
Cottage vacation rentals in Santa Cruz
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Top-rated cottage rentals in Santa Cruz
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Vacation rentals for every style
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Popular amenities for Santa Cruz cottage rentals
Cottage rentals with a hot tub

Ricketts' Retreat
Booked last minute- was very pleasantly surprised! Even better than photos! Location was easy to find (drive in late at night) very easy to check in. Very walkable to everything- beach was a few blocks! Great location to get to the middle of town in no time at all. The private patio space with the hot tub was so amazing after a beach day. I will for sure be booking this place again! Also Liza was super helpful and easy to reach if I had any questions. Book here - it’ll exceed expectations!

Sunny redwood forest cottage
We had the most wonderful stay for my husband's 40th birthday! Everything was absolutely perfect from start to finish. The serene yard was a true highlight — we loved relaxing in the jacuzzi, enjoying the outdoor shower, and spending cozy evenings by the fire pit. It was the ideal getaway for parents needing a peaceful, quiet retreat. We truly appreciated all the thoughtful touches throughout the property. Highly recommend, and we would absolutely stay again!

Sea Otter Cottage in Santa Cruz!
The Sea otter Cottage was such a dream! It was beautiful, cozy and was everything we wanted for a relaxing family vacation. it was very family friendly-the backyard was my toddlers dream. Would recommend 100% and definitely will book again!

Wild West Village- Hot Tub & HUGE View FAST Wi-Fi
Mara is very friendly and considerate. She provided everything my dog and I need during the full month of stay. The house rules are clear and fair, which elevates the whole experience and simplifies communication needs. The view is fantastic in the garden. You can enjoy a very nice sauna in the early morning while overlooking the valley and listening to birds chirping. The whole experience is a good combination of natural connection, self reflection, easy access to school and city, plus safe and friendly living environment provided by Mara. Will definitely want to be here longer.

Surf cottage Pleasure Point walk to surf/ coffee
Annie was a great host and the place was exactly as described and just what we needed for a relaxing beach getaway. We loved the hot tub in the backyard and the beach cottage feel of the place. Thank you for hosting us!

Santa Cruz, Sanctuary w/ hot tub in bamboo garden
A magical sanctuary! We loved every minute of our stay and the only negative part was that we had to leave. The location is epic- walk anywhere, restaurants, beach, UCSC, downtown, coffee shops. The hot tub is totally private and the place has a very homey feel. The lot is beautiful. Would stay here again.
Pet-friendly cottage rentals

Ocean View Cottage
We had an absolutely wonderful time at Steve’s place. Our 80 pound German Shepherd was in heaven. The space was absolutely amazing. It was even better than we thought it was gonna be. It’s absolutely the best Airbnb we have ever stayed at with our dog. It was everything and more than he described.

Beach Cottage near Sunny Cove and Santa Mo's
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.

Event Party Gathering Farm House Mountain Views
We had a wonderful time at the ranch—the location was beautiful, and the unit was spacious. There was hot water and strong WiFi. Dogs on the property were friendly and adorable. However, the cleanliness of the unit could use some improvement. It would benefit from a professional deep cleaning to really match the quality of the overall experience. Despite this, we still enjoyed our stay and would consider returning.

Beachside 3-bedroom Cottage
Thoughtfully curated, well-maintained home in a stellar location for a girls’ weekend for 4. Home is walking distance to Fitzgerald Marine Reserve and Coastal Bluff Trail, Moss Beach Distillery, with a cozy front porch fire pit and kitchen / living room to gather in and extra plush bedding. Loved reading the memories of other guests in the guest book. Responsive host. Would book again!

Adorable Garden Cottage near Stanford
Another lovely stay at Sabine’s unit. I love the kitchen and being able to resume my routines in that space. Likewise, for sleeping. I sleep well there. It is very quiet at night. The air is fresh. The neighborhood is quiet and safe. It is a family neighborhood with children everywhere! Very safe! I sleep with windows open every night. It is very restful and very quiet. There is no trouble and the community is friendly.

Exclusive Estate, Paradise in Nature 25567G
Really beautiful spot in Los Altos Hills. The place was nice and spacious, kitchen was huge, nice and modern with lots of light. Very peaceful at night. Hosts very accommodating.

California Cottage < 4 Mi to Redwood Hiking Trails
What a gem! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the cottage. The surrounding redwoods are beautiful! The home was very cozy with attractive decor. It was both comfortable and clean. The location was great and close to State Parks, Roaring Camp redwood forest steam train and a shopping center. SC is about 20 minutes away, so convenient as well. The host Lynn was courteous and friendly which added to our positive experience. Hope to be back again sometime! Thank you!

Peaceful Sanctuary in the Redwoods
We very much enjoyed staying at Tamara’s place. Surrounded by trees and with a great patio deck to relax outside, it was a great alternative to a hotel. Tamara’s instructions were super clear and she was very responsive when we had a question. I’d definitely recommend this house and would stay again if our family was in the area.
Private cottage rentals

Redwood, Mountain Cottage
Great stay and Pilar and Chris were very helpful with local recommendations. Would stay again

La Selva Beach Ocean View! Santa Cruz area
my husband and i stayed for 2 months for our sunny winter retreat and it was PERFECT! everything is well stocked from kitchen appliances, linens, toilet paper to batteries. so many thoughtful touches throughout the house. the deck is DIVINE and sun streams in the house morning through sunset. the beach is an easy walk away and very few people during the week. i requested cotton bedding and green, fragrance-free cleaning and Lori generously accommodated our needs. thank you, thank you, thank you!

Beautiful Home in Pleasure Point
Daniela is an amazing host—she responds promptly with clear and friendly instructions. Her place is the perfect getaway, with great vibes that fit the location and neighborhood. The house was clean, well-equipped (no TV, which was a great touch!), and had a comfy bed, an outdoor shower, perfect drain, and a lovely patio. I highly recommend Daniela’s beach house!

Surf Shack - Cottage in Santa Cruz
Great little place close to the beach and walkable to some cool restaurants. Peaceful street and cool vibes.

Private Pool-side Cottage in Willow Glen
perfect location. perfect size space. the backyard is beautiful! pool was amazing, so many places to sit and layout. cottage was spacious and cozy, nice and cool when the door and windows are closed. nick left towels for the pool and shower for us. definitely would stay here again.

Enchanting Warm&Cozy Magical Cottage Escape
Heavenly Vines is a beautiful cottage with friendly and attentive hosts. The surroundings are picturesque rolling hills dotted with live oaks. It’s the perfect couples’ getaway retreat but still close enough to town for all your needs. We look forward to returning next time we’re in the area. We stayed in August and the place cooled down quickly each evening with the onshore flow. Very safe and quiet with deer visitors. Thank you for hosting us, Eddie & Kavita. We feel so blessed.

Manzanita Cottage in the Heart of Silicon Valley
I had a great stay. The host was friendly and responsive, making the check-in seamless and ensuring we had everything I needed throughout our stay. The location was perfect—close to everything yet peaceful and quiet. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area!

Oceanfront Cottage
Even though we only stayed for one night, my husband and I had a wonderful stay here! The home is perfect for a couple or small family and its location can’t be beat. The beach is right across the street and there are great restaurants within walking distance (we recommend the Pacifica Thai Food, wonderful food and service!). This stay was perfect for a relaxing weekend and if we could stay longer we would. The stay was just like the photos, check in was easy, and the place was clean. The host also let us park at the airbnb so we could go for a walk while we waited to check in since we arrived a bit early. I have no complaints!
Quick stats about cottage rentals in Santa Cruz
Total rentals
40 properties
Nightly prices starting at
$100 before taxes and fees
Total number of reviews
6K reviews
Family-friendly rentals
20 properties are a good fit for families
Pet-friendly rentals
10 properties allow pets
Rentals with dedicated workspaces
10 properties have a dedicated workspace
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- Carmel Beach
- Stanford University
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Capitola State Beach
- Sumner Beach
- Corcoran Beach
- El Granada Beach
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
- Surfers Beach
- California’S Great America
- Pasatiempo Golf Club
- SAP Center
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Winchester Mystery House
- Pebble Beach Golf Links
- Asilomar State Beach
- Garrapata Beach
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- Santa Cruz Wharf
- Weston Beach
- Moss Landing State Beach
- Santa Clara Golf & Tennis Club
- Gray Whale Cove State Beach
- Things to do Santa Cruz
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