Sand Pebbles Inn, Cambria

Cambria Inns / Hotels in California CA…

 
Aside from one half-day trip to visit Hearst Castle some 20 years ago, I haven’t spent much time on the central California coast. My family recently vacationed for a long weekend in the area and really had fantastic time. One large contributor to that great experience was the lodging – which I totally and completely mean. We thoroughly enjoyed our four days and three nights at the Sand Pebbles Inn in Cambria, California.

Being that our trip was on President’s Day weekend, the hotel was almost fully booked. They had one double queen left and reserved it for us. The inn lies right across from Moonstone Beach, which meant we could listen to the ocean lull us to sleep each night. There was plenty of parking for guests and it was quite quiet during our stay. We found the entrance area and lobby area to be inviting and loved extras available for the guests’ use (ie beach chairs, towels, games, towels to wipe off your car, and more).

We arrived late but had no problem getting our key and room instructions from their sister inn just a bit further down the street. All the staff we encountered during our stay were kind and courteous. Sometimes, when reviewing a hotel, you may wonder if preferential treatment is given. That was not the case here as we noted every guest to be treated with the same hospitality shown to us.

Upon entering our room, we were welcomed by an inviting gas fire, complementary cookies, and a few chocolates (You can never go wrong with free chocolate goodies!). Though the room felt a bit small at first, it was actually quite roomy. The arrangement of furniture was quite clever and left plenty of space for my family of three to move around comfortably.

There was even a microwave and refrigerator in the room which worked out great. The refrigerator was practically silent and didn’t hear it at all even when going to sleep. Speaking of which, we all slept well on the comfortable beds and had more than enough pillows. Major bonus points there!

The bathroom was simple yet functional. We had plenty of towels and remained stocked on all the essentials (shampoo, soap, toilet paper) for the full duration of our stay. The water was consistently warm with a few cold or hot shots when a toilet was flushed. Though we tried to use our bath towels twice to conserve water, we found new towels in our room every day. That was nice for us but we were trying to help save resources which didn’t work out.

Everything in the room ‘felt’ clean in addition to it ‘appearing’ clean. Never did we get hibbie jibbies when sitting on the chairs, sleeping in the beds, or walking around (though we are in the habit of bringing slippers with us). The room was tidy and arranged nicely. Well, that is, until we moved in and got comfortable…

Breakfast was another highlight. The set-up was very basic with cereals, yogurt, bagels, pastries, hard-boiled eggs, coffee, juice, etc. yet just enough. What stood out most were the waffles that were made fresh for you. Each morning, my daughter and I placed our order and two minutes later our golden brown waffles were brought to us in the small dining area.

We made full use of the fresh strawberries, blueberries, chocolate chips, whipped cream, and maple syrup. Can you tell I had a bit of fun decorating my waffle? Even my husband found a breakfast combination just right for him with Honey Nut Cheerios, peach Yoplait yogurt, toast, coffee, and orange juice. We always left content and ready to start our day of activity.

After sightseeing and a few tours, we were exhausted and only wanted to return to our room to rest. When we first arrived at the inn I was in ‘review’ mode and was nitpicking on how the sheets were ball-y or how I saw a crack here or there.

Shortly I found that none of that mattered. Though it was not the newest and most luxurious inn, it was certainly the most cozy. So much so that we looked forward to going to our room and just relaxing every evening. We even watched a movie we had brought one night and on another I took a nap while my husband and daughter put gas in the car. Had we stayed longer, we would have borrowed a movie from their extensive DVD collection to watch.

Cambria is a wonderful little town and is central to many of the other popular attractions. Each day only traveled a few miles north or south to reach our planned destinations. Even walking around Cambria is nice and my daughter mentioned that she didn’t want to leave. “I like Cambria,” she expressed. Sand Pebbles Inn really stood out as providing an exceptional stay for our family. They even have a couple of room on the lower floor that allow pets if you don’t want to leave your furry family from your vacation.

For those looking for a different kind of stay, the same owners have two other properties. The Blue Dolphin in designed with more of an adult flare and feels more posh with more elegant decor. If you’re looking for a secluded retreat, the Moonstone Cottages provide separate studio-type rooms where you can relax at your own pace and without other tourists scurrying about. Both places are provided with picnic breakfasts brought to your room each morning.  One more property was recently acquired on the same street but that one will be more of a budget family motel. No matter what, I’m sure the same care and hospitality are found at these properties as well.

As a family-run establishment (three generations), the owners of these Cambria Inns truly understand what it is like traveling and it shows in the way this place is designed and run. With reasonable rates, clean rooms, and friendly staff we certainly hope to stay here again in the near future. Sand Pebbles Inn truly felt like a home away from home.