Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

BBQ/picnic area
Front of property
Lobby sitting area
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds
Fitness facility

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

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds, No View

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, No View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

Similar properties

About the area

San Simeon

When you 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 Moonstone Beach. .This beach motel is 8.4 mi (13.5 km) from Hearst Castle and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Cambria State Marine Park.

What's nearby

  • San Simeon State Park - 1 min drive - 0.4 km
  • Moonstone Beach - 5 min drive - 6.2 km
  • Moonstone Beach Park - 5 min drive - 6.9 km
  • San Simeon Pier - 5 min drive - 7.3 km
  • Hearst Castle - 26 min drive - 14.1 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Main Street Grill - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Linn's Restaurant - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Spot - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Cambria Coffee Roasting Company - ‬6 min drive

About this property

Sands by The Sea

Beach location and 2 outdoor pools
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.

Languages

English, Spanish

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. 455 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 295 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 143 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1004 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 48 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

4/10 Poor

Ronald

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The setting is lovely. The rooms are old, poorly cared for with peeling paint and the room cleaing was poor.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

victor y Adriana haro

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Need to improve cleaning room
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

T

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I love this tiny little beach town of San Simeon. This is definitely a beach motel, but it’s clean and very convenient. We parked right in front of our room, which was so nice. The water in the shower got pretty hot which was also nice. The outside area of this location is great, there’s the beach behind with fire pits and a sand volleyball net. There’s a few restaurants in town which are basically all within a mile. It was just a nice stay. Super quiet and peaceful.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

David Lenard

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cesar

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Aaron

Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Excellent value. Wonderful location.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

stephen

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jazmine

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is just amazing. So close to the ocean you can easily walk there. We got married and stayed here so came back year later to celebrate.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

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

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

6/10 Okay

Kay

Travelled 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

Travelled 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 traveller

Travelled 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