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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

BBQ/picnic area
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Front of property
Fitness facility
Lobby sitting area

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
  • Gym

Explore the area

Map
9355 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA, 93452
  • Moonstone Beach
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Moonstone Beach Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Hearst Castle
    ‪26 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, No View

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

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, No View

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed, No View

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

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, No View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Similar properties

Exterior

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

  • Pool
  • Hot Tub
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
4.4 out of 5, Excellent, (1590)
$210 nightly
The price is $210 total
includes taxes & fees
Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

About this property

Sands by The Sea

San Simeon motel with 2 outdoor pools
Spend the day catching some rays at the nearby beach, relaxing by one of Sands by The Sea's 2 outdoor swimming pools, or pampering yourself at the full-service spa. Housekeeping is available on request.
Sands by The Sea offers 33 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. LCD televisions come with premium satellite channels. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.

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

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

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 features 2 outdoor swimming pools and a fitness center. The motel offers a restaurant. This motel offers access to a business center.

Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access. This beach motel also offers a vending machine, coffee/tea in a common area, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Complimentary self parking is available on site.

Sands by The Sea is a smoke-free property.

Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM.
Cavalier Coastal Kitchen - This restaurant is located on the beach. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • 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 center

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 available
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 stay free
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
1 total pets

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

  • 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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

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

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the 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

Sands by The Sea Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 448 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 298 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 145 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 50 out of 1004 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Staff & service

7.8/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Nora

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The area is well kept and beach access is great

10/10 Excellent

Amber

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I love this place… affordable for a last minute getaway. Fire pits to die for.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Erika

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Matthew

Traveled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The property was beautiful
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Kay

Traveled with group
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
My room wasn't very clean. The carpet and the bathroom floor were both dirty and my drapes were broken and torn. I happened to have a clip with me which I used to keep the drapes closed. The outdoor area was nice and family friendly. I appreciated the dog friendly policy. I would search around before staying in the hotel again.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Casey

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved sitting by the fire pits and watching the sunset
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

6/10 Okay

Rudy

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas P

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

Good Value for Short Stay

This is an older property, but it's managed by its upscale neighbor (Cavalier Oceanfront Resort) and provides amenities (fancy toiletries, room service, attentive staff, beach access) that you would not expect in its price range. Definitely attractive for a short stay, for a longer stay visit its neighbor.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Martin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We liked the beach it was right behind Motel ..views were beautiful..
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Atul

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

RICHARD

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff was beyond great. Beautiful location. And we had an actual wood burning fireplace with supplied pressed logs. It was a great evening.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Scott

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joshua

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Carmela

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

Ocean view

This stay was good and covered all my needs for one overnight stay. The views was excellent and the location was perfect next to the ocean and a local beach.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

6/10 Okay

Weichao

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Mario Luis

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort

Simple & comfy in an amazing place @ great price

We enjoyed our 3 night stay. The price was incredible for just after Christmas! We had three rooms for my my husband and I, my parents, and my brother. I had a pet friendly room, so there was some damage to the furniture and carpet, but nothing that interfered or was dangerous for our dog. It isn’t a new hotel, and they havent done any major renovations in a few years, but everything was clean, the bed was comfortable, minimum noise from above or our neighbors. The prperty sits right on the shoreline, which is why we wanted to stay there. We didnt have an ocean view, but it was a very short walk to get a beautiful view. This property is actually 2 hotels on one lot. The one we stayed in is the older side. I have stayed in the newer one and it was a little nicer, but we were perfectly happy with where we stayed. My higgest complaint is that the shower dripped water all over the floor any time you opened the door, so the floor towel got soaked, and since we were at the beach, it would never dry. We hung it up and tried, but it was still wet.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Such a cute place… steps from the bluff with amazing views of the ocean. Can’t wait to stay here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Kelly Ann

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

4/10 Poor

Marcella, San Diego

Traveled with family
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
If you want a place near Hearst Castle then this is your place, but it is good for one night only. It is right on the water which is nice, so you can walk to the beach but there is no rooms with views. You do have parking so that is nice. The room has tears in the furniture, they need to throw away. Our room was on the bottom floor (only 2 levels) which I was fine with until I found out they don't have air conditioning and now way to open a window and secure it partially open so no one could come in - so we were stuck with a hot room for the night. No restaurants nearby that are worth going to so you want to eat prior. I asked the front staff about the Mexican restaurant next door and they said it was not good (I appreciated the honesty). They have a restaurant on property which was horrible and expensive (this is what staff said as well and they weren't wrong but I want to drive so we tried it anyways). Over $50.00 for spaghetti and a hamburger (no drinks). It was so bad we threw it away. For $100 a night and close to the castle it was okay for the night - anything over that find something else.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maria Ruby

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Perfect
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Monica

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
San Simeon is a beautiful place to visit. The hotel is close to Hearst Castle, The Elephant Seals, and walking trails. Moon Stone beach and lovely boardwalk are also nearby. At the hotel, the grassy area over looking the Sea was beautiful. The fire pits and giant sized board games like chess, checkers and tic tack toe, along with corn hole made the environment family friendly. The guests were friendly. On New Years Eve the guests received a bucket of champagne, hats and party favors. It was a kind and unexpected surprise from the staff. What I didn't like about it was the condition of the room. The bathroom water faucet had no aerator; the water splashed across the counter, the floor and on us. There was a nasty stain at the foot of the down comforter that we hadn't noticed. The hair dryer sparked a flame and burned out. I call for a replacement but never received it.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

2/10 Terrible

Anthony

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Audrey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
My second time staying and it was very nice. But I was offered an “upgrade” for the same price as the sister hotel I booked. I took it thinking I was paying the same price as sea and sand but it was doubled. I didn’t feel it was an upgrade and it was misleading. We had to move to another hotel because the price was ridiculous. Staff as great though.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Liked: Room comfort

Just fine

The room was just fine. The property was beautiful. I wished the jacuzzi was a tad warmer than it was. Overall fine stay.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024