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Sands by The Sea

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for Sands by The Sea

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

Reviews

8.2 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi

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
    ‪36 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

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

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
(91 reviews)
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds
  • Free Wi-Fi

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Property map
Silver Surf Motel
San Simeon
  • Spa pool
  • Pet-friendly
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
4.2 out of 5, Very good, 1,388 reviews
The price is AU$112
includes taxes & fees
16 June - 17 June
Silver Surf Motel

About the area

San Simeon

When you stay at Sands by The Sea in San Simeon, you'll be by the ocean, within a 10-minute drive of Moonstone Beach Park and Moonstone Beach. .This beach motel is 8.4 mi (13.5 km) from Hearst Castle and 0.1 mi (0.2 km) from Cambria State Marine Park.
View more Motels in San SimeonOpens in a new window

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 - 5 min drive - 6.2 km
  • Moonstone Beach Park - 6 min drive - 6.9 km
  • Hearst Castle - 36 min drive - 19.2 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

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

About this property

Sands by The Sea

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.
Make yourself at home in one of the 33 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and microwaves. LCD televisions with satellite programming provide entertainment, while complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include desks and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Relax at the full-service spa, where you can enjoy massages. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, which include 2 outdoor pools and a fitness center. This motel also features complimentary wireless internet access and a vending machine.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at Cavalier Coastal Kitchen serving guests of Sands by The Sea. Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM for a fee.
Featured amenities include a business center, complimentary newspapers in the lobby, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Free self parking is available onsite.
Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:00 AM and 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 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

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

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 1003 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 272 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 146 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 63 out of 1003 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 49 out of 1003 reviews

7.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

7.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Ray

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

10/10 Excellent

Yahia, Corona

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Luis

Stayed 1 night in Dec 2025

6/10 Okay

Warren

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Our room was basic but quite adequate for our needs. You have to check in the hotel next door to check in. There were very few guests present on the night we were there. Unfortunately, we had a horrible night of sleep. We were in Room 130, which might be next to a utility room and an HVAC system for the next building. We listened to a fog horn like sound every 12 seconds and some hammer like banging at 6 am. After a not very restful night, our one night stay was over. Upon checking out, I did inform the gentleman at the front desk of the next door facility of our sleep interrupted night - mostly just to ask them to investigate these noises before the next guest stayed in that room. He apologized for our poor stay, did inform us that we should have contacted them to switch our room, and insisted on refunding us for our night's stay. I applaud the Sands by the Sea for their customer service for trying to make things right with us. I would certainly be willing to give their facility another try - so long as we are not at the very south end of the row by the utility room or whatever was next to us.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Dino

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
A wonderful resort, we will be back. Thank You. Had a great time.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

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

10/10 Excellent

Laura

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Everything, I loved this placed
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Lisa, COTTONWOOD

Travelled with family, Travelled with pets
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This was a great spot for my husband and I and our 2 dogs. Our room did not face the ocean, but it was a close walk and the trails around this area are great for walking the dogs. The room had a larger refrigerator than most hotels, which since we brought lots of food worked out perfectly. Would absolutely stay here again as for the price, it was awesome.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2026

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

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