Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Cruz – Capitola

This rating is based strictly on Customer Service. I booked a couple rooms through a 3^rd party for one night (Fri-​Sat) at the rate of $ 209. Three days later I receive a notification that the prices have dropped so I get excited and rebooked at the lower rate. However, today, (night before I’m due to arrive) I call up to secure one more room only to find out that the great rate was for Thursday instead of Friday and now I am screwed. Well, Derrick at the front desk was able to help me secure the correct reservation for Friday and is attempting to help me to not be out of the money for the other two rooms because of course the 3^rd Party company states they already sent funds. Ugh!!! Even if that doesn’t happen, the fact that somebody in this day and age attempts to help is worthy of 5 stars.

Decided to stay here after a long at at Santa Cruz and it was wonderful! The place had a gym, great complimentary breakfast which included bagels, bagels, scones, waffles, cereal, yogurt, and a swimming pool. The room I stayed in had a jacuzzi, a shower with two shower heads and a fireplace with a rate of 125 per night which was great. It was a beautiful suite. I would love to come back here for my birthday but I booked ahead of time and the rate per night was almost $ 600 and that’s insane and super disappointed!!!

Great hotel, great value. Clean and well kept, with a friendly staff. Excellent free breakfast buffet. Our room (suite) was huge with a living room area separate from the comfortable bedroom. Loved the fireplace in the bedroom. Dark and quiet room made for a good night’s sleep. We’ll have to come back again and make use of the giant whirlpool in the bathroom.

We had a fantastic stay at the Fairfield Inn! Stayed in a 2 bed suite and it was perfect for our family of 4. The hotel staff were very friendly and check-​in/​check-​out was very fast and easy. The hotel was so clean. Underground parking was very convenient. The continental breakfast was great, a great selection of food (cereal, oatmeal, waffles, bagels, muffins, fruit, eggs, sausage), and the eating area was very spacious. The hotel is just minutes from Capitola village and about 10 minutes to the Boardwalk. I would highly recommend this family friendly hotel.

This place was really nice, nicer than I expected actually. We were greeted by a very helpful lady who checked us in and told us where everything was. The lobby was clean and fresh and there is a small bar around the corner from the front desk. The room was very clean which is what I always appreciate most about a room. It smelled fresh, and the bathroom was very clean. The bed was absolutely comfortable and so appreciated after a very long drive to Santa Cruz. I wanted to give this place 5 stars, but our refrigerator did not work whatsoever which may not be a big deal to most (and often times not even a big deal to me) but we did have food from our long road trip we had hoped to keep chilled during our stay. The couch-​bed was a little difficult to bring out due to the furniture set up of the room. The breakfast though was really great. Would most definitely stay here again.

Not sure how I did not know this hotel has been here for 5 years… But happy I discovered it on the Marriott app. Booked a spring break vacation for me and my girls and so happy we stayed here. The staff is amazing and so accommodating… Everyone… Front desk, bartender and housekeeping! The rooms are spacious and well appointed. The pool is heated just right and has a great whirlpool and gym. We used their bocce court and had a great family game night! Guest laundry room available, great complimentary breakfast in a great area of the hotel… I can go on and on… We will defiantly be back!

As we drove in to the front of the hotel entrance, a couple of employees sat down with cigarettes in hands, ready to be lit. This is the Marriott, THE non smoking, pioneer, hotel chain! Needless to say very disappointing, especially to those who choose this chain for this very reason, but also in bad taste all together. True, the employees were probably within the legal 20 feet away from the front door (just about, I think), but you would expect better. Smoke is inherently invasive, trying to prevent having my family walk into the trailing nearby cigarette smoke, I kindly said to the lady-​recepitonist «I hope you are not planing to light those cigarettes, right here»… She responded haughtily, «don’t worry», well, I do, and her attitude didn’t seem remotely considerate or courteous.
Next, we checked in, with the much more civilized, and professional, Esther.
The room was more spacious then not, and well appointed, however, there was no fresh air circulation. It is beyond inhuman to have locked windows! The room is fully carpeted (not the berber type, but the high pile one), there is only one window in the entire room, and it opens to about two inches, the most (after quite of a struggle to open it). When we first walked into the room, it smelled rather fresh, later, as the air freshener dissipated, sweat odor from the closet, replaced it. We woke up very stuffy and not fresh.
The very concept of having hotel rooms with locked windows (or with a tiny opening, like in this case) is something that one can find only in the USA. It is absolutely inhumane and should be outlawed. It also an utter waste of energy; the fan was working the whole night, in an attempt to deliver that precious fresh air circulation. With all the coming and going of so many, hotel rooms needs to be aired fully, while they are being cleaned, and guests have to be able to open the windows in their rooms, fully, not a two inch crack. My suggestions to anyone, after this experience, is to inquire ahead of time, if there are NORMAL windows in the hotel room, I definitely will from now on.
The beds were comfortable, as far as the mattress goes, but the comforter was more of a thin blanket, rather then your regular comforter– too thin for comfort. We requested feather pillows, but got the polyester ones, since it was rather late we didn’t bother with it. The bathroom was spacious and clean-​no issues there.
All in all, value wise, this hotel doesn’t merrit the on going rates, especially not the higher ones for the weekend (in the $ 240 range). It is «passable» for the lower range (mid hundred and so), but then again, those issues that we encounter, have to be addressed and can be fixed.

Had a nice stay here. clean rooms. very spacious. .had 2 queen beds and a full pull out couch bed. Was great for a family of four. Staff was very friendly and brought up all that we asked for quickly. Breakfast was the usual. make yourself waffles, scrambled or boiled eggs, sausage patties (eww)bagels, fresh fruit, bagels, yogurt, etc. I suggest you go around 9am. after that is crowded. It’s included in the cost is stay. Parking is underground and free as well. We were on 2^nd floor and upstairs people were noisy obviously kids. .only complaint.

Felt like we were given a Trip Advisor low rate room even though we paid full rate. Asked for a quiet room on the top floor off the road. Given a non-​standard room on the first floor that had a strange perfume smell. Awakened early as expected by traffic noises and stomping children overhead. Carpet around the bed could do with a good cleaning. This is the second time we’ve stayed here. First experience brought us back. Second won’t.

I booked this place few days before it got busy. I was only planning to spend one night then changed my mind. So I ended up booking it twice for they have no more vacancy for the room I wanted which is a suite with king sized bed. The lady at the front desk was very helpful to me on the phone so that was really nice. When I arrived at the hotel, the same lady who helped me over the phone helped me checked in. She told me that I can keep the room for the 2^nd night and I don’t have to check out and check back in. I was surprised and very happy that she did that. Overall, I enjoyed the stay. I like the fact that the parking garage is gated. So I don’t mind going there again.

The hotel was nice and clean!
Everything looked new and it was really quiet. We really enjoyed our stay there! The location wasn’t too far from all the tourist attraction and not overpriced like the other places. I will definitely recommend to others.

Great place to stay overnight! Though it’s not on the beach or near boardwalk, it’s a really clean and fairly new hotel. Breakfast was beyond my expectations and the kids loved all the options. Rooms were a nice size (average) and parking is secured behind a gate only accessible to guests with a key card.
The drive to the boardwalk was less than 10min away.
On a side note: underground parking is very limited and it’s a tight squeeze for SUV’s. We got back around 10pm and there was only one parking slot available, which took us about 10min to park our larger size SUV.

We had a very good stay at this Fairfield Inn. The room was fantastic. We had three people in one room and there was still plenty of room for all of us. The gym and pool were very nice looking though I did not have time to use either. The location of the hotel was perfect. It was a little walk down the road to go watch some surfers along the coast. Along the walk there was a coffee shop and a micro brewery. Very nice little town. The breakfast in the morning was fabulous!
I will definitely stay at this hotel again if I am in Santa Cruz again.

What a great little gem in the middle of hustle and bustle. I was glad I read the reviews before I went as it made it easier so I will do the same.
Arrival– park out front and check in. Was easy, painless and she was able to get us in early.
Key card for garage. Safe and secure
Room 2^nd floor, needed key card in elevator
Room was in back and was quiet. Our widows faced houses, but was quiet which I surprised about.
I only heard foot steps upstairs a few times. Which is great because sometimes it’s very loud with others above you. I could tell they took extra steps when building this property to take guest into consideration.
The room was larger than a normal room. Which included a sitting area with couch and TV. No door on bedroom so you couldn’t really have privacy if you have kids but I did Like the extra space.
The bathroom was not to my liking of décor but was big and was everything worked. Room has mini fridge and microwave. I would try a room with balcony next time.
Area is walking distance to Mall, Whole Foods, Target, IHOP. A short drive to beach boardwalk or Capitola.
We used the pool a lot. One thing I didn’t like was they had signs that said no food. Maybe to keep birds away? We were very lucky with warm weather. I would have liked more umbrella to move around with some lunge chairs. It’s on the road facing street so you can hear noise but can’t see in or out over the wall.
Breakfast was great. Anything you’d want.
Staff everywhere was helpful and happy.
I was glad to try this property and I will be back for sure! Good job team.

This is such a fabulous hotel, it’s definitely top notch for a Fairfield Brand, it’s as nice as some of the main chain branded Marriotts I’ve stayed in. I travel so much for work, I don’t tend to even look at the category, I just book my hotels based on the location I need to be in but was very impressed when I pulled into this category 7 last week.
The rooms are beautiful, it’s only been around 3 years so everything feels new. The carpet is nice, the beds are comfy, there’s 2 TV’s in every room plus a refrigerator and a coffee maker.
The staff is very friendly and welcoming and have several suggestions as to where to go for dinner and touristy things. Like all of the courtyards and fairfield’s there’s the «bistro» where you can get food & drinks and this one is definitely a trendy one, people really seemed to be enjoying themselves. They also provide breakfast which I didn’t take advantage of but I did take advantage of the ²⁴⁄₇ coffee and tea in the lobby!
I do have a budget per night for work, I’m hoping the rates drop a bit so I can stay here again one night at the end of July. I got lucky the last time in that my other hotels were a lower rate so it all equaled out!
Great spot, highly recommend it!

Highly recommend for families. We were very impressed with all aspects of our stay and would have liked to stay longer.
Awesome Breakfast — HUGE dining area, but I would recommend going early for more selection and availability. Two waffle stations (one huge waffle with 4 quarters, or 4 separate smaller round waffles), scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, cereal, oatmeal, muffins/​toast, juice station, and a mini fridge with different types of milk, Activia and Dannon Light and Fit yogurts, grapefruit and mixed fruit cups.
Rooms were all suites with a separate pull out sofa, television sitting area, mini fridge, and microwave. We stayed on the first floor, so the only minor issue was noise from the room above us. Our room also didn’t have a jacuzzi tub or fireplace as others noted in their reviews, but we didn’t mind.
The front desk staff was amazing! They brought up a pack and play with a protective cover for the pack and play in addition to sheets and a blanket for the baby. They also offered to bring up baby wash soap and lotion, PLUS a couple squeeze bath toys!
Another bonus– the gated and secured garage for parking. Close to the boardwalk and just a pleasure to stay in after a long drive. We were so happy, we would absolutely stay here again next time we are in Santa Cruz.

I will definitely be staying here again. The place was pretty on the outside, and VERY nice on the inside. I had never stayed in a room that had a fireplace AND jacuzzi tub that could easily fit two people before this weekend. I was very excited, I literally could’ve lived in that room. I’d compare it to a top of the line studio. Very spacious with a living room, microwave, fridge, spacious bathroom and counter space, as well dual shower heads. My boyfriend and I loved it! I just wish we stayed longer to take advantage of the pool area and gym.
The staff was VERY nice, check in and check out was a breeze, and I really appreciated the secured entry ways, and most importantly the cleanliness of the place. I had a horrible experience in another place… long story that involved bed bugs. Ever since then I am extra cautious where I stay and I do thorough research. This place definitely was worth every penny. I would recommend any and everyone to stay here.

Hands down, best hotel I have stayed at!
Price was fair for what amenities were offered. For the price of my hotel suite, I was pleasantly accommodated.
Most quiet sound free rooms I have ever been in. Great location. Super nice staff. The breakfast spread was the largest I have seem at a regular hotel. The lobby is gorgeous. The entire place was spotless. I will be staying here again! GREAT JOB!

I was so impressed with this location. Just beautiful from the minute you walk in. The rooms all were very clean and nicely decorated. I even loved the shower curtains they picked out. It felt so nice to be in a place that was newly renovated and it had a great atmosphere. Plus, your minutes away from a mall and of course the main attraction– Capitola-​By-​the-​Sea Village. I say this is my number one pick of all the hotels in the area.
Breakfast was wonderful. Nice lay out of seats and tables. Usually you feel your in danger of bumping into another person’s tables. Or you feel like your forced to stare at other people because of the awkward arrangement of tables. This felt more spread out in a nice way to give people a little more autonomy. Its variety of seating allows you to feel your not just in a crowded room but in a more restaurant type atmosphere.
Staff is always very nice and ready to help. The lobby is warm and inviting. Just absolutely loved coming here.

From the moment we walked in to the the time I called the front desk on Christmas Eve to ask for late check out (okay, they gave me a little bit of a hard time on that request but hey, it was my birthday so I feel like I deserved it), this hotel did not disappoint.
For full disclosure, I am a Marriott Gold member thanks to a stupid travel schedule last year, so I seek out Marriott properties for the extra points and upgrades I have «earned». I don’t usually pick out a Fairfield unless I am going to be there a few nights and need the kitchenette space and extra room. However, I was booking a place for my birthday that was within walking distance to dinner at the Shadowbrook and this was the perfect spot.
I booked this location a few weeks in advance and was pleasantly surprised to see the price drop twenty bucks just a few nights before check in. One quick call and my rate was changed– easy peazy… $ 139 for a fireplace/​whirlpool suite on Christmas eve-​eve is a pretty good deal.
The husband and I were checking in after a long work day and right before our dinner reservation. We were greeted by a friendly young man that helped us get to our room quickly and also let us know about a car service offered by the Shadowbrook restaurant. This is not something shown on the Shadowbrook website so I was super excited to learn about it. He also gave us a good overview of the services offered by the hotel and the shortcut to get to our room.
hint: Park in the front and check in to get the access to the parking lot. Otherwise, you may spend some time and frustration trying to figure out what to do.
We chose the room furthest from the courtyard and it was perfect. It was a nice suite with a fireplace and jetted tub. The room was nicely appointed, clean and well organized. There was a mini fridge as well as a microwave for those dinner leftovers you know you are going to want later in the evening.
We did not have time to check out the bar or try room service if it was available, but we did get a chance to enjoy the complimentary breakfast. My favorite part is always the make-​your-​own waffle and this place had a waffle maker that made 4 mini waffles. How awesome is that? I was able to enjoy just one little piece of waffle heaven that my husband made for me. Did I mention it was my birthday and he was catering to me? There was a well stocked pile of US Today newspapers for reading enjoyment but I would have liked to check out the local paper. Oh well, you can’t have everything, right?
The hotel is nicely situated in downtown and you can walk to the mall, the coffee shop or a nice local dinner place. The décor is awesome with a jelly fish hanging in the front area (check out the pics on Unilocal). With the prime location, excellent service and nicely appointed rooms, you cannot go wrong staying at this Fairfield Inn and Suites!