Will be staying at the Sanctuary on Kiawah Island for seven nights on our first trip to Charleston. Would like to know if anyone has stayed here and what did they think about it. Also, would love to do a fair amount of sightseeing. Where would you recommend we start?

There are quite a few previous threads on Charleston with lots of suggestions to check out. More specifics on types of things you like to see might send you in the right direction. Charleston (and the surrounding area) has everything from retired battleships, an aircraft carrier and the Hunley to plantations to historic homes to nature excursions. Tours of the Charleston Tea Plantation are supposed to begin in August. There are lots of the nature excursions right on Kiawah. If you're going soon, grab a carraige ride first thing in the morning before it gets too steamy in town. The Visitors Center in town has most everything at your fingertips and I'm sure the concierge at the Sanctuary could help tremendously too.

My husband and I stayed at The Sanctuary for two nights in June and would, honestly, give it mixed reviews. The building and rooms are magnificent. However, the left hand and the right hand aren't quite coordinated. We called on the way to Kiawah to double-check check-in time - told it was 3 o'clock. We arrived around 2, room wasn't ready, we gave them our cell phone number to call when it was, then went and had a dreadful meal at the Turtle Point Golf Club; chips were great, should have stopped there. The fried oysters on my salad were laughable, as well as covereed with dough! We went back to the front desk around 3:15, room still not ready. I asked if we'd be given extra time at check-out and was told no, check-in was at 4. So, we went out on the beach (in our traveling clothes, with no book, sunscreen, anything) and sat in the wonderful chairs with tents and table and free bottled water. At 4:45, the attendant started gathering the beach gear, saying they "closed" at 5. So, here we were, paying over $600 a night with no place to go. We went back to the front desk and, our room was ready and "had been." But no one had called. Checked into lovely corner room on next-to-the top floor. It was one of those rooms that is so nice that you want to just sit there and enjoy it. Shortly thereafter, a beautiful fruit and cheese tray arrived, welcoming us. We had a good dinner at Jasmine's Porch; be sure to save room for dessert. The next morning my husband went to find us a little breakfast and came back with a pitiful muffin and a nasty breakfast burrito from the little shop downstairs. We did a great one-hour golf clinic on basic swing instruction, but even that was pesky when the book in the room said it was $35 a person and they charged us $40. It's not the money, but the principle. We enjoyed the rest of our day on the beach, including lunch at the poolside restaurant. Again, we spent part of the afternoon working and reading in our beautiful room. For supper, we went to John's Island and had delicious fried shrimp at Gilligans. Well worth the drive. The funny part was, we returned to the room and had no turndown service of any kind - no big deal, just a marked contrast to the evening before.
I would say it is a lovely place, but they still have some chinks to work out (and I wish the bathroom door was solid, not slatted!)

I live here in Charleston and have been out to the Sanctuary for a tour. It is a beautiful property but as Maggers said, they still have some kinks to work out. Just want to make sure you know that Kiawah is about 45 minutes from Downtown Charleston depending on traffic. As for things to do while in Charleston, I recently posted a trip report on Charleston as I had friends in town that had never been to Charleston so we played tourist. Check it out and if you have any questions re: Charleston, please feel free to let me know.

I am a Charleston native with a home on Kiawah.

I would alert you that sightseeing in August can be a challenge. The weather is hot, hot, hot and steamy. Not great for walking Charleston's streets. And Charleston is most enjoyable as you walk around the city. Moreover, there's likely to be thunderstorm almost every afternoon.

And don't forget the 45 minute ride into town from Kiawah.

This is not to discourage you from enjoying the Lowcountry but you will be frustrated if you attempt to "see" Charleston during the hot part of the day. My advice: enjoy Kiawah. The beach is beautiful. The new hotel pool relaxing. Plan for a great meal in the evening, either in town or a one of the local places, and don't fight the hot weather.

Shotcaller, we will be on Kiawah in one month and am following your thread with interest. What I would like to know from Dove and Travelgirl, or anyone else, is where to go for a unique, but reasonably priced dinner within driving distance from Kiawah?

We always splurge one night at the Ocean Room at the Sanctuary. Not cheap as you would expect but the quality and choice are excellent.

Other local restaurants we like are:

St. John Cafe on Maybank Highway, across from the Pelican lumberyard; Gilligan's near the intersection of Main Road and Hwy 17; Rosebank Cafe in Bohicket Marina (better for lunch than dinner, we think); Noisy Oyster on the Stono River Bridge, Maybank Highway (if you can sit outside).

We've also had good meals at the Red Sky Cafe at Seabrook gate but it's not a favorite. We always have at least one breakfast or lunch at the Ocean Course Club House because of the ocean view.

In town, the hands down best are the Hominy Grill, Jestines and Penninsula Grill.

Enjoy.

Dove, thanks for those excellent suggestions. I'm sure we'll be hitting quite a few of those on our trip!

Hi shotcaller. In historical Charleston check out the restaurant SNOB. Funny name I know but it stands for Slightly North of Broad (St.). The food is fantastic.

We stayed at Kiawah in May for four nights in association with my husband's business meeting.

I'm sorry, and this may sound incredibly rude and snobby, but I just don't GET Kiawah at all. (This was our second trip on his company's dime.)

Virtually everything is vastly overpriced from the accommodations to the food to the activities.

We stayed in an oceanfront condo (badly in need of repair - torn wallpaper, lackadaisical housekeeping, stained carpets, cheap furnishings) and ate about half our meals on property and half off.

The Sanctuary has an architechtural style that looks like they had a contest to see who would design the building and then used the designs of three or four different people. What's with the Italianate/Low Country/English Manor/Far East design? Grove Park meets Greenbriar meets Bellagio?

The interior of The Sanctuary is very nice, and beautifully furnished. The food at the two restaurants we ate at was good. Jasmine Porch was great for lunch, and the fried green tomatoes were excellent.

While the Ocean Room dinner was good, it wasn't great, and it should have been for the price. Service was not particularly attentive either there for $750+ for five people.

After spending $100+ for two for lunch at Jasmine Porch, we were turned away (!!!) at the poolside bar where we wanted to go to listen to the reggae band which was playing because we were not staying at the Sanctuary. Ha, ha! We were amazed.

I had an opportunity to stay at the Sanctuary for $200 per night and was glad I had not. I must say that the prospect of staying there and paying $600 per night just boggles my mind. You can stay at some of the premier resorts on the planet for $600 per night. The Sanctuary does not even begin to warrant such prices!

The pools were all overcrowded with screaming kids and nowhere to get away.

We travel at least twice yearly to the Caribbean. I have stayed at some of the top resorts in the Caribbean for much less than what they expect to get at The Sanctuary, and I would never have selected Kiawah for our own vacation.

I was sorry I took the time off from work to go there - I'm only glad my husband's company footed the bill for everything. imho, all of Kiawah is a HUGE rip-off.

The beach is not very nice (it's flat and wide, but the sand on the beach is dark, and the water is brown-green).

We are usually not that difficult to please, but from the time you drive up to the place, they are nickel and diming you left and right. I am used to paying resort prices for things because we travel a lot, but the prices at Kiawah just stunned me for the quality of what you get.

There are SO many much nicer places to go. I just will never understand what it is about Kiawah that makes people willing to pay through the nose for sub-par food, amenities and accommodations...