Name: Sand Dollar Inn
Address: 1875 Fremont Boulevard, Seaside, California, United States of America, Seaside, California, US
Price range: $68–$227 per night
Rating: 7.65

What guests think

Reviews of Sand Dollar Inn describe a budget, older motel with convenient location near Monterey and the beach, offering basic rooms at low prices but with inconsistent cleanliness, maintenance issues, smoke odors, and mixed service experiences.

Noise from traffic and thin walls is a recurring complaint. Facilities are basic; the pool is often reported dirty or unheated, and Wi‑Fi and in-room equipment such as TVs, heaters, and locks can be unreliable. Some guests mention safety concerns, shabby areas, and nightly pet fees. Expect a no-frills stay where price and access take priority over polish.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Older facilities with maintenance issues; the outdoor pool is often dirty or unheated, and elevator access can be inconvenient or unreliable. Parking is generally available.

Related guest reviews

6

Janara

Sep 25, 2025

·

Stayed 5 nights

The rooms themselves were pretty good, though I did find a cigarette butt on the balcony of one of our rooms, and I saw what I think was a roach crawl into the woodwork in the other room. Mainly it was the property - it's so run down. The photos in the listing on hotels.com are clearly from years ago when this property was maintained. The pool was dirty, and unheated. There was grass growing up in the cracks of the patio around the pool. There were only a handful of pool chairs, and no loungers. If you need a cheap hotel in an expensive area, sure, stay here. But I would not have reserved this property had I known its condition. Having said that, the staff was helpful and the price was definitely low. We unexpectedly had to get two rooms instead of one, so that was helpful for us.

4

luis

Jul 12, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

we wanted to watch tv at the end of our day amd the tv would turn off everu 2 to 3 minutes and we had to turn it back on and look for channel..thought someone was outside with a control controlling the tv.. no use watching tv. and pool area was dirty.. pool had hair and some garbage in it.

8

Alicia

Jun 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great deal for the money; 4 pillows. However no breakfast included and pool not heated. No hand towels and limited shampoo and soap. staff very friendly and professional!

4

Ellie

Apr 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Didn't like anything. Condition of the property was terrible, overpriced rooms, super hard uncomfortable beds, things falling apart and rusty. Pool unusable.

10

Jennifer

Jul 27, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

For about $100/night this place was great. Fridge and microwave, plenty of close parking, felt safe enough. Pool was dirty so we didn't want to use it which was a bummer but the room was fine.

6

Dawn

Jun 25, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

This hotel was ok, nothing great. We were frustrated that our room was on the third floor, but the elevator was malfunctioning and only went to 2nd floor. When we went to front desk to complain, the clerk stated that "this was the first time she had heard about it." We were there for 4 days and the elevator never went up to the 3rd floor. Also, the room was dark, not enough lights. One day the bed wasn't made.

8

David

Aug 23, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Clean and room was in good condition. The sheets were so soft. 3rd floor was a good location but no lift.Stairwells were not very clean. Smelled of smoke and it wasn't tobacco! Satisfied overall.

10

Laura

Jan 10, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Traveling from the bay area to Seaside, Cali for work/leisure, The Sand Dollar Inn checked all my boxes. I was looking for an outdoor pool and a quiet area on Fremeont Street (away from traffic sounds). When I woke up in the am the next day I was well rested and content. 5 stars.

6

Jeana

Aug 12, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Average place to stay if you don’t plan on spending a lot of time in your room. There are 3 floors and no elevator, so you have to carry all your luggage up three flights of stairs. Only one ice machine and it’s in parking area at bottom of stairs. I give this place 3 stars, average

10

Susan

Jul 10, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great little motel in a convenient location to local area attractions and amenities. Plenty of parking close to the building, clean and comfortable room, and courteous staff. Pluses that I always look for in a hotel/motel: access to fresh air, the room had a small balcony with a slider door. Bathroom fan, turned on and off with the lights. A fan only setting on the hvac unit, because I love that white noise sound when sleeping. Bonus, our room had a cathedral ceiling which made it feel extra roomy. The elevator was operable but a little sketchy. I don't mind using the stairs, but would recommend first floor accommodations if you're not comfortable hauling your gear up and down.

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is inconsistent: recurring reports of stains, hair, lingering smoke or musty odors, and occasional severe lapses, though some guests found rooms acceptably clean.

Related guest reviews

2

James

Sep 24, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Worst stay I have ever experienced at a hotel. Cable tv would not work. Rooms and pictures of room don’t match. Room was super dirty. Toilet was dirty had pee on the side of it. No washcloths. Door would not close properly, in the event of an emergency the bars on the window and bad door, you’d be dead. Also, no outlet covers on outlet, just exposed wires. Staff was incredibly unhelpful and couldn’t care. How they are still in operation is beyond me.

4

Stephen J

Apr 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Not clean

2

Patricia

Sep 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Sadly, I will not be staying here again. I got there at 8 pm and the room I was given was dirty as if someone just checked out. The bed was unmade and trash (food) was left behind. The second room they gave me smelled like straight marijuana. We stayed for two nights and left the sliding door open to air it out but it did not help. The bedding had cigarette burns. The bathroom ceiling had mold.

2

Helena

Jul 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Request for Full Refund – Unhygienic and Unsafe Conditions at Sand Dollar Inn, Seaside, CA My guest and I arrived late at night, around midnight, after a long and stressful drive. Due to the late hour and our exhaustion, we went straight to bed without fully inspecting the room. However, upon waking early the next morning, we were appalled by the condition of the room. There was visible blood on the floor and in the trash can, which was clearly left by previous occupants and not cleaned up. Additionally, hair was present in both the sink and bathtub, indicating that the room had not been properly sanitized or cleaned prior to our stay. The overall hygiene and condition of the room were absolutely unacceptable and raised serious health and safety concerns. I immediately brought these issues to the attention of the front desk staff and requested a partial refund for the inconvenience. Unfortunately, I was told there was nothing they could do because we had already spent the night in the room. This response was incredibly disappointing, especially considering the severity of the issues discovered.

2

Gary

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Place was dirty.... very run down and not clean.... see pictures... bed not changed... hair still on and in the bed... hair on the outside of tub... just very unsanitary and unclean...

6

SARAH

Jun 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

The property is definitely older. The bedding and towels could use an upgrade. Finding spots/stains and hair in your bedding, towels and shower (upon check-in) is definitely a turn off. Phone didn't work. Shower vent/fan was disgusting and there was mold on the ceiling. Had the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door the entire time and housekeeping still entered. Wouldn't stay here again.

4

Taylor

Sep 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

There was blood on my bed sheets

4

Emma

Aug 12, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room in general was very dark. There was no proper lighting near the sleeping space. The bathroom lights did not work. The floor was also carpet so it felt very unsanitary. Especially because when we walked around with socks on we noticed the whole carpet felt wet. We noticed the water from the shower was the cause. The shower also had horrible water pressure. Took forever to take a basic shower. The area where the towels stored in the bathroom had stains and was clearly covers in dirt. The bathroom door also didn’t close or open properly.The curtains in the room were also broken. The fridge had a funky smell and was refrigerating correctly. The area is also very noisy not just because of the traffic or cars at night. You can hear everything in the hotel. Especially the morning cleaning being done. You can hear all the rolling carts and vacuuming. The most scary part was the room not having a deadbolt. The door didn’t close properly and you could clearly see the outside through the side of the door. My guess why you could hear all the noise. It felt very unsafe that a basic lock was keeping the door closed.

4

Tom

Oct 15, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Pretty run-down. Sanitation not so great. Small rooms. Friendly enough staff. Location is fantastic.

4

Hendrik

Jul 27, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The bedding was full of holes; surrounding smell like laundry.

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Rooms

Rooms are basic and dated, with mixed bed comfort and frequent noise from thin walls or traffic; some include balconies and feel spacious. WiFi and in-room equipment such as TVs, heaters or AC, and locks can be unreliable.

Related guest reviews

6

Desirra

Sep 21, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I’m assuming since our rooms (201 & 203) stink that all of them do. The rooms are in desperate need of updating, along with the towels (stained) especially the hand and wash cloths.

8

Ragnar

Jun 23, 2024

·

When we checked in, it was already dark. Check-in and the check-out next morning were quick. Parking worked out well. The room looked clean. Shower was nice. Mattress felt older and a bit uncomfortable but was good enough for one night. I had to fiddle with the AC unit to get the room temperature nice and warm for us. I first set it to 72, which is what we're used to, but the unit made the room too warm for us. Eventually I set it to 68, which kept the temperature just right. Wi-Fi Internet connection was almost non-existent. We tried to get a connection with two Android phones and MacBook Pro M2 but to no avail. The gentleman at the front desk did not know how to help — just showed their own phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network being connected to the Internet and told us that it's the first time they've seen something like this. Another guest said they had to restart their phone to get an Internet connection — that did not work for us. My MacBook connected to the Internet a couple of times for a few minutes during the night so I could back up a few photos but mostly we had no Internet connection.

10

Alaina

Aug 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

basic but large hotel room with fridge and microwave. Room had considerably more space than expected with a small balcony that overlooked the swimming pool.

6

Rosalinda

Aug 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This is not worth $190. The area is questionable. The walls are thin. Parking is crap. The room itself is nothing fancy. A bed, mini fridge, microwave. The sheets made us itchy. The bathroom is clean but needs updating. Very disappointing.

4

Jackie

Jul 1, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Very noisy you could hear everything

6

Hilary

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

An unpleasant aroma around the property on a very busy, noisy street

4

Hannah

Jul 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Stayed there 2 nights. TV didn’t work both nights and the second night the WiFi kept disconnecting.

8

Cecilia

Jul 16, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The bed and the pillows were very comfortable

10

Juliah

Dec 28, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The rooms were spacey, and they had spacious bathrooms.

10

Susan

Jul 10, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great little motel in a convenient location to local area attractions and amenities. Plenty of parking close to the building, clean and comfortable room, and courteous staff. Pluses that I always look for in a hotel/motel: access to fresh air, the room had a small balcony with a slider door. Bathroom fan, turned on and off with the lights. A fan only setting on the hvac unit, because I love that white noise sound when sleeping. Bonus, our room had a cathedral ceiling which made it feel extra roomy. The elevator was operable but a little sketchy. I don't mind using the stairs, but would recommend first floor accommodations if you're not comfortable hauling your gear up and down.

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Service

Service feedback is mixed, from friendly, helpful check-in to unresponsive or rude interactions and unresolved complaints. Housekeeping and towel delivery are inconsistent, and some guests reported billing surprises or policy confusion, including pet fees.

Related guest reviews

4

Christian

Sep 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I extended my stay but was moving to a diff room. I didn’t have enough space for 2 items I had. So I decided to just leave em. Assuming they will be there at the end of the day. When I get there nothing is left. So I asked the housekeepers the next morning. And the housekeeper that didn’t work the next day took my stuff home. Also telling front desk I left the room really dirty. I cleaned my room every other day. I had pets staying with me. So I wasn’t trying to have them spend so much time cleaning up after me. Knowing what they go threw since I’m a housekeeper too. So they lady that was off brought it back later in the day.

4

Klarisse

Aug 16, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Requested room service twice for trash and new towels, didn’t come both times.

8

Rose Marie

Jan 5, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Don't understand billing. Was booked thru Expedia for 2 night stsy & was also charged additional money by the hotel.

2

Jonathan

Jun 6, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The room next door partied till 4 am and management refused to do anything about it. They told me i should call the police myself. There were homeless people in the hallways.

4

Shannyn

Jun 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk girl was very rude and disrespectful when I checked in on the 19th of June 2025 at 7pm. Then we got a note on the door about our dogs that they were barking. They are dogs there’s nothing i could do about that. They say they are dog friendly but they are not. I wouldn’t stay here again.

10

Mark Anthony

Mar 10, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Excellent staff is over the topservice

6

MELISSA

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

When I arrived the employee told me they could not find my reservation although I had my reciept on my phone ready to go. I chatted with a virtual assistant who attempted to help me and even called the employee who then put the Hotels.com rep on hold. The employee insisted he needed the Hotels.com confirmation number which I provided via the virtual assistant. He called a family member to help next. I could see over his shoulder he had pulled up my reservation. He then stated that he only had one room left (coincidentally its the double queen bed I reserved) and that he would rectify the situation. He also never picked up the phone with the Hotels.com rep that called the business that he put on hold. The tv kept turning off at random times while we were trying to watch. Our room was tucked away in a corner where the hallway reeked of cat urine, and half of our room was a window that faced a large busy street. The wifi was free wifi to a guest account that we were never given a password for, so apparently everyone in the vicinity was using their wifi. I dont recommend this place at all if you're traveling with kids. I would not recommend.

10

Fernando

Mar 4, 2025

·

excellent service

4

CAROLE

Apr 20, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

My first impression? Low class, shabby establishment in questionable neighborhood. Management was informed of four minor issues and only 1 was addressed. I would give it 2 stars and definitely not stay there again.

8

Noel

Mar 18, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The Maids kept knocking asking when we were going to check out when the front office was already aware of a late check out. Maids knocked 3 times definitely disturbed our stay there. They also dont have “don’t disturb” signs or that would have solved the issue. ANNOYING MAIDS

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Location

Convenient base near the beach, Monterey, and many shops and restaurants. Some guests noted a busy or sketchy environment and street noise.

Related guest reviews

6

Lawrence

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

If you are looking for a place to just sleep and shower while in the area, this is it. It's an older property that could use some renovations to freshen it up. The area is relatively quiet, and there are some food places within walking distance.

10

Lucas

Oct 2, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location with good weekday rates and close to beach access areas.

8

Wiley

Jul 23, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is an inexpensive option just North of Monterey. Comfortable, clean, & the staff is friendly. It’s about 3 blocks from the walking path/trail along the beach. This was perfect for taking our dog out for exercise in a lovely area.

8

Rick

Aug 20, 2025

·

Stayed 6 nights

This is my second year staying at the Sand Dollar for Monterey Car Week. It is clean, well-maintained, quiet (unlike some of the extravagantly expensive hotels in downtown Monterey with noisy cars showing off at all hours of the night) and has enough nearby solid and reasonably priced places to eat. I think anyone can stay here with confidence.

8

Linda

Mar 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk staff was friendly and welcoming. The hotel itself is pretty minimalist but the beds were comfortable and the hotel is in a convenient location near a shopping district, restaurants and gas stations so you don't have to venture far for any needed amenities.

10

Philip

Apr 29, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Great location, close to the beach and downtown Monterey (both a short drive). Felt safe, well lit parking and premises. Staff was friendly.

10

Lady

Apr 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Like how I could just walk to the stores from here

8

Tammy

Jul 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

This property was convenient because it was on a busy street and there were lots of food places and shopping center right near this place.

2

Angela

Apr 7, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This was in a sketchy part of town riddled with homeless. They also seem to allow homeless to stay on site as there were many cars in the parking lot full of junk. One car next to ours had rims of another vehicle that did not belong to the one in the stall. People sat in their cars for hours smoking marijuana and cigarettes. The area was loud and hectic with cars and motorcycles coming in and out of the lot all night. The room itself was dingy and beat up. Coffee machine was broken, refrigerator was dented, ac/heater that sounded like it was going to blow up. The beds had one extremely thin blanket that barely kept us warm at night. Will not be back and do not recommend this place to others.

8

kevin

Jun 21, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Enjoyed the 2nd floor balcony. Left slider open at night for fresh evening cool air. Nice quiet stay with short drive to highway.

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Dining

No on-site dining or breakfast is mentioned, and coffee provision is inconsistent. Most guests rely on nearby restaurants.

Related guest reviews

8

Edgar

Feb 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Courteous service, great price, close to shopping and not far from the beach. This is a motel like place, not a hotel. So clean but old, no special services you might expect at hotels vs motels.

10

Piper

Jul 17, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Definitely 10/10 for the price and location. It's super nice inside the bathroom is lovely. It's super close to the beach, less than a 20 minute drive to Cannery Row, and is a walkable distance from many restaurants and fast food places.

8

Wiley

Jul 23, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

This is an inexpensive option just North of Monterey. Comfortable, clean, & the staff is friendly. It’s about 3 blocks from the walking path/trail along the beach. This was perfect for taking our dog out for exercise in a lovely area.

8

Alicia

Jun 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great deal for the money; 4 pillows. However no breakfast included and pool not heated. No hand towels and limited shampoo and soap. staff very friendly and professional!

4

Edith

Aug 2, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

The price is absolutely not worthy. Not so clean, No breakfast, no drinks/drinking water, no facilities. The swimming pool open at 10am but you have to check out at 11am!

8

Linda

Mar 20, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The front desk staff was friendly and welcoming. The hotel itself is pretty minimalist but the beds were comfortable and the hotel is in a convenient location near a shopping district, restaurants and gas stations so you don't have to venture far for any needed amenities.

10

Abran

Aug 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

There's so many restaurants in the area

8

Roger

Nov 19, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

What i like it was near food places.

8

Tammy

Jul 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

This property was convenient because it was on a busy street and there were lots of food places and shopping center right near this place.

6

Robin

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

No food options either there or in the immediate area. No coffee to be found anywhere. Not even in our room. We had to complain to get a tiny coffee maker in our room. I guess these folks don’t believe in the coffee experience. Room was cold and bare tile floor but clean and we did feel safe. Bed was at least comfortable..

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$53
February	$76
March	$66
April	$100
May	$110
June	$107
July	$124
August	$150
September	$87
October	$70
November	$58
December	$89

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15 $70	16 $68	17 $73	18 $161	19 $214
20 $74	21 $75	22 $74	23 $73	24 $92	25 $179	26 $227
27 $97	28 $85	29 $86	30 $81

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $85	2 $118	3 $144
4 $82	5 $82	6 $82	7 $82	8 $90	9 $128	10 $144
11 $90	12 $83	13 $83	14 $82	15 $84	16 $111	17 $127
18 $84	19 $76	20 $82	21 $75	22 $84	23 $108	24 $122
25 $76	26 $74	27 $75	28 $73	29 $73	30 $99	31 $104

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Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 Queen Bed

Room, 2 Queen Beds

Room, 1 King Bed

Room, 1 Queen Bed

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Security deposit

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Sand Dollar Inn

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