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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

BBQ/picnic Area
Lobby sitting area
Lobby
Fitness facility
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available

Explore the area

View map
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

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

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, 1,739 reviews
The price is NZ$262
includes taxes & fees
3 Dec - 4 Dec
Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

About the area

San Simeon

With a stay at Sands by The Sea in San Simeon, you'll be by the ocean, within a 10-minute drive of Moonstone Beach Park and Cambria State Marine Park. .This beach motel is 8.4 mi (13.5 km) from Hearst Castle and 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from San Simeon State Park.
View more Motels in San SimeonOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • San Simeon State Park - 1 min drive - 0.4 km
  • San Simeon Pier - 4 min drive - 7.3 km
  • Moonstone Beach - 4 min drive - 6.2 km
  • Moonstone Beach Park - 4 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Hearst Castle - 25 min drive - 14.1 km

Getting around

  • San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) - 58 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cambria Coffee Roasting Company - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Main Street Grill - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Linn's Bakery & Eatery - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Mojo’s Village Bean - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪JJ's Pizza - ‬8 min drive

About this property

Sands by The Sea

Beach motel with 2 outdoor pools and a full-service spa
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.
Make yourself at home in one of the 33 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. LCD televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, which include 2 outdoor swimming pools and a fitness center. This motel also features complimentary wireless internet access and a vending machine.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at Cavalier Coastal Kitchen serving guests of Sands by The Sea. Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Free self parking is available onsite.
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.

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 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

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. 460 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 286 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 149 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 57 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 50 out of 1002 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Paul

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

GIORGIO

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
nothing they show in the picture is thru.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Sandi

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Virginia

Travelled with partner
I liked the location and views! Did not care for the rooms!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Victor

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Andrew

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

Family trip

The day was pleasant. Rooms were clean. The resort amenities were amazing. The fire pits room service was great overall it was an exceptional day.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Karina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness

Decent hotel but needs some repairs and updates

The hotel was clean. It’s an old hotel so everything is outdated. And there is no AC. My only negative is our room had a broken door for where the fridge was. So the door wouldn’t stay closed. Also one of the drawers next to the fridge was broken and would also pop open and you couldn’t close it.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Angelina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
In order to check-in, we had to go to the property next door. The room was average. We liked that the had fire pits outside they lit at night at sunset.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

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