See all properties

Sands by The Sea

Property class: 2
Ocean views set the stage for relaxation at this beachfront retreat where spa treatments rejuvenate and coastal cuisine satisfies hungry travelers

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

A coastal landscape with a beach, waves, and vegetation. - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
A group of people around a fire pit by the ocean at sunset. - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
A sign with "Sands by the Sea" and an American flag, with a welcome message. - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
A hotel room with a wooden desk, a black office chair, a microwave, and a television. - Sands by The Sea (San Simeon)
A hotel room with a large bed, two bedside tables with lamps, a ceiling fan, a TV on a wooden stand, and a window with curtains. - 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 5 of 5 rooms

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

A hotel room with a bed, desk, chair, TV, and a ceiling fan.

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

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

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

A hotel room with two beds, a desk, a chair, a TV, and a ceiling fan.

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

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

DOUBLE TWO QUEEN BEDS

  • Sleeps 4
  • Free WiFi

View all photos for Double king size bed

Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board (on request), WiFi (free)

Double king size bed

  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed
  • Free WiFi

DOUBLE KING SIZE BED

  • Sleeps 4
  • 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
View more Motels in San Simeon
Map
9355 Hearst Dr, San Simeon, CA, 93452

What's nearby

  • A sandy beach with several sea lions resting on the shore.
    San Simeon State Park
    6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • A coastal landscape with waves crashing onto rocks, a distant shoreline with buildings, and a mountain range in the background.
    Moonstone Beach
    5 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • A wooden boardwalk leading to a beach with clear turquoise waters and grassy areas.
    Moonstone Beach Park
    6 min drive - 4.3 miles
  • A historic building with two towers, palm trees, and a well-maintained garden.
    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
  • Cambria Coffee Roasting Company
    6 min drive
  • Linn's Bakery & Eatery
    8 min drive
  • Big Sur Restaurant
    8 min walk

Similar properties

Beach nearby
The Morgan San Simeon - Cambria by Hearst Castle
San Simeon
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Parking included
8.4 out of 10, Very Good, 1,268 reviews
The Morgan San Simeon - Cambria by Hearst Castle
Compare similar properties

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.

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Reviews

Sands by The Sea Reviews

8.2

Very Good

8.0

Cleanliness

4.0

Location

8.8

Staff & service

7.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 496 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 251 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 145 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 65 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 49 out of 1006 reviews

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Gina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Direct beach access, quiet
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Sumiyo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Near ocean, Next time go to there, I will go to there with dogs.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Ricardo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice view of the sea
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Lauren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay with kids. Outdoor games and right on the ocean
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Pragyee

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved my stay there. Beautiful location and view. Awesome staff specially the front desk Lady-evening shift. Super sweet and helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2026
Verified review

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Cristina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was our second stay when passing thru San Simeon , such a wonderful affordable place to stop at for the night or more. We especially enjoy the location which is almost on the shore, easy parking, and love our evening walks around the grounds. Hospitality was great , only thing is that breakfast ended too early for us. We’ll be back😊.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Morag

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

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Wendy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We enjoy this property. A lot of amenities and close proximity to the beach. Friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in May 2026
Verified review

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 review

8/10 Good

Nick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Clean rooms nice staff
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2026
Verified review

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 review

8/10 Good

Gary

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

10/10 Excellent

Kerry

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

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 review

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 review

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 review

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 review

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 review

10/10 Excellent

Alberto

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

8/10 Good

Anna Maria

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

10/10 Excellent

tina

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

10/10 Excellent

Teresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Friendly and helpful staff. Restaurant conveniently located there. Room was spacious and comfortable. Pet friendly. Lovely property. The beach is in the back! Nice firepits are lit at sunset.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Laura Gonzalez

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I had a wonderful experience from the moment I checked in to the moment I left. The ocean view was perfect. The room was clean and cozy. Pet-friendly, my grandkids enjoyed the pool. I already told my friends it's a nice place to stay, and I will definitely make future reservations.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2026