Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

Expectations were low given the star rating. While the staff were nice, the room was poorly maintained, the only amenity was mediocre coffee in the lobby, and our ceiling fan hadn’t been cleaned in weeks, at least. Others in our group, staying in other rooms, also had issues.

The staff was very accommodating to me during my stay.

We love this family friendly property. Close enough to walk to the beach!

Exceptional

Location Room smelled terrible, like mold and bleach

Exceptional

Location Pool should be heated. Pool towels tiny. Floors could be cleaner. They always had a breakfast room with complimentary breakfast items. No longer there.

non-sliding back door - needs to be replaced. No drinking glasses in room.

Location, comfy beds, that's all. non-sliding back door - needs to be replaced. No drinking glasses in room.

The bathroom was pretty dirty

What a great find! Stayed with friends! Great location to the beach, cute coffee shop around the corner. Great outdoor courtyard with grills and heated pool and spa. Kid friendly. The only thing missing is a coffee maker in the room and a propane fire pit would be perfect outside. Will defiantly come back.

very thin walls, noisy neighbors kept us up for a while. loud trucks started up at 2:30 am and again at 5:30 am right outside our room window. while the rooms are very spacious, the overall stay was not very enjoyable due to all the noise.

Perfect Location. Beach & convenience in walking distance. Wonderful Staff

Perfect Location. Beach & convenience in walking distance. Wonderful Staff

Had to request coffee pot and bring our own utensils and plates for kitchen

Location is the best, place is clean & outdoor areas well kept. Bathrooms are small but the location & staff are worth dealing with no counter space!

The rooms are always very clean and staff is very helpful. It's just a short walk to the beach which is a big plus. We have stayed there for the past 3 years, and it's always been great.

Front desk needs help

Clean room. Courteous staff. Great location.

Location near the beach Construction starting before the 8:00 quiet hour and we weren't made aware ahead of time.

Location near the beach Construction starting before the 8:00 quiet hour and we weren't made aware ahead of time.

I have stayed here before and that’s why I came back. I’m on the road for months and once a week I need to do laundry and cook up my food for the week. They have 3 fantastic grills here and the laundry machines works flawlessly. The staff is great and the rooms are clean. The pool area is very inviting.

Staff was awesome and location the best! Shower drain slow and no bathroom countertops. Enjoyed the patio furniture and kitchen

This property is very nice the staff are excellent the location is excellent if you're looking for hanging out at the beach two blocks away would highly recommend staying at this resort I will stay there again when I go back to California in the future for sure

Beach is great. Lost of people walking with dogs. BBQ on the beach is possible Room was good for a beach vacation. No breakfast but just coffee. I like the silence and the pool. The hot tub was not warm enough to my taste. The pool is supposed to open at 10am, but was not.

Beach is great. Lost of people walking with dogs. BBQ on the beach is possible Room was good for a beach vacation. No breakfast but just coffee. I like the silence and the pool. The hot tub was not warm enough to my taste. The pool is supposed to open at 10am, but was not.

Good

The proximity to the beach. The size of the rooms and the multiple bed offerings, the clean pool area lounge area are very nice. The rooms had some questionable dirty things. The pillow had a literal booger on it it seemed. And a chewed up gumball was on the floor gross

The proximity to the beach. The size of the rooms and the multiple bed offerings, the clean pool area lounge area are very nice. The rooms had some questionable dirty things. The pillow had a literal booger on it it seemed. And a chewed up gumball was on the floor gross

Staff were nice. They didn't have the room we had booked available which was a

The service was great and our room was clean I wish we would have had more time to explore the area it's close to the beach our kids loved it

The room was really clean and spacious. Had all the amenities. My slider opened up to a patio and a beautiful courtyard. The pool was right there as well as a short cut to the beach, which was very close. The staff was great also. I used their barbecue grill which worked very well, and they had a nice little picnic area.

The beds were comfortable and the pool and hot tub were great. That there isn't breakfast anymore. Also it says check in at 3 but when I went there was a sign that said be right back. Same thing during checkout.

The beds were comfortable and the pool and hot tub were great. That there isn't breakfast anymore. Also it says check in at 3 but when I went there was a sign that said be right back. Same thing during checkout.

We love Rio sands. Been coming for over 25 years! Staff changes but always sweet. There has been a new owner change so alot has changed the past year. No more breakfast and just other nice little hotel perks. Hopefully he understands the guests that are longer than him and can be kind…. A lot of changes hve been rigid, and sadly will push the long-term moves away!! But as of now we will come. Crystal, the front one of the front desk, girls very sweet and kind but she’s also been there a while.!!

Staff was pleasant when they were there but there were times when no one was present. Rooms could have more amenities like coffee maker, charging station, are bathroom sink didn’t have soap.

Exceptional

Very courteous staff, great location

Very good

The Front desk Girl (Brooke?) was super nice and helpful!

Enjoyed our stay. Room is spacious and comfortable. Lovely location. Great pool and hot tub.

Staff was very helpful and professional.

Staff were friendly, helpful and very accommodating w last minute needs we had. Location was a bonus:Peaceful chill vibe the moment we arrived.

Kitchen with no pans, no utensils no plates. Warm room , no fan or even ceiling fan. TV with no streaming or premium channels, banging from Maintenance. No lotion. Thin walls. Only good thing is they allowed me to switch rooms to an upstairs room. The people upstairs walked like the had cement I'm their shoes.

The staff was great, however the pool hours were odd. 10am to 9 pm. The only coffee on site was at the front desk area, which opened at 9 am. The room was good. However the kitchenette had no dishes, not even glasses to get water.

No room service and no staff to be found. They advertise breakfast online but when u get there they say no but have coffe but office doesn’t open till 9am.

Although the staff were nice and the hotel was clean. I don’t think I would return. The bed was hard and noisy. There was no coffee pot or even water cups. The heater was so loud it woke us up all night. No WiFi or breakfast but the price was pretty good. The short walk to the beach was convenient.

We loved the location of the room and the hot tub

The room was very tired and worn from the flooring to the paint, to the bathroom. Presumably it was clean from the strong smell of bleach but it was less than clean

Just so comfortable!

Spacious room in a wonderful location close to Rio Del Mar and Seacliff beaches. The price for the location can’t be beat. The negatives were that rooms were a bit noisy and lacked insulation. Could hear neighbors in the next room and there was a cold draft from the front door. It also lacked a coffee machine in the room which I found odd. But those were small things and we’d likely stay here again

The pool and spa setup was great.

We were very happy with the facilities and room size. In past we had continental breakfast which was still listed on the website and not currently available. $50 for cookware set for a full size kichen was not acceptable. At least a minimum plates, cups . Also no coffeemaker, but was provided upon request.

This used to be my very very very favorite place. Stay away, friends.

Fantastic place. Doesn’t really look that great at first glance . The location is perfect and the room we had was a fresh remodel. Took a short ride to Manual’s Mexican restaurant. Highly recommend going there if you stay here. A few restaurants walking distance, but worth the trip to Manual’s. Pool and hot tub were clean and in the sun ( we were there in November) . Beach is a block away and so is Pixi deli ( great for breakfast and Verve coffee)

Great location. Helpful staff via phone.

The staff was very courteous, check in was easy. The room could have been cleaner, the floors show wear and tear. The hot tub was gross. There were so many tiny particles floating around it was a distraction from it usually being a relaxing place. My husband didn't rinse his suit out afterwards and the next day it smelled like vomit. Please clean the hot tub! It's affordable and walking distance to the beach in a quiet neighborhood near some great restaurants.

Was just what I was looking for. Walk to beach. Older building but well kept. Not super well sound insulated, we could hear neighbors.

The check in was a hassle took much longer than expected

The staff was great and the place is very clean. However, the bed was like a 50 year old spring mattress that 30 people slept in the middle of for 10 years. AWFUL! Every time i moved the sound woke me up. I spent my last night on the floor cuz my back was a wreck. No hot water in my shower. Until i moved it to COLD. Not even a small area to smoke. In the dark i had to stand on the street corner

I had a second-floor room in the main building of the property. It was decent but could have been cleaner, especially the bathtub, microwave, and small refrigerator. A few months ago I stayed in a room in the Sands Building of the property, and it was outstanding. I expected a lot based on that prior visit.

Thin walls

A great location near the old cement ship. A great place to unwind with a pool and hot tub!

Check-in was smooth. The king room with a balcony is great. Clean and comfortable.

Pool nice. Didn’t have view from room but walk to beach was minutes away

It was ok. Nice place but no breakfast

They no longer provide breakfast, but everything else was very nice

Great location and easy walk to the beach.

this was a nice hotel but there were no drinking glasses in the room.

The entire property was serene and enjoyable! And sooo close to the beach!

Loved that I could just walk around the corner to the beach

The room was recently updated and clean. Bed was on the firmer side, which I like. The only thing to keep in mind is that they give you a pool towel card with your room keys, and the card says $20 fee if you dont return the card to the front desk before leaving. The front desk doesn't open until 8 a.m., however. Just something to keep in mind.

Love the location. Surprisingly comfortable and exceeded my expectations.

The room is beautiful and generally very clean, but the mildew smell was overwhelming—even with windows open. I kept them open except at night, yet still woke up congested with a headache. Symptoms eased when I was out for the day but returned each time I came back. By the second night, my breathing worsened, and without my inhaler on hand, I had to cut my trip short. I mentioned the smell to management; they offered another room, but I needed to go home for my inhaler. I requested a refund for that night. The manager said they’d follow up, but after several days and a later email, I’ve heard nothing. I’ve stayed at this hotel annually for years and have always appreciated the location and value, which makes leaving this review difficult. However, Room 144 is not suitable for anyone sensitive to mold, and guests should be forewarned. I hope management addresses this promptly so loyal visitors can continue to enjoy their stays.

Ice machine very noisy across small courtyard from our patio door. Started at 6am went to 10p

We liked the place and have stayed here before. However, this time the bed was extremely uncomfortable.

Best bang for your buck right off the Aptos beach

Great staff (made up for no continental breakfast as advertised- guess had stopped month prior, but coffee in lobby all day) clean and nicely decorated room, great pool, great location-couple minute walk to beach.

Located away from the hustle and bustle of the beach boardwalk area, yet still family friendly, this hotel is a pleasant getaway to the coast. Beach is a short walk and Aptos dining and grocery stores are a short drive.

Amazing location and great amenities

Overall though, the things that make this motel exceptional are location, location, location. Two minute walk to the beach.

Only thing that was missing was breakfast.

Best beds and pillows ♥️

Room smelled bad, had to open windows and door. The bathroom mirror was useless. It was placed to the right side of the countertop so you had to lean forward and look to the right to see yourself. Only 3 single tissues in the bathroom. All they had for breakfast was cold cereal. They began cleaning the room before we checked out.

We really enjoyed our trip to Aptos at Rio Sands. Our room was a perfect location with a few steps to the pool and hot tub with a nice view of the garden area. Everyone was very helpful and receptive to our needs. It was so nice to be walking distance to the beach. 🏖️

Loved the place !

Close to the beach and restaurants

When I asked for a discount, I was offered 10% off, which I appreciated—however, when they ran my card the total was $458, while my Expedia confirmation (including taxes and fees) was $363. This was surprising, as we have never been charged more than our booking total before. Another change is the continental breakfast. In the past, it included eggs, bacon, and sausage; now those items are gone, which was disappointing given how much we’ve enjoyed that in previous stays. I truly hope management reconsiders better communication about amenities and billing transparency. We have loved this hotel for many years, but this visit fell short of expectations.

Love the location , beach is one street over, king room with living room and full kitchen, room was clean and nice , safe area. Walking distance from a coffee light breakfast spot, a convenient store, a deli serving hot and cold food, and a sit down restaurant, tried the coffee shop and deli both good. The pool was down for service but hotel called to let me know the night before . I was disappointed to find out breakfast was not being offered but coffee was available in the lobby. I would definitely recommend this hotel .

Love this sweet little hotel, that is so close to the beach. The pool is nice, and the rooms are clean and comfy. The only thing I would appreciate would be a protein option with their complimentary breakfast. But we loved staying there none-the-less.

Fantastic service, quick response time, clean rooms and facilities.

The pool was closed on Labor Day weekend and the breakfast didn’t really have any choices! There were waffle machines but no waffle batter to make waffles and there wasn’t anything else to really eat!

Wish it had AC option or ceiling fan

Rooms were nice and clean. The outdoor pool and spa area are nice and clean. 3 min walk to the beach.

We were disappointed the pool was out of service during our stay. A very small note: the plant in the entryway next to the lobby would look much better if the leaves were dusted :-)

The pool was closed because the filter was broken, so we were able to cancel without charge. The night that we did stay the room was clean. However, the continental breakfast was basic - 2 cereal choices (Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch), toast, waffle or oat meal. Car parking was tight, we got a door ding. It was less than 5 min from the beach, so hard to beat.

This place is great.

The continental breakfast has really changed. Almost nothing healthy offered. No fruit, yogurt, bagels or hard boiled eggs.

Property was very noisy! Walls and doors were not soundproof so you heard everyone day and night. Location steps from the beach was good but limited places to eat.

Nicely renovated and maintained. Great value for the price. Super friendly and helpful staff. A short walk to the beach. Wonderful stay.

The location is perfect. Super close to the beach.

Quiet and clean, very accomodating Breakfast was disappointing. Only cold oatmeal (heat not on), no syrup for waffles ( ran out), toaster did not work. Front desk staff very pleasant.

Great location but needs some TLC including improving WI-FI and the abysmal Continental breakfast.

It was a great stay, room was clean and bed was very comfortable with lots of pillows. Free breakfast was ok, could be better with some protein options, like hard boiled eggs.

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely go back

Fireplace breakfast with room Walk to the beach Coffee shop/ Pastries Deli

Perfect ‼️ nice breakfast comfortable beds Would stay there again. Friendly and accommodating staff.

Comfortable beds, walking distance to beach

Great!

The room was clean, beds were comfy. There are great places to eat along the shore within walking distance. Easy access to the beach and running trail. We had the window open and it was car week, so some outside traffic noise in the early morning, but we were grateful they did not hike up the room costs for car week by an outrageous amount! Would stay again.

Very nice all around and also a very reasonable value. Would definitely stay here in the future.

We just needed close place that was clean and convenient We lost power to the hotel in the morning and we unable to shower and get ready for our scheduled appointments which was very frustrating When I went down to the office to see when the power was due to come back on they said that it was not due to come on until late afternoon maybe We know that these things happen and are never convenient but the front desk person could of been a bit more proactive with helping us find a solution to accommodating our situation No care and just walked away

Hotel was great, very well run. If you have a kitchen you need to pay $50 for cutlery, crockery and cooking utensils - they aren't automatically in the unit. The Rio del Mar beach is very neglected and dirty, not sure why, as it's in a nice area. Also be aware that the area is foggier than Santa Cruz Boardwalk Beach, so worth driving there for better weather and frankly a much nicer beach. Nisene State Park is 5 min from the hotel and has beautiful Redwoods and plenty of hiking opportunities. Overall still a great place to stay.

Comfortable bed, very clean. Facilities were wonderful. We definitely stay here again.

Excellent location. The room has plenty of

room was clean and decent. staff was friendly. parking was no issue. the beach is walking distance.

I liked that we had a balcony!

This hotel is in a great location with the beach and restaurants within walking distance. The rooms are clean and the pool and hot tub are well maintained. The breakfast choices are minimal and offer few choices.

Great place to stay, staff is friendly and walking distance to beach!

Close to the beach

We love staying here due to the proximity to the beach. The different room set-ups are great for families. Easy check-in, good breakfast, cute pool…we’ll be back!

You need to ask for towels. We had a reservation for 4 we did not get enough towels or coffee mugs. We had the TV on pst 10pm and someone called and said we needed to keep it down when the volume was only at 4. The area is beautiful beach is one short walk.

No air conditioning I sleep with the ac on all year summer and winter just a mild cool air flowing, this place will tell you we are by the beach we don’t need ac idgaf where I’m at if I pay $450-$500 it better come with a ac especially when the hotel is old and equivalent to the crack motels in San Jose on Monterey highway

Location is great. Room was only cleaned once in 5 days, and had to go to front desk for towels every day.

Enjoyed our stay, impressed with the amenities and what it offers so close to the beach. Staff helpful, great place to stay if you don’t book a beach house, this is next best.

very nice front desk person

asked for first floor room since no elavator but did not get one. Room was not cleaned there was balloons in room and a power skateboard also in room so I dont see how it had been cleaned properly. Also bed spread had stains .

Great stay. The hotel was very clean and the beach is a 2 minute walk.

Very noisy plumbing. Noisy kids in units below. Appreciated upper unit.

We stay here a couple times every year! Even though it’s dated and not fancy, the jacuzzi and proximity to beach along with kitchenettes make it a no brainer to take a short family trip! Very family friendly as well!

Very comfortable and clean. Staff was welcoming and responsive to questions and requests. Enjoyed our stay.

The staff were very friendly and helpful.

It was a very pleasant stay

This is our third time at this hotel. It’s a great family friendly place with the beach so close by. The free breakfast has got progressively more budget over the years and now no eggs but the children love making their own waffles.

I loved the hotel: its location, the room, the pool, and the breakfast area. It's ideal for bringing children.

Very nice, clean, and well-maintained room upon arrival. Quiet and close to beach and dining. Breakfast options not what it used to be. All bread, no protein in any form (eggs, bacon, sausage, yogurt). No daily service of rooms...needed to ask for a change of towels at front desk. Staff at front desk was very kind, helpful, and obliging to provide what was requested.

Great location

Amazing location one block from the beach! We usually rent VRBOs but for the low cost and location, this place was amazing. It isn’t super fancy, but it is very clean and well-maintained. Great location! I spent 3 days on the beach and had a long beach walks every morning. Will stay again.

Beautiful location

Was great as always. Love the proximity to the beach. 2 blocks and you're there.

Walking distance from the beach. Has washer and dryer, pool, hot tub great food near by. Rooms are small but your are not really in the room that long. The front desk was amazing! Brooke was great!

As the mainstay motel of Aptos at Rio Del Mar beach, it would benefit the Rio Sands to take stock of their furnishings periodically (replace worn, creaky pull-outs), refinish rusted scuffs in bathrooms, and check whether ceiling fans are truly doing their job. The perennial continental breakfast has dwindled to toast, oatmeal, waffles, and cereal--no fruit, yogurt, or bagels any more.

Great places

Great place. Thanks to front desk clerk for upgrading our room we booked through 3rd party since they had a bigger room available!

Clean property. Easy walk to beach.

Walking distance to beach

We love staying there every year. And love the pool and just a little shocked at how small the breakfast has gotten

What a great location! Room was clean and comfortable. Loved the pool and hot tub and the continental breakfast was a nice plus. Walking distance to the beach and to restaurants.

It was superb! Hotel is only 2 small blocks walking distance from the ocean which I loved! Staff was very friendly! Will definitely go back this summer!

I love how close it was to the beach, my family and I definitely took advantage of walking there and back on our stay.

Clean room parking ok. Can be noisy with property across the street and tenants who arrive late at night

Very clean suite and roomy. Quiet and very close to the beach. Coffee in the continental breakfast room was good, and the fire and comfy chairs added a nice ambiance. We'll be back

This is a perfect hotel for a family vacation. The pool and BBQ area are perfect. The rooms were clean and very comfortable. The staff was very polite and helpful.

Best part about Rio Sands is how close it is to the beach! That is the only reason they can charge their rates. The King room is just ok, nothing special. There was a terrible stench in the bathroom…not sure if it was in the pipes or a really bad smelling cleaning product. No elevator for 2nd floor room. I appreciated the pool closing at 9pm to stop the screaming kids.

We had a great one night getaway. Hotel is conveniently located by the beach. Literally a 2 minutes walk. Our room came with a kitchenette so we were able to cook our dinner after enjoying a great day at the beach. Rates are reasonable considering the season. I would definitely stay here again. Hopefully soon.

Love the location! Last time we stayed upstairs in the same building as the office. This time we were downstairs by parking and it wasn’t as nice-lacked privacy too,

Was quiet and clean.

Property is nice staff is great perfect location one block from beach

Love this place! It’s been remodeled and is very nice.

The staff was very friendly and courteous. They were very helpful for my late check in as well. The room was very clean and the bed was very comfortable!

The place was clean, beautiful area by the beach

Only complaint is there is almost no where to put anything in the bathroom, just the back of the toilet, pretty much.

It was a wonderful place,\. I will stay there again.

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Way better than expected and just what we were hoping for! Comfortable, clean and near the ocean.

Our favorite place and kid friendly! Wish they could add some thing to their breakfast options but at least pixie deli provides!

My husband and I have stayed at the Rio Sands there in Aptos, CA several times over the years and have enjoyed them immensely. We will be returning for sure. It is a block away from the ocean and beach and a lovely neighborhood. Just a short drive into the main village area and you can shop Safeway, dine at many different restaurants, etc.

Everything about this hotel was great until I checked out. I was heading home which was a 3hr drive when halfway home I realized I forgot a couple shirts in the drawer. I immediately called and no answer so I left a message. Then email them. I got an email back saying my stuff has been put in the lost and found. I asked if they could take it out and mail it to me. I would pay the cost of shipping. I got no answer. Then a couple days later I get an email saying my stuff is no longer in lost and found. So I called them. They answered. Apparently my stuff was never found. It’s a couple t shirts people. I don’t know why they were so shady about it. Why would you even tell me you found it in the first place. It was just weird and sad. Other than the sketchy staff. The hotel and surroundings was great. The beach is a 2 min walk of that. And there’s a pizza place/cafe right around the corner that was delicious.

I will definitely stay again!

Great budget hotel to stay with kids