Black Sands Inn - Whitethorn, California

Robin F.

5 stars all around for Black Sands Inn! What you see is what you get plus more ! You can’t beat the view, comfort, location and didn’t mention the views! Room #9 is spacious and really feels like home - with views from every window! The home is always equipped with everything you need , the kitchen fully stocked to make your favorite meal and towels for the beach. Updated decor, spotless and fun electronic fireplace for cooler nights . Very much a gem of a location! There is a very nice coffee shop across the way with great breakfasts and a general store half way up the hill if you need more items.
Overall great stay can’t wait for the next visit !

Susan H.

Beautiful stay at Black Sands Inn, view cannot be beat! Was able to see Harbour seal pups and parents at Seal Rock, which is within walking distance. Unit had great amenities and service, alao beautiful flowers, look forward to staying again.

Richard H.

Black Sands Inn is a hidden treasure perched above the wild beauty of Shelter Cove. The views of the Pacific are absolutely unreal—like something out of a dream. The room was spotless, stylish, and had everything I needed for a peaceful, soul-recharging stay. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking up to misty cliffs? Unbeatable. Quiet, serene, and perfectly located for exploring the Lost Coast. I’ll be back. Five stars all the way.

John L.

Shelter Cove holds a special place in our hearts, and this was our third visit to celebrate our 1-year engagement anniversary (we actually got engaged right next to the Black Sands Inn!). Of all the places we've stayed, this was by far our favorite.

Everything was top-notch—the location, the room, and the service. The team at Black Sands Inn was incredibly kind and responsive, making us feel welcome from the start. The unit itself was beautiful, and the breathtaking ocean view is worth a million dollars on its own.

If you're planning a trip to Shelter Cove, we can't recommend the Black Sands Inn enough. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy this stunning coastal gem!

Cassidy J.

I don’t give out five stars that often but I can’t deny the value of this hotel! I was pleasantly surprised that the hot tub was impeccably clean and warmed to an amazing 104 🤩 the master deluxe suite was so spacious and had all the things needed for cooking and the views of the ocean were breathtaking. The fireplace worked well but it did get a little chilly but there was a space heater to warm up the big room. The comforter and duvet were incredibly soft too!
I also appreciated the dog bag station and area. Overall great value and experience, I would book again. and worth the slow drive down the windy road to shelter cove!

Strands R.

Loved our stay here! Wonderful location for a peaceful getaway. Comfortable bed, nicely decorated and well-stocked. Staff is responsive and accommodating. Will definitely stay again.

Olivia H.

I’ve given this review plenty of thought and though my heart wants to give it 5 stars and rave about it, I do want to point out some shortcomings, which I will after the positives!
As far as location and vibe, absolutely this place is amazing! We loved being just steps from the ocean, a delicious cafe and the overall atmosphere of shelter cove. The decor was perfect for the theme of the inn and items provided were exactly what was needed. We booked room 3 king room and it was perfect for my husband and I.
However, there are a few negatives I have to share;
The code to our lock was never changed to the provided code but I was able to reach out to the manager to get the correct code.
A major bummer for us was that the hot tub was drained and we were very much looking forward to this feature(we had no warning of this, in fact while on the way I received and email with hot tub rules)
We discovered a stain on the inner duvet BUT I did forget to send a photo to management and we ended up sleeping on top of the cover sheet with outer duvet.
The lights outside the rooms are bright and shine right into the windows of some rooms so if sensitive to light at night, keep that in mind.
Overall, the renovations were cosmetic, so the structure and grounds are still dated and the lack of on site management can be inconvenient but we enjoyed our short visit and I do think we would return once more kinks are worked out because we’d love to show our kids all the things Shelter cove has to offer!
As far as the road down to town that people have mentioned, if you’ve never driven PCH or windy California roads in general, then yes it can be nerve wracking but it’s totally worth the drive!

Traitorhater, G. A. R.

The apartment was clean and comfortable. The building stood up to a 7.0 earthquake while we were there. The little town was organized and prepared for the tsunami warning after the earthquake. The veiw was truly unbelievable and the people in the little town were very nice. The drive in from the 101 is pretty interesting, I highly suggest to do it during the day on the first time in. We enjoyed every bit of our stay at black sands inn, the only recommendation I have is for there to be a BBQ grill.