Such a cute, cozy little spot. My husband and I came here for his birthday. Would definitely come back again. It has tree house vibes/cottage in the woods. However, check in was incredibly strange... we had to call a number at the door, then we called another number. Finally about what seemed like 10-15min, a lady came out and showed us to our room. Once at the door, she had the wrong keys. She went back and gave us the correct ones. But after that, everything was great! lol read more

Everything such a great getaway treehouse vibe if you haven't been there you need to go there staff was amazing read more

See all

We stayed on the weekend of June 9, 2023. It is very romantic, nestled next to a brook. Most rooms look like a cabin, so you hardly see neighbors--lots of stairs. Please make your reservations well ahead, as it is a popular spot. Close to restaurants and parks. The rooms are clean and the staff is willing to help. We appreciated their help when, my wife had a minor accident elsewhere, as the staff packed our stuff and helped us move to a room on the first floor so that she could be more comfortable. They went beyond the call of duty for us and we are very grateful. I am attaching a few photos, which don't do justice to the beauty of the place. It is a hidden jewel in Santa Cruz. read more

Babbling Brook Inn - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This is a beautiful little oasis. It's very tranquil with the sound of flowing water. The Contessa is a spacious and comfortable room. However, not a place I can recommend. When we checked in- at about 4pm, it was difficult to find an attendant. The office is up a flight of stairs and locked. We did eventually find someone and she showed us our key hanging from an outside bulletin board. When we found our room the door was open with a carpet cleaner running. There was a pile of used pizza and Chinese food boxes behind the front door. So we placed those on the outside bench. Later that night, we wanted to use the fire place. We called the phone number on our directions left with the key and spoke to Coreen who advised us to increase the thermostat. We attempted to but the heater didn't work, so no fireplace. Next am we called Coreen again, who said she would be right there. We waited 20 minutes, but no one came. The woman who checked us in speaks little English, but Coreen is fluent, so I don't believe Corinne is on-site. I truly was looking forward to this visit, so I am so sad that this location didn't work out. read more

See all

Let me preface by saying that I have not stayed here. I made reservations online 2-months in advance but realized within an hour that I had booked the wrong weekend. I responded to the email confirmation cancelling my booking, but never received a reply confirming the cancellation. I've called every day for nearly two weeks to speak to someone to ensure the cancellation was received to avoid a charge. No one has ever answered. Voicemails and messages left on their website are also ignored. Had the staff any courtesy in responding to inquiries promptly I probably would've made the mistake of booking new dates. But it appears the horrific reviews are accurate; the customer service at this place is non-existent. I've already notified my bank that I will be disputing the charge should this place not honor my cancellation. read more

We stayed here one night. Beautiful property.....40 years ago. The landscape and especially the room are in need of a major update. location is nice and close to downtown - 5 min drive. 15 min walk. Don't think we will be back. read more

This was the most lovely little spot to book a get-away. We live in the area and booked this for our wedding night. They left beautiful flowers and made us feel very special! It has an incredibly cozy feel to the room. There was a wonderful balcony that we had breakfast and tea at. The grounds is just beautiful with water and nature surrounding you. The front desk was so kind and really helpful! I strongly recommend this place for a local get away or for people visiting. It is right off of downtown so there are plenty of places in walking distance to shop, eat, and drink. There is a small parking lot out front but we recommend to make sure your car is locked and no valuables are showing because downtown area can be high traffic for folks who are experiencing homelessness. We will absolutely be back here and hope you find it just as enchanting as we did! read more

We really liked the outdoor ambiance, our little balcony, and the jacuzzi tub but it didn't come without a few irritants. There is nobody working the front desk or answering the phones. You're pretty much on your own here and I was hoping to get some local recommendations when we arrived. They should consider putting in a guest book like Airbnbs if they're going to run it as such. The second day of our stay we tried to reach hotel staff because we didn't have any more coffee and bought a bottle of wine and needed a corkscrew. I called 3x before anyone answered and then she hung up on me after saying she was going to check to see if they had a corkscrew. We ended up going out and buying one ourselves. I also noticed some attention to detail that is lacking. There were stains on our blanket, a dead succulent plant in the balcony, a massive crack in the bathroom floor, and the fireplace didn't work. Plus our room look like it had old outdated carpet. Overall, the location is nice and the bed was pretty comfortable. We're not picky people but this was a celebratory stay for us (and not that cheap of a place) I would've liked better customer service. read more

Room was not close to what was advertised online. Didn't even resemble the photos. I paid close to $300 for the night in the 'artists retreat' the actual room was probably worth half that. The property was rundown. Woke up at 6am with the sound of animals scratching in the attic. On a positive note, the room was clean, and the staff was helpful. read more

Booked this room because the room looked so charming and beautiful. Unfortunately, the pictures advertised of this specific room (Tennyson) are false advertising, and in reality the room is about as charming as a Motel 6. Not one single picture on the wall or decorative item. Just white walls and a very old shabby carpet. When we checked in we had to find a guy roaming the grounds, as the sloppy and dirty office was unattended. He certainly didn't act like he was the property manager, but the next morning he said he was when we complained, i said "well, since you asked how my stay was..." and he interrupted me to clarify that he only asked because he's "supposed to". The pictures here are the reality versus what we saw when we arrived. The website photo is a $330 room, but unfortunately we paid that for a room that was worth about $80. read more

Babbling Brook Inn - The actual room - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

This place was cute and cozy and I loved sleeping with the babbling brook sound. I'd go back!

The Babbling Brook Inn is a quaint little getaway that feels very tucked away from everything else even though it isn't. We stayed in the Van Gogh because the desk had advised us that it had the best bathtub- which I quite enjoyed! Not just the tub itself but the open window next to it in the skylight above it made for a very relaxing moment of pampering which is something that I desperately needed. The service was great and the room and property very well maintained considering how the history of it! We were a little bit surprised that there was no air conditioning but again based on the history of the property I guess we should've anticipated this, thankfully there was a fan in the closet and we opened all the windows and the room cooled off pretty quickly. We kept all of the windows open the entire time that we were there because we are accustomed to cooler temperatures. We did not take advantage of the breakfast or the evening reception but they were communicated very clearly to us which we appreciated. Would definitely stay here again. read more

See all

This place has loads of charm and character and with a little TLC could really be something. Our room was spacious and the beds were comfortable. It seems as though like many businesses they have been impacted by post-covid staffing issues. The manager was off site during our visit and the staff covering didnt seem to know much about what they were doing. That said, when we contacted the manager following our stay she more than compensated for our differences and really wanted to make good. Location is an easy walk into town and there is free parking on site. read more

Further update to yesterday's review. The place is run on a zero contact basis. Lock box contains room key. A phone number is provided for needs or questions. To add further evidence of how low The Babbling Brook has gone, calls made to the contact provided have had no response. When you leave a message at that number, the outgoing message says, "Monile home park." Nobody is on site at the property. As a person involved with businesses for decades, I see a failing business looking to file bankruptcy. It's looking pretty bad for the BBInn. Unless it is redone and better managed, avoid this place. read more

I would like to start off by saying I have not stayed here, I booked a room a month prior. I was super excited based on the pictures. It looked super cute and super romantic for my anniversary. But when the day came, my boyfriend, got an email asking if we enjoyed his day showing a wrong date. in a panic, I called the place, where I was sent straight to voicemail, stating that they're unavailable because they are working with a customer. I stayed on the line to leave a message, but their mailbox was full! I contacted the company that booked the room for me and even they weren't able to get a hold of them read more

Here at Santa Cruz celebrating our 16 anniversary found this gem of a place live it very clean sweet! read more

Babbling Brook Inn - Cute place to have a wedding as well - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

My wife and I stayed at the Babbling Brook Inn several years ago and enjoyed the visit. The breakfast was excellent. We wanted to return so I checked the reviews and was uncomfortable with what I read. I called the posted number to ask about any post Covid changes and to give the owners/staff an opportunity to clarify the negative reviews and with the intent to book a room. I called in the morning and a someone returned my call the following evening. The person returning the call seemed tired, disconnected and unclear as to my original message. Sad to say we will not be returning to this establishment as something has changed to the negative. read more

Completely misrepresented accomodation. Room was a total disaster and was unable to be moved to another. Completely disappointed on what we were trying to make a special weekend. Not at all pleasant to come back to after days activities and then dinner. No breakfast, 2 coffee pods and paper cups with no stir stick in what was represented online as a B&B. When I inquired was told by text that they weren't charging resort fees and to support local restaurant. Seems like management is using Covid to be unavailable and not deal with misrepresenting property online. read more

See all

Do not come here. False advertising as room looks nothing like pictures. The rooms look like a rundown motel. You're better off at a motel 6. Pro is staff was friendly and very open to refunding our money. read more

This place needs to be investigated. Not only do they not respond by phone which is a mobile home park when the recording answers, if they do respond it's by text and they are rude. They will rip you off if they can get away with it. I reported them to the BBB. I am reporting them to every agency I can find. I have read other violations that were reported in other reviews on many sites. All reviewers need to contact the proper agencies to have this place and these people investigated. read more

Shabby. Not as shown. No staff or service onsite. The advertisement said wine and cookies, breakfast- don't believe it. Promised a partial refund and never delivered. So disappointed. read more

Will not stay there again!! Was a complete rip off!! Bed was uncomfortable. Not enough plug ins for your phone.

Jodie greeting us as we checked in and gave us a the fun tips about a fun night in Santa Cruz. The cute inn was a magical little setting from a story book. We stayed in the Monet room and I love the bathroom and bathtub!! This place is a true treat! read more

See all

Pay mind to all of the terrible reviews in the last TWO years before reserving. If you are directed to reserve on Agoda.com, that is an oversea's company whith no live customer service representative and likely no cancellations available. You only get an automated chat line.. be smart please. :) read more

6/22 Rented the Tennyson Suite, based on photos on their website. Too bad I didn't read the Yelp reviews first. The photos on their website are a ruse, misrepresentation, and false advertising. Most of the furniture was gone but the bed, different nightstands & lamps, couch, and a bare coffee table. All the art and mirrors were stripped from the walls, the walls painted white, and the carpet was stained. We refused to stay and had Expedia cancel our $335 room charge. The staff was nice but very unprofessional and the lobby a rediculous mess which is probably why they want you to retrieve your key from a box. Extremely frustrating and disappointing, to say the least. read more

See all

We chose this hotel based on the pictures. It looked so cute and quaint. The pictures are not recent and it was just an all around disappointment. Our room looked nothing like the pictures and it was so cold! The room never really heated up I had to go buy a pair of sweat pants just to have something warmer to sleep in. Our room was right next to a busy street and every car that drove by went over a bump so you just heard thump thump all day and night. Then in the morning when my husband tried to walk around the outside area to check out some scenery, the cleaning lady came over and rudely asked him what he was doing. I will never go back there. read more

I first saw the Babbling Brook Inn years ago when I was a college student in Santa Cruz. I would drive by it and loved the enchanting red-wood setting and envisioned that one day I would stay there. Fast forward many years later, living in Southern CA with a daughter of my own now in college. We decided to stay a few nights at the Babbling Brook Inn on our recent trip to Santa Cruz and what a charming experience. We loved our rustic quaint room with a view of the lush gardens. Careen and her son made wonderful breakfasts each morning... a spread of eggs benedict, fresh baked pastries warm from the oven, on another morning their were fruit parfaits and more fresh baked yummies. I am on a sugar-free diet, so Careen made sure to have an option of sugar free plain yogurt for my parfait. I also talked to Careen on the phone a few times before arrival, and she is just so kind and friendly. The evening wine and h'orderves was also nice as were the cookies, tea and coffee which was available all day. Our room was wonderful and quaint. Big feather bed, garden views, cute furnishings. On my final day, my daughter and I were having breakfast near a table with a lovely woman and her daughter. She overheard us talking about our plans to go to San Francisco later that day, and gave us some great traveling tips... turns out she is the owner of the Babbling Brooke Inn... also so kind and friendly. Everything about our experience was wonderful and charming... the food, people, garden and room. We do a lot of traveling and this is now my daughter's favorite hotel, and I just made another reservation for my next trip to Santa Cruz. read more

See all

This place is a hidden little gem in Santa Cruz. The staff were all very nice, the complimentary breakfast was incredible and the river sounds were so tranquil. I absolutely loved it! I had an eggs Benedict for breakfast and it was so decadent that I almost asked for another one. The spread they put out with fresh cinnamon rolls, croissants, toast, fruit, etc was amazing. This is my favorite place to stay while in Santa Cruz due to the character, location and overall value. read more

The location is great, about a 15-minute walk to Front and Pacific for cafes, food, and shopping. The actual room, it was just okay. Maybe it was our room? Perhaps other rooms are nicer, it's hard to say. First thing to note, we could hear cars passing by from the road, all night long. Second, we could hear the neighbors kid humming and yelling throughout the evening. So, if you're looking for peace and quiet, this is not it. If you're looking for an alternative to the Hyatt down the street, maybe an AirBnB is a better option. We stayed in the Toulouse room which had a number of disappointments. First, the room was freezing when we arrived in mid-October. The windows in the room were wide open, and the crank to close one of them was broken. We had to remove the window screen to shut it. There's a portable heater which worked like a charm. And a faux electric fireplace that did absolutely nothing except make a lot of noise, and there wasn't even a faux flame :( The bathroom is absolutely tiny, and really is only for 1-person and even that's a tight squeeze. The bed was full-size, which is fine as my husband and I are petite, however I hadn't slept in such a small bed with another person, in a long time. The room does have its own outdoor patio which is charming, however it's also the only real seating area (the photo of the room has it staged differently than it actually is). Last, it's overpriced for what it is yet we did receive a hefty discount. We had expected to pay $560 for 2-nights, upon arrival that jumped to $660 w/taxes and fees which seems very high at about 20%. However, do to Covid and not offering breakfast, they dropped the total to $480? All in all that's great but the room still isn't worth even $240/night with all of that noise and antiquated everything. And I have no clue what that 20% fee was even for, and like most people, who wants to find another place to stay at 5pm at night in a city with limited lodging - you're stuck. We'd return if there are rooms that are quieter, more modern, and larger. read more

First of all, the rooms look NOTHING like they do on the website. Ours, the FMRS, had dirty carpeting, no shampoo, a very moldy smell and hair in the corner of the bathroom. I counted the hours until we could leave. While the room was large enough, the furnishings and window coverings were dated and unappealing. I won't be staying here again. read more

This place is a little gem. You fall back in time. So glad we stayed here. This is a romantic rustic and very comfortable place. We needed rest and that's what we got here. The staff has been amazing! They made us feel at home. They are very hospitable. The breakfast has been amazing and delicious. Such a variety to choose from. The grounds are beautiful even in winter. I would love to come back in the spring! We loved the history and the country ambience this Inn has. Fresh cookies, tea, and coffee are available throughout the day. Breakfast was delicious and fresh. The fruit and cheese trays in the evening are amazing. Can't wait to come back. read more

See all

I can not recommend staying here for several reasons. I had booked the Contessa Room for a trip to celebrate my sister's 60th birthday. Upon arrival, there was no one to greet us or check us into the room and it felt like we were the only people on the premises. Once I retrieved the key and we entered the room, we were immediately taken aback by the musty smell. Not only that, the room was COMPLETELY devoid of any decorations and looked absolutely nothing like it did in the photos. If I had known the room would look completely bare and smell the way it did, I would not have reserved the room. The cost of $280 for the room is in no way is warranted. The bathroom is old and within the 1/2 hour we remained in the room, my sister had to fix a broken chain in the toilet tank twice. Unfortunately, we did not take photos because we were intent on finding another room and leaving as quickly as we could. The only good thing I can report is that our money was refunded with no complaint by the manager. I really wish I could recommend the Inn but unless the other rooms are indeed as they appear on the website, I am unable to do so. read more

Just when you thought, "this can't get worse".... the people in the room above you come back at 1:30am. Not only can you hear every footstep like thunder, but you can even hear them ordering food. Honestly, I could have taken the order for them, that's how little privacy this building allows. I've tried to stay positive about this experience, but compromising sleep is where I draw the line. Maybe we made a mistake booking this place on Labor Day weekend, and that all of the other reviewer's had great experiences because there weren't any other guests... because that's the only way I could agree with it being peaceful here. The front desk attendant was the best part of this experience, but everything slowly fell apart after he showed us to the room. Also, we are staying in "The Cezanne". Don't be fooled by the 100% staged photo on the website. The quaint breakfast nook is actually where they've placed the bed. The table and chairs sit along a scuffed, paint chipped wall omitted from the website photo. read more

Absolutely fell in love with this wonderful inn and had the best experience! My boyfriend and I came here for a night and stayed in the degas room. It was raining quite a bit so the babbling brook became more of a rushing river. It truly added to the magic of the place and made for an unforgettable stay. We arrived in the afternoon and checked in with the amazing Sam. He just finished a batch of delicious cookies which he served at the front desk area. The recipe, he said, came from the founder. They were delicious! Also in that area was a beverage station with coffee, tea, water, and hot chocolate. There was perfection in every detail and everything was perfectly immaculate. We were shown to our room and the entire property is a dream. There's beautiful greenery encompassing a steady brook that flows through the courtyard. A bridge leads you to the other side where our room was located upstairs. Once inside we could tell we were in for a treat. A fire was lit and smooth jazz was playing as we walked in which added to the terrific ambiance. Everything was very clean (as was the first thing I checked as I usually do when entering a hotel room). There was a rubber ducky in the tub, chocolates on our bed and robes hanging in the closet- as to better explain how incredibly amazing our room was. Our balcony overlooked the brook in which we could sit outside on the beautiful patio furniture and enjoy the view and a nice glass of champagne. After settling in we made our way back to the lobby for wine and hors d' oeuvres which were provided by Sam and the staff. Everything was delicious. An assortment of snacks were laid out in the most elegant way. Olives, crackers and cheese, vegetables and fresh baked stuffed mushrooms, to name a few. Breakfast the next day was out of this world. From 8am-10am complimentary breakfast is served and it was nothing like the complimentary breakfasts I've previously eaten. A whole buffet was set up which included croissants, fruits, oatmeal and fresh baked coffee cake. There was much more than that but those were my favorites. Sam then brought out eggs in a basket which won my heart. The breakfast was superb and the dining room was cozy with a fire going. Every aspect was perfect. After sleeping like babies, we checked out and couldn't stop talking about our wonderful stay for days to come. This was one of the best (if not the very best) inn I've ever had the pleasure of staying at. We were completely blown away and will absolutely be back in the future. Sam does a terrific job and really brings a wonderful essence to the Babbling Brook. Highly recommend. Couldn't find one thing wrong with this place even if I tried. What a wonderful place. Wow. read more

Babbling Brook Inn - Bathroom views - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

This is a wonderful bed and breakfast that is close to downtown Santa Cruz, yet feels like a village of its own. We were greeted by the inn keeper, who treated us with freshly baked cookies during check in. The cookies were available all afternoon and evening as well! Our room, the FMRS Garden, was just steps from the lobby, and one of the only rooms with a king bed (VERY plush). Beautiful music was playing, and amenities were complete with a rubber ducky in the two person tub + chocolates on the pillows. A reception is held in the afternoon (5-7pm) with wine, champagne, cheese & crackers. We enjoyed the quaint foyer with a fireplace and couches, and got to mingle with the other guests. We then explored the foliage around the inn. The water is truly "babbling", and there are many places to sit outside, including a swinging wooden bench. We made complimentary coffee in our room in the evening. Breakfast (8-10am) was AMAZING! We were treated to an "egg in a nest" made to order, and had some of the flakiest croissants ever. We checked out at 11:30 and left feeling so relaxed and satisfied. read more

Babbling Brook Inn - Egg in a nest: hash browns, onions, poached egg! - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

Hidden gem in Santa Cruz. Don't have to leave the city life for a relaxing woodsy atmosphere. Quaint rooms with artist inspired themes-- Degas, Monet, etc. the bathroom has her tubs and gas fireplace for heat. The staff was very friendly and Hospitable--service with a smile and warm personalities. They served an awesome complimentary breakfast of orange French toast, bacon, and fresh baked croissant. Their breakfast menu changes daily. Can't wait to return and stay there again. read more

See all

This in in Santa Cruz is set in a beautiful location. They do have a brook that runs through the property and everything is exceptionally green. The problem was there were a lot of steps and not quite prepared for them. Also we had a shower tub combination and the tub was about 2 1/2 feet tall that you had to step over and into to take a shower. This was a bit challenging. There was no air conditioning but this is an old place so I guess that's to be expected. Under new ownership and the new owner is going to make some changes and she was extremely nice. I love all The fresh flowers in the dining room, a nice touch. There's also coffee in the room and TV. Close to downtown Santa Cruz and all the surrounding areas. read more

Visiting Santa Cruz again. We thought we could get the same room we had last time. Turned out they gave us The Tennyson room- 114. We paid a good amount of money for this room but were not happy with it. The floor was so uneven. It seems like a lot of tripping hazards waiting for us to fall and knock the teeth out:). Breakfast was ok, loved the apple pie. Coffee was the worst. I don't understand how a fancy, pricy place like this is not doing any research for a good good coffee. No decaf coffee. The staff for the breakfast was very nice, however the staff checking people in was very rude and cocky. Not personable. read more

Babbling Brook Inn - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

See all

Found this place randomly on the internet during a quick search and booked the romance package immediatly. Which was actually $40 less than advertised. Location is easy to find. Believe it or not but it is actually better in person than in the pics, this never happens. Front desk clerk let us check in early since our room was ready. The room was tiny but then again we were on the second floor of a whimsical tower, I would let this slide. Balcony was nice, but no smoking?? I love to brewery hop while out of town and the two go hand in hand. It was pretty sucky to have to go out to the parking lot to do so. Ugh. Mints on the bed were nice. Champagne upon arrival was even better. More than enough pillows and extra comfortable bed. 100+ channels on the tube....shoot! Wine reception was a joke though. In PG the differnt inns serve at least semi decent finger foods and wine but $2 chuck would have been better and green onion dip, carrots, bagged cubes of cheese and ritz crackers? They could of at least served potato chips and put on the baseball game. Breakfast gets rave reviews but after a quick glance at a cold quiche, and fruit we just checked out and headed out to get real breakfast. Will visit again because the garden was amazing and the bed was the most comfortable I have slept in besides my own. All in all I would call this place sexy! read more

Babbling Brook Inn - Hotels Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Really great location in Santa Cruz. Felt Safe. While the rooms were small and a little dated the staff were really attentive when we contacted them. I had to do remote work while on a little trip with my wife and the staff gave me full access to the their office so I could work. They even upgraded our room because we had initial problems with wifi access. Super relaxed and nice vibe. read more