Ocean Sands Beach Boutique Inn - 1 Acre Private Beach

On our last visit, my partner accidentally left her wallet in the room after it fell from the table. We only realized once we got home, but staff soon called to say they’d found it and could either ship it or let us pick it up. That honesty was refreshing. We’ve stayed here several times and plan to keep coming back. The rooms are comfortable, and the beds and bedding make for a very nice sleep. It’s directly across from a 1-acre private beach that our dog loves, and the place is dog friendly. The daily $75/night upcharge is a little steep, but being so close is well worth it. The staff are second-to-none. Highly recommend Ocean Sands.

Breakfast was amazing, with plenty of choices, though it seemed to run out if you ate later. We got a last-minute deal that sounded good, but I’m not sure it was worth more than one night. The beach is across the road, not right in front, and the small parking lot was especially tight for our big truck. The robot check-in was confusing; the cards didn’t work, and the door wouldn’t fully shut without extra help. The desk was helpful getting the cards fixed. There are only two floors and no elevator. Rooms were small, half the lights and the clock didn’t work, and the working lights were too bright. The TV worked but the picture seemed fuzzy. The porch and its light were great, and there were plenty of sightseeing brochures. The toilet wasn’t properly cleaned, though the beds were very comfortable. It rained, so we couldn’t enjoy the pool and scenery. You have to drive to get anywhere else, though it isn’t far. From the second floor, the ocean view made for a great place to watch sunrise.

The beds were comfortable, the sliding door kept most traffic noise out, the room met our needs, and the bathroom had been remodeled very nicely. The “hot breakfast” was genuinely hot and generous. The hotel is across a busy road from the beach, and a huge construction project was affecting the view, through no fault of the hotel. But late check-in at 9:45 was a nightmare. We used a kiosk with someone off-site on video chat, and it dispensed key cards like a vending machine. We went upstairs, found the door slightly ajar, put some luggage inside, then closed it to get the rest from the car. When we came back, the cards didn’t work. We went back downstairs and got more, but those and the next two sets didn’t work either. We told the kiosk attendant someone needed to let us in to get our luggage. About half an hour later a man came and got us into the food. We were too tired then to argue with the kiosk attendant about a refund. The next morning we were given a late checkout, which should have been offered at the start. A note to management: there’s no need to provide little toiletries from other hotel chains, especially when your own are sufficient.

The beach is right across the road, and breakfast was fresh, tasty, and generous, with plenty of extras in an easy help-yourself setup. Our room at Ocean Sands Beach Boutique in Vilano Beach was spotless, comfortable, and roomy, and the welcome at check-in was warm from the start. The owners really thought of the little things: chocolates by the bed, nice complimentary toiletries, lavender pillow spray, and sunscreen to use at the beach. They even offered to provide anything we’d forgotten. There’s also a shared kitchen with coffee and tea available whenever you want. The price was very reasonable, some of the best value we’ve found in the United States so far. We’d happily stay again and recommend it to anyone visiting the St Augustine area. Thanks again! 😊