A five-minute drive to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk
Sleek rooms with earthy decor
and modern, pebble showers
Outdoor pool, whirlpool, fire pit, and bar
On-site farm-to-table
restaurant serving all three meals
Small fitness center with a
handful of machines and free weights
Business center and meeting rooms for rent
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Fee for parking and breakfast
Pool can get crowded
Some rooms get pool/bar noise
Hotel Paradox is a modern,
upper-middle-range hotel a five-minute drive from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. Natural
elements such as tree trunks and potted succulents mesh with sleek furnishings to
create a modern-meets-rustic vibe. The fashion-forward hotel has 170 rooms with unfinished-wood headboards and glass walk-in showers with pebble floors -- request a room away from the pool to avoid the noise from the bar at night. Features include a farm-to-table restaurant, a small fitness
center, and an outdoor pool with a bar. For a more affordable option, travelers could try the charming, mid-range Bella Notte - The Inn at East Cliff, though rooms are less hip.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Mod hotel with chic and cheeky forest-inspired decor
The flat roof and
horizontal windows on Hotel Paradox give the entrance a cubic, Bauhaus feel. If
the tree-trunk valet booth doesn’t clue in guests to the hotel’s
theme, then the front desk made out of a huge tree trunk turned on its side
should leave no doubt about the property's forest
motif. Decor includes whimsical white squirrels that appear to be skittering up the walls, and a woodland mural creates a creative backdrop to the lobby's small seating areas. Blond wood bookshelves lined with white papered books act as room dividers and provide cozy nooks for velvet banquettes. Guests are a mix of business and younger leisure travelers.
Location
Near restaurants and offices, five minutes by car from the beach
Hotel Paradox is located
on a busy thoroughfare, a five-minute drive from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park. The hotel sits just in front of San Lorenzo Park and the San Lorenzo River, in an area surrounded by offices, restaurants, and a tattoo parlor. The University of California, Santa
Cruz is within a 10-minute drive, and the hotel is less than a 45-minute drive to San Jose
International Airport.
Rooms
Hip, modern rooms with fashion-forward furnishings that nod to the great outdoors
The Paradox's Redwood theme
continues inside its 170 rooms, where rustic wooden headboards
and small, succulent plants share space with fresh white bedding and sleek, black-top
desks. Tree-trunk side tables and playful white squirrel statues similar to those found in the lobby make an
appearance in some rooms. All rooms have free Wi-Fi, iPod docks, and
flat-screen TVs with premium channels; some also have mini-fridges and Keurig
coffeemakers. Gray-and-white bathrooms are sleek, with modern walk-in showers with
pebble floors, and bathrobes and hairdryers are provided. Light sleepers should request a room away from the pool to avoid the noise from the bar at night.
Features
Outdoor pool and hot tub, modern restaurant, and small fitness center
The restaurant -- the Solaire -- is a modern space offering seasonal cuisine including fresh-caught seafood and produce from local farmers at breakfast (for a fee), lunch, and dinner. Guests can also dine poolside, where there's a fire pit and cabanas with white-cushioned furniture for rent. The poolside bar stays open past pool hours, and can be a lively spot for an evening drink. There's also a small
fitness center with a handful of machines, including treadmills and ellipticals, plus some free weights. Along with free Wi-FI, the hotel has a business center with two computers, a
printer, and an ATM, and two meeting rooms and a ballroom are available for
private events. Parking is available for a fee.
