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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property
Beach motel with 2 outdoor pools in San Simeon

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Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

BBQ/picnic area
Lobby
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds
Beach nearby
Beach nearby

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 Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Moonstone Beach
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Hearst Castle
    ‪29 min drive‬

Room options

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

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

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

Standard Room, 1 King Bed, No View

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed

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CA $1,290 total
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About the area

San Simeon

Steps from the beach.Your stay at this San Simeon motel places you within a 10-minute walk of Cambria State Marine Park and San Simeon State Park. San Simeon Nature Preserve and William Randolph Hearst State Park are also within 3 miles (5 km).
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What's nearby

  • San Simeon State Park - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • San Simeon Pier - 5 min drive - 5.6 km
  • Moonstone Beach Park - 5 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Moonstone Beach - 5 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Hearst Castle - 29 min drive - 13.6 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 motel with 2 outdoor pools in San Simeon
Sands by The Sea offers its guests 2 outdoor swimming pools and a fitness center. There's a restaurant on site. There's an onsite business center.

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

This San Simeon motel is smoke free.

  • 33 guestrooms or units
  • 2 levels
  • Business facilities
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Front-desk safe
  • Newspapers in lobby (free)
  • No smoking on site
  • Dining venue
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.

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.

Languages

English, Spanish

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Exterior

Cavalier Oceanfront Resort

  • Pool
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
4.4 out of 5, Excellent, 1,538 reviews
The price is CA $188
CA $211 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 20 - Apr 21
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Property amenities

Family friendly

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

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

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Full-service spa
  • Gym

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

Room amenities

Entertainment

  • LCD TV with premium cable/satellite channels

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

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

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 are welcome and stay free
  • Maximum 1 pets

Children and extra beds

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

Property payment types

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

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
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A credit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB International, and Carte Blanche. Cash is not accepted. Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.

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

Sands by The Sea Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 439 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 299 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 151 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1005 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 53 out of 1005 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

Erika

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

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

10/10 Excellent

Amanda

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
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

Travelled 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

Travelled 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 traveller

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

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful service and a beautiful property and location. The rooms were clean and comfortable and parking was easy. My only nitpick is that the exterior is a little shabby which isn’t indicative of the nice interior
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Sally

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Leslie

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Family Vacay
Great stay. Friendly staff. We were upgraded due to overbooking received a great room. The restaurant on the property was also wonderful. The property is right next to the beach so beautiful views.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Dolores

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Room smells of dirty socks
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

George

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Roxy... awesome greeting and welcome... great ambassador!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

4/10 Poor

Amin

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Sharon

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room was clean and the bed comfy. The only complaint is the coffee maker didn’t work. Check in was quick and easy.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

4/10 Poor

Robert

Liked: Room comfort
Disliked: Staff & service
Didn't get the Memo
The frint desk was nice enough to offer us a room with an ocean view because it was parlty empty and we were told that a worker would stop by to help us move. Instead we were met by a rude, almost defiant young man who only pointed to the room we were to move into and gave us no help with our luggage into the next room.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2024

8/10 Good

Robert

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Enakshi

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Laurel

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Christmas at the Sea.
Had an amazing trip. Went to Cambria Christmas lights...they were wonderful this year...over 3 million lights...vendors and food were great as well. The Sands by the sea is always a great place to stay in San Simeon. Friendly staff, good restaurant, great location to see everything. The elephant seas are also a good time and very entertaining. Thanks for a great stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dalia

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
3 stays so far over the past few years. Perfectly walkable beach access. Great view of the sunset when it isn't cloudy. Close to trails ive been taking the past few years. I'm a simple gal- the rooms include the bare necessities. I'd stay again. :)
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

6/10 Okay

Jonathan

Liked: Cleanliness
It was right on the beach and its a nice quiet place. What'd be cool is if they'd complete my transaction with payment. Its been pending for over a week unlike any stays ive had at other motels that process them faster
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Kristi

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2024