Driveable luxury beach resort - Kiawah, HHI, etc.

[Anonymous]

Looking at the Sanctuary at Kiawah, Omni Hilton Head or others for a summer family splurge trip. Usually rent a condo in OBX but it’s a big anniversary year. Would like beautiful beach, nice large pool complex, pool bar, good nearby dining.

Can anyone recommend? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Sanctuary at Kiawah is great. If you have kids with you, they will want to go to some of the other pools at Kiawah vs the Sanctuary pool (for water slides, etc). Kiawah has AMAZING activities and things to do for all ages. It's one of our favorite family trips. If you really want to splurge, go for the club level. Food and drink all day is great, and we use it for breakfast and lunch most days.

Sea Island is another favorite, but would be farther to drive.

Bald Head Island is fun and a little different -- not quite as many amenities as Kiawah, but so nice to be on the private island with no cars! Southport is a nice town to spend some time in while you're there.

Omni HHI is not what I think of as luxury, although it's nice.

[Anonymous]

Have you considered the Montage in Bluffton SC? Easy access to Hilton Head and Savanah. Maybe do a couple days in suite at Westin on HHI for a few days and then spend a couple days of Montage.

[Anonymous]

What time of year?

Kiawah is paradise, just not in August. It is a humid mess and not enjoyable.

HHI isn't great

I would take Sea Island over both of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What time of year?

Kiawah is paradise, just not in August. It is a humid mess and not enjoyable.

HHI isn't great

I would take Sea Island over both of them.

+1 on every word of this post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What time of year?

Kiawah is paradise, just not in August. It is a humid mess and not enjoyable.

HHI isn't great

I would take Sea Island over both of them.

+1 on every word of this post.

Except I do see OP said summer.

[Anonymous]

If you don't plan to play golf or tennis you're overpaying for these places. Just rent a nice beach house at OBX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't plan to play golf or tennis you're overpaying for these places. Just rent a nice beach house at OBX.

Completely incorrect.

Many people enjoy resorts without golfing or tennis. Both Kiawah and Sea Island have lots of other activities and amenities people want (pool w/service, restaurants, kid's club/activities, spa, fitness, etc.)

Plus, the redneck quotient is much lower than at Corolla, Nags Head, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered the Montage in Bluffton SC? Easy access to Hilton Head and Savanah. Maybe do a couple days in suite at Westin on HHI for a few days and then spend a couple days of Montage.

Montage is very nice. Very very pricey. I can't imagine there's generally much crossover between the Westin and Montage

Pool area is small, if that's the main thing you're looking for - not sure. Great kayaking, biking, etc. though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't plan to play golf or tennis you're overpaying for these places. Just rent a nice beach house at OBX.

Not even in the same galaxy of what OP is requesting.

[Anonymous]

I love the Sanctuary in Kiawah and the Cloister in Sea Island. How does the Montage compare? I've never heard of it.

[Anonymous]

I went to Kiswah in late July and it wasn’t bad, but when we went to Charleston for the day I was dripping with sweat. I love Kiawah.

[Anonymous]

Kiawah is nice but the beach isn't that great.

[Anonymous]

We go to Kiawah every year. Usually rent a house with friends, and when we go just our family we stay at Sanctuary. We always stay at Marriott outside Kiawah gates for the night we arrive bc we are super exhausted from drive. The next day we check into Sanctuary.

One of our favorites is playing golf during the evening family golf - it's cheap and obviously lots of young kids with parents! We also go to the pools with slides, you can eat lunch or dinner at those pools. At night sometimes we drive to shopping area outside Kiawah for pizza and window shopping, it can be good break. When we went to Kiawah before kids, we would go kayaking at sunset.

I also like HHI, there's a great fancy hotel with a shuttle to the "beach club". We stayed there for a wedding. I remember going on a great bike ride with our kids to a point with restaurants. BTW - lots of alligators both places if that scares you.

Haven't done Sea Island, but it's on our list this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We go to Kiawah every year. Usually rent a house with friends, and when we go just our family we stay at Sanctuary. We always stay at Marriott outside Kiawah gates for the night we arrive bc we are super exhausted from drive. The next day we check into Sanctuary.

One of our favorites is playing golf during the evening family golf - it's cheap and obviously lots of young kids with parents! We also go to the pools with slides, you can eat lunch or dinner at those pools. At night sometimes we drive to shopping area outside Kiawah for pizza and window shopping, it can be good break. When we went to Kiawah before kids, we would go kayaking at sunset.

I also like HHI, there's a great fancy hotel with a shuttle to the "beach club". We stayed there for a wedding. I remember going on a great bike ride with our kids to a point with restaurants. BTW - lots of alligators both places if that scares you.

Haven't done Sea Island, but it's on our list this year.

Np here. How do you get to kiawah? Do you fly or drive? How long does it take?