Hilton Head is known as one of the best vacation spots on the East Coast, and its hotels are a testimony to the reputation. The island is awash in regular hotels and resorts that are called plantations, not to mention beachfront or golf-course-view villas, cottages, and mansions. Here and on private islands you can expect the most modern conveniences and world-class service at the priciest places. Clean, updated rooms and friendly staff are everywhere—even at lower-cost hotels—this is the South, after all. Many international employees add a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Staying in cooler months, for extended periods of time, or commuting from nearby Bluffton, where there are some new limited-service properties, chains like Hampton Inn, can mean better deals.
