Hilton Head, SC where to stay?
Jul 9th, 2002, 07:31 AM
#1
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Hilton Head, SC where to stay?
Making some last minute vacation plans for first time trip to Charleston and Hilton Head for early August. Have accomodations for 2 nights at the Westin Francis Marion in Charleston, but want to get suggestions for where to rent a villa on HHI. Is Seapines or another plantation the way to go, or possibly Forrest Beach or Folly Beach? What are the pros and cons of different areas? There are some good deals on rentals now... Traveling with 3 children ages 7, 10 and 13, who enjoy beach, water sports, bike riding, etc. Thanks
Jul 9th, 2002, 08:03 AM
#2
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Can't help much with the villas, but a couple of things:
Folly beach is near Charleston. Not HH, unless there is another one I'm unaware of.
Seapines is the only plantation on HH that charges an entrace fee ( so if there is a restaurant you want to go to, say at Harbor town, you have to cough up $5 to get in.) So...if villa prices were no more expensive in Seapines, then perhaps it's worth it to get the car pass. (I know $5 isn't that big a deal, but it gripes me)
I believe the beach is more or less the same all over the island (until you head into the bay)
Folly beach is near Charleston. Not HH, unless there is another one I'm unaware of.
Seapines is the only plantation on HH that charges an entrace fee ( so if there is a restaurant you want to go to, say at Harbor town, you have to cough up $5 to get in.) So...if villa prices were no more expensive in Seapines, then perhaps it's worth it to get the car pass. (I know $5 isn't that big a deal, but it gripes me)
I believe the beach is more or less the same all over the island (until you head into the bay)
Jul 9th, 2002, 08:27 AM
#4
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Kelly,
Big plus for plantations is security. Sea Pines has many villas for rent. None right on the beach, but the beach is never more than a few minutes away. Palmetto Dunes is same situation. North and South Forest Beach is outside plantations, a little more raucous, and pretty lively, not in a negative way, just different from Sea Pines.
Folly Beach (Danna, there is one on HHI, it's just below Port Royal Plantation and the Westin) is similar to the Forest Beach area, except there are more eating options around Forest Beach. Since nothing is more than 15 minutes away from anything else on the island, that may not mean much.
If you opt for Sea Pines, you'll have your gate pass for the time you're there, so that removes that issue. If you don't do Sea Pines, there's enough outside Sea Pines to keep you very busy without needing to get in there. That said, you'll still probably want to go in at least once to go to Harbourtown and South Beach. Plus there are day sails to Savannah that leave from Harbourtown that you might want to think about.
Maybe another poster can give you a stronger recommendation based on their experiences.
Big plus for plantations is security. Sea Pines has many villas for rent. None right on the beach, but the beach is never more than a few minutes away. Palmetto Dunes is same situation. North and South Forest Beach is outside plantations, a little more raucous, and pretty lively, not in a negative way, just different from Sea Pines.
Folly Beach (Danna, there is one on HHI, it's just below Port Royal Plantation and the Westin) is similar to the Forest Beach area, except there are more eating options around Forest Beach. Since nothing is more than 15 minutes away from anything else on the island, that may not mean much.
If you opt for Sea Pines, you'll have your gate pass for the time you're there, so that removes that issue. If you don't do Sea Pines, there's enough outside Sea Pines to keep you very busy without needing to get in there. That said, you'll still probably want to go in at least once to go to Harbourtown and South Beach. Plus there are day sails to Savannah that leave from Harbourtown that you might want to think about.
Maybe another poster can give you a stronger recommendation based on their experiences.
Jul 9th, 2002, 09:31 AM
#5
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Thank you for the replies. More specifically I am considering the "Beachside Tennis" villa's in Seapines -oceanfront complex near the South Beach area I am told or "Beach and tennis" also oceanfront in Folly Beach, or "Seacrest"in South Forrest beach. All look nice but the Seapines location seems a little quieter(?) and maybe being inside the Seapines plantation would be nice....Thanks again for any input
Jul 9th, 2002, 11:55 AM
#7
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Kelly,
Would easily recommend Beachside Tennis in Sea Pines or Sea Crest (nice property) on South Forest.
Beach and Tennis on Folly Beach is older modular construction (locals call it and sister property at mid-island "Stack of Shacks") and I wouldn't recommend it.
Bike riding in Sea Pines will be easier than at Sea Crest.
Would easily recommend Beachside Tennis in Sea Pines or Sea Crest (nice property) on South Forest.
Beach and Tennis on Folly Beach is older modular construction (locals call it and sister property at mid-island "Stack of Shacks") and I wouldn't recommend it.
Bike riding in Sea Pines will be easier than at Sea Crest.
Jul 9th, 2002, 12:28 PM
#8
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We had a great time last August in HH - and I can heartily recommend a villa in the Palmetto Dunes plantation. we were about 2 very shady, pleasant blockd from the beach - right near the Hilton Hotel. definitely rent a house with a pool - the beach is great in the a.m. but gets very hot in the afternoon.
The PD plantation was a quiet, very green neighborhood - great roads for biking, tennis courts were everywhere. Nice to just walk over to the Hilton beach bar/snack bar in the early evening to sit and have a glass of wine and listen to the small band playing outside.
The tennis rates were a bit pricey, (and golf is everywhere, of course) but the most memorable thing my 8 year old & I did was go on a kayak trip for a couple of hours one morning. Several places offer 2 and 3 hour expeditions in the channels and marshes, it's easy to learn the minimum skill required to have fun, you can kayak with young kids, and he still talks about the dolphins swimming 200 yards ahead of us, the egrets we saw and the river shrimp that jumped out of the water and landed in my lap! I know HH is very "controlled" and groomed, but it's also very easy to spend a relaxing, pleasant week there. We rented our house through a local agancy that was a subsidiary of ResortQuest - they're on the web. I have now had 5 great experiences all in North & South Carolina with RQ - the houses are uniformly immaculate, the staff helpful and pleasant. Have a great time.
The PD plantation was a quiet, very green neighborhood - great roads for biking, tennis courts were everywhere. Nice to just walk over to the Hilton beach bar/snack bar in the early evening to sit and have a glass of wine and listen to the small band playing outside.
The tennis rates were a bit pricey, (and golf is everywhere, of course) but the most memorable thing my 8 year old & I did was go on a kayak trip for a couple of hours one morning. Several places offer 2 and 3 hour expeditions in the channels and marshes, it's easy to learn the minimum skill required to have fun, you can kayak with young kids, and he still talks about the dolphins swimming 200 yards ahead of us, the egrets we saw and the river shrimp that jumped out of the water and landed in my lap! I know HH is very "controlled" and groomed, but it's also very easy to spend a relaxing, pleasant week there. We rented our house through a local agancy that was a subsidiary of ResortQuest - they're on the web. I have now had 5 great experiences all in North & South Carolina with RQ - the houses are uniformly immaculate, the staff helpful and pleasant. Have a great time.
Jul 9th, 2002, 01:22 PM
#9
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Sea Pines. Sea Pines. Sea Pines. If you are going to do Hilton Head, it is the only way. I have been there dozens of times and stayed elsewhere on a couple of times- and will never do it again. The public beach is nice to visit - but stay on Sea Pines. 
Jul 9th, 2002, 02:42 PM
#10
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Kelly,
My family is going to Hilton Head next week and we are planning to stay at a villa in Sea Pines. I would be happy to drive by and take a look at any villas you are considering. We are interested in kayaking while on Hilton Head. I was happy to read an earlier post who reported that kayaking was a fun and easy activity with lots of wildlife viewing. I'm really looking forward to our trip. Good luck with yours.
My family is going to Hilton Head next week and we are planning to stay at a villa in Sea Pines. I would be happy to drive by and take a look at any villas you are considering. We are interested in kayaking while on Hilton Head. I was happy to read an earlier post who reported that kayaking was a fun and easy activity with lots of wildlife viewing. I'm really looking forward to our trip. Good luck with yours.
Jul 9th, 2002, 05:00 PM
#11
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Thanks again for all of the great suggestions. We are leaning towards the beachside tennis villa in Seapines. I was also glad to hear about the kayaking trip with an 8 year old child. I thought it might be too much for my 7 year old, but I think we will try it! Any other ideas? Keep it coming...
