Colorful flowers spring up from pots and hang from railway planters at Bella Notte - The Inn at East Cliff, brightening its two-story, pale yellow, motel-style facade fronted by a parking lot. To one side, a wooden fence sets off a well-tended outdoor patio with a rustic vibe where there are iron tables and chairs under an umbrella. Inside, the lobby serves as both a check-in space and a breakfast room and has a wooden dining table, a fireplace, a large wall-mounted flat-screen TV, and a rack of brochures. The look is homey, and the property is popular with leisure travelers. 

Bella Notte is on the eastern end of Santa Cruz, near a few restaurants and two blocks from the beach. It’s a four-minute drive or 14-minute walk to the yacht harbor, which has its own small village and beach. It’s a 12-minute drive to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park, and the University of California, Santa Cruz is within a 20-minute drive. Mineta San José International Airport is a little over an hour away by car.

Rooms at the Bella Notte are spacious and have light walls and area rugs covering tile floors. Homey, old-fashioned furnishings include floral pillows or bedding and cute, white nightstands with small table lamps. But some may find the decor too fussy and feminine. Most rooms have wet bars, and rooms with fireplaces and whirlpool tubs are available. All rooms have flat-screen TVs with DVD players, iHome alarm clocks, coffeemakers, and mini-fridges stocked with free bottled water. Bathrooms have white and tan tiles and have big walk-in showers or shower/tub combos. All have heated, tile floors and generous toiletries, including makeup remover towelettes. Bathrobes are also provided. 

There aren’t a lot of amenities at the hotel, but there is a free breakfast including items like fresh melon and strawberries, toasted muffins, and homemade almond cake that guests rave about. The hotel has free parking and a charming, outdoor patio. Romance packages are available including roses, chocolates, and late checkouts. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, and there's free parking in the on-site lot.