Sands Motel of Boulder City

As an end to our roadtrip, we decided to take a vacation to Vegas! Since the prices of hotels are ridiculous on the strip, we found this place and booked a room. Thinking that is was affordable at the $ 50 advertised cost, we got here only to be charge about $ 90. Desperate for a place to stay, we decided to deal with it and headed to room #7. It was already about 9:30 pm and we were grateful that we could still check in even though it was late. The younger lady at the office, Dawn, was really nice when checking in. She told us about all places around town and made some helpful recommendations — very sweet lady!
When we got to the room, it smelled of cigarette smoke and a powerful, cover-​up cleaner. We purposely reserved and paid for a non-​smoking room; since I am asthmatic, I am very sensitive to strong smells and thick air, therefore it was really difficult for me to breathe comfortably in the room. Additionally, the room was quite small cramming a bed, and small table with 2 chairs. With the blinds closed, you still had a clear view of the parking lot and everyone passing by. The bathroom was tiny; the toilet was shaky and fills all the way to the top (like on the verge of overflowing) before going back down when you flush it. The showers were pretty gross and tiny, too. The shower door opens right into the sink, or bathroom door if it is open. On top of that, we were informed that this is the 6^th safest city in the U.S. only to walk outside and have people running around screaming obscenities at each other on two separate occasions in the 30 minutes we were there.
We returned to the office to ask Dawn for a different room or a discount on the room since it hadn’t been what we reserved. Unfortunately, Dawn had left and Angie had taken over. After we told her about the smoke smell, Angie told us that there was nothing she could do because the rooms were all booked and that if there was smoke in the room, she would be immediately notified by the cleaning staff so that proper measures could be taken. When we reminded her that it still smelled like smoke regardless of what may or may not have happened in that room prior to our arrival, she reiterated that no one had smoked. Tell that to the cigarette and cheap cleaner smell, Angie!
Angie then called Dawn on the phone to discuss the issue further. Dawn also said that the room is non-​smoking and that they would have taken care of it if there was smoke. Unlike Angie, Dawn offered us our full refund if we could not stay there.
We returned to the room and at that point, I couldn’t breathe without getting light-​headed and nauseous. When we decided to look for another room, we returned to the office only for Angie to slam down her pen in frustration and tell us that it was a non-​smoking room again. When we asked for our money back, she commanded, «Sign it, sign it, sign it!». It was one paper, one signature, so calm down, Angie.
After getting the refund, Angie exclaimed, «Well, now we have to clean the room!». I get that you have protocol to follow, but we were in there for 10 minutes, and you can keep your comments to yourself. Also, why whine about cleaning the rooms when you have so conveniently informed us that you have cleaning staff doing the dirty work? It’s like hearing my 9 year old brother complaining about chores, only he actually does them himself and Angie is like 80. Grow up!
I can’t say if the stay is worth it, but the customer service from Angie’s part is absolutely terrible. Although my lungs couldn’t handle the hotel air, my tolerance can’t handle Angie. I hope Dawn can rub off on her or find a new coworker!
Anyway. Angie — I hope you do clean the room yourself. I took a dump before I left! xoxo

AVOID: Do not go to this hotel, especially if there is no where else. Hotel manager was very opportunistic. We had a room booked several weeks in advance. They called us the week of and said that our room was double-​booked so we would have to pay an extra $ 160/​night if we wanted it. Just so happened to be fight night weekend in Vegas. Argued with manager, but this seemed like a regular occurrence, almost scripted. Avoid this place, reservations mean nothing.

We managed to get one of the last rooms on President’s Day weekend. Dawn was super nice. The room was clean, and the bed was surprisingly comfortable. The room was small but clean. Old style TV on the wall. We had WIFI, but kept getting bumped off of it. The shower «whistled» quite loudly, but we had hot water. Walking distance to restaurants and stores. Reasonably priced, we would stay there again.

Great place to stay! Huge rooms, clean, affordable price. Table and chairs, recliner, king sized bed, TV, mini fridge, enormous closet, coffee maker, free wifi and best shower ever… lots of water pressure and pulsating shower head… whole body massage!

Good value, clean spacious room, comfortable bed. Coffee maker, Microwave, Refrigerator and free Wi-​Fi.

This place is alright. Wifi doesn’t even connect in my room #8. Bathrooms are old and rusty. Whoever designed the bathroom is an airhead. You open the shower door, and it slams into the sink… walls need painting. Mini blinds are so old, they’re yellow. Carpet is disgusting– make sure you walk with socks on or slippers. At least it’s not insect infested.

I stayed here. I was overpriced due to the lack of amenities. I was also lied to on the phone, I was told there was breakfast in the morning-​there was not. The wifi rarely worked, and the rooms were not that nice. I would not stay here again.

Awful. DO NOT stay here. First of all, this motel was built in 1930 and hasn’t been improved or kept up yet. It’s so bad that I will actually just make a list of the top 10 reasons not to stay there.
1. No outlets in the room, alarm clock, lamp, microwave, fridge NOT plugged in and there was NO outlet anywhere. Basically they are for «looks» but they look awful anyway…
2. TV stand was too large for the tiny room and literally blocked half of the entryway to the bathroom
3. Toilet runs constantly
4. Water in shower doesn’t stay hot
5. Pictures falling off walls
6. Stains on the bedspread (what kind? who knows…)
7. Duct tape holding the carpet down
8. The blond lady at the front desk was so rude when I went to discuss these issues that I was shocked. Normally, I do not write reviews but she was so completely awful that I want to save anyone I can from the rip off that is the sands motel… AVOID it at all costs…
9. OVERPRICED — 75 $ on a Sunday night in off peak season for the worst motel that I have ever stayed in, is ridiculous…
10. When I voice my concerns to the lady at the front desk, she wouldn’t listen or help us with any of the problems or even give me my money back so that we could go somewhere else… worst customer service ever.
Save yourself a night of sleeping on smelly plywood beds and drive somewhere else — I’d rather sleep in my car than ever stay here again.

I did not stay here, but I ought to have and will in the future. I dropped in to ask about prices and found them to be affordable when quoted by lovely Dawn behind the counter. I viewed a room and found in impeccable as predicted (I could tell based on the fine condition of the lobby area). Since I’d already checked in elsewhere, I could only plan to return later, but Dawn warmly welcomed me to come over and use the washer and dryer on site as the place I was staying was lacking this amenity. This is a very clean and friendly small business. I highly suggest you stop here a few nights. It has everything you need.

I’d say that this is really decent for the price and the town. There’s no pool and I’m not sure if they have wifi, but for $ 49 I thought it was great. The rooms are simple, no frills but I had the BEST SLEEP in days here. Ask for a room with a tub shower if you prefer. The night desk clerk was super nice and changed my room out so that I would have a one. Family owned business and helpful if you need anything.
You get a 10% off the two restaurants next to it (just show your receipt or room key) and they are decent fare for the town if you like burgers, chili and shakes.

So, who’s found themselves working in a town they’ve never been in and get to rely on other peoples reviews to help you not make a totally horrible decision?
The Sands is pretty good. If you are just staying one night it’s over-​priced and not worth it but if you are staying a week or more you can get a pretty crazy deal. No pool though maybe why the deal is so good. Staff is great behind the desk (both evening and night) and these people really like their town so they tell you about things going on in the area and good places to eat. Give it a try.