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Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

2.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

Fountain
Interior
Exterior
kitchen suite, Queen bed, Queen sofa bed, twin sofa bed | Living area | Flat-screen TV
Standard Room, 1 King Bed | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free WiFi
  • Laundry
$139
$120 nightly
$139 total
Total with taxes and fees
Jan 18 - Jan 19

Explore the area

View in a map
116 Aptos Beach Drive, Aptos, CA, 95003
  • Place, Rio Del Mar Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Seacliff State Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Seascape Golf Club
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Airport, San Jose, CA (SJC-Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl.)
    ‪48 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchen

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchen | Living area | Flat-screen TV

Room, 1 King Bed with Sofa bed, Kitchen

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(13 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Family Suite

Family Suite | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Family Suite

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(13 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 6
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 1 Queen Bed

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(11 reviews)
  • 108 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

  • 108 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed

Deluxe Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Deluxe Suite, 1 Queen Bed with Sofa bed

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Queen Bed and 1 Twin Sofa Bed

View all photos for Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom

Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Deluxe Suite, 1 Bedroom

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed, 1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Sofa Bed

Junior Room, Accessible

  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

View all photos for Standard Room, 1 King Bed

Standard Room, 1 King Bed | Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Room, 1 King Bed

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(49 reviews)
  • 108 sq ft
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

View all photos for Junior Suite

Blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, free WiFi, bed sheets

Junior Suite

9.2 out of 10
Wonderful
(19 reviews)
  • Sleeps 6
  • 2 Queen Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

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Jan 19 - Jan 20
Total with taxes and fees
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About the neighborhood

Aptos

With a stay at Rio Sands Vacation Rentals in Aptos (Rio del Mar), you'll be within a 15-minute drive of Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. .This motel is 4.3 mi (7 km) from Capitola Beach and 0.3 mi (0.4 km) from Rio Del Mar Beach.
View more Motels in AptosOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Rio Del Mar Beach - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • Seacliff State Beach - 2 min walk - 0.1 miles
  • The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park - 13 min walk - 0.7 miles
  • Cabrillo College - 2 min drive - 1.6 miles
  • Seascape Golf Club - 3 min drive - 1.8 miles

Getting around

  • San Martin Caltrain Station - 45 min drive
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose Intl. Airport (SJC) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Whale City Bakery Bar And Grill Aptos - ‬15 min walk
  • ‪Poki Bowl - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Marianne's Ice Cream - ‬16 min walk
  • ‪Sushi Garden - Aptos - ‬17 min walk

About this property

Rio Sands Vacation Rentals

Motel in Aptos with free parking
Rio Sands Vacation Rentals offers 40 accommodations with coffee/tea makers and hair dryers. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include shower/tub combinations and complimentary toiletries.

This Aptos motel provides complimentary wired and wireless Internet access. Flat-screen televisions come with premium cable channels. Housekeeping is offered on request and irons/ironing boards can be requested.

Recreational amenities at the motel include an outdoor pool.
Make yourself at home in one of the 40 guestrooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms with shower/tub combinations feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include microwaves and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided on request.
Enjoy recreation amenities such as an outdoor pool or take in the view from a garden. This motel also features complimentary wireless internet access, a picnic area, and barbecue grills.
Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, luggage storage, and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi and wired internet
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi and wired internet

Parking and transportation

  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking and van parking available

Things to do

  • Outdoor pool

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (on request)

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Picnic area
  • Pool loungers

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible van parking

More

  • 2 buildings
  • 2 floors
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided
  • Blackout drapes

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower/bathtub combination
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • Flat-screen TV with premium cable channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Paper towels
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Heating
  • Iron/ironing board on request

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Early check-in subject to availability
Early check-in fee: USD 33.66
Contactless check-in available

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM
Contactless check-out available
Late check-out subject to availability
Late check-out fee: USD 32

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
The front desk is open daily from 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are available for USD 10.0 per night

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 100.00 per stay

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Early check-in fee: USD 33.66 (subject to availability)
  • Late check-out fee: USD 32 (subject to availability)
  • Kitchen/kitchenette fee: USD 57 per stay
  • Rollaway bed fee: USD 10.0 per night

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards; cash is not accepted
Cashless transactions are available
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, and a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property
Guests should contact this hotel in advance to request a dishware/utensils kit (surcharge applies).

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Rio Sands
Rio Sands Aptos
Rio Sands Hotel
Rio Sands Hotel Aptos
Rio Sands Hotel Motel
Rio Sands Hotel Aptos
Rio Sands Hotel Motel Aptos

Rio Sands Vacation Rentals Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 565 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 253 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 110 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 42 out of 1002 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 32 out of 1002 reviews

8.8/10

Cleanliness

8.6/10

Staff & service

8.0/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Keo

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
It was ok. Nice place but no breakfast
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
They no longer provide breakfast, but everything else was very nice
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jamie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sharon

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Great location and easy walk to the beach.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Lori

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Julianne

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Amenities
this was a nice hotel but there were no drinking glasses in the room.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brenda

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The entire property was serene and enjoyable! And sooo close to the beach!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lauralee

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved that I could just walk around the corner to the beach
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
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.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Michael

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Edwin

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Love the location. Surprisingly comfortable and exceeded my expectations.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Elizabeth

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Dennis

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

4/10 Poor

Judy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
AVOID if sensitive to mold/mildew. 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.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Blanca

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Rhoda

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Amenities
Ice machine very noisy across small courtyard from our patio door. Started at 6am went to 10p
Rio Del Mar beach sunset looking south. 1 block from Rio Sands.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Joshua

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

6/10 Okay

Wendy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We liked the place and have stayed here before. However, this time the bed was extremely uncomfortable.
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Austin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Best bang for your buck right off the Aptos beach
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie

Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mackenzie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Micah

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Leah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Julie

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Margaret

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
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.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025