My husband & I are taking an extended weekend away and want to try a trip to HH but know NOTHING about it. All advice on: hotels, weather in early june (can we go to the beach?) & where would we fly into (myrtle beach, etc.) - Does hilton head have its own airport?

HHI is one of my favorite places. June is GREAT beach time. You can fly into Charleston or Savannah and rent a car. I think Savannah is closer 45min or so. I'm not sure but I think there is a small airport on HHI. Myrtle Beach is too far away and a long ride in summer traffic on hwy17 or I95. As for hotels there is a Westin,Holiday INN, Hilton, crown plaza and a few others that are oceanfront.All are nice. Mostly there are condos and villas in gated communities called "plantations".Again, all are nice. You can look on line for rentals on Sea Pines Plantation we have stayed there. Very nice homes and Condos and lots to do. Be sure to go into Harbour town which is in Seapines one night to see the yachts and the light house and shops and resturaunts. Just a fun place. You pay to enter Seapines $5.00 park you car and take the trolly to Harbour Town. You can drive but you'll never find parking.We have also stayed at the Marriott's Barony Beach Club in Port Royal Plantation. All 1 or 2br condos very nice, very pricey. We love HHI. We go every year. Enjoy!

Jean,

thank you so much for your feedback - I became so excited about our trip as I read your message. Can I rent a villa/condo for a long weekend?
again, thanks for your help,

Mary

Yes, we have an airport on Hilton Head, US Air is the only airline that flys into it from Charlotte. Savannah is a 45 minute drive and has Delta, Airtran, Continental, US Air and American Eagle. The weather for the past week has been in the high 80's. Most of the condo's are for 1 week rentals especially after Memorial Day. In Palmetto Dunes there is the Hilton Resort which has kitchenettes in the rooms but if you're just here for a weekend who wants to cook? Depending on your price range there are hotels to meet every need.
Have fun.

CHECK INTO BEACH-PROPERTIES.COM AND BAREFOOTPROPERTIES.NET BOTH HAVE NICE PLACES TO STAY IN HH YOU MAYBE ABLE TO GET A CONDO FOR THREE NIGHT MINIMUM FOR ALOT LESS THAN A HOTEL..$150 OR SO VS $225 PLUS FOR A OCEAN HOTEL. SOME GREAT RESTAURANTS ARE TWO ELEVEN PARK!!!!(THE BEST)!!!ALSO SANTE FE, SUNSET GRILL, AND EUGENE'S. STAY AWAY FROM THE TOURISTY PLACES I.E. THE CRAZY CRAB, CRABBY NICKS, HUGE SEAFOOD...ALL HAVE BAD FOOD. THE CHARLESTON AIRPORT IS ABOUT 1 3/4 HRS AWAY! TRY SAV(35-40 MIN) OR HILTON HEAD. THE FLOWERS ARE VERY PRETTY AND EVERYTHING IS WELL LANDSCAPED. SEA PINES IS NICE TO DRIVE THRU BUT NOT EVERYTHING IN SEA PINES IS GREAT TO STAY AT, LIKE SOME PEOPLE TRY TO MAKE YOU THINK. HAVE A DRINK AT THE SALTY DOG IN SOUTH BEACH MARINA OR TAKE A WALK AROUND HARBOURTOWN (WHERE THE GOLF TOURN. IS) AND THEN GET OUT OF SEA PINES. NICE SHOPPING AT THE OUTLETS...2 SETS JUST BEFORE YOU CROSS THE BRIDGE INTO H H ON YOUR RIGHT AND ALSO SHOPPES ON THE PARKWAY ON 278. HAVE A GREAT TIME, BUT REMEMBER WATCH WHERE YOUR GOING AND DRIVE OVER 10 MPH- ALTHOUGH YOU ARE ON VACATION THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO.

FYI: my personal favorite seafood restaurants in HH are:
#1 Hudson's
#2 Old Oyster Factory
#3 Crazy Crab
Have a great time

I have lived in Savannah for 8 years. Definately fly into Savannah. I have stayed at Sea Pines in a two bedroom condo on Lake Forest drive for three nights in June, you have a pool in the plantation and can rent bikes to be delivered to your condo. I booked it from the website www.coastalhhi.com and we stayed in the villas in Sea Pines Forest Preserve. I was very particular about accommodation as I had relatives over from UK and stipulated it had to be nice and we wanted something without a load of kids and this was very secluded. I think we stayed in the Fleming property (the property is owned by individuals that use Coastal Home and Villas to rent them out. I think you get a visitor pass during your stay as it is $5 to get in the gate to Sea Pines. I looked around at a lot of accommodation and was happy with this. You can bike on beach or various trails that go around the island through all the pine trees. There is free tennis also. I think you have to have your own raquets. Hilton Head is also famous for it's golf and there is also crazy golf places. Harbour Town is really nice, lots of touristy shops, large boats and you can climb up the lighthouse if you are feeling energetic. You can even learn how to Sail a catamaran. Sea Pines also has Lawton Stables if you want to Horse ride. The Holiday Inn has access to the beach and a Tiki bar that is open to the public where they serve great drinks and have a band playing. It is pretty hot in June and very humid. Go into Savannah for a day. You might want to read the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and then you would be familiar with the old mansions downtown, It is very southern with hanging moss from the trees. They also have ghost walks at night that are pretty interesting and City Market is very alive with bands in the evenings on Fridays and Saturdays that play outside in the courtyard. Riverstreet is very touristy and has old cobblestones etc. They have a dinner cruise called the River Queen. Savannah also has crafts on the river, first saturday of the month.