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Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

2.0 star property

Photo gallery for Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

Fountain
Junior Suite
Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom
Interior
Apartment | Private kitchen

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Laundry
  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi

Explore the area

View map
116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos, CA, 95003
  • Place, Rio Del Mar Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Seacliff State Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Capitola Beach
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪46 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchen

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchen | Living area

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchen

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(13 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Family Suite

Family Suite

Family Suite

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(13 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(11 reviews)
  • 10 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

1 bedroom, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • 10 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Apartment

Apartment

Apartment

  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom

Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom

Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, Kitchen

Deluxe Suite, Kitchen | Living area

Deluxe Suite, Kitchen

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(4 reviews)
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 Queen Bed and 2 Double Sofa Beds

Junior Room, Accessible

  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(49 reviews)
  • 10 sq m
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Junior Suite

1 bedroom, blackout curtains, iron/ironing board, free WiFi

Junior Suite

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(19 reviews)
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Similar properties

Bar (on property)
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • Pool
  • Hot tub
  • Pet-friendly
  • Free WiFi
4.3 out of 5, Excellent, 1,005 reviews
The price is AU$191
includes taxes & fees
18 Nov - 19 Nov
Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

About the area

Aptos

When you stay at Rio Sands Vacation Rentals in Aptos, you'll be by the ocean, within a 15-minute drive of Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. .This motel is 4.3 mi (7 km) from Capitola Beach and 11 mi (17.6 km) from University of California, Santa Cruz.
View more Motels in AptosOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Rio Del Mar Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Seacliff State Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Capitola Beach - 5 min drive - 6.5 km
  • Capitola Wharf - 5 min drive - 6.5 km
  • La Selva Beach - 8 min drive - 9.0 km

Getting around

  • San Martin Caltrain Station - 45 min drive
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 49 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Marianne's Ice Cream - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Sushi Garden - Aptos - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Venus Pie Trap - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Whale City Bakery Bar And Grill Aptos - ‬15 min walk

About this property

Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

Motel in Aptos with free parking
Rio Sands Vacation Rentals offers 40 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.

This Aptos motel provides complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels. Housekeeping is offered on request and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Recreational amenities at the motel include an outdoor pool.
Make yourself at home in one of the 40 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include microwaves and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as an outdoor pool or take in the view from a garden. This motel also features complimentary wireless internet access, a picnic area, and barbecue grills.
Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet

Parking and transport

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Things to do

  • Outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No lift
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 2 buildings
  • 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

  • Flat-screen TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 33.66
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 32

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 10.0 per night

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 100.00 per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Early check-in fee: USD 33.66 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 32 (subject to availability)
  • Kitchen/kitchenette fee: USD 57 per stay
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.0 per night

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
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Guests should contact this hotel in advance to request a dishware/utensils kit (surcharge applies).

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Rio Sands
Rio Sands Aptos
Rio Sands Hotel
Rio Sands Hotel Aptos
Rio Sands Hotel Motel
Rio Sands Hotel Aptos
Rio Sands Hotel Motel Aptos

Rio Sands Vacation Rentals Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 565 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 254 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 112 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 39 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 30 out of 1000 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.4/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Verified traveller

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

No power No shower

We had a quick stay and were in town to visit an ill friend and had a couple appointments We just needed close place that was clean and convenient We lost power to the hotel in the morning and we unable to shower and get ready for our scheduled appointments which was very frustrating When I went down to the office to see when the power was due to come back on they said that it was not due to come on until late afternoon maybe We know that these things happen and are never convenient but the front desk person could of been a bit more proactive with helping us find a solution to accommodating our situation No care and just walked away
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruth

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hotel was great, very well run. If you have a kitchen you need to pay $50 for cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils - they aren't automatically in the unit. The Rio del Mar beach is very neglected and dirty, not sure why, as it's in a nice area. Also be aware that the area is foggier than Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach, so worth driving there for better weather and frankly a much nicer beach. Nisene State Park is 5 min from the hotel and has beautiful Redwoods and plenty of hiking opportunities. Overall still a great place to stay.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bianca

Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Comfortable bed, very clean. Facilities were wonderful. We definitely stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Erin

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Excellent location. The room has plenty of
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Don

Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Milton, Reno

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

efren

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
room was clean and decent. staff was friendly. parking was no issue. the beach is walking distance.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

LauraAmy

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I liked that we had a balcony!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Suzanne, Stockton

Travelled with group
Liked: Amenities
This hotel is in a great location with the beach and restaurants within walking distance. The rooms are clean and the pool and hot tub are well maintained. The breakfast choices are minimal and offer few choices.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Claudia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

VERONICA, El Dorado

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay, staff is friendly and walking distance to beach!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Becky

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Suzette

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marcie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Close to the beach
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruby

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jenny

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great family hotel

We love staying here due to the proximity to the beach. The different room set-ups are great for families. Easy check-in, good breakfast, cute pool…we’ll be back!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Edward

Travelled with family
Disliked: Staff & service
You need to ask for towels. We had a reservation for 4 we did not get enough towels or coffee mugs. We had the TV on pst 10pm and someone called and said we needed to keep it down when the volume was only at 4. The area is beautiful beach is one short walk.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sonia

Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Benjamin

Business traveller
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

No AC

No air conditioning I sleep with the ac on all year summer and winter just a mild cool air flowing, this place will tell you we are by the beach we don’t need ac idgaf where I’m at if I pay $450-$500 it better come with a ac especially when the hotel is old and equivalent to the crack motels in San Jose on Monterey highway
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Mark

Travelled with partner
Disliked: Amenities
Location is great. Room was only cleaned once in 5 days, and had to go to front desk for towels every day.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dominic

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Enjoyed our stay, impressed with the amenities and what it offers so close to the beach. Staff helpful, great place to stay if you don’t book a beach house, this is next best.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Connie

Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Karen

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
very nice front desk person
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025