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    Rio Sands Hotel

    3.0 (170 reviews)
    ModerateHotels
    Open 8:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Rio Sands Hotel Photos

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    Living room with rollaway bed.
    Mary R.

    Loved it! I thought it was going to be straight ghetto but turned out not bad at all. We stayed 2 nights. It is super close to the beach and the pool hot tub area was great. Even had a place to grill if we had wanted to. Only thing I would say could have been better would be to have so cups. The place had a small kitchen with full size fridge. However absolutely no cups,plates, bowls, or silverware of any kind.

    No more free breakfast

    Rio Sands has been a destination for our family for about 35 years. The hotel has gone through several owners and overall the improvements have been great. My latest stay had one disappointment after another. Starting with check in. If you wanted to get in early there was a 30$ charge. Went to complimentary breakfast in the morning only to find out they stopped offering it in September even though web site still lists it. No more coffee makers in rooms and yes there is coffee in the office which doesn't open until 9am. Pool now doesn't open till 10am. Love the location, staff is great, I just wasn't prepared for all the negative changes.

    Drive down the hill to hotel

    Charming. Close to the beach, clean and well-designed, quiet... Loved it and will stay here again.

    2 room suite front room

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    6 years ago

    Love this hotel! I have been taking my children here for years!

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    Nick Y.

    Thank you for staying with us! We hope to see you again.

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    Page 3 of 5

    Ask the Community - Rio Sands Hotel

    Review Highlights - Rio Sands Hotel

    Walking distance to a great eatery which I'll review separately and to the Rio Del Mar Beach & State Park.

    Mentioned in 6 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Seacliff Inn Aptos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

    (110 reviews)

    $$

    Room was clean and spacious. Bed and pillows were comfie. The restaurant has a wonderful ambiance…read more There is an outdoor pool but was not heated so was a bit chilly. The jacuzzi was just ok-needed a good cleaning. Can hear your neighbor's including dogs but wouldn't keep us from coming back!!

    This is our third year coming to this hotel. The customer service has really gone down hill. The…read moreproperty itself is nice, the live bands and back patio are fun and the rooms are clean. No one acts like the enjoy their jobs at this property. Everyone looks put out and grumpy. We didn't get towels for our room. They took them but didn't replace them. No big deal, but a good way to give good service would be to get us some quickly. I called the front desk. 5 minutes later I heard something outside our door. It was an employee with a badge and key opening a supply closet. I told her we called for new towels. She said, "I am sure they will be by shortly". I noticed the cart at the end of the hall. I called the front desk and they said, it had only been 6 minutes since my last call. I explained that I would have expected the person in the hall to have grabbed towels for me instead of acting like it wasn't her job. I offered to come down to the front desk in my PJs to get towels but they said they were on the way. After my shower and drying off with hand towels they arrived. When I went to check out I asked for a printout of my charges. The printout was so confusing and it looked like I was charged for parking when it was credited. So confusing! I asked the front desk for an explanation and they acted like I was dumb. I know customer service work is not always fun. I really go out of my way to be nice, but I am sad this property is becoming just another normal hotel where you hope to get basic decent service.

    Seascape Beach Resort - Pool from lobby was under construction at valentines week but we never heard it

    Seascape Beach Resort

    (583 reviews)

    An Unforgettable Evening at "Whiskey on the Water"…read more The "Whiskey on the Water" dinner series at Seascape Beach Resort is an absolute masterclass in hospitality. Jesse Scott and his team have created a hosting experience that rivals some of the finest dining events I've ever attended. Perched atop the Seascape bluff overlooking Monterey Bay, the setting is simply breathtaking. Watching the sunset over the Pacific creates the perfect backdrop for an elegant evening. What truly sets this event apart, however, is the exceptional service. Every member of the staff was attentive, polished, and genuinely invested in making the experience memorable. Their attention to detail rivaled--and in many cases exceeded--that of many five-star establishments. The food and whiskey pairings were outstanding. Chef Jae Moon delivered an exceptional menu that paired beautifully with an incredible selection of bourbons, including several rare expressions that even seasoned collectors don't often have the opportunity to enjoy. The educational component elevated the evening even further. The Suntory representative shared fascinating history and insights with the perfect balance of expertise, personality, and humor, making each tasting both informative and entertaining. From the spectacular setting and world-class hospitality to the remarkable food and exceptional spirits, every detail was thoughtfully executed. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend attending one--or several--of these upcoming dinners. It was an unforgettable experience from start to finish, and I can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended!

    My husband and I celebrated our mini honeymoon at Seascape last year and loved our experience so…read moremuch that we came back to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. From the moment we arrive, the staff is always warm, welcoming, and accommodating. We'd also like to give a special shoutout to the golf cart drivers--every single one we've had has been incredibly friendly, polite, and made getting around the resort such a pleasant experience. We love all of the nearby restaurants, and this time we finally had the chance to try Sanderlings. The food was delicious!! The resort itself is absolutely beautiful, but our favorite part is the direct beach access. The beach is always clean, peaceful, and the perfect place to relax and unwind. Seascape has become a special place for us, and we can't wait to continue making memories here. We'll definitely be back!

    Best Western Plus Capitola By-the-Sea Inn & Suites - Lobby

    Best Western Plus Capitola By-the-Sea Inn & Suites

    (202 reviews)

    $$

    We found this Best Western to be a really lovely surprise. The room was very clean, the beds very…read morecomfortable, the breakfast selection quite varied and very good, and the overall quite enjoyable. This is not at all what we expected, and will definitely stay here again when we visit.

    Out of all the hotels, motels, hostels, and lodging places I've stayed at over the years, it is…read morequite rare for me give one particular place a perfect five-star rating. Reason being is that most popular point out the negatives over the positives. However, the "Best Western Plus Capitola By-the-Sea Inn & Suites" in Capitola, CA absolutely exceeded my expectations in every way possible. Located directly on 41st Ave and just south of Capitola Ave, this hotel is in prime location with an abundant amount of retail stores and restaurants. Most importantly, it is only about a mile away from the beaches and of course, the Pacific Ocean. My lady and booked our stay for one night via-Priceline for the night of Friday 9/4/2026. What made this process easy was that I received a text alert saying that I had the option to check in early. Since we arrived around 2pm, we went to the front desk, provided the credit card I would be using, and was good to go. Our guest suite was amazing complete with a king size bed, sectional sofa, desk/study area, large 55" LED TV, spacious closet, mini fridge, microwave, coffeemaker, digital thermostat, fast Wi-Fi, and multiple USB outlets to charge your wireless devices. The blue colored walls and ocean prints also give you that California coast feeling, a very nice touch. I also wanted to point out that the bathroom also had amazing amenities including various soaps, hand lotions, and even a shower cap complete with lots of towels and wash cloths. The exterior was equally as impressive. This included a 24-hour fitness center, a heated pool/jacuzzi that is open every day from 10am-10pm (complete with a restroom), an ice machine w/adjacent snack vending machine, and a dedicated breakfast/cafeteria area (that is open daily from 6am-10am). I got to enjoy bacon, over medium eggs, biscuits & gravy, a yogurt parfait, coffee, and juice. They also carry assorted cereals, fruits, a waffle maker, pre-packaged Danishes, bagels, and toasts. Some of the other perks was an amazing waterfall at the front lobby, an onsite washer/dryer, and a dedicated room with local brochures around the Santa Cruz/Monterey area. Finally, the parking lot (which is located at the rear of the hotel) has more than enough parking spaces as well as several charging stations for those that drive an electric vehicle. One really amazing perk that elevated our entire experience was that we had made reservations for one of Capitola's most well-known and prestigious restaurants, "Shadowbrook". What made this uniquely special was that the staff that work here made special accommodations to have us picked up and taken via-1955 Checker Cab from the hotel to the restaurant! It even drove us back to our hotel when we were done eating our dinner. I will say that this hotel is as good as it gets when it comes to an amazing and memorable experience. We both slept peacefully (as the bed was comfy), the shower worked flawlessly, and most importantly, the staff was very courteous and friendly. I wanted to add that the rate we paid was unbeatable and way better than I had expected. If you ever plan on visiting Santa Cruz or Capitola for business or pleasure, definitely stay at the "Best Western Plus Capitola By-the-Sea Inn & Suites". My rating, a unanimous five stars.

    Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Santa Cruz - Capitola - 7/21/25 FYI. Good size room.

    Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Santa Cruz - Capitola

    (249 reviews)

    $$

    Alex is not good, she does not check on people, she's rude, she acts like everything is a problem…read morewhen it's not. Alex only cared about customers when they are men, she made us feel unwelcome to be in the hotel we are staying in! She's not personable at all. Terrible customer service overall. Aimee on the other hand, she is amazing. She checked up on us, made sure our experience was amazing. Aimee needs a raise. Alex needs a downgrade.

    The 3 star review is for the reasons below. But if I could give a separate five star review it…read morewould be for for Julian, who on our second day here helped us with everything we needed. The day before when we checked in, it was not the most friendliest checked in. My wife and I had questions with our room because we were looking for one with 2 beds instead of one queen and a pullout bed wouldn't be comfortable because we had one of our friends joining us for a wedding and didn't want her on a pullout bed. The person at the front desk was very short acted like we were bothering her and said nothing was available, this was at 4:00pm. I get it, the later you check in the harder it is to get what you want. So why at 7:30am the next morning my wife went to the front desk, spoke with Julian and he said there were plenty of rooms they could put us in with the 2 queens. On top of that he said some were available yesterday because they were not occupied. The downside of the hotel is it's a tough place to get out of the parking lot if you're in a hurry because it's a one-way street and as we found out prior when you come in after 10 o'clock, it's a tough place to find parking at the hotel. Besides to two hick ups this is a typical Fairfield Inn, the rooms are comfortable and the housekeeping staff is very friendly.

    Ocean Echo Inn & Beach Cottages - Sunrise

    Ocean Echo Inn & Beach Cottages

    (197 reviews)

    $$

    Extremely disappointed with how Ocean Echo Inn handled this situation with NO empathy and terrible…read morecustomer service. We arrived at the hotel at about 430PM...after the posted 4 PM check in time and were told our $450 room still wasn't ready. While waiting, staff directed us toward their beach access without mentioning that it was completely flooded and unusable. my Kids wanted out of the car and to play in the sand so we walked around the block to the public access instead, where I slipped, fractured my foot, and ended up in the ER. We immediately returned to the hotel, before 5pm... explained what happened, and left for the hospital without ever occupying our room. I then spent weeks calling and being told the owners would contact me. They never did. After I finally sent a formal written complaint, management acknowledged in writing that our room had not been ready on time, but instead of refunding a room we never used, they offered a 50% hotel credit that expires in 60 days. My injury is serious enough that I won't even be medically cleared to return to work within those 60 days, much less plan another vacation to this hotel. I explained that their credit was literally unusable for me and again requested a refund. They stopped responding altogether. I'm not claiming the hotel is responsible for a fall that occurred on public property. I'm angry about how they treated us afterward. We paid over $450, our room wasn't ready when it should have been, we never used it because I had to go to the ER, and after weeks of chasing them for help, their solution was essentially a time limited coupon to come back and give them more business. Absolutely unacceptable customer service.

    The cottage was clean and the staff were super friendly, and they let us have a late check out…read morewhich was great. The cottage was 4 stars; the staff were 5 stars. I would give the location 1 star. Unfortunately the area during the summer is very noisy and a college party zone. On Friday evening, there was music on the beach playing very loudly until past midnight, though quiet hours are supposed to start at 10pm. On Saturday during the day, there was loud music all afternoon until 8pm. The cottages are not sound proof so it was not a relaxing atmosphere. Once the music finally stopped, we could hear the waves from Sunny Cove, which was nice. 3 stars overall rating due to the noise and neighborhood atmosphere.

    Rio Sands Hotel - hotels - Updated September 2026

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