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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property

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BBQ/picnic Area
Lobby sitting area
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | Desk, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Fitness facility
Lobby

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available

Explore the area

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9355 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA, 93452
  • Place, Moonstone Beach
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Moonstone Beach Park
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Place, Hearst Castle
    ‪25 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed | Desk, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(93 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | Desk, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(82 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Similar properties

Exterior
Cavalier Oceanfront Resort
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
4.4 out of 5, Excellent, 1,761 reviews
The price is €121
includes taxes & fees
16 Nov - 17 Nov
Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

About this property

Sands by The Sea

Beach motel with 2 outdoor pools and full-service spa
This smoke-free motel features 2 outdoor pools, a full-service spa and a restaurant. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a fitness centre, coffee/tea in a common area and a business centre are on-site. Housekeeping is available on request.
Sands by The Sea offers 33 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and a hairdryer. LCD televisions come with premium satellite channels. Fridges and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include a combined bath/shower unit and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using complimentary wireless Internet access. Business-friendly amenities include desks along with free local calls (restrictions may apply). Additionally, rooms include a ceiling fan and blackout curtains. Housekeeping is offered on request and an iron/ironing board can be requested.

2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a fitness centre.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on-site or nearby; fees may apply.

Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the motel's full-service spa. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, sports massages and Swedish massages. The spa is open daily.
Sands by The Sea's great location gets high marks from our customers. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Cambria State Marine Park. Features include free WiFi in public areas and free self-parking, plus 2 outdoor pools.
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self-parking
  • Enjoy a beachfront location while dining at Cavalier Coastal Kitchen
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast served daily for a fee
  • Take a swim in the 2 outdoor pools
  • Indulge with hot stone massages at the spa
  • Amenities include free newspapers in reception, a front desk safe and a business centre
  • On-site recreation includes a gym
  • Guests have great things to say about the location and the clean guestrooms
  • Just a 3-minute walk from Cambria State Marine Park and 7 minutes on foot from San Simeon State Park
  • Pets welcome free of charge
Sands by The Sea offers its guests 2 outdoor swimming pools and a fitness centre. There's a restaurant on site. There's an onsite business centre.

Public spaces have free WiFi. The business-friendly Sands by The Sea also features a vending machine, coffee/tea in common area, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Free self parking is available.

This San Simeon motel is smoke free.

For a fee, guests can enjoy a cooked-to-order breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Cavalier Coastal Kitchen – This restaurant is located on the beach. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily cooked-to-order breakfast available 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM for a fee: USD 5 to 30 for adults and USD 5 to 30 for children
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Restaurants on site

  • Cavalier Coastal Kitchen

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Full-service spa
  • Gym

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • Free newspapers in lobby
  • Safe at front desk
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Business services

  • Business centre

Outdoors

  • Direct access to the beach

Full-service spa

  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Hot stone massages
  • Prenatal massages
  • Spa open daily
  • Sports massages
  • Swedish massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Braille/raised signage
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk

More

  • 2 floors
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • LCD TV with premium cable/satellite channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Connecting rooms available
  • Desk
  • Free local calls
  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4 PM; check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out
Late check-out fee: USD 150

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open Friday - Sunday (1:00 PM - 9:00 PM)
The check-in location differs from the property location; go to: [9415 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, California 93452]
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

  • Pets are welcome and stay free
  • Maximum 1 pets

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.

Payment types at the property

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately USD 5 to 30 for adults and USD 5 to 30 for children
  • Late check-out fee: USD 150

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

You need to know

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
This property's front desk is open during the following times:
  • Friday - Sunday: 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The check-in location differs from the property location. To check in, guests will need to go to 9415 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, California 93452
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

We should mention

  • Reservations are needed for massage services and spa treatments. For reservations, contact the motel before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Connecting/adjoining rooms are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property at the number on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Sands Sea Condo San Simeon
Sands Sea San Simeon
Sands By The Sea Hotel San Simeon
Sands Hotel San Simeon
Sands Motel San Simeon
Sands Sea Motel San Simeon
Sands Sea Motel
Sands Sea
Sands by The Sea Motel
Sands by The Sea San Simeon
Sands by The Sea Motel San Simeon

Reviews

Sands by The Sea Reviews

8.2

Very good

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness
Rating 10 - Excellent. 457 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 287 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 149 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 56 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 51 out of 1000 reviews

Reviews

8/10 Good

Robert

The room was nice. The view was great.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Candace

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I liked the bonfire
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Darren

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
We've stayed at Sands by the Sea a few times now, and it continues to be our go-to spot when visiting San Simeon. It's not fancy by any means, but for the price and what we need during our trips, it fits the bill perfectly. Our family doesn’t spend a lot of time in the hotel room—we’re usually out exploring—so we really appreciate how affordable this place is. The rooms are definitely dated and could use some serious cosmetic updates—think worn furniture, old fixtures, and a general "tired" look. If you're someone who values modern decor and upscale touches, this might not be the place for you. That said, if you can look past the wear and tear, you’ll find that it’s a simple, no-fuss place to stay that covers the basics well. One of the big perks is its connection to the Cavalier Hotel next door. Since they’re sister properties, guests at Sands by the Sea can take advantage of Cavalier’s amenities, which is a huge plus. On this trip, we tried out the fire pits at the Cavalier and made s’mores—it was a great experience and added a fun, cozy element to our stay. We also love how close the hotel is to the beach. Easy beach access is a must for us, and Sands by the Sea delivers on that front. Overall, if you're looking for a budget-friendly, conveniently located place to crash while exploring the Central Coast—and you're okay with a hotel that’s a little rough around the edges—Sands by the Sea is a solid option.
Sunset in San Simeon, CA.
Elephant Seals
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Gypsy

Travelled with family
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
It was a good location and had a restaurant which made it convenient. After a long drive to the hotel I fell asleep quickly and woke up to find I was cuddling with a blanket that had poo smears on it. They took the charge for the first night off the bill and cleaned the room again, but come on....
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Joaquin

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

William

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Rude staff, poor cleaning. Hotel is older and looks like it. Needs maintenance. Will not stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

4/10 Poor

David

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Charles

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Brilliant hotel for an amazing price. The room is a little old but everything else was perfect. The beach is beautiful and the restaurant is lovely. I will stay again.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jorge

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The location is amazing!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Nicole

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Christine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Close to the beach
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amelia Sanchez

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Joseph

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The ocean is 100 feet from the beach It was very relaxing
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Amanda

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Horrible old rooms

Floor was so dirty, carpets were stained and sticky. No one would come to clean or bring towels. Ran out of toilet paper. Fan in room dirty old and didn't work. The carpet was so dirty that we didn't let our kids walk barefoot on it. The walls hand grim all over them from dirty hands. The parking is very tight. We felt that since our race and we had kids that they didn't care for us. They treated us like poor trash compared to the others. We even called and asked if they could clean our room and no one showed. The restaurant next door is over priced and bland. The musty smell was so bad we had to sleep with the window wide open. Shower was so short I'm 5'2 and had to duck down. Toilet is very low to ground like a school size toilet for kids . The guests were all nice. I liked how the dogs were so welcomed and the beach access was nice. Hotel needs to be remodeled and they need staff to be taught to treat all with respect. They have a private indoor pool closed to guests and the outdoor pools are very cold not heated as stated.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Barbara

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very friendly and helpful staff person.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

eleazar

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Very noce, good location. Old rooms
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

2/10 Terrible

Luis

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I'd planned a special visit to San Simeon with my elderly parents, possibly their last trip together. My father is ill and wheelchair-bound, every detail mattered. I reserved 3 rooms at Sands by the Sea, hoping to create a memorable moment for my family. Upon arrival, I found the rooms in extremely poor condition, by far the most unpleasant accommodations I've encountered. I travel frequently around the world and I've never experienced anything quite like it. I was shocked and saddened, especially given the emotional significance of this trip. Roxie at reception was kind, understanding, and professional. She acknowledged the condition of the rooms and agreed that the property wasn't being properly maintained. She offered to upgrade us to The Cavalier, which I appreciated very much. Her customer service was outstanding, and I'm truly grateful for her support during a stressful moment. During the transfer between rooms, I left a ($160 new special gift) jacket. I quickly reported it to the front desk. The manager promised to follow up with housekeeping and get back to me. I received no updates. I followed up the next day and again before we left, only to be told the jacket wasn't found. I'm absolutely certain I left it in the room. The way this situation was handled was frustrating and deeply disappointing. The manager wasn't only unhelpful but rude and dismissive, her lack of empathy and accountability is unacceptable especially in a hospitality setting.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie, Le Grand

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved this hotel/motel so much that we are already planning our next trip. Easy check in next door at the sister hotel. Plenty of parking. The room was nice and beds were comfortable. Friendly staff. The pools were so nice! Gym was small, but perfect! Woke up and Enjoyed a short walk to the beach. The sound of the ocean waves were amazing at night! The fire pits were great. Plus the volleyball court and games were super cool. Definitely staying here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

FRANCISCO

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had 235 room in the 2nd floor with my 7yo daughter, when we got in the room my daughter explore the rooms and check the window and to my horror my daughter could almost fall from the window from the second floor because the screen of the window fall off on the ground. I was concerned about the safety of the future guest most especially with kids, its totally not safe since height of the window is below the knee and the screen is not that stable and not properly installed to hold a person, It can cause accidents and possibly death if the property did not take action on this. I went to the front desk personally to address my concern, after a few hours the maintenance guy came and tried to fix it but unfortunately the screen was still not install properly, although I appreciate that someone called and offer the a room changed and a complimentary breakfast and promised us that they will look at it asap. Were still lucky that I prevented the horrific fall of my daughter
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Robbie, Clifton

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A lot better than my expectations. I would definitely stay here again. On the beach and good for family.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful weather

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Sarah

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved that it was right on the coast. Beautiful sunsets right behind the hotel. Firepits and outdoor games made the back of the hotel a great hang out. Best part of the place!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

lawrence

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful stay no complaints
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Excellent location and wonderful view and use of firepits and ocean views. Staff is always friendly, funny, personable and professional especially Roxy. The hotel is dated and find it very interesting that the shower head is about face height for me and I'm 5'7". It is nice that they offer housekeeping but they tend to come whenever they want not when you ask them to overall love the place and will come back.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025