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Blue Sands Motel: Traveler Reviews

421 South Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
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Blue Sands Motel
Ranked #12 of 61 hotels in Santa Barbara
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143 reviews from our community

    Trip type
Traveler rating
    68
    55
    17
    2
    1
Date Rating
Chattanooga, Tennessee
2 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Kind People and Comfortable Space”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 2, 2013

I was really impressed with the front desk staff and the room itself. It was clean and modern and very comfortable! And the location and views are spectacular! The rates were very good and I would recommend this hotel to anyone coming to visit Santa Barbara!

  • Stayed January 2013, traveled on business
    • 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
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask neldurkar about Blue Sands Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Walnut Creek, California
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
4 hotel reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
“Excellent pet-friendly Santa Barbara gem”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 29, 2012

We stayed two nights on our trip down to family for the holidays and opted for the two-bedroom suite (well worth the upgrade at a very reasonable rate). The rooms were spacious and clean, thoughtfully decorated, and seemed recently refurbished. Location was literally a stone throw from East Beach and a 10-minute walk to State Street and the Pier.
The lady in reception was extremely helpful throughout our stay, pointing out local attractions that would be suitable for a young family and even wrote down detailed useful information for us. She was fantastic, a real asset at Blue Sands!
After we had checked out we realized that we had left some items behind and contacted them - they promptly found the items and kept them safe for us until we passed by on our return trip.
We'll definitely be staying at Blue Sands again on our next stay in Santa Barbara and can't recommend them highly enough.

Room Tip: The two-bedroomed suite with an ocean view is a great room!
See more room tips
  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 4 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 2
Ask redstappster about Blue Sands Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Fountain City, Wisconsin
1 review
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
“Don't drive by this one!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 23, 2012

While traveling the West Coast in early December, my wife and I needed a place to stay. We like the small places and usually don't book ahead. We fired up the Garmin and knowing we were close, called and asked for rates. Being happy with the rate we stopped in to see what it was like for curb appeal. Looked good from the street, so we went to the office to see if we can have a look at a room. Very nice! Tastefully decorated with nice furniture and it had a great bed. Needless to say, we had a great night sleep after a good mead at a restaurant recommenced by the owner. A quality place at a decent rate!

  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 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
Was this review helpful? Yes 5
Ask Neil I about Blue Sands Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stockholm, Sweden
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
16 hotel reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
17 helpful votes 17 helpful votes
“Great motel!”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 11, 2012

We stayed one night during a road trip along highway 1 without having a reservation. We got a good rate and no fee for an inflatable mattress (which according to the guy having to sleep on it was very comfy).

The guy in the reception was extremely helpful and offered us to look at the room first. He also gave us advice on delivery pizzas, as the time was rather late. Now we found another place but he wasn't stressed just because he was about to quit for the day but helped us out all the way.

The room had a fireplace which also served as heating. Really nice until it got too hot. The motel is just 100 feet from the beach so the locations is really great.

If going to Santa Barbara again I'd definitely stay at Blue Sands Motel.

  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with friends
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 4 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 4 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask Vinceremo about Blue Sands Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Torrance, CA
1 review
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Wonderful surprise”
4 of 5 stars Reviewed December 10, 2012

Went for a weekend getaway with the family. The room was nice and clean, and the bathroom was recently remodeled. At first I was hesitant about whether it would be suitable because it is a pet-friendly hotel - but I didn't notice any fleas, odor, or damage. Great location, literally across from the beach and State Street just a few minutes by car. Wonderful pool that was well-lit in the evening and heated, too! The price was right and the staff friendly. We've stayed at a number of budget hotels over the years and I would highly recommend the Blue Sands as being one of the best of them.

Room Tip: Choose the upgraded Queen room with remodeled bathroom and the fireplace. Cozy!
See more room tips
  • Stayed December 2012, traveled with family
    • 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
Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Ask Glenn S about Blue Sands Motel
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Additional Information about Blue Sands Motel

Also Known As:
Blue Sands Hotel Santa Barbara
Blue Sands Hotel
Blue Sands Santa Barbara
Address: 421 South Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Phone Number:
Region: United States > California > Santa Barbara
Amenities:
Beach Free High-Speed Internet Free Parking Kitchenette Pets Allowed Suites Swimming Pool
Hotel Style:
#1 On the Beach Hotels in Santa Barbara
#3 Best Value Hotels in Santa Barbara
#6 Family Hotels in Santa Barbara
Price Range: $$
Official Description (provided by the hotel):
The Blue Sands Motel is a small property only a quarter of a block from some of the best beaches in Santa Barbara. Close to shopping and restaurants, we strive to provide you a clean comfortable room at an affordable price. ... more   less 
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