Finde Hotels in Santa Cruz

I’m not a travel vlogger nor am I a food and wine critic, I’m just a girl who likes to eat and drink well in a comfortable environment. Sorry, but this won’t be a short, TikTok review. I stayed at The Fred for five nights (including Cinco de Mayo) in TWO different rooms (I’ll explain later) and I paid $2,137.63 including a $31 daily resort fee (for use of pools and pool toys, WiFi, beach chairs, “free” coffee, etc.) and hotel taxes. My experience didn’t justify this price point. PROS: 1. The hotel was beautifully designed by the former owners. The rooms’ décor, the updated bathrooms, the beachfront deck and meal area, the infinity spa, the bar area were meticulously planned – I loved it; 2. Beachfront – I loved enjoying my morning coffee or pineapple mimosa on a chaise looking at the beautiful water; 3. No kids – adults only; 4. Walkability to Frederiksted promenade, town square and Rainbow Beach; 5. 10 minute drive to airport; 6. 20 minute drive to Christiansted; 7. (Mostly) smoke-free and secure premises; 8. Tim – the hospitality elder statesman and YouTube star is a great ambassador for the hotel and Frederiksted. CONS – this isn’t easy to say, but: 1. Cleanliness – a) Pools and Spa – I didn’t use them because they weren’t properly maintained daily. There are sweaty, sandy people in the main pool daily and yet the noodles and floating chaise lounges were left in the pool for days without rinsing off and/or disinfecting. There is algae growing in the crevices of the pool which means the chemical levels are off. When the pool is “closed” at 10pm, why not use this time to have a pool vacuum clean it over night? On my last day, someone finally skimmed the leaves and took the noodles out of the pool; b) Room/bathroom – I stayed in both the Milly and Aunt B’s rooms. In both rooms, the linens were old and inferior – Fred needs new towels and sheets ASAP. During my stay in Aunt B’s room, I asked for my sheets to be changed and they weren’t. In Aunt B’s bathroom, the white ceiling fan is noticeably dirty, so I didn’t use it. When paying a $370-385 room rate, the room’s linens and cleanliness should be on point; c) Beach – since the hotel permits smoking on the beach, the beach should be raked and cleaned daily of trash and cigarette and **** butts so guests don’t have to walk though and over them to reach the beautiful water for a swim; d) The ice machines – I didn’t use them because they looked poorly maintained and the jug of hand sanitizer on the table next to the ice machines was dirty; e) The upstairs sun deck and bar – it’s left desolate and unkempt – lounge chairs and cushions everywhere - unless there’s an event (like Cinco de Mayo) but it should be a welcoming, alternative space to relax at all times – how about leaving a self-serve, fruit-infused water station or an honor bar? Same comment for the shared veranda outside of Milly which I think is a really great space; f) Chair cushions – One morning (while enjoy