Sands by The Sea

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

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

Beach
Front of property
BBQ/picnic area
Standard Room | Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi
Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | Room amenity

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free WiFi

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
    ‪26 min drive‬

Room options

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

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

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(88 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

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About the neighborhood

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).

What's nearby

  • Cambria State Marine Park - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • San Simeon State Park - 6 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Moonstone Beach - 6 min drive - 3.8 miles
  • Moonstone Beach Park - 7 min drive - 4.3 miles
  • Hearst Castle - 26 min drive - 8.8 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Cambria Coffee Roasting Company - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Main Street Grill - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Mojo’s Village Bean - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Luigi’s Pizza - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Linn's Bakery & Eatery - ‬8 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.

Similar properties

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
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.

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

Frequently asked questions

How close is Sands by The Sea to the airport?

Sands by The Sea is 42 mi (58-min drive) away from the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) airport, the closest popular airport to the property.

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

As of Apr 7, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Sands by The Sea on Apr 8, 2026 start from $202, 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.

Does Sands by The Sea have an airport shuttle?

Airport shuttle services are not available at Sands by The Sea.

How close is Sands by The Sea to the beach?

This motel is 3.2 mi (5-min drive) from Moonstone Beach and 3.3 mi (4-min drive) from William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach. Don't forget your sunscreen!

Does Sands by The Sea offer free breakfast?

Free breakfast isn’t offered at Sands by The Sea, but cooked-to-order breakfast is offered for a fee of between USD 5 and 30 for adults, USD 5 and 30 for children. It's available every day from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

Is there a casino at Sands by The Sea?

No, there is no casino at this motel.

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

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

Is there free parking at Sands by The Sea?

This motel offers free self parking.

Does Sands by The Sea have a pool?

Sands by The Sea features 2 outdoor pools.

Does Sands by The Sea have a restaurant?

Sands by The Sea is home to Cavalier Coastal Kitchen, which features a beachfront location.

Does Sands by The Sea have a spa?

This motel has a spa, which features deep-tissue massages.

How close is Sands by The Sea to downtown San Simeon?

Sands by The Sea is 0.1 mi away from San Simeon.

Sands by The Sea Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 476 out of 1008 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 280 out of 1008 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 146 out of 1008 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 58 out of 1008 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 48 out of 1008 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Mechelle

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2026

10/10 Excellent

Kelly

Traveled with partner, Traveled with pets
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

10/10 Excellent

Michael

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean rooms, attentive staff.
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Amy

Liked: Staff & service
The staff checking in are great. Colleen and Roxy know how to make a guest feel welcome. The room is extremely outdated and needs to be upgraded badly. The curtains didn't close all the way, the window barely opened, the microwave the buttons all didn't work, the heater made a horrible sound that kept me up most of the night. I complained about these issues the next day was told they would see about changing my room and they would call me. Never got a call. Appears the staff does not communicate with each other and just will give lip service to a guest so they go away and become someone else's problem.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amber

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
I stay at the Sands because of its location. The staff has always been welcoming. The fire pits are my favorite and the hot tub was great when it was cold and raining.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Jacqueline

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Ricardo

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Pam

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location of our room was wonderful. We enjoyed listening to the surf and viewing the ocean from our porch chairs. Inside the cozy fireplace was a treat especially in our provided bathrobes. It was definitely a truly relaxing stay!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jose

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Teresa

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Property is older , but clean and comfortable. Pet friendly. Loved the forepits at night.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Gina

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean rooms, great service. Internet was poor.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Sherrie

Liked: Staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Room smells musty and bathroom is in bad shape. But the people were nice
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

4/10 Poor

Manuel

Traveled with family
Disliked: Cleanliness, amenities
No ooo no hotel staff, had to go next door to the property to check in. Hotel room was ran down and dirty.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

chi

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Maria

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Very pet friendly. No extra fee and a large green area. Also a dogfriendly beach right out front. Hotel is older but furniture robust and bed comfy.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Debra

Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heather

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Outdoor amenities can’t be matched! Outdoor heated pools, nighttime fire pits, sand volleyball, chess/checkers/tictactoe, and ocean views!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

8/10 Good

Armando

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

BALDOMERO, Fresno

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
All went well, would stay again
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Crystal

Great location but room desperately in need of upgrades. There was rust on metal fixtures, broken furniture and torn chair in room.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Darcie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The ladies when i checked in were so nice and welcoming! The bed was comfortable with good pillows. The property is so neat in its location and all it has to offer. I had take out from the restaurant on the property which was very good. I wish i was there longer. I will come back.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Konstantina

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Love the beach!!
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Claudia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Yes it was just had a stinch but other than that is was fine
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Laurel

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Christmas lights in cambria Had a great week end.. High tides were nice to see and hear. Lots of sea life...
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2025