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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property
Beach location and 2 outdoor pools

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

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

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Breakfast available
The current price is AU$143
includes taxes & fees
4 Jan - 5 Jan 2026

Explore the area

View map
9355 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA, 93452
  • Place, Cambria State Marine Park
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, San Simeon State Park
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • 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

8.2 out of 10
Very good
(95 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
Connecting rooms available
Fridge
LCD TV
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Shower/bath combination
Private bathroom
  • 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)

Highlights

Heating
Connecting rooms available
Fridge
LCD TV
Ceiling fan
Blackout curtains
Shower/bath combination
Private bathroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

About the area

San Simeon

At Sands by The Sea you'll be within just a 10-minute stroll of Cambria State Marine Park and San Simeon State Park. Highlights at this beach motel include 2 outdoor swimming pools, a full-service spa and a restaurant. .A pampering day can include deep-tissue massages and hot stone massages. Plus you'll find free Wi-Fi in public areas, a gym and coffee/tea in a common area. Cooked-to-order breakfast is available daily between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM. There's also the convenience of free self parking. .With a stay at this San Simeon motel, you'll be 13.5 km (8.4 mi) from Hearst Castle.
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What's nearby

  • Cambria State Marine Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • San Simeon State Park - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Moonstone Beach - 4 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Moonstone Beach Park - 4 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Hearst Castle - 25 min drive - 14.1 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Cambria Coffee Roasting Company - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Main Street Grill - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Linn's Bakery & Eatery - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪JJ's Pizza - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Moonstone Beach Bar & Grill - ‬5 min drive

About this property

Sands by The Sea

Beach location and 2 outdoor pools
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.

  • 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 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.

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.

Similar properties

Beach nearby
The Morgan San Simeon - Cambria by Hearst Castle
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
4.2 out of 5, Very good, 1,246 reviews
The price is AU$136
includes taxes & fees
14 Dec - 15 Dec
The Morgan San Simeon - Cambria by Hearst Castle

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
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

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

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at Sands by The Sea?

Sands by The Sea offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

How much does it cost to stay at Sands by The Sea?

As of 11 Dec 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Sands by The Sea on 4 Jan 2026 start from AU$143.0, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

Is parking available at Sands by The Sea?

Yep, Sands by The Sea has a free self car park.

Are there any beaches close to Sands by The Sea?

The closest beach to Sands by The Sea is Moonstone Beach (5.2 km).

Is there a spa on site at Sands by The Sea?

Yep, there is an onsite spa at Sands by The Sea. You'll enjoy services like sports massages.

Does Sands by The Sea have a pool?

Sands by The Sea has 2 outdoor swimming pools.

Does Sands by The Sea serve breakfast?

Yep, cooked-to-order brekkie is on offer daily between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Sands by The Sea?

No, Sands by The Sea does not offer an airport shuttle service.

Is there a bar or restaurant at Sands by The Sea?

Yep, you can grab a meal at Sands by The Sea's onsite restaurant.

What time are check-in & check-out at Sands by The Sea?

Check-in begins at 4 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM.

Sands by The Sea Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 464 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 283 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 145 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 59 out of 1001 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 50 out of 1001 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

10/10 Excellent

Robin

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

2/10 Terrible

Donald

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Good location and near the beach but carpet in room was very very stained and bad condition.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Victoria

Travelled with family
Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The room itself was dirty. The desk was dusty. It needs a good deep cleaning. Carpet was really dark which almost looked normal until you saw the light colored carpet under the ledge of the nightstand.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Christopher

Travelled with partner
Liked: Amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
I'll first start by saying the area is lovely for going on walks along the beach, walking to nearby restaurants, and hanging out by the fire pits at night. The heated pools add a nice touch as well. The rooms were in need of a remodel. The carpets had that sticky feeling and the shower head was to low. There was no handsoap in our room and when we called they did not answer their phone so we walked to the front desk and asked for soap so they gave us face soap and said they would bring the handsoap later. An hour later they still did not bring any handsoap so we tried calling again and after 2 minutes of ringing they finally answered and said they would call the room service lady again. They came and handed us 2 face soaps. I guess there is no handsoap and they just give face soap. Then the shower walls were dirty and the chair in our room had the leather all worn off. Other than those things it was a nice stay. The area and everything soo close by made the trip fun. They just need to make some minor fixes and changes and this hotel can easily be a better stay.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Carmen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The front desk staff was so friendly and welcoming. They were helpful when my husband lost a $1 in the vending machine. We heard them talking to the couple next to us who just got married and were doing anything they could to make their experience a memorable one. We love to see this. The room was too hot and very uncomfortable. The restuarant was the worst - the service was not great at all and the food was not worth the $$ we paid. Maybe it was what we ordered but it was not great. If the service was better, the food may not have mattered as much.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

JUN RYAN

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The best staff!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

sandra

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

Great weekend getaway

This was a planned weekend getaway. The room was nice and quiet. Falling asllep to the sound of the ocean was soothing. We had to check in at the hotel next door which wasn't a big deal but it would have been nice to have coffee and at least pastries if your not a big breakfast eater and are leaving early. Coffee was available in the rooms, but if you wanted more you had to walk over to the cavalier next door. Again, Pastries would have been nice.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The 1st room they gave us smelled like mildew. It was dusty on the ceiling, fan, bed skirts and the sink was clogged. The 2nd room the bed skirts were dusty, the vents by the windows were rusty, and the
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Julia

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Make sure when you book it is with the hotel by the beach cause the picture is deceiving
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hassaan

Gd for a stop over, hope you enjoy sitting around fire pit as they have them at night going on by the beach.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jozett

Business traveller, Travelled with family, Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Worth every penny
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Nicole

Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Yna

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

kelly

J
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Mario Alberto G, Thousand Oaks

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Rooms need an update
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Rodica

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The room had dirty carpet and no AC. A sealing fan was available, but when I tried to leave it on during night time, the light would dim but I was not able to turn it off completely. So I ended turning off the fan, although it was hot in the room.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sabrina

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Spent one night at Sands by the Sea and had a great time. Right by the water, and at night they had fires going and games during the day. Would definitely come back.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kris

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I stayed at the property with my daughter and grandson and it was great to be able to walk to the beach, use the heated pool and enjoy s’mores by the fire. We had an excellent time and felt safe/ the staff person who checked us in was nice and very informative.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dewayne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Alison

Travelled with family
Great location!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Gloria

Travelled with partner
Liked: Staff & service
The property is run down. They also run the motel next door. It is a bit confusing because you check in at the other motel lobby. The restaurant next door has good food. The staff is very nice and helpful.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved our stay at Sands by The Sea and the Cavalier amenities so much we stayed an extra night. The perfect combo of price, location and amenities for us. Definitely recommend. We also enjoyed and recommend the Cavalier Coastal Kitchen restaurant. The food was great and the staff was friendly. Danny our server set us up at a window and mentioned we might even see some whales. We did and watched a very active pod for over 45mins out at the horizon as we enjoyed our meal. Dinner and a show, awesome!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Martin, Peoria

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
You were on a road trip so we only stayed for one day. And we had the opportunity we would extended another day or two. The restaurant was excellent. There was a fun bar across the street. The grounds were very fun to walk on. Just beautiful scene.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Keena

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The staff was AMAZING! They meet all our needs and then some. I’m a single mother with two little girls and they were very accommodating. I will definitely be staying there again soon.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

2/10 Terrible

Verified traveller

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

Lots of room for improvement

The front desk staff was not knowledgeable about the rooms, and not very urgent with our requests. This is part of cavalier property and they don’t seem to care much about this property. There is no AC in the rooms. And the thermostat was hanging off the wall. Also, our room wasn’t ready when we got there an hour after check-in time and wasn’t ready until 5 PM. We were told it was because the cleaning staff was running behind. But then the cleaning staff was at our door the next morning before we even got to check out, like we were being rushed out of the room.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025