The Quality Inn is housed in a two-floor motel-style building with exterior corridors, and a small outdoor patio with tables and chairs in front. When couples and families with kids aren't out and about, they gather in the breakfast room and around the small outdoor pool, open in the warmer months. Summer brings a heavy crowd of tourists and surfers. The hotel is a generous distance from the beach and boardwalk, so room rates here are relatively affordable. 

The hotel is located on Ocean Street, across the from the Ocean & Hubbard bus stop and a one-minute walk from the Ocean & Blaine stop. It's situated just south of U.S. Highway 1, so the traffic gets quite heavy around rush hour. There are a few restaurants and shops in the immediate vicinity, with a greater concentration along the San Lorenzo River a little more than a 10-minute walk away. 

It's roughly a five-minute drive or 20 minutes by bus to reach Monterey Bay, the Santa Cruz Wharf, and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk amusement park. Plan on the same amount of time by car to reach the University of California Santa Cruz (also within 20 minutes by bus), Santa Cruz Big Trees and Pacific Railway, and The Mystery Spot. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park is a little more than five minutes by car, and Natural Bridges State Beach is about a 10-minute drive or a 30-minute bus ride. Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is a 35-minute drive from the Quality Inn. 

The spacious and comfortable guest rooms at the Quality Inn were renovated in 2015, and they remain in good condition. Aesthetically, they're a step up from many other budget hotels, with art on the walls, granite countertops, and quality upholstered wooden furniture. A range of brown hues dominate the color palette, walls behind beds are accented with butter yellow, and dining chairs are covered in a cheery light-green fabric. All come well-equipped with small tables that can double as desks, flat-screen TVs with HBO, microwaves, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and free Wi-Fi. Some units open to patios and add seating areas with sofa beds. Bathrooms are spacious and bright, and come with shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and toiletries. Guest rooms overlook the parking lot and neighboring buildings. 

The Quality Inn serves a free breakfast buffet, with guests praising the quality and variety of the spread of make-your-own waffles, eggs, sausage, and wide range of cold items. There is no restaurant for lunch or dinner, but there are many within a short walk of the hotel. A small freeform outdoor pool is heated and open seasonally, and it has a deck with sun loungers and tables and chairs. There's also no fitness center, public computer, or laundry room, but other amenities include free weekday newspapers, a 24-hour front desk, free parking that can accommodate large vehicles, and free Wi-Fi throughout. The hotel doesn't have an elevator, so travelers with limited mobility might want to consider requesting a ground-floor room.