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Sands Inn & Suites: Traveler Reviews

2.5 of 5
1930 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Hotel amenities
Sands Inn & Suites
Ranked #13 of 31 hotels in San Luis Obispo
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127 reviews from our community

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Traveler rating
    31
    43
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Date Rating
San Francisco, California
1 review
“What 1969 looks like”
1 of 5 stars Reviewed August 25, 2012

Original carpet, bed spreads, and even tv! The travel lodge is looking really good as I type this. The parking lot is by the majority of rooms, so be sure to ask for one upstairs! I'm am impressed that they've added a dvd player via rca cables to plug into the the tv with integrated vcr.

Room Tip: Don't stay here!
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  • Stayed August 2012, traveled with family
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Location
    • 1 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 1 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 3 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask ron r about Sands Inn & Suites
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
los angeles, ca
Senior Contributor
43 reviews 43 reviews
27 hotel reviews
Reviews in 24 cities Reviews in 24 cities
54 helpful votes 54 helpful votes
“Good place to stop in SLO”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed August 22, 2012

We stayed for one night last week, very last minute. Making a same day reservation during the summer with a dog was no easy feat, but the staff was really fantastic! The hotel was clean, but the rooms were a little cramped. The owners would benefit from some easy upgrades. The beds were not-so-comfy and had kind of icky comforters, and the lack of a/c in the rooms was a bummer. We were overly warm, as we had a first floor room and our dog was restless from hearing the activity outdoors. If I were to stay here again I'd definitely request a second floor room. But, it was perfectly adequate for a one night stay, especially for a place that allowed dogs, and the staff made it a very friendly and welcoming place. There were mini-fridges in the rooms, which would be great for an extended stay to explore the area. Breakfast was included and was fine - nothing outrageous but the bagels and waffles were good. Obviously I can't stress enough the awesomeness of the staff - they really made the stay worth it and are the highlight of this place - they even had delicious fresh baked cookies in the lobby, as well as a giant book of DVDs you could borrow for free!

Room Tip: Ask for a room on the second floor if possible, or for a room overlooking the pool instead of the pa...
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  • Stayed August 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 2 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 3
Ask amksba about Sands Inn & Suites
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Matthew W, General Manager at Sands Inn & Suites, responded to this review
August 25, 2012
amksba,

Thank you. Your comments on the service – which our staff tries so very hard to provide – make my day. As a manager, if the hotel I work...
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
n/a
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
13 hotel reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
19 helpful votes 19 helpful votes
“One-night stay in SLO”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed August 5, 2012

We went to SLO to visit a friend for dinner and breakfast.
Nice place; would stay again; most rooms in 2-story buildings. We were on bottom floor; very little noise from top floor (even though the place appeared full). There are about 8, queen-sized rooms in single story building which you can request if you do not want someone above you (no separate sink from toilet/shower). Did not try breakfast though it looked nice. Likewise the pool (which we would have tried had we not been out so late). Quick and easy drive into downtown. A half-dozen or more other motels are in the same block.

  • Stayed August 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 3 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 3 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask cj02139 about Sands Inn & Suites
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Matthew W, General Manager at Sands Inn & Suites, responded to this review
August 25, 2012
cj02139,

Thank you for letting your fellow travelers know that the Sands Inn & Suites is a nice place to stay when visiting San Luis Obispo.

I agree with you about the location — we are a stone’s throw from the downtown shopping district and the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, which was built in 1772. We are also just under a mile from the campus of Cal Poly.

It sounds like it was a quick trip this time around, so you were unable to take full advantage of our deluxe continental breakfast or heated swimming pool. That’s a shame, because in addition to our service, comfort and convenience, I think our breakfast and swimming pool really add a lot of value. But it does sound like me may see you again at some point, so there’s always next time!

TIP: if you can, start the weekend early and come over on Thursday evening to visit our AMAZING farmer’s market. The trolley stops right at our doorstep and costs just 50 cents for a ride down to the market. Stock up on fresh fruit, have some delicious BBQ and listen to a variety of live music. It’s the thing to do here on Thursdays, and is often the highlight of the week. One could easily roll it into a long-weekend.

Warm regards,

Matthew F. Wilkins
General Manager
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Scottsdale, Arizona
1 review
“Nice stay”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed July 14, 2012

With two boys, two dogs, my husband and myself we reserved a one room suite. It was a nice clean suite with plenty of room. Great value & great location. They have a selection of movies you can check out of the office and offer a (better than most) breakfast. The staff was very accomodating. We will most likely stay again on our next trip to SLO.

Room Tip: We stayed in room 250. From the sitting area you have a beautiful room of the two peaks.
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  • Stayed July 2012, traveled with family
    • 4 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Carrie85259 about Sands Inn & Suites
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Matthew W, General Manager at Sands Inn & Suites, responded to this review
July 17, 2012
Carrie85259,

Thank you for noticing the cleanliness of our rooms. Our housekeepers take pride in their work, and they will be delighted to know that their efforts were recognized. We also appreciate your comments about our breakfast, service and value.

With two dogs, two boys and a husband, you must have your hands full. I’m glad you found one of our Pet-Friendly suites to be a good fit for your clan to spread out and get some rest.

The two peaks you mention that you were able to view from your room are Bishop Peak (1,559 feet) and Madonna Mountain (1,292 feet). Both peaks have excellent hiking. In addition, Madonna has equestrian and mountain-biking trails, while Bishop has excellent rock-climbing routes. The peaks are a part of the “Nine Sisters” chain that stretches from San Luis west into in the sea. They are known as “Morros,” which are actually ancient dormant (thankfully!) volcanoes. One of my favorite things to do is watch the sunset from the top of Bishop, especially when the full moon is rising. You can see all the way to Pismo Beach, and even Morro Rock in Morro Bay. Check it out some time.

Hope to see you and your family at The Sands Inn & Suites again soon!

Matthew F. Wilkins
General Manager
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Reston, VA
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
7 hotel reviews
Reviews in 6 cities Reviews in 6 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
“Pleasant surprise”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed July 11, 2012

Room and bed were Clean and odor-free. The staff was easygoing and hospitable. The breakfast was the best on our trip, well-stocked with waffles and fresh fruit. High speed internet, fridge, micro included and they did not try to upcharge for any services. Note that it is a motel with the flavor of an Inn, for example a cozy living room in the lobby. They also have 24 hours a day coffee and a free computer station with Internet in lobby. Once we got over the hokey country furnishings we really felt very comfortable at this place and would stay again.

Room Tip: Staff let us pick from the available rooms, which we really appreciated.
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  • Stayed July 2012, traveled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask the_elms about Sands Inn & Suites
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
, General Manager at Sands Inn & Suites, responded to this review
July 12, 2012
the_elms,

Thank you so much for your kinds words about our property. We really appreciate you taking the time to let us know how your stay went.

You seem like an astute traveler, and I think you described our property fairly. I’m glad you enjoyed the breakfast. We think it’s a great value, and we are proud of the options that we provide. Nonetheless, we are looking at ways to expand and improve our offerings – something to look forward to on your next trip to the west coast and visit to the Sands.

I know the winters are pretty mild in Virginia, but if it does get too chilly in January or February, mild-mannered San Luis Obispo will be right here waiting. You do however have those lovely fall colors, of which we are jealous.

Cheers!

Matthew F. Wilkins
General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
 
 
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Additional Information about Sands Inn & Suites

Also Known As:
Sands Hotel
Sands Inn And Suites
Sands Hotel San Luis Obispo
Sands San Luis Obispo
Address: 1930 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Region: United States > California > San Luis Obispo County > San Luis Obispo
Amenities:
Free Breakfast Free Parking Pets Allowed Swimming Pool Wheelchair access
Hotel Style:
Ranked #13 of 31 hotels in San Luis Obispo
Price Range: $$
Hotel Class:2.5 star (2.5*)
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