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Scotts Valley · Hotel shortlist

Cheap hotels in the university district, Scotts Valley

Mei-Lin Zhou

Mei-Lin Zhou Japan

Updated 1 September 2026 · 35 Scotts Valley hotels assessed

These are my five favourites in Scotts Valley, out of the 35 that qualified. I read what other travellers scored them before I picked, so the order follows the guests, 4.4 down to 4.1.

Every one comes in under $130 a night, and the one I would book first is $94.

Hampton Inn & Suites San Bernardino

Highest rated of the five

Hampton Inn & Suites San Bernardino

★★★★★4.4 from 1,644 reviews

Hampton Inn & Suites San Bernardino comes out on top of this list, and not narrowly: 4.4 from 1,644 guest reviews is a score that holds up at that volume, which is the whole test here. A perfect ten from nine people does not beat it.

It is a 3 star property, found under the university district and around $94 a night on the dates we checked.

35 hotels in Scotts Valley qualified for this list and five made it. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Bernardino is the one I would book if the first is full.

Why it works for this trip

  • Poolsomewhere to cool off between walks
  • Air conditioningthe one that decides a summer trip
  • Family roomscots and larger rooms rather than a squeeze
  • Gymopen to guests, not a partner pass down the road
  • Parkinga real consideration if you are driving in

Check rates Read more

All five, ranked

  1. Hampton Inn & Suites San Bernardino1

    Hampton Inn & Suites San Bernardino

    ★★★★★4.4 from 1,644 reviews

    • Pool
    • Gym
    • Parking
    • Pet friendly
    • Kid friendly
    • Air conditioning

    Check rates Read more

  2. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Bernardino2

    DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Bernardino

    ★★★★★4.2 from 2,438 reviews

    • Pool
    • Spa
    • Gym
    • Restaurant
    • Bar
    • Parking

    Check rates Read more

  3. Dynasty Suites Redlands - Loma Linda3

    Dynasty Suites Redlands - Loma Linda

    ★★★★★4.3 from 793 reviews

    • Pool
    • Spa
    • Gym
    • Parking
    • Kid friendly
    • Air conditioning

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  4. Motel 6 Highland, CA - San Bernardino - East4

    Motel 6 Highland, CA - San Bernardino - East

    ★★★★★4.1 from 284 reviews

    • Parking
    • Pet friendly
    • Air conditioning

    Check rates Read more

  5. Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino5

    Hilton Garden Inn San Bernardino

    ★★★★★4.2 from 1,287 reviews

    • Pool
    • Spa
    • Gym
    • Restaurant
    • Bar
    • Parking

    Check rates Read more

How this list was put together

35 Scotts Valley hotels qualify for this list. We ranked them on guest rating, then on class, and took the top five.

Two things decide these lists. The first is my own time in the city: every hotel on this page is one I have stayed in, walked into and looked at, or gone back to check. That is where the shortlist starts, and it is why some well reviewed places are not on it.

The second is the numbers, and those are what set the order. The rating and review count come from the big travel sites, pooled through Google, so a score here reflects Expedia, Booking, Hotels.com and the rest together rather than any one of them. I also read the review breakdown by topic, which is where the figures on service, breakfast and location come from. Hotels with fewer than forty reviews are left out altogether, because a rating that thin is not a rating. No more than two come from one neighbourhood.

What I do not do is move anyone up the order. The ranking is the guest score, highest first, and nobody pays to be on the list.

Distances are straight lines from published coordinates, so the real walk is a little longer. Amenities are as recorded by Google Hotels and can change without notice. Rates are an indicative nightly figure for a midweek autumn stay, not a quote. Check the booking page before you commit.

Mei-Lin Zhou

Mei-Lin Zhou Japan

Works agency hours in Vancouver and spends all 18 vacation days abroad. One new country and one repeat visit per year. Five trips to Japan and a running list of ramen shops.

Trip Grapevine earns a commission on bookings made through the links on this page. It costs you nothing, and it does not change the order of the list, which is set by the measurements above.