Yes, the general advice is sand only for a full grown adult (1 1/2 - 2 yrs.), and as you mentioned PLAY SAND only, that is well cleaned and sifted.
To add, as claudiusx mentioned, sand does carry risk of impaction even for adult beardies, and loose substrates do tend to harbor more bacteria than solid. So you will want to keep those things in mind when making your decision.
There is a lot of controversey on this topic. Sand definitely causes much less of a risk for adult beardies, but the risk is still there.
I have never used sand, but from what I have read, it harbors bacteria and is very difficult to clean.
Personally, I use tiles, and I love them. VERY easy to clean. Take the tile out, scrub it off, and put it back. They also hold heat well, wear down beardie nails, and look really nice too.