Pros

  • Great beachfront location in downtown Pismo Beach
  • Two large decks with comfy furniture, fire pits, and fantastic views
  • Cheery and spacious rooms with Keurig coffeemakers, robes, and mini-fridges
  • Many rooms feature ocean views and private patios or balconies
  • Suites have sleeper sofas and microwaves
  • Free continental breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi
  • Small convenience store that sells sundries, snacks, and soft drinks
  • Free all-day coffee and fruit and afternoon cookies
  • Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available
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Cons

  • Pricey rates in peak season, especially for beachfront rooms
  • No pool, restaurant/bar, fitness center, or guest laundry
  • Not every room has an ocean view
  • Only Suites include microwaves
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Bottom Line

The mid-range Sandcastle Inn has an unbeatable location directly on Pismo Beach, only a four-minute stroll along the water to the town’s bustling Pier. The tidy, 75-room property makes the most of its spectacular setting with two large decks that have fire pits and comfy furniture facing the shore. Freebies include continental breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi. But, there’s no pool, fitness center, restaurant, or bar. The spacious rooms, which receive a complete makeover in 2017, are bright and cheerful, with Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and nice walk-in showers. Many have private balconies and patios with great views. Beachfront rooms command pricey rates in peak season, however. A good alternative could be the Oxford Suites Pismo Beach While not on the beach, it offers lower rates and more amenities including a pool and free hot breakfast. 

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Hotel & Amenities Photos

Amenities

Oyster Hotel Review

Sandcastle Hotel on the Beach

Scene

A lovely beach hotel with a relaxed, mini-resort vibe

It’s all about taking in the amazing views of the spectacular California coast at this cozy, three-story hotel that sits directly on Pismo Beach. Even though it’s a limited-service property, the Sandcastle Inn has a mini-resort feel, with two sprawling decks overlooking the beach complete with fire pits and cozy furniture. Inside, the modest lobby has been nicely updated with sand-colored tile and walls. The breakfast room is an inviting, two-story space with large windows and a gas fireplace. It gets quite crowded during peak times in high season, but it's got plenty of seating with overflow tables outside. The beach is a busy one located in a top tourist area, but this friendly hotel stays relaxed and relatively peaceful. Expect to see both couples and families staying here making the most of their vacation days. 

See More Scene

Location

Directly on Pismo Beach, a four-minute stroll along the beach to the Pier

The Sandcastle Inn enjoys a superior location directly on Pismo Beach in the heart of the charming town’s downtown sector. The town’s marquee attraction, the Pismo Beach Pier, is a four-minute stroll along the beach. Tons of restaurants and shops surround the Pier. Several other hotels are also in the immediate area. The Monarch Butterfly Grove is only a three-minute drive, and the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets is five minutes away by car. It features everything from Polo Ralph Lauren to Coach and Tommy Hilfiger. It’s a scenic drive roughly one hour north on US 101 to the iconic Hearst Castle, and 15 minutes to the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. 

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Rooms

Spacious, revamped rooms with Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and walk-in showers

Thanks to a complete makeover in 2017, guest rooms at Sandcastle Inn reflect a cheerful, casual, beachy style perfectly suited to their surroundings. A Cali mid-century vibe carries through the rooms, with blond wood furniture, striped bedding, and some jubilant pops of orange. Surf-themed artwork adds another playful detail, and even the two-tone gray carpet has a subtle wave pattern. Bathrooms are also quite stylish and include striking chevron tile in shades of gray lining glass walk-in showers. Bathrooms also hold crisp white ceramic vanities and huge backlit mirrors that provide excellent lighting. 

The King Room we photographed was exceptionally spacious and included a roomy desk with an upholstered chair. A small oval table and chair gave yet another surface. The Sandcastle's six suites add balconies and sleeper sofas as well. Many other rooms also have private balconies or patios with outstanding ocean views, but others simply have a window overlooking the parking lot. 

The renovation added remote-controlled air-conditioning to each room. Other standard amenities include Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, robes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Suites add microwaves. Some ambient noise from the busy beach or adjacent streets can be heard at times, but the rooms are generally quiet.  

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Features

Two oceanfront decks, plus free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi 

While it's stylish and well situated, Sandcastle Inn remains a limited-service hotel. There's no full restaurant or bar on the premises, no gym, and -- perhaps most notably -- no pool. However, the property is outfitted with large decks on the second and third floors that offer sweeping ocean views and fantastic sunsets. They have fire pits, heat lamps, and comfy outdoor furniture.

On-site dining is simply a free continental breakfast as well as free coffee and fruit all day. Guests can also look forward to fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon and free newspapers on weekdays. For other quick pick-me-ups, a small on-site convenience store sells sundries, snacks, and soft drinks. Parking and Wi-Fi are free, and a guest computer in the lobby is available 24/7. Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available, too.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Sandcastle Hotel on the Beach

Scene

A lovely beach hotel with a relaxed, mini-resort vibe

It’s all about taking in the amazing views of the spectacular California coast at this cozy, three-story hotel that sits directly on Pismo Beach. Even though it’s a limited-service property, the Sandcastle Inn has a mini-resort feel, with two sprawling decks overlooking the beach complete with fire pits and cozy furniture. Inside, the modest lobby has been nicely updated with sand-colored tile and walls. The breakfast room is an inviting, two-story space with large windows and a gas fireplace. It gets quite crowded during peak times in high season, but it's got plenty of seating with overflow tables outside. The beach is a busy one located in a top tourist area, but this friendly hotel stays relaxed and relatively peaceful. Expect to see both couples and families staying here making the most of their vacation days. 

See More Scene

Location

Directly on Pismo Beach, a four-minute stroll along the beach to the Pier

The Sandcastle Inn enjoys a superior location directly on Pismo Beach in the heart of the charming town’s downtown sector. The town’s marquee attraction, the Pismo Beach Pier, is a four-minute stroll along the beach. Tons of restaurants and shops surround the Pier. Several other hotels are also in the immediate area. The Monarch Butterfly Grove is only a three-minute drive, and the Pismo Beach Premium Outlets is five minutes away by car. It features everything from Polo Ralph Lauren to Coach and Tommy Hilfiger. It’s a scenic drive roughly one hour north on US 101 to the iconic Hearst Castle, and 15 minutes to the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. 

See More Location

Rooms

Spacious, revamped rooms with Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and walk-in showers

Thanks to a complete makeover in 2017, guest rooms at Sandcastle Inn reflect a cheerful, casual, beachy style perfectly suited to their surroundings. A Cali mid-century vibe carries through the rooms, with blond wood furniture, striped bedding, and some jubilant pops of orange. Surf-themed artwork adds another playful detail, and even the two-tone gray carpet has a subtle wave pattern. Bathrooms are also quite stylish and include striking chevron tile in shades of gray lining glass walk-in showers. Bathrooms also hold crisp white ceramic vanities and huge backlit mirrors that provide excellent lighting. 

The King Room we photographed was exceptionally spacious and included a roomy desk with an upholstered chair. A small oval table and chair gave yet another surface. The Sandcastle's six suites add balconies and sleeper sofas as well. Many other rooms also have private balconies or patios with outstanding ocean views, but others simply have a window overlooking the parking lot. 

The renovation added remote-controlled air-conditioning to each room. Other standard amenities include Keurig coffeemakers, mini-fridges, robes, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Suites add microwaves. Some ambient noise from the busy beach or adjacent streets can be heard at times, but the rooms are generally quiet.  

See More Rooms

Features

Two oceanfront decks, plus free breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi 

While it's stylish and well situated, Sandcastle Inn remains a limited-service hotel. There's no full restaurant or bar on the premises, no gym, and -- perhaps most notably -- no pool. However, the property is outfitted with large decks on the second and third floors that offer sweeping ocean views and fantastic sunsets. They have fire pits, heat lamps, and comfy outdoor furniture.

On-site dining is simply a free continental breakfast as well as free coffee and fruit all day. Guests can also look forward to fresh-baked cookies in the afternoon and free newspapers on weekdays. For other quick pick-me-ups, a small on-site convenience store sells sundries, snacks, and soft drinks. Parking and Wi-Fi are free, and a guest computer in the lobby is available 24/7. Valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available, too.

See More Features

Hotel & Amenities Photos

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Beach

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Full Kitchen

  • Golf Course

  • Internet

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Supervised Kids Activities

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.