Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

Beach
BBQ/picnic Area
Front of property
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | Room amenity
Standard Room

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View in a 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
    ‪36 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

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

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(90 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

Similar properties

About this property

Sands by The Sea

This smoke-free motel features 2 outdoor pools, a full-service spa, and a restaurant. Free WiFi in public areas and free self parking are also provided. Additionally, a fitness center, coffee/tea in a common area, and a business center are onsite. Housekeeping is available on request.
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.
Sands by The Sea's great location gets high marks from our customers. During your stay, you're just a quick walk from Cambria State Marine Park. Features include free WiFi in public areas and free self parking, plus 2 outdoor pools.
  • Free WiFi
  • Free self parking
  • Enjoy a beachfront location while dining at Cavalier Coastal Kitchen
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast served daily for a fee
  • Take a swim in the 2 outdoor pools
  • Indulge with massages at the spa
  • Amenities include free lobby newspapers, a front-desk safe, and a business center
  • Onsite recreation includes a gym
  • Guests have great things to say about the location and the clean accommodations
  • 5 minutes by car from Moonstone Beach Park and 5 minutes from Moonstone Beach
  • Pets welcome for free
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.

For a fee, guests can enjoy cooked-to-order breakfast daily from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
Cavalier Coastal Kitchen - This restaurant is located on the beach. Guests can enjoy drinks at the bar.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

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
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 at the property

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

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession.
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
This property's front desk is open during the following times:
  • Friday - Sunday: 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The check-in location differs from the property location. To check in, guests will need to go to 9415 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, California 93452
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

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. 473 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 279 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 146 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 59 out of 1006 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 49 out of 1006 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jeanette

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

4/10 Poor

Jackie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
The room was pretty dirty and dusty. There was dust attacked to the ceiling and ceiling fan. We didn’t even use it because of that. The room was poorly unkept. I think wanted to leave but I figured I paid already. Nothing like the reviews I saw. Wouldn’t stay again. Just too dirty and stained everywhere it was uncomfortable because it felt gross.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

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

8/10 Good

Steven

Stayed 5 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

charles changkeun, Nanaimo

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Lizbeth

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Alex

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Alberto

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff are amazing , room was clean
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jessica

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

4/10 Poor

Mishel

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
We’ve stayed here a couple times before, it’s affordable and right by the surf spot we like, and we also know you get what you pay for, but this time around the room we got was not clean at all. The toilet wasn’t cleaned properly and there was trash under the beds. We’ve sadly decided we won’t be staying here again.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

STEPHEN

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was clean and neat.bed was a super wide king. staff very helpful.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Anna Maria

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
The furniture in the room was in very bad condition. The drawers wouldn’t stay closed. The laminate on the dresser was peeled off along most of the bottom. The roller chair vinyl was almost completely peeled off. The room had a bit of a odor. I realize it’s a older hotel but it needs some updating.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Anna Maria

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

6/10 Okay

Rizalito

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

2/10 Terrible

John, Visalia

Travelled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was isolated from everything, no access to the ocean, yet the beach was in advertising. The hotel lobby was closed: directions left “go to hotel next door.” The Cavalier next door was ready to upgrade at a cost of $106 per night. But they said they were a separate entity from the Sands by the Sea. First lie, then they said the properties were co-owned, second lie. Three people perched in the lobby backing each other up. They gave us the option to leave, they said our payment had not been charged. We left, went home, 400 miles driven and a Christmas gift destroyed. Not only did they lie about charging, but the charge was $180 above the original agreed rate, another lie and a fraudulent over charge. This charge was reversed by a future conversation with Expedia. This experience left us with a costly experience. Our ride home was long and dark with distressing feelings. The treatment by hotel personal was with extreme disregard and disrespect. We felt setup by a predator oriented system. Our cost: hundreds, my cost: embarrassment, my Christmas gift to my wife was destroyed. Five months earlier we vacationed to Hawaii, excess of $6000, went well, flights arranged through Expedia.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Tomas

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Bernice

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Travelled with pets, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a great stay for the money. I still cannot believe dogs stay free! Thank you SO much! The rooms are just fine, clean, in good repair. I stayed twice and the staff have always been great. The property is on the cliff overlooking the ocean. Sands is part of Cavalier Resort so can use all of the facilities. Restaurant on site. I would definitely stay a 3rd time if I were going to be in the area.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Joe

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

10/10 Excellent

Richard

Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

2/10 Terrible

Soheyl, ALISO VIEJO

Old and outdated
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

6/10 Okay

Nina

Liked: Staff & service
The room is simple,it's okay for overnight stay with a companion. Price is reasonable. Not bad
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenna

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

lester

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Yes
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Crystal

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025