Beachfront vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County

This house was perfect! The location was amazing, walking distance to eat, coffee, walk the dog and beautiful view. The little tv room was so comfortable and cozy. The house fully stocked for every need. We loved staying here and will come back

We had the most magical stay at this charming beach cottage! From the moment we arrived, we were swept away by its cozy, welcoming vibe and the peaceful sound of the ocean just steps away. It was the perfect escape- peaceful and beautifully decorated. Huge thanks to Katcha for making us feel so welcome!

What a peaceful place. We had a great short visit and hope we can come again! The place is even better than the photos. We spent hours watching the birds, ocean and sun set and rise. It was great that we could bring our dog along too!

Love Liz's place. I have stayed her numerous time and will continue to do so. What I especially LOVE: Cozy Private Patio High ceiling (feels spacious) Walk to coffee shop in the morning Walk to dinner in the evening Walk to the beach all the time Lovely neighborhood I highly recommend Liz's place!!!

My family and dog stayed at Jeremy’s house for 5 days and loved every minute. The house is very spacious and airy, super well-maintained with lots of room to relax and enjoy. The front and back yards are big and perfect for a dog and kids. Everything you’d need is covered, from outdoor shower to a handy pooper scooper and toys for the dog. The neighborhood is quiet and safe, yet only 3 minutes walk to great burgers, pizza or Mexican food. And only 8 minute walk to The Hook or 38th Ave for surfing or beach. 5 minute drive or an easy bike ride to downtown Capitola. Jeremy was a fantastic host, always asking if we needed anything. Will definitely visit again!

We loved our stay at Gabriel’s cottage! It was perfect for a long weekend with our kiddo. Fully stocked kitchen and laundry room really helped make everything run smoothly for us. Beds were comfy, neighborhood was calm and welcoming, and just a quick walk down to the beach. It was exactly what we needed! We would love to stay again on our next trip down.

Laura’s place was spot on for our short stay. Beach was a stones throw away, which is where the kids wanted to spend their time. The place was perfect, it was clean, spacious, and well equipped. Detailed instructions for the apartment to go alongside the stay and useful local information.

Clean, well-appointed, spacious home less than a block from the beautiful Twin Lakes Beach. You can see the beach from chairs on the front lawn. We were lucky enough to be there during the lighted boat parade (first Saturday in December), so we watched the lighted boats in the water from the front yard. Everything was easily accessible. The home includes many amenities (washer/dryer, cooking supplies, games, pack n play). The room with the bunk beds has a separate bathroom, making it really nice for families with older kids. Great stay and I hope we can return.

Joanne and Nicole’s apartment was very spacious, and both David and I had more than enough room to relax and enjoy our time. The home theater was such a special treat, and we really appreciated the helpful information they provided about nearby restaurants. On top of that, they generously left snacks and even pasta sauce for us, which made us feel very welcomed. The outdoor hot tub was warm, clean, and incredibly cozy, making our stay even more relaxing. The instructions they gave were very clear and easy to follow, which helped everything go smoothly from the moment we arrived. They also placed a very easy-to-understand guidebook inside the apartment, so we could quickly find anything we needed without any confusion. Thanks to their thoughtful setup and care, we were able to fully relax and enjoy a slow and peaceful two-night, three-day stay.

We spent several nights in David’s condo, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. I had kind and timely communication with David even before our arrival, and the condo itself was just perfect. The pictures don’t do it justice, it is in a very peaceful, private area and closer to the water than expected. Breathing the ocean air and the sound of waves is so healing. I watched humpback whales breach and dolphins feeding, it was very pleasant to have pelicans flying right past as well. The sunsets were beautiful and it was such excellent viewing at any time of day with 2 deck levels to choose from. You can view the coast from Santa Cruz all the way down to Monterey! The condo is tastefully decorated and spacious, and the beds were extremely comfortable with cozy quilts and pillows. There are comfy throws for your lap and many other homey touches. The condo has so many dishes and pots and pans it’s easy to cook a meal. I can’t wait to stay there again. Thank you David!

We absolutely loved our stay at Kristina’s condo! The place was spotless, beautifully furnished, and had everything we needed for a comfortable stay. Kristina was incredibly responsive and helpful throughout, which made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend this Airbnb – we’d definitely stay here again!

Had a great stay! Bjorn replied quickly to messages. The place was beautiful and just as described. Overall we had a wonderful time! Would definitely book again.

Staying at Seascape was the perfect kid-friendly vacation. The pool was easy to access from our condo and the views were beautiful. The condo's set-up with two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and a half bath downstairs was great for our family of 5. The private beach was beautiful - we saw otters, whales, and my son found two perfect sand dollars walking down the beach. It was a little bit of a trek to get down to the beach with three little kids and all the beach gear, but once we were there no one wanted to leave. Several near-by restaurants were delicious, especially the newly opened Dos Pescados. It was fairly easy to get into Santa Cruz too, but we did have to time traffic or it would double the drive time (to almost 45 minutes).

I will echo on so many other reviews that were left for this Aptos property. The condo itself was beautiful, spacious for 4 adults and 2 little kids. There was easy access to the beach (5 minutes through a paved path) as well as access to different pools and a restaurant. Even with a great property, I’m also giving this a 5-star review because Annie was great to communicate with. She offered wonderful recommendations during our stay, and any minor issue we had, she offered a fix for very quickly. She genuinely made our stay worth every penny spent at this location. The added amenities that she provided were definitely a great bonus!

The place is great! Beautiful location and great access to private beach. It’s one room as described, equipped kitchen and dining. Although it says for 4 people, 2 people have to use the sofas to sleep. Good for couple and 2 children. I would definitely recommend this place and location.

Jane was prompt and responsive to every communication. When we got there, we bought groceries for our stay. After one night in the refrigerator, some stuff was frozen. I noticed the fridge had been at the lowest temperature setting. The previous renter had probably wanted to get drinks/beer cold quickly and forgot to turn the temperature to a typical setting. Jane and her husband were responsive and even compensated us for our loss; I wasn't looking for that because it wasn't their fault. Nonetheless, we were thankful for the compensation.

Terri's place is fresh and clean. It appears to be recently renovated, with gorgeous interior design, an open kitchen, and lovely landscaping. This was definitely one of the cleanest Air BnB's we have stayed in. Pristine inside and out. The kitchen is well appointed and had all of the appliances/cooking utensils we needed. The garden is gorgeous (there's that word again) and gets a lot of comments from people walking the river. A beautiful stroll along the river path gets you to the shops and restaurants at the esplanade. We cannot wait to return! Something not in Terri's control (obviously) is the traffic. Bring your patience every time you leave the location in your vehicle. Capitola and the surrounding towns were not designed for the sheer amount of people who come visit, so every outing in a car is slow going. Just enjoy the view and plan ahead.

this was a wonderful place, amazing views and very peaceful relaxing bday trip would love to come back

Our stay at this beautiful Santa Cruz Airbnb was nothing short of amazing! The home is perfectly situated along the coast, offering breathtaking ocean views from the spacious upper deck. Whether we were sipping coffee in the morning or grilling on the barbecue at sunset, the deck quickly became our favorite spot to relax and take in the scenery. The house itself is clean, comfortable, and well-equipped. Each of the three bedrooms was beautifully furnished with cozy beds, making it easy to unwind after a long day of exploring. The kitchen was a dream—modern, spacious, and stocked with everything we needed to cook meals together. The location was perfect—just a short walk to the beach and close to great restaurants and local attractions. The hosts were fantastic, providing clear communication. If you're looking for a peaceful coastal retreat with stunning views, great amenities, and a welcoming atmosphere, this is the perfect

Location was great. Tight quarters but never felt confined. Walking path to boardwalk and beach. Easy access to freeways. Master bedroom did not keep the sun out so those with light sensitivity will be waking up early. A/C worked and kept the place cool. No ice maker. So be sure to grab your own ice. They had one ice tray and a bucket but the bucket was home to a used cold pack. Outside patio was a nice place to eat lunch. Garage is converted into a hodge-podge of sorts. We didn't use. Probably would have preferred just using it to park, but the driveway was sufficient and safe. Wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

It’s our first trip with our one month old son and we had an amazing time! We are familiar with the area which is why we picked Erin’s place since it’s so close to privates! Also Erin provided bikes with surfboard rack that we used to ride to surf at jacks which is a huge plus! The house is super well decorated and beds are comfortable. We love the hot tub as well! Everything is perfect! Highly recommended

Such a lovely and peaceful retreat. Steps to the beach. Howard was excellent with communication. Highly recommended

We love staying here, we've come here multiple years in a row. It's cozy, well maintained, and perfect for a family of four. The garage and driveway for parking is so key for a neighborhood so close to the beach. Street parking is always taken. We love the proximity to the beach and provided beach chairs, boogey boards, pop up tent, and beach towels. We walked to roaring Camp Railroad beach pickup, the boardwalk, and multiple restaurants. Communication, check in, and check out are extremely easy. We plan on coming back again next year!

My family had a great time . The house is beautiful and the location couldn’t be better . Thank you for helping us make amazing memories.