To have and to hold...
Travel
Flight
San Jose International Airport
SJC San Jose, CA will be the closest airport to our wedding destination. By car, it will take about 30 minutes to get from San Jose to Santa Cruz/Aptos, CA. There are a few other airport options, but this location is definitely the closest!
Flight
San Fransisco International Airport
SFO San Fransisco will be the biggest hub for major cities and, most likely, the least expensive airport to fly through. From San Fransisco, it will take about an hour to get to Santa Cruz/Aptos by car.
Flight
Oakland International Airport
OAK Oakland is a good third option to compare flights because OAK occasionally has cheaper options than flying through SFO or SJC. Oakland is the farthest airport from the wedding destination, taking about 1.5 hours to get to Santa Cruz/Aptos by car. I recommend comparing SFO and OAK pricing if you are already planning to rent a car.
Rental Car
Why renting a car could be helpful:
It's a good idea to rent a car rather than relying on public transit. Santa Cruz does not have reliable public transit, and it's also nice to have the opportunity to explore the areas around Santa Cruz when you're visiting. There are so many wonderful places to see within an hour's drive from Santa Cruz (ex. San Fransisco, Monterey, San Jose, Carmel, Big Sur, and much more). Compare different car rental options by clicking on the link!
Hotel
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Aptos, CA 95003
There are many options different room setups (king bed, bunk beds, you name it!) Plus it's very close to the venue!
Travel Note
Other Hotels in the Area
Here’s a link to look at some additional hotels in the area. Aptos (where the wedding venue is located) is just a suburb of Santa Cruz, so you can stay anywhere in Santa Cruz and still be 10-15 minutes from the wedding venue.
Travel Note
Airbnb
You can take a look at Airbnb if you're interested in staying in a home. This could be a great option for those wanting to stay for a longer duration or stay as a group. Areas to look at: Santa Cruz (any of the neighborhoods within Santa Cruz such as Capitola, West Cliff, Seabright, Soquel, Aptos, Pasatiempo, Watsonville, even into Scotts Valley)
Travel Note
Vrbo
Another place to look for house rentals in the area is Vrbo! You could check them out to compare pricing in the Santa Cruz area. Areas to look at staying: Santa Cruz (any of the neighborhoods within Santa Cruz such as Capitola, West Cliff, Seabright, Soquel, Aptos, Pasatiempo, Watsonville, even into Scotts Valley)