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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property
Ocean views set the stage for relaxation at this beachfront retreat where spa treatments rejuvenate and coastal cuisine satisfies hungry travelers

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Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

Beach - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
BBQ/picnic area - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
Standard Room | Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | Room amenity - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
Front of property - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
Travelers find oceanfront relaxation at Sands by The Sea, with views complementing spa treatments and massages. The Cavalier Coastal Kitchen serves cooked-to-order breakfasts, and free in-room WiFi keeps everyone connected. Two outdoor pools and attentive staff await.

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 2 of 2 rooms

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

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

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.4 out of 10
Very good
(100 reviews)
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

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

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(93 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free WiFi

About the neighborhood

Located in San Simeon, Sands by The Sea is near the beach. Hearst Castle is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Moonstone Beach and Moonstone Beach Park. Cambria State Marine Park and Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with windsurfing, surfing/body boarding, and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with hiking/biking trails. Visit our San Simeon travel guide
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Map
9355 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA, 93452

What's nearby

  • San Simeon State Park
    San Simeon State Park
    6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • aerial view of surf at Moonstone Beach at sunset, Cambria, California
    Moonstone Beach
    5 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • Moonstone Beach Park
    Moonstone Beach Park
    6 min drive - 4.3 miles
  • Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California - USA: Close-up view of Hearst Castle from the side. Towers, palm trees, sun, clear blue sky
    Hearst Castle
    36 min drive - 12.0 miles
  • Cambria State Marine Park
    3 min walk - 0.2 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • Main Street Grill
    6 min drive
  • Luigi’s Pizza
    7 min drive
  • Big Sur Restaurant
    8 min walk
  • Cambria Coffee Roasting Company
    6 min drive
  • Linn's Bakery & Eatery
    8 min drive

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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
  • Smoking not allowed

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Does Sands by The Sea have a pool?

Yes, this property has 2 outdoor pools.

Is Sands by The Sea pet-friendly?

Yes, this motel allows pets (limit 1 total).

How much is parking?

Self parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Sands by The Sea?

Check-in start time: 4 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Sands by The Sea?

Check-out is at 11:00 AM. Late check-out is available for USD 150.

Where is Sands by The Sea located?

Offering direct access to the beach, this San Simeon motel is 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 mi (5 km).

Can I cancel my reservation for free and receive a full refund?

Yes, this property offers free cancellation on select room rates, because flexibility matters! Please refer to the property cancellation policy on our site for more details about any exclusions or requirements.

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Reviews

Sands by The Sea Reviews

8.2

Very Good

8.0

Cleanliness

4.0

Location

8.6

Staff & service

7.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 490 out of 1014 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 269 out of 1014 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 142 out of 1014 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1014 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 50 out of 1014 reviews

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing cozy place, especially for this price! The staff is super nice and friendly, absolutely loved the ocean in the back with fire pits! Loved that it’s dog friendly too!
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Morag

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing view,
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Ericka

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
loved the bon fire and views
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

6/10 Okay

Sherry

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
It was a clean room. No frills, just basic for a one night stay.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alla

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This hotel has a beautiful location and very comfortable beds. The staff were friendly and welcoming, always making sure we had everything we needed.
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Gary

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Decent for the location
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Christen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I love it here. Affordable and by the beach.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kerry

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful location.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Israel

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great hotel for the price. We did a weekend getaway with our toddler and puppy both enjoyed. Best part is the beautiful views from the courtyard. Staff were helpful and friendly. Overall a great hotel with a peaceful atmosphere.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

4/10 Poor

Aldo

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Clean decent rooms with absolutely no view of the ocean. Staff was friendly and very helpful and tried to be accommodating with the very c***** room I got
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We love it here. Very affordable for decent rooms and an amazing location. The extras of having fires at night above the beach make it worth every penny!
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Ray

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Clean rooms , customer fruendly staff and great ocean view .
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

tina

Liked: Cleanliness
Quiet, clean and comfortable
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Maricel

The room was clean and the staff are helpful. I love that there is a microwave and ref in the room. There are also multiple outlets to plug your devices and best of all, wifi is free! We also love the hotel backyard with access to the beach and different games for family. Beautfiful spot to watch the sunset. We will definitely come back to this hotel!
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Alberto

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff are amazing , room was clean
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Lizette

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Stayed one night on road trip, have stayed before..quick checkin…clean room…great access to beach ..restaurant is right next door, only complaint is air conditioner didn’t work?
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Anna Maria

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff and nice amenities
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Abraham

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Very friendly staff including restaurant. Rooms from the older side can use some updating for sure. Nice amenities such as two pools and hot tub and many common areas to hang out. Felt safe all around.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Always a comfortable stay. The front desk employees are very friendly and accommodating
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Marlo

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was great, room was clean. Even though it was missing a curtain.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Keri

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was clean and comfortable. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Proximity to the beach, Cambria and Hearst Castle were great. The swimming pools and fire pits were a great touch.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Joe

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The value, clean room , great staff no frills but a great room
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Roxanne was very friendly with our check in procedure. Property is a bit older but very comfortable and a great location.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

2/10 Terrible

Adam

Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The hotel is run down. They don’t have A/C but they do have a ceiling fan. Since we were next to the beach I thought it would be ok just open a window and get a good breeze. Wrong. You cannot open the window more than a quarter open due to safety locks. The room got super hot, you cannot open feel the difference from outside to inside. We had to have our door open to let some cool air in. Other people had to do the same. I like that pets were free and you are walking distance from the beach but you pay in room comfort
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Marcy

Liked: Staff & service, amenities
Disliked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
The inexpensive "Sands" section of the Cavalier Oceanfront Motel where we stayed was quite shabby; refrigerator didn't close, carpet was filthy, no AC. Fortunately, it shared all the amenities with the next door Cavalier with it's large oceanfront lawn, restaurant, and pools. Loved hearing the surf at night and watching the sunset from the lawns.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026