Sands Inn & Suites, close to California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, offers a relaxing retreat with free continental breakfast and an outdoor pool. Unwind in the spa tub or visit the 24-hour business center; guests also appreciate the helpful staff. Enjoy coffee/tea in the lobby and stay connected with free WiFi.
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Fremont Theater - 18 min walk - 1.6 km
Downtown SLO Farmers' Market - 2 min drive - 1.5 km
Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa - 2 min drive - 2.6 km
Bubblegum Alley - 2 min drive - 1.9 km
Getting around
San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) - 13 min drive
Santa Maria, CA (SMX-Santa Maria Public) - 41 min drive
Grover Beach Station - 17 min drive
San Luis Obispo Station - 25 min walk
Restaurants
Lure Fish House - 17 min walk
Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill - 14 min walk
Scout Coffee Co. - 16 min walk
Field Day Coffee - 15 min walk
The Bobastop - 15 min walk
About this property
Sands Inn & Suites
When you stay at Sands Inn & Suites, you'll be within a 15-minute drive of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and Avila Hot Springs. Guests can take a dip in the outdoor pool or visit the fitness center for a workout. Also, this motel is within a short drive of Avila Beach. Fellow travelers love the helpful staff.
At a glance
DONE
Hotel size
70 rooms
Arranged over 2 floors
DONE
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM
Express check-out available
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out time is 11:00 AM
Contactless check-out available
DONE
Special check-in instructions
An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
DONE
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE
Children
Up to 2 children (17 years old and younger) stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
No cribs (infant beds)
DONE
Pets
Pets allowed (dogs only, 2 total, up to 40 lbs per pet)*
Service animals welcome
Specific rooms only, restrictions apply*
Pets must be supervised
WIFI
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms (speed: 25+ Mbps)
LOCAL_PARKING
Parking
Free covered onsite self parking
Free onsite RV/bus/truck parking
Wheelchair-accessible parking on site
DONE
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Free continental breakfast each morning 7:00 AM–10:00 AM
Late check-out can be arranged for an extra charge of USD 25.00
Children & extra beds
Rollaway beds are available for USD 10.0 per stay
Pets
Service animals exempt from fees
Pet deposit: USD 150 per stay
Pets are allowed for an extra charge of USD 25.00 per accommodation, per night (maximum USD 75.00 per stay)
Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)
Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
Guests can rest easy knowing there's a smoke detector on site.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
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.
Credit cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB International
This property reserves the right to pre-authorize the guest's credit card prior to arrival.
Also known as
Sands Inn
Sands Inn San Luis Obispo
Sands San Luis Obispo
Sands Hotel San Luis Obispo
Sands Inn And Suites
Sands Inn & Suites Motel
Sands Inn & Suites San Luis Obispo
Sands Inn & Suites Motel San Luis Obispo
Frequently asked questions
Does Sands Inn & Suites offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Sands Inn & Suites does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at Sands Inn & Suites?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool. Guests have pool access from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Are pets allowed at Sands Inn & Suites?
Yes, dogs are welcome, with a limit of 2 total and maximum weight of 40 lbs per pet. There's a charge of USD 25.00 per accommodation, per night, and there's also a deposit of USD 150 per stay. Service animals are exempt from fees. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.
Is parking offered on site at Sands Inn & Suites?
Yes, there's free self parking. Free RV/bus/truck parking is available.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Sands Inn & Suites?
Check-in start time: 3:00 PM; Check-in end time: 11:00 PM. Check-out time is 11:00 AM. Late check-out is available for a charge of USD 25.00. Express check-out and contactless check-out are available.
Is there an onsite casino at Sands Inn & Suites?
No, this motel doesn't have a casino, but Central Coast Casino (17-min drive) is nearby.
What is there to do at Sands Inn & Suites and nearby?
Have fun with nearby activities like hiking and mountain biking. Enjoy a swim in the outdoor pool or use the motel's other amenities, which include a fitness center.
What's the area around Sands Inn & Suites like?
Sands Inn & Suites is in the heart of San Luis Obispo, a short 10-minute walk from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and 17 minutes' walk from Fremont Theater.
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Reviews
Sands Inn & Suites Reviews
8.0
Very Good
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
8.2
Cleanliness
7.6
Amenities
8.4
Staff & service
7.8
Eco-friendliness
7.6
Property conditions & facilities
What guests liked
Breakfast was a highlight with many guests praising the variety and quality of the offerings. (22 reviews)
The pool area was a highlight, described as fabulous, great, excellent, and perfect for relaxation. (18 reviews)
Parking was easy and accessible with a huge parking lot available. (6 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Popular mentions
Room
Service staff
Bed
Location
Shower
Breakfast
Bathroom
Furniture
Parking
Downtown
Reviews
8/10 Very good
Sep 29, 2025
The best part of this hotel is the staff members. They were all very friendly and helpful. The property is a little old but conveniently located in a quiet neighborhood.
Tatsuki
Tatsuki, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 25, 2025
everything was perfect.
Eria Othieno
Eria Othieno, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Sep 22, 2025
Clean and comfortable
WEN HUI
WEN HUI, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 22, 2025
Convenient location and affordable price
Asuka
Asuka, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 13, 2025
Lovely hotel with friendly staff
Cindy
Cindy, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 26, 2025
Nice place to stay
Humaira
Humaira, 1-night trip
8/10 Very good
Sep 6, 2025
Ok stay
The stay was good and the service was great. The furnishings was old and even the bedding was old.
it was amazing I’ll definitely stay again. Definitely great staff.
Dezmon
Dezmon, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 20, 2025
Good stay and staff!
Jignesh
Jignesh, 1-night trip
6/10 Good
Aug 29, 2025
Budget Friendly
Room was ok , I booked an economy room but the ac didn’t work , so I upgraded to their premier room which was good , the beds are stiff and we noticed people hanging out at the back of our room by the bathroom window but other than that it was ok
Salbador
Salbador, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Aug 13, 2025
Nice for stopover
Ok for stop over. Air conditioning confusing. Room was large and redone. There are small kitchenettes. Family liked the pool
Kris
Kris, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
May 19, 2025
Perfect location close to downtown and close to the college plus right off the freeway. Really enjoyed our stay!
Carolyn
Carolyn, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jun 16, 2025
It was clean and the staff was nice and very helpful.
celia
celia, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Apr 14, 2025
Nice and quiet place to stay.
Aura
Aura, 2-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 16, 2025
I was in SLO for a family wedding. Check in was easy, the room was clean, the bed was comfortable. The pool was clean, the water was the perfect temperature for cooling off on a hot day. There were beach balls, inner tubes and pool noodles to use. The breakfast was your typical hotel breakfast scrambled eggs, sausage,waffles, cereal, which was fine. Would stay here again if I were to go back to SLO.
Valerie
Valerie, 3-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 21, 2025
Conveniently located
Alicia
Alicia, 2-night trip
4/10 Fair
Aug 23, 2025
Minimal, mediocre motel
Clean on the outside but outdated and minimal inside. Beds old, frameless and uncomfortable. Microwave on bathroom counter, breakfast consisted of packaged muffin and cold cereal. Location was excellent and parking was easy. Expensive for what barely qualifies as a model.
Verified traveler
2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Apr 23, 2025
Nice room - great staff
brandon
brandon, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 4, 2025
Reasonably Price Gem in SLO
The hotel was really clean and easy to reach off the freeway. The remodel really refreshed the room. Parking was really easy and accessible. Only issue was the bed springs. Each time I got up or lie down, the springs made noises. The remodeled bathroom was really good with a good size bathtub and nice fixtures.
W S
W S, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Aug 22, 2025
Friendly Service..hard beds
The front desk guy was super polite and helpful. The room was clean but it smelled like all the cleaning chemicals the whole night through the morning. The sheets smelled like they were left in the washer over night and then taken out. The bed is super hard and noisy.
Cathy
Cathy, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Feb 26, 2025
Great hotel
Breanna
Breanna, 1-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Mar 19, 2025
Great place to stay on such short notice
Jacob
Jacob, 2-night trip
8/10 Very good
Jul 18, 2025
I recommend!
We had a little issue at check-in that forced us to stay at a nearby hotel for the first night, but management at Sands Inn & Suites was very nice and worked with us to solve the issue promptly. The rest of our stay was flawless, and I would definitely recommend staying here. The rooms aren't as updated as some of the other hotels in the area but they have everything you need for a comfortable stay, including a very hospitable staff.
Verified traveler
4-night trip
10/10 Exceptional
Jun 16, 2025
Renovations looked great! Staff was nice! Almost nice of the plug-ins in our room worked tho, lol