Blue Sands Inn
421 South Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
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4.5
#7 of 23 motels in Santa BarbaraLocation
4.6
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.5
Value
4.3
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Located just steps from Santa Barbara’s famous East Beach and within walking distance to great restaurants, the Santa Barbara Zoo, the Wharf, and the famed Funk Zone, the Blue Sands Inn is centrally located in one of Santa Barbara’s most sought after neighborhoods. Because the Blue Sands Inn is small, we have dedicated every aspect of the hotel to the support and implementation of local artists and artisans. From the hand milled, locally felled countertops, to the custom made furniture, and unique rotating art featuring new artists each month, we are dedicated to integrating Santa Barbara’s unique, creative community into the experience of everyone who stays with us. Fulfilling our commitment to the environmental practices, we pride ourselves on having the most green and eco-friendly property possible. And of course you can bring your pets! We hope you will come stay with us and have a truly local experience!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Beach
Hiking
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Secured parking
Wifi
Pool / beach towels
Outdoor pool
Heated pool
Fence around pool
Bowling offsite
Fishing
Tennis court offsite
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun umbrellas
Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Safe
Kitchenette
Microwave
Refrigerator
Flatscreen TV
Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links
Location
421 South Milpas Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Grade: 64 out of 100
64
Santa Barbara Municipal Airport
9.6 mi•
See all flights
Rental Cars
11 Restaurants
within 0.3 miles
Reviews
4.5
443 reviews
Reviews Summary
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
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Nestled close to the beach, Blue Sands Inn has garnered a reputation for its enviable location and well-maintained, kitchen-equipped rooms that many guests appreciate. While the ambiance is often described as a charming blend of modern and cozy with a beach flair, opinions on value and room size vary, with some finding it pricey and cramped.
Cleanliness is consistently praised, though the pool temperature and occasional service hiccups are noted. Despite mixed reviews on certain aspects, the friendly staff and overall quaint atmosphere leave a lasting impression on travelers.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Quaint
Rooms
Basic
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Spotless
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Satisfactory
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Detailed Reviews
After reading all the mixed reviews about the Blue Sands Inn, I decided to book crossing my fingers everything will be alright. Well, I am glad I did. We (me, my husband and our 2 dogs) arrived around 7:30. I had left a message by phone that we will be arriving later than the expected 4pm. We were greeted and was checked in right away. We booked the King bed room with a full kitchen and patio. My husband liked the room rightaway especially when he saw the small patio which is good for the dogs. The room was nice and clean. The full kitchen was equipped with just about anything you would need. It had a bigger refrigerator with freezer, which was good for the refrigerated stuff we had with us. There were glasses, cups, plates, bowls, utensils, pots, pans, dishwashing soap, sponge, paper towel, drying cloth, and even a kettle. We did not want to eat out that evening so we brought food, heated them on the microwave and ate in the patio table. The bathroom was clean and just about everything you need, plus make up remover wipes, and even beach tar wipes. The room has a cozy fireplace which im sure will be great during the winter. The split type AC was nicely positioned and was very quiet. The bed and pillows were very comfortable We also brought dog beds that fit well beside our bed. Since we were on the ground floor, getting in and out was a breeze. Their parking is just outside and there were plenty of spaces available during our stay. I like the fact that there were no lobby , no hallways no elevators to go through just to get to your room. This setting are mostly the same in the hotels around Santa Barbara. The best thing was you just cross the street, and the beach was right there. Each morning we would walk with the dogs to the beach. The coffee and tea bar on the front was always a great experience. Lenice was the very sweet young lady working in the front desk..She gave us suggestions on where to go during our stay. She was very helpful and nice. I enjoyed our small chats in the morning. During the day guests were out and about, but during the evenings it was very quiet. I told Lenice it was such a great experience, we would come back again.
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Date of stay: July 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hotel's Favorite
A quiet location opposite the beach with limited rooms makes this location feel exclusive and private. We were kept well up to date with texts from the property, which we appreciated. A walk of 20 mins takes you to the wharf and other restaurants. Wouldn’t hesitate to book again.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Parking is limited, although we didn’t struggle for a space. Free street parking is also available.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Stay BSI, Owner at Blue Sands Inn
Responded Aug 26, 2022
Thank you so much for taking some time to leave us this wonderful review, we are so happy to hear that you enjoyed our location and proximity to attractions, as well as the beach. It was a pleasure to have you stay with us and we would love to welcome you back in the future!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveler reviews.
A receptionist at a more expensive hotel nearby recommended I try this place, which turned out to be stylish and comfortable while remaining affordable. Kiana at the front desk was very kind and efficient. There was a very helpful text communication system for keeping me updated about check in, check out, etc., even explaining how to access my room key on late arrival.
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Stay BSI, Owner at Blue Sands Inn
Responded Dec 3, 2022
Thank you for taking some time to leave us this review, we appreciate hearing all guests input and feedback. It is so wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us, we will be sure to let Kiana know of your kind words! Please stay with us any time!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
This is very basic motel style accommodation
: On the positive side it was clean with a comfortable bed.
Negatives:
A tiny room with only 3 hooks to hang clothes (no cupboard)
A luke warm temperature controlled shower.
A very bright sensor light in the bathroom that couldn't be deactivated for night time bathroom use.
A request to re-use towels was difficult to accommodate as there was nowhere to hang them once used.
House keeping could only be provided if all personal items were moved from the area to be cleaned.
All things considered we'll stay elsewhere next time.
: On the positive side it was clean with a comfortable bed.
Negatives:
A tiny room with only 3 hooks to hang clothes (no cupboard)
A luke warm temperature controlled shower.
A very bright sensor light in the bathroom that couldn't be deactivated for night time bathroom use.
A request to re-use towels was difficult to accommodate as there was nowhere to hang them once used.
House keeping could only be provided if all personal items were moved from the area to be cleaned.
All things considered we'll stay elsewhere next time.
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: If you enjoy expensive basic motel style accommodation this is for you, otherwise stay elsewhere.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Kiana Hoyos, Other at Blue Sands Inn
Responded Mar 30, 2022
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review, we appreciate all guest feedback! We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the cleanliness and the comfort of our custom King/Queen mattresses. However, we are sorry that you did not enjoy all the things our unique property has to offer. We hope you will come back and try us again and explore the opportunities we have to offer such as a 2 minute walk to the waterfront, and a short walk to one of our most famous downtown areas for food and wine; The Funk Zone. We are sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your stay with us, and we will be addressing your concerns in our upcoming renovations. We hope that you will give us another try!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
When we arrived at the hotel the receptionist informed us that that he just sold our room and we would have to take a different one (apparently the one without patio) and when I asked him to ask his manager is there a price difference that they will give us back for a smaller room, she replied that they are in the same price. Whatever. The room was clean, but the hotel itself more like a motel with windows looking out to the inside area of the hotel (everyone who is walking by your room is staring in your room, so you would have to keep your curtains shut) , there is no other natural light in the room. The room has very strong smell of the cleaning products. I would not recommend this place for that price.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Perhaps if I knew what to expect I would not have booked. But for the price we paid - nearly $1000 for two rooms / one night - I would expect a far nicer property with more frills. There’s a part time lobby clerk and a few part-time housekeeping staff. The property is maintained at a very basic standard, not markedly different from any chain motel that would charge a fraction of the price. I clearly didn’t know what I was getting into, but it appears that the property is just trying to capture location based revenue without offering the experience and service to match.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in a room with a fireplace and ocean view. The room was very clean, we enjoyed the fireplace, and the staff was friendly and accommodating.
Unfortunately, the clearest view of the ocean was obstructed by the plants outside, even on the second floor. This was the only major disappointment. If the plants were out of the way someone could have an okay view.
The room was pretty noisy, between street noise, guests, and appliances. A second chair would be nice for a room for two people, but the bench by the door is a nice touch.
A small coffee/tea maker would be a nice addition, considering there is only a very basic setup for these in the lobby. Similarly, the staff had an iron and small board for us to borrow, but we think that's a pretty simple thing to include in the rooms.
For the cost, it wasn't quite what we wanted, but we enjoyed our stay
Unfortunately, the clearest view of the ocean was obstructed by the plants outside, even on the second floor. This was the only major disappointment. If the plants were out of the way someone could have an okay view.
The room was pretty noisy, between street noise, guests, and appliances. A second chair would be nice for a room for two people, but the bench by the door is a nice touch.
A small coffee/tea maker would be a nice addition, considering there is only a very basic setup for these in the lobby. Similarly, the staff had an iron and small board for us to borrow, but we think that's a pretty simple thing to include in the rooms.
For the cost, it wasn't quite what we wanted, but we enjoyed our stay
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: No breakfast or room service, ~30 minute walk to pier and restaurants. Lobby closed early but...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We wanted to stay at Santa Barbara inn we previously stayed at and loved but they required 2 two night stay. The booking agent for Santa Barbara inn said we have a sister property that is the same quality (4 star was stated). We agreed and booked the $800 room for one night. We arrive at the property it was obviously called a motel in its previous life. The hotel consisted of 10 rooms 5 upstairs, 5 downstairs and a pool. The room was clean and updated but very small. The deadbolt on the door was disabled by means of two long screws not allowing the lever to swing and lock the door. This is a nice beach adjacent property if you are looking for a budget friendly small hotel but was not worth $800 a night
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Date of stay: November 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Spent over $200 for 1 night. We knew the ocean would be too cold so we booked a place with a heated pool (we thought). In the evening the water was freezing-the receptionist said she knew it was cold but “hopefully it will be warm in the morning”. The next morning it was still ice cold. A different receptionist said the heater doesn’t work well and she knows it is cold. Requested a refund since it essentially ruined my daughter and my one night vacation away from our very busy lives. They refunded me $19!!!!! Less than 10% and a TOTAL slap in the face. DO NOT RECOMMEND since they falsely advertise a heated pool, when the staff and owners clearly know that is a total fabrication.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Book somewhere else!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Stay BSI, Owner at Blue Sands Inn
Responded Apr 12, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave our property a review, we are taking all guest feedback under advisement as we move towards our renovation. We are so sorry to hear that you did not enjoy your stay with us, due to the lack of a heated pool, but we believe a miscommunication may have occurred and would like to clarify the situation. Normally, our pool is heated year-round, which is uncommon to find with most hotels in this area. However, during your stay with us, the heater was down for maintenance for a couple days. The first receptionist you spoke to was, unfortunately, unaware of this and in turn was not able to properly inform guests. We have learned from this experience and will be actively making improvements on our in-house communication. We apologize that we were not able to find a suitable resolution for you financially, however, the rest of our in-room amenities were fully functional. We are happy to say that our pool is back to normal function, heated to exactly 82 degrees. Hopefully you may give us a second chance and return to experience the pool you had missed during your time with us.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The rooms are very nice.The girls that checked us in and ran the lobby were very friendly and helpful. The rooms were very nice. I liked the flooring. I know that’s a weird thing but with kids and dog it was easy to see how clean they keep the rooms and with beach access across the street kept sand from just sticking everywhere. Close to everything 15 minutes will get you to anything you want to check out in Santa Barbra.
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi.. how did you find the location of Blue sands? Were there places to eat at night without driving?
The inn is probably a 15-20 min walk along the beach to the main Santa Barbara area where the restaurants are. We really liked the location for that reason!
it's a lovely small hotel so as other traveller has said no beer,however plenty of pubs in santa Barbara selling craft beers centre is about 20 minutes walk hope this helps
Hello,
We are dog-friendly. There is a $10 + tax fee per dog per night.
Please let us know if you have additional questions.
Thank you,
Ines
"Great boutique hotel with excellent rates during shoulder season. I guess full season can be spendy as their location is primo."Read full review
"No breakfast or room service, ~30 minute walk to pier and restaurants. Lobby closed early but they did provide notice"Read full review
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PRICE RANGE
$254 - $488 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
blue sands hotel santa barbara, blue sands santa barbara
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSanta Barbara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
12
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Blue Sands Inn
Which popular attractions are close to Blue Sands Inn?
Nearby attractions include Santa Barbara Zoo (0.3 miles), Santa Barbara Rustys lighthouse (0.2 miles), and The Cabrillo Ball Park (0.08 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Blue Sands Inn?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Blue Sands Inn?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a flat screen TV.
Is parking available at Blue Sands Inn?
Yes, free parking, secured parking, and street parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Blue Sands Inn?
Conveniently located restaurants include East Beach Tacos, Convivo Restaurant and Bar, and Habit.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Blue Sands Inn?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Blue Sands Inn?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Blue Sands Inn?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Are there any historical sites close to Blue Sands Inn?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Santa Barbara County Courthouse (1.7 miles), Old Mission Santa Barbara (2.7 miles), and Casa del Herrero (2.4 miles).