The rollaway bed had no support, sagged in the middle. Surrounded by rentals (condos and duplexes)...partying past midnight. Rooms smelled moldy--mostly from the bathroom.

Although non-smoking rooms, guests were allowed to smoke in patios or balconies outside their rooms. Unfortunately, the smoke drifted into our room when we left the sliding glass door open.

Disappointed in the quality and cleaniness.

I saw a bunch of (I think) erroneous negative comments about this place, and wanted to add my comments to help balance them out:

Me, my wife and 2 kids just stayed there for several days last week. We're from new york, but were in Aptos for my Mom's wedding.

Overall, our stay at the Rio Sands was VERY pleasant.

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The Rio Sands is a small older place just two easy (no hill to walk with beach gear) blocks from huge beach and a very nice sea food restaurant, the Rio Cafe.

The Rio Sands has a secluded grass area with a bar-b-que and pool. So we can sun tan on the grass and dip in the pool or do it all on the beach.

Although it is older (they has plans to ...

My husband used to take his kids here about 20 years ago. He warned me that it was an older place but was only 2 blocks from the beach, had a great continental breakfast, pool & spa. We went for the first tiime together about 5 yrs. ago and have been going twice a year ever since. No, it's not the "Ritz" by any means but the ...

The place is a dump. Half the people tha work there don't speak english. The rooms were dirty. All I can say is the place is a dive.

We picked the rio sands becuase it was close to the beach and the room had a kitchenette.
(we have a 4 and 1 year old)
I think before we had children we would have been dissapointed with it also, but it is such a great place for a family. The pool area is great, we loved starting our day with the continetal breakfast. The walk to the beach is sooo short and it is a very quiet beach too. I cant wait to go back!

I had a problem with the ancient heater in the room. The pilot went out and I smelled gas in the room. Good thing I don't smoke.

You would think that it would be against the law to have a heater this old in a motel. It looked like it was 40 years old. The place doesn't have fire sprinklers either. Not the safest combination. I'm amazed the place hasn't burned down by now!

The place is very depressing. It's real old. Not a place to look forward to coming bak to in the evening.

Service was awful, food was below average. Waste of money.

This hotel service was wonderful. Front desk staff very helpful with directions around town. Room was clean and roomy. As for bars on the windows? Where? There wasn't any bars on any of the windows. The location was perfect. Close to secluded beach and the wife and I will return.