Having a student at UCSC, I have been bouncing around trying to find a decent place to stay in Santa Cruz. Finally, I found Hotel Paradox, a charming, friendly place I can count on. I've stayed here 4 times and am never disappointed.
I read another review about the room size and I don't know how much bigger the rooms need to be. I find them fairly large. The rooms are clean and the beds are very comfortable. The pillows are fresh and the decor is hip with the raw wood walls for headboards and pictures of the nearby woods.
The shower is great with decent water pressure and the lighting is great in both bath and bedrooms. I prefer the ground floor by the pool. These rooms have a little table and 2 chairs to sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.
The pool and jacuzzi are huge and not ever too crowded. I use the gym as well, the machines are modern, the facilities are clean and there is plenty of room to get a good workout before heading out.
During my last stay in Feb. I tried the dining room for dinner. It was superb! The service was excellent and the food was delicious but a little pricey.
Overall, I always enjoy coming back to Hotel Paradox and am glad there if finally an affordable, modern, and clean place to stay in Santa Cruz.