I am interested in renting a beach house for a week during the summer of 2005. (Three couples, two children.) We have stayed at the French Quarter Inn before, but would like to stay in one of the beach communities this time. How do I go about finding NICE accomodations. I am afraid to just rent from advertisements in our local paper. Any advice from experienced Charleston area vacationers?

Check out Wild Dunes on Isle of Palms(www.wilddunes.com) just outside of Charleston. You'll have a choice of upscale condos and cottages (both beachfront and beach access) in varying sizes to accomodate you as a group or seperately. Great beach, golf, tennis, hiking trails, good restaurants, etc. Spent several summers there when kids were younger and always had a good time.

Wild Dunes, Sullivan's Island, Isle of Palms, John's Island, and Folly Beach all have rentals.

Agree with Wild Dunes but it is very very expensive. A four bedroom house could easily run you $8000 for a week.

Do a google search entitled "Charleston Beach Vacation Rental" and also try VRBO.com.

We just returned from a one-week stay in Wild Dunes. It was our first time and it was truly spectacular! We rented a 4-bedroom house through Island Realty (islandrealty.com) that was less than $5000. It was oceanfront and pool front....can't beat that. We stayed in the Grand Pavilion area and literally had the pool and beach out our front door. We were thoroughly impressed with the area and all they have to offer....many kids activities, water activities, great bike trails. FYI, we had 5 kids and 6 adults in our group.

I'm currently looking for a beach house on Folly or IOP (two closest beaches to Charleston) for week-after-next. You can rent from fred holland realty or East Island REntals on Folly, Island Realty, Great Beach Vacations, Islands West for IOP. All have websites. You can also look at CyberRentals.com and Beachouse.com...they aren't real estate co's, but will direct you to the owner or their property manager.

Although there are many nice houses on Folly, there are more "mansion on the beach" type places on IOP.

Both FHR (whom I have rented from in the past) and Island Realty have color brochures in addition to their websites.

I have used Carroll Realty and Island Realty before and liked both of these companies.

We just got back from Wild Dunes on the Isle of Palms (20 min. from Charleston). It was Great! You can rent condos, villas or single family homes. We rented directly from Wild Dunes -look up their website www.wilddunes.com.
We had an ocean front, 2 bedroom condo. There was tennis, golf, bike rentals and activities for younger children each day and nite. Email me if you want any further info.

http://www.eastwestresorts.com is a good company. They have a wide selection of beautiful houses on IOP.

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Last month I spent a week at a beach house on Isle of Palms which I rented through VRBO. It was a 6 bedroom/ 4 bath house in a wonderful location... it was big and clean and just steps from the beach. It was perfect for our family reunion of 12 people.

I would recommend this house if the size suits you because the owners were very easy to reach by both phone and email. Very accomodating too because they quickly took care of the few little "complaints" we had upon our arrival. [couldnt find the BBQ grill nor the internet connection point] you can view the house at www.vrbo.com/70355

FYI - A word of warning about Wild Dunes. There is a section of Wild Dunes where the homes and the condos are falling into the ocean. However, I know that those units are still being rented out. photos are available at the Island Realty website

www.islandrealty.com/beacherosionphotos_000.htm