Sands By The Sea Motel San Simeon, San Simeon ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2024

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About the Hotel

9355 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, California, United States of America, 93452

Sands By The Sea Motel is strategically located along California's Central Coast, offering scenic views and proximity to key attractions. This hotel serves as the closest accommodation to the renowned Hearst Castle, providing guests with a unique opportunity to explore this historical landmark. Visitors can also experience local wildlife, including elephant seals at the nearby Piedras Blancas Rookery.

Location

The Sands By The Sea Motel is conveniently located along the famous Highway 1, providing easy access to various iconic attractions in the area. Just a three-mile drive from Hearst Castle, the motel is also close to the Elephant Seal Rookery. San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is 46.5 miles away, making it accessible for travelers coming from further afield.

Rooms

Sands By The Sea offers 33 well-appointed guest rooms designed for comfort. Every room features essential amenities including free WiFi, flat-screen TVs with premium channels, mini-fridges, and microwaves. Accommodations also include options for connecting rooms, ideal for families or groups. Guests can choose between one king or two queen beds, providing flexible arrangements for different travel needs.

Eat & Drink

Dining is available at Cavalier Coastal Kitchen, situated steps from the motel. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a menu of traditional American favorites. Diners can enjoy meals with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, featuring local specialties like Hearst Ranch Beef and fresh seafood. The casual ambiance and reasonable prices enhance the dining experience for all guests.

Leisure & Business

Guests can enjoy leisurely activities along the scenic coastal bluffs or relax around the oceanfront fire pits at the hotel. The fully pet-friendly environment allows pets to accompany families during their coastal getaway. For business travelers, the motel offers free parking and WiFi, creating a practical base for work and leisure in the region.

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Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Queen Room

Max:

4 persons

25 m²

Bed options:

2 King Size Beds

Shower

Coffee machine

room details

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King Room

Max:

2 persons

25 m²

Bed options:

1 King Size Bed

Shower

Coffee machine

room details

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Price and Room Availability Calendar

Check availability and prices for your dates now!

Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

San Simeon 3.4 mi

Airports

San Luis Obispo County Regional (SBP) 44.0 mi

Bus

Bus stop700 ft

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Spotless and Comfy!

The room was impeccably clean, and the beds were incredibly comfortable, providing us a restful night's sleep.view full review

Delicious Dining!

The restaurant next door offered exquisite meals, and the $5 guest voucher made it even better!view full review

Fun Leisure Area!

I loved the interactive games like giant chess and cornhole, which made for a fun and relaxing time overlooking the ocean.view full review

Inclusive Amenities

The facilities were accommodating and welcoming, ensuring that everyone could enjoy their stay comfortably.view full review

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
Free parking
24-hour reception
Pets allowed
Rooms/ Facilities for disabled
Vending machines
Fireplace

Sports & Fitness

Hiking
Cycling
Fishing

Services

Room service

Dining

Restaurant
Picnic area/ Tables

Business

Business center

Spa & Leisure

Indoor swimming pool
Outdoor swimming pool
Beach access
Sun loungers
Pool with view
Shallow end

Room features

Heating
Garden furniture
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Media

Flat-screen TV
AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

9355 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, California, United States of America, 93452

Map view

9355 Hearst Drive, San Simeon, California, United States of America, 93452

City landmarks

W.R. Hearst Memorial Beach

Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay

2100 ft

Plaza del Cavalier

Friends Of The Elephant Seal Gift Shop

2100 ft

Highway 1

Jade Cove

2100 ft

Highway 1 About 2.2 miles north of Old San Simeon

Oak Knoll Creek Beach

2100 ft

San Simeon Creek Road

San Simeon State Park

1.5 mi

Parks

Hearst San Simeon State Park

2.2 mi

Cambria State Marine Conservation Area

1.9 mi

Beach

Leffingwell Landing

2.6 mi

Parks

Leffingwell Landing State Park

2.4 mi

San Simeon Bay

3.1 mi

0.7 Mi S of San Simeon

Vista Point

3.2 mi

San Simeon

San Simeon Pier

3.1 mi

881 Hillcrest Dr

Nitt Witt Ridge

4.1 mi

Gallery

Artifacts Gallery

4.1 mi

836 Main St

Riccardo Spizzamiglio Artist Studio Gallery

4.2 mi

1000 Main St

Cambria Jailhouse

4.3 mi

Nearby

Half Mile North of the Piedras Blancas Light Station.

Boucher trail

500 ft

18862-18610 CA-1

San Carpoforo Creek and Beach

500 ft

Restaurants

Carriage Restaurant

2300 ft

9290 Castillo Dr

Manta Rey Restaurant

2500 ft

9240 Castillo Dr

San Simeon Liquor

1300 ft

431 Pico Ave

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

68%

liked the hotel and would stay again

Fire pits

Private sand area

Facing the highway

Rude service

6.8/10

Nice

Rooms

7.0

Location

8.3

Service

7.3

Dining

5.7

Paul

United States of America, May 2024

6.6/10

My stay at the hotel was a mix of positives and negatives. The rooms were quite affordable and comfortable with an air conditioner in each room, but they did need some repairs and freshening up. Unfortunately, the safety aspect was concerning as the 'porch' light at our door and the outdoor hallway light were both burned out.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms felt comfortable and more affordable with air conditioning in each room. However, they needed some repairs and freshening up, which was a bit of a letdown.

Service

9.0

The service was top-notch with friendly staff. I even had an article of clothing left behind, and they helped retrieve and return it overnight. That was impressive!

Location

8.0

The location was perfect for us, being close to everything in the central coast. We could easily walk to the beach and even had easy access to nearby attractions like Hearst Castle.

Dining

5.0

The dining experience fell short of expectations. While the fresh local fish was a highlight, the breakfast options were basic, limited to just toast and coffee.

Facilities

5.0

The facilities were lacking in terms of safety with burnt-out lights at the entrance. This was disappointing and affected the overall experience.

Robert

United States of America, January 2024

7.4/10

The Cavalier Hotel offers much more affordable and comfortable rooms with each equipped with an air conditioner. The recent renovations with new TVs, beds, and furniture have truly enhanced the rooms' appeal. While spacious, the non-smoking rooms had a noticeable smoke odor, which detracted from the overall comfort. Additionally, the absence of access to the indoor pool was a downside, leading to increased expenses on dining for my family.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms have been renovated and are more comfortable now. However, there was a strong smell of smoke in the supposedly non-smoking rooms.

Service

8.0

The service staff were helpful and efficient, offering overnight retrieval of a forgotten item. The shared facilities like the hot tub and pool with the neighboring property added value to the stay, despite some uncomfortable encounters with staff questioning the presence of daughters in the rooms.

Location

9.0

Located in a perfect pocket close to central coast attractions, the hotel offers beautiful beach views and knowledgeable staff. Though not within easy walking distance, room #148 provides direct ocean access and updated decor for an enjoyable stay.

Dining

6.0

The dining experience was average, with limited breakfast options that may lead to additional expenses. The continental breakfast offerings were basic, impacting convenience for guests.

Facilities

7.0

The hotel offers various facilities, but the absence of access to the indoor pool was disappointing. Shared amenities with the adjacent property enhance the overall experience.

Samuel

United States of America, August 2023

6.4/10

I had a mixed experience at this hotel. It was clean and cute on the 2nd floor with a great area to enjoy fire pits but facing the highway instead of the ocean. The private area on the sand behind the place added some charm to the stay.

Rooms

7.0

My room on the 2nd floor was clean, and the area was cute. The fire pits were a nice touch, but it would have been better if it faced the ocean instead of the highway.

Service

5.0

The service was a bit disappointing. While they lit a fire for guests to enjoy, one staff member named Mark was quite rude to my mother when confirming our booking, and he showed no remorse for his behavior.

Location

8.0

The location is pretty good, easy to find, and very near to the sea. It's really close to the beach, but access requires stairs. It's also convenient for a trip to Hearst Castle.

Dining

6.0

The dining experience was decent. I received a $3 discount at the motel's restaurant, but the advertised offerings were not entirely accurate.

Facilities

6.0

The facilities were average; nothing particularly extraordinary but sufficient for a comfortable stay.

Fire pits

Facing the highway