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Torch Lite Inn

Property class: 2.5

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Photo gallery for Torch Lite Inn

A hotel room with two beds, a kitchenette, a sliding glass door to a balcony, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.
A modern kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator, and a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.
A patio with outdoor seating, red umbrellas, and potted plants.
A room with two teal chairs, a small table with a vase of flowers, and a potted plant on a wooden side table.
A hotel with a covered parking area, a sign for the Torch Late Inn, and a building with a stone facade.

Reviews

7.8 out of 10
Good

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Housekeeping
  • 24/7 front desk
The current price is $91
$78 nightly
$91 total
Total with taxes and fees
Nov 8 - Nov 9

Explore the area

View in a map
500 Riverside Ave, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
  • Place, Ocean Street
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Santa Cruz Wharf
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪59 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Deluxe Room

A modern hotel room with a large bed, bedside tables, a desk, and a flat-screen TV.

Deluxe Room

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(63 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Signature Room

A hotel room with two beds, a nightstand with a lamp, and a potted plant.

Signature Room

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(84 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

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Oct 25 - Oct 26
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Santa Cruz

With a stay at Torch Lite Inn in Santa Cruz (Westside Santa Cruz), you'll be a 1-minute drive from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and 9 minutes from Mystery Spot. .This motel is 4.5 mi (7.2 km) from Capitola Beach and 7.1 mi (11.4 km) from Roaring Camp Railroads.
View more Motels in Santa CruzOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Ocean Street - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Pacific Avenue - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Santa Cruz Main Beach - 8 min walk - 0.5 miles
  • Santa Cruz Wharf - 11 min walk - 0.6 miles

Getting around

  • Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal) - 31 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Boardwalk Bowl - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪El Chipotle Taqueria - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Brews At The Beach - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪The Blue Lagoon - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Firefly Coffee House - ‬9 min walk

About this property

Torch Lite Inn

Torch Lite Inn offers 38 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. 40-inch LCD televisions come with premium cable channels. Guests can make use of the in-room refrigerators and microwaves. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.

This Santa Cruz motel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks and phones. Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and blackout drapes/curtains. Housekeeping is provided daily.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
Make yourself at home in one of the 38 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LCD televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers.
Take in the views from a terrace and make use of amenities such as complimentary wireless internet access and a vending machine.
Featured amenities include a 24-hour front desk and a vending machine. Free self parking is available onsite.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

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

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Outdoor furniture
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Hardwood flooring in room
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 2 buildings
  • 2 floors
  • Art Deco architecture
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Blackout drapes
  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 40-inch LCD TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Desk
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board
  • Phone

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 6:00 AM
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 45
Late check-in subject to availability
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available

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.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
2 children can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 200.00 per accommodation, per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

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 fee: USD 45 (subject to availability)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
Guests must contact this property in advance to reserve onsite parking
This property accepts credit cards and cash
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators

Property is 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

Torch Lite Inn Reviews

Reviews

7.8

Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 452 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 239 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 148 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 69 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 92 out of 1000 reviews

8.4/10

Cleanliness

8.2/10

Staff & service

7.0/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Everything was perfect Room was very quiet.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Close to the boardwalk
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Super clean room, friendly staff,all things work in room, free huge parking open or under shed both avilbe. Stayed 3time at this property, luv it. Cheap and super neat clean UPGRADED ROOMS. Recent trip - july07 2026.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything about it was perfect. Close to the boardwalk. Clean room and clean sheets alone with towels.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Walking distance to the beach
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place always comes through with the perfect accommodations. Minutes walk from the boardwalk.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

4/10 Poor

Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Parking is limited. Area is very loud.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Clean room. Walkable to the arcade and beach. Site was undergoing some renovation at the time of our stay.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I only need to stay one night and this was perfect distance from the boardwalk and downtown
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great price and location...Two blocks from the Boardwalk. Room included microwave, coffee maker and refrigerator.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Absolutely lovely
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Torch Lite Inn is the perfect spot for an affordable (on non-peak days) overnight near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. It’s simple but well-maintained & only a short walk to the beach. We especially like the 2nd floor room balconies & free parking!
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Good location between the boardwalk and downtown. Minimal parking. No elevator.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice room, a block away from the boardwalk. great price and friendly staff no hassle when asked for extras.. great parking around close to room. Trader Joe’s and downtown 6 min away!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
good night stay if you want to be close to the boardwalk, a 7 min walk to everything. Would stay again for a day trip 😊 staff was very nice
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

The women in front desk is wonderfully awesome. Will definetely come back here and reconnend this place to my family and friend
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such an amazing price for the location!!! Super close to boardwalk and downtown we didn’t even have to drive anywhere!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Ac worked great and really nice to be so close to the boardwalk
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
perfect place to stay if going to the boardwalk
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Front desk Sid was very nice and helpful, check in was easy and fast
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
The staff was amazing but our room was not like the pictures on the website. No shampoo or conditioner and our remote had tape holding it together, but was only there for the night so not too bad.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
We didn't really encounter any staff besides at check in and my partner handled that. There is no pool and the area where it was, was not maintained. The rooms looked nice and updated. The AC worked very well. The pillows were terrible.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly and fast check in, room was clean.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean and the check-n process was super fast and great!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Our family enjoyed our quick stay here!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025