Santa Cruz hotels are SO expensive. A colleague recommended either Mission Inn or Sunset Inn. They were both about the same price, and offered he same amenities, from what I could see. After much vascillating, I went with Mission Inn.

I am SO glad I did.

This is a quaint and pretty little two-story hotel. The staff was extremely friendy and helpful.

When I made the reservation, I was a bit leery of the noise from the busy street (which I had read about in reviews for both hotels), so asked for a quiet room. They booked me in one of their rooms facing their small courtyard. (The hotel surrounds a small courtyard). But when I got into the room, it was a little stifling because there was no air movement, and I didn't want to keep my door open for a cross-breeze since I was traveling alone. Also, when sitting on my bed, the view out the window was looking directly into another room's window -- very uncomfortable.

So I took a walk around the building... more