking, plus the convenience of 24-hour front desk services. The helpful staff has received rave reviews from past guests.

Reviews

7.6 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Non-smoking
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Free parking
  • Air conditioning
  • Free WiFi

Main amenities (6)

  • Daily housekeeping
  • Near the beach
  • Terrace
  • 24-hour front desk
  • Air conditioning
  • Vending machine

Feel at home (6)

  • Children stay free
  • Microwave
  • Premium TV channels
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Coffee/tea maker
The current price is $64
$75 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 8 - Dec 9

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Deluxe Room

Deluxe Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, desk, blackout drapes

Deluxe Room

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(55 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
LCD TV
Pillowtop bed
Premium bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Signature Room

Signature Room | Premium bedding, pillowtop beds, desk, blackout drapes

Signature Room

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(70 reviews)

Highlights

Air conditioning
Heating
Refrigerator
LCD TV
Pillowtop bed
Premium bedding
Blackout drapes/curtains
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

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About the neighborhood

Map
500 Riverside Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

What's nearby

  • Ocean Street - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Pacific Avenue - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Santa Cruz Main Beach - 8 min walk - 0.7 km
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 11 min walk - 1.0 km

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 27 min drive
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 43 min drive
  • Salinas, CA (SNS-Salinas Municipal) - 46 min drive
  • Monterey Peninsula Airport (MRY) - 57 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cruzin’ Crepes - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪四姐 Special Noodle - ‬8 min walk
  • ‪Boardwalk Bowl - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Coaster's Lounge - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Los Primos Taqueria - ‬5 min walk

About this property

Torch Lite Inn

Torch Lite Inn puts you just a 5-minute drive from Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Freebies like WiFi and self parking are added perks, and guests looking to stay active can check out the nearby hiking/biking trails, kayaking, and mountain biking. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff and location.

At a glance

DONE

Hotel size

    • 38 rooms
    • Arranged over 2 floors
DONE

Arriving/Leaving

    • Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 AM
    • Early check-in subject to availability
    • Late check-in subject to availability
    • Minimum check-in age: 18
    • Check-out time is 11 AM
    • Contactless check-out available
DONE

Special check-in instructions

    • Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
    • If you are planning to arrive after 10:00 PM please contact the property in advance using the information on the booking confirmation
    • Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
    • This property's listed general deposit is refundable via credit card within 14 days after check-out, pending room inspection.
DONE

Required at check-in

    • Credit card required for incidental charges
    • Government-issued photo ID may be required
    • Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE

Children

    • Up to 2 children stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
    • No cribs (infant beds)
DONE

Pets

    • Pets not allowed
WIFI

Internet

    • Free WiFi in public areas
    • Free WiFi in rooms
LOCAL_PARKING

Parking

    • Onsite parking available only on request
    • Free onsite self parking
    • Limited onsite parking (max 1 space per unit)
DONE

Other information

    • Smoke-free property

Property amenities

Traveling with children

  • Children stay free (see details)

What to do

  • Beach nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby
  • Scooter/moped rentals nearby

Services

  • 24-hour front desk

Facilities

  • 2 buildings/towers
  • Terrace
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Art Deco architecture

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Hardwood flooring in room

Room amenities

Be entertained

  • 40-inch LCD TV
  • Premium cable channels

Home comfort

  • Air conditioning and heating
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Iron/ironing board

Sleep well

  • Blackout drapes/curtains
  • Premium bedding
  • Pillowtop mattress

Freshen up

  • Shower/tub combination
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels

Stay connected

  • Desk
  • Free WiFi
  • Phone

Food and drink

  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave

More

  • Daily housekeeping

Fee & policy details

Refundable deposits

  • Deposit: USD 200.00 per accommodation, per stay

Mandatory fees

This property's listed general deposit is refundable via credit card within 14 days after check-out, pending room inspection.

Optional extras

  • Early check-in can be arranged for an extra charge of USD 45 (subject to availability)

Parking

  • Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve onsite parking

Policies

This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a smoke detector on site.
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation.
This property accepts credit cards and cash.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Eurocard
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property. The policies listed are provided by the property.

Also known as

Torch Lite Inn
Torch Lite Inn Santa Cruz
Torch Lite Santa Cruz
Torch Lite Hotel Santa Cruz
Torch Lite Motel
Torch Lite Inn Motel
Torch Lite Inn Santa Cruz
Torch Lite Inn Motel Santa Cruz

Frequently asked questions

Does Torch Lite Inn offer free cancellation for a full refund?

Yes, Torch Lite Inn does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.

Are pets allowed at Torch Lite Inn?

Sorry, pets aren't allowed.

Is parking offered on site at Torch Lite Inn?

Yes, there's free self parking. Parking spots may be limited.

What are the check-in and check-out times at Torch Lite Inn?

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 AM. There's a charge of USD 45 for early check-in (subject to availability). Check-out time is 11 AM. Contactless check-out is available.

What is there to do at Torch Lite Inn and nearby?

Have fun with activities like hiking, kayaking, and mountain biking, and practice your swing at the nearby golf course.

What's the area around Torch Lite Inn like?

Torch Lite Inn is a short 7-minute walk from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and 5 minutes' walk from Ocean Street. Travelers say the area is walkable and good for families.

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Torch Lite Inn Reviews

Reviews

7.6

Good

8.2/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Staff & service

6.8/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness

Popular mentions

Room
Boardwalks
Parking
Bed
Service staff
Location
Building
Refrigerator
Beach
Breakfast

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

Great front desk, very friendly and helpful
Rebekah, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

Good walking location.
Juan, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Room was very clean and staff was very nice. Definitely will come back again.
Hannah, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

As usual it was wonderful. Great staff and always feel very welcome. This place is proof that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.
Jerry, 1-night trip

8/10 Very good

Our family enjoyed our quick stay here!
Kirsten, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Very accessible to walk to the beach restaurants a d friendly owner or manager!!
Oved, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Cheap, nothing fancy, but fine to sleep
Daniel, 1-night trip

8/10 Very good

Okay stay. Found it strange that staff would peek into rooms at check out time rather than just knocking on the door…
Stephany, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Service was exceptional!!!
Brieanne, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Very nice, helpful front desk. This hotel is in the perfect location to avoid the expensive parking at the nearby locations. Our room was comfortable. There is a nice view from the shared outdoor patio.
Christine, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Best property within walking distance of the boardwalk. I have had an exceptional time every time with the clean rooms.
ashley, 4-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Very nice reception
Peter, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Rooms updated like pix, very clean, parking is good, extremely walkable to all the main Santa Cruz attractions beach, boardwalk, warf, West Cliff Drive, Pacific Garden Mall, Warrior area. Great value, this place has location and the rooms are clean. It's a safe area. The grounds needs some sprucing up and the pool has been removed.
Elsa, 5-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Great stay
dylan, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

Family 2025 Beach Trip

Cute little beach spot - smaller than expected room but we have a bigger family worked out for us for the one night we were there. Walking distance to the board walk and limited parking if you can walk I would suggest so you can park your car at night in the hotel. Overall I would stay here again no issues staff was super nice and respectful
Meghan, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

This hotel is a surprise. While it is a basic hotel it offers a clean room with laminate floors. The rooms do not flare up my asthma to which can be a major issue for me when staying at other cheap hotels. The front desk staff is incredibly nice! We have stayed at the hotel quite a few times and will return when we are in need of an affordable and clean night’s stay in Santa Cruz.
Anthony, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Simple spot, does the job if you just need a spot to shower and sleep. Friendly staff
David, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Nice staff
bernabe, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Staff super friendly and was a very easy stay overall. Definitely alleviated travel stress!
Makenna, 1-night trip

4/10 Fair

Our room was in a dark location. There was no where in our room to hang clothing, and it was very noisy all around and above us, super thin walls, sad experience.
Teri, 1-night trip

6/10 Good

Nice room but pictures can be misleading. Floors and walls are paper thin. And somewhat of a sketchy area.
Nathan, 2-night trip

8/10 Very good

Needs a little help on the outside - but overall a VERY convenient location nice staff and owners! Should make big dirt pile a garden with palm trees- improve the outside paint touch up- great parking clean updated rooms - perfect surfer town stop - I would stay again
Mindie, 4-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

The couple running(owners?) property were the nicest people. We will definitely be staying with them again soon. Everything was very clean.
Kathy, 2-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

I felt safe and they were very kind people!
Nicole, 1-night trip

10/10 Exceptional

Good location, clean. Parking is a little odd but made it work.
Peter Jacob, 2-night trip