San Simeon Pines Seaside Resort

I had to give one star just to do the review. The guy at breakfast was a doll! But… we booked online, so we put in pet friendly and last minute requested early check in, so I called to confirm everything and was told the dog is not welcome. $ 100 for a last minute pet sitter was not fun! What’s worse? I also chose this dump for the pool. Lol. No pool, have to use pool at another location! Then, it’s freezing at night so my husband thought, good idea, fireplace?! The room filled with smoke! I was choking to death all night! Dump, horrible, don’t come here! Oh… early check in, they act like they’re doing you a favor when they’re willing to give you a room near the fwy and dumpsters! I got an upgrade to the original room I was promised to begin with! Nightmare doesn’t describe this dump.

This place isn’t brand spanking new nor is it a five diamond resort, but I liked it here because it was cozy. The king bed with garden view was HUGE. I couldn’t believe the floor space. The double bed room was also spacious. Beds aren’t the best and neither are the sheets but the staff is friendly, the price is reasonable, and the location is unbeatable. Take a walk across the road and onto the little path that leads you directly to the water. It’s beautiful. There’s a jogging/​walking path and a little «beach» area on the other side of the bridge.
I’d happily come back on my next trip north.

The resort is in a great spot close to both San Simeon and Cambria. The room was large with a fireplace, fridge, and nice bath and body products. The décor is a little dated but I liked the bird wallpaper in the bathroom. The bed and linens were soft and comfy. The only complaint I have is that there is no hot tub and the pool was closed.

I have been staying here every Labor Day Weekend for my anniversary for the last eight years. Same cabin, etc. It had been up for sale for some time, but my wife and I always loved coming here. Yeah, it needed some updating, but it was always clean.
However, I recently tried to book for this Labor Day to find that it finally sold in February. Don’t know who. But it is now being turned into a «luxury» whatever and the prices already reflect it. My normal cabin is now about $ 50 – 60 more per night and I can’t imagine that it will be that much more luxurious in September than it is right now without a shut down and full remodel.
Either way, new owners, you’ve upgraded me right out of your new investment. Disappointing. I stayed here for comfort and low $$, not luxury accommodations. It plays against the area. This isn’t Carmel or LA.
I’m sure it will get sold out, just not by me. Good Luck.

It’s really not a bad place older for sure but clean. We stayed there last year in Oct. and payed 129.00 a night for a Sat Sun stay. I was booking it again for this Oct and price has gone up up to 229.00 a night. They just joined Expedia not sure if that is why but surely not worth 229.00, Good luck to them but I’ll stay at the Cambria Pines Lodge for 179.00 per night and get a 50.00 dinner package with my room rate.

Don’t book here! It’s dirty at its best clean. It smelled like its age, if that makes since. The old scummy tiled bathroom was last remodeled in the 70’s… No joke, bring flip flops for using the shower. There’s no golf here at all. They have an area cleared that use to be a chipping area and one old hole. Now the area is wound up hoses and dead grass. No rose garden even though we booked the room by the area, but was told in check in that it wasn’t available. I felt better when we looked at what they called the rose garden since we weren’t missing except on the king bed we wanted. 6 plants maybe in the dirt just like you see on the picture was the rose garden. We almost left the same day we checked in. Only reason we stayed, was I didn’t want to rebook and go through the pain of finding another room that evening we came in. Fire disks they give you were a joke. I had to go by a Duraflame log since the disks of partical board wouldn’t stay lit or generate any heat in the fireplace. Wifi was non-​existent. The only good things were its location to all site seeing areas, the price around $ 120 per night, and the filling breakfast. I guess we got what we paid for. :/

Needs a definite remodel. All furniture needs an upgrade. Paid over $ 200 for a one night stay. The beds are hard, the sheets old and towels feel very rough and cheap. Paid extra for a patio that promised a ocean view that left us disappointed. The staff however is friendly and we were able to get a one night stay. The hotel is also right across the street from the beach.

Clean and cozy rooms, well-​kept grounds, free light breakfast, and a beautiful beach within walking distance. Are the rooms dated? Yes. Spotty Internet and cell reception? Yes. But if you’re looking to disconnect or are passing through for the attractions, then this is the spot for you. Oh yeah, the beds are pretty firm/​lumpy (try requesting a pillow top).

DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY. $ 154 per night and NOT worth it. Buildings are quaint on the outside, however, the rooms are dated 1960 décor and no upkeep. Room is musty smelling. Bathroom has badly faded, stained and scratched counters, original mirror with chipped edges, caulking missing around sink, MOLD in the shower grout and in the corners of bathroom floor, old shower fixture and missing shower head, missing cabinet hardware and shower stall tile is old and worn to the point that the tile and grout are worn smooth in certain areas. Beer bottle opener is nailed to the bathroom window frame, so classy haven’t seen that since the 60s. As for the room, walk across the carpet in your bare feet after a shower and you find the soles of your feet are … DIRTY BLACK !! (ewww) Insufficient electrical outlets require you to plug your cell phones into the one and only bathroom outlet. Windows are dirty and streaked. No iron in the room. Coffee pot is old antiquated Hamilton Beech unit and when water was run thru it for hot water there were GREY FUZZY FLOATING PARTICALS in the water!!!
Room has 1960s wall heater that has not been cleaned in decades (just imagine what you’re breathing in while it heats the room). Room should be priced at $ 65/​night based on current condition and lack of cleanliness. Continental breakfast is coffee, orange juice, cold cereal and toast. All other Pacifica properties in Cambria have a HOT breakfast for guests. NO Wi-​Fi.
Would we come back? Not in its current condition.

The property is VERY well maintained. Have been going here for over 20 years. The room is so clean and charming. All the staff is beyond wonderful. Our package included continental breakfast which is served in a banquet room and the gentleman there is like your grandfather is making you breakfast. He loves his job, greeting and speaking to all who come in and singing along with the music played in the room. We would like to mention Ashley who shared some great local hiking trails. This type of info was way beyond standard customer service. Stayed in a cabin type room which included the most comfortable king size bed and a cozy fireplace. We HIGHLY recommend this property. WELL, WELL worth the trip.

It’s 55 years old and looks it but it’s kept neat and in good repair. No ripped curtains, no stains on the walls. Carpet in good shape etc. A fun, interesting, non-​corporate-​drone staff who for us, were unfailingly helpful. No funny games with the reservations or our room choice. I wish I could say the same about Marriott and Hilton. We took the bigger fireplace room on the end of a row. It was indeed comfortably large with a raised roof and an extra picture window looking onto their «golf course» and a peek of the ocean. Our room smelled clean and fresh but free from perfumy cleaners and air fresheners. Bed, like most not-​$ 300 rooms was firm without pillow top but it wasn’t saggy or lumpy. Four pillows already on the single king. Odd how getting an extra pillow can be such a big deal at some hotels both big and small but on with our review. Bathroom was bog standard except no tub, having instead a full shower compartment. You have to burn their fire log discs that like most duraflame or presto-​logs don’t give much heat. Read their instructions about starting and you’ll have a nice fire with the added bonus of two comfortable, upholstered easy chairs from which to watch the fire or read. They give you plenty for the night and re-​fill the pail during housekeeping.
Unlike the cheek-​by jowl inns down Moonstone Dr. SSP is spread out along several acres and has a short path UNDER moonstone dr. to a cute little bay where the kayakers put in to go fishing. Over a small point to the north, you can explore a rocky beach with much less people on it than further down on Moonstone.
Back in the room there’s plenty of hot water but mind the drought. The shower, while low flow has good pressure, not one of those dribble fixtures. The room heater works with a low fan noise that isn’t excessive. It’s thermostatic in that it shuts off and on but there’s no settable thermostat. you work the control over a period of time until you reach comfortable. Old school, remember?
Breakfast is adequately continental with a decent choice. Consider it worse than french café but better than convenience mart. Let’s settle on supermarket grade. Breakfast room is spacious with windows, lots of seating at real tables and a fireplace. It is kept stocked and clean by another unfailingly cheerful employee who announces when he is bringing out a tray of freshly warmed (but bite sized) muffins.
A few warts: A little traffic noise as highway one runs right behind ALL of the Moonstone Beach Inns. No daytime pricacy sheers so we felt a little exposed with our drapes open during the day. Wi-​fi didn’t exist in our far from the office room. We had to go out to the parking lot to connect at all. What else? No premium channels on the T.V. but a few channels that might keep young kids entertained. Cell coverage was good on the grounds but iffy in our room. I could do calls and a little internet on data but it was 2 dots of 3g so not for real browsing or videos.
Verdict? I like charm, I like originality even daresay, authenticity. In the end, our room was comfortable and clean, steps from a great beach and staffed by people who treat you like their livelihoods depended on your good-​will. The only reason I wouldn’t stay here again is if I wanted to be a shorter walk to the West End of Cambria. It would help if they bought a couple more wi-​fi repeaters as well.

Another wonderful stay at San Simeon Pines. Despite the uncomfortable (but tolerable) mattress, I’m still giving this place 5 stars. Our room was clean and cozy. Pool was very clean as well. I also enjoyed the flat screen tv/​dvd player. Room and bathroom were spacious. Wifi worked the entire time I was there, was able to check emails and texts. It was very quiet, but close to the boardwalk. The woman in the office was very nice. The grounds were pretty. Yes, it is dated, but charming. You truly feel the history here. It’s also affordable compared to the other hotels on Moonstone Beach. Close to Cambria’s downtown Main Street, and Hearst Castle. If you’re looking to stay at a cozy, affordable, and quiet place on Moonstone, then San Simeon Pines is the place.

Very outdated. Musty and cheap bedding. Carpet was wet in spots. Bad wi-​fi signal. Could definitely use a makeover. Looks like the décor hasn’t changed in 30 years. I would have been very unhappy to stay more than a night. My kids kept calling it the Bates Motel… Staff was pleasant.

Nice place to stay. Me and my parents stayed one night on our way to Santa Barbara.
The rooms are a little bit old but it’s quiet, everybody was nice and the breakfast was good (small but enough).
Cambria is a really cute towm !

Couple of things– I thought this resort was on the beach — it mentions ocean views and private beach access on the website. However it is not on the beach and there is no ocean view anywhere around. The TV service kept going out, although we weren’t there to watch TV so not a huge deal but might be if you had kids. Also the WIFI is practically non-​existent. Very spotty in and out service, not reliable for use. We couldn’t get any cell service (att) in the room. I would recommend any of the other accommodations along Moonstone Drive ALL of which DO have ocean views — beautiful ones in fact. I would only recommend this spot as a last resort. (No pun intended!)

Generous three stars if you need to stay in the area on a budget.
(What Matters Most) review for a standard room
Pros —
— I like this location on Moonstone because it’s quiet and has great beach trail access across the street.
— Lot’s of grass at the south end of property to walk through (used to be a small golf course)
— The row of rooms gives it a nice old school resort feel.
— Office staff was nice
— Very good value for those that want a moonstone experience on a budget.
Cons —
— Rooms are old and dated. Carpet, bedding, furniture.
— Very dusty room (bring allergy medicine)
— Beds are very uncomfortable.
— Our TV was very very old, but another room had a small flat screen.
— golf course closed (probably permanently)
— Sorry, no trustable Wi-​Fi here. Cell phone access is spotty at best too.
Recommendation
— If you’re passing through for the night, this could be a great find.
NOTE — They seem to be in a long upgrade plan where some of the rooms /​cottages have been updated a bit, but there are still a bunch of rooms that are in desperate need of updating. (Maybe request an updated room at time of booking?).

Good bones, nice location, and friendly staff but I was disappointed with my room. The bed was uncomfortable and the air conditioner/​heater emitted an unpleasant odor. The rooms need a bit of an update and the buildings need a fresh coat of paint.

I loved this place! The fireplace with real wood was my favorite part of the room. It was a great size room and bed was comfortable.
Right across the street is the beach with a little private cove and plenty of area to look for jade rocks. Very few people even on nye and New Year’s Day.
Loved this place and will for sure be back to stay.
Great price, room, view and Area!

After a rocky start before we arrived, I have to say I really enjoyed this place. It was clean and roomy. The fireplace did it for me and the tall ceilings. Plus it’s so close to the beach. Maybe it’s because I got engaged that weekend or because I fell in Love with Cambria but I have nothing bad to say and will be back to this hotel.
As for my first review I still wish someone would have called me but everything worked out so I can’t complain now.

It’s nice that they have a fridge, but the Wi-​Fi signal was «poor» about 5% of the time and completely not working the rest of the time. I have AT&T and the woman said it’s basically not good in Cambria.
My friend and I also noticed that only about 10% of the rooms were being occupied. I thought that was odd, being that it’s mid-​July, but maybe it was because of the area and not the place specifically.
Night 1: Both my 34 year old friend and I (I’m also 34), kept waking up throughout the night and basically got terrible sleep.
Morning 1: Both my friend and I woke up early with back, shoulder and neck pain. We complained to the staff and the woman gave us an all-​knowing look, like she was saying, «I feel your pain» with her eyes. She said that she sleeps on double pillow tops there. So, they put double-​pillow tops on our beds for night 2.
Night 2: I folded the pillow tops both in half to make them 4 layers thick. Then I put down a row of 4 pillows on top of that. My friend got the 4 layers of pillow tops without my extra pillow layer. We both slept a lot better, but obviously weren’t able to move around the beds freely during the night.
Also, I looked over while laying in bed and noticed that the bed lamp likely has not been dusted in over 2 months. The dust was really this thick. I shut off the light and was glad that both my friend and I wanted to go home one night early instead of staying at this place for 3 nights.
Morning 2: We checked out early and a different woman than the one who had helped us quickly and easily gave us a full refund for the 3^rd night.
So, I do not recommend this place for travelers who enjoy getting good sleep.

Hübsch, ruhig, sauber. Nur das Frühstück…