Kiawah Island, South Carolina, has been referred to as the Hamptons of the South, and we can see why! Just 26 miles south of Charleston, Kiawah Island features 30 miles of paved trails and 10 miles of beach, where the Kiawah River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The island is quiet and relaxing, so if you are looking to get away for some R&R, Kiawah Island is the perfect spot.
Where to stay
There are three options inside the gates; a home rental, guest of a homeowner, or the 5-Star Hotel, The Sanctuary Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Seeing as I don’t have a long lost ultra-wealthy family member in a 10 million dollar mansion, we opted for a stay at The Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is an oceanfront Forbes Five Star/ AAA Five Diamond hotel and spa. The resort features five golf courses, including The Ocean Course, host of the 1991 Ryder Cup, and the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championship. Beyond golf, there is quite the tennis scene. Tennis Resorts Online perennially ranks the resort’s Roy Barth Tennis Center as the world’s best.
Outside the gates is another hotel worth mentioning; The Andell Inn
The Andell Inn is right near Freshfield’s village, which is a shopping and dining area. The hotel’s decor is modern & hip, definitely different than the more formal, Sanctuary. The hotel boasts all-suite offerings, including a small kitchenette. This hotel is worth looking into, especially if you are traveling solo or with just one other person.
Getting there
There are two gates once you reach Kiawah Island. The first gate will allow you access to The Sanctuary but will require a pass. The second gate marks a more exclusive area of the resort with the gigantic mega-mansions. Without a pass, you will not be able to drive through the gates, but you can bike freely anywhere on Kiawah Island.
Where to Eat
Hands down, our favorite restaurant is The Atlantic Room, at the Ocean Course Clubhouse. It is also home to the Ryder Cup Bar.
We took the Sanctuary hotel shuttle. The 20-minute drive was spectacular to see all of the beautiful oceanside mansions. Do you know full-time residents make up only 35% of those mansions, most are used as a cottage or second home? What?!
Other notable restaurants on Kiawah Island: Hege’s, Forty-eight/a Wine Bar, Lokal Seabar (outdoor seating with great views of Bohicket Marina), Ocean Room, Jasmine Porch, and Loggerhead Grill.
Things to Do
Golf- there are five gorgeous golf courses on the island. And most of them are for skilled golfers. The Ocean Club hosts major PGA events and has been named #3 public golf course in the U.S.
Tennis-The Roy Barth Tennis Center has many options, including demo clinics, round-robin play, junior tennis, and pro exhibition.
Bikes- One of our favorite things to do on the island is rent bikes. You can ride through the paved paths and see the gorgeous homes or ride on the beach, right on the beach. The sand is packed so tightly that it allows for beach cruising.
Kayak or Paddleboard in low country. If nature is your thing, this would be an excellent option for you!
Staying on Points
And if points are part of your travel plans…
The Sanctuary is 35,000 Chase Ultimate Reward points/night
The Andell Inn is 13,000 Chase Ultimate Reward points/night or 50,000 Marriott points/night.
We highly recommend this gem of an island and plan to go again next summer with our kids!
Beth S.
Tiffany is truly a credit card point guru. She was very patient and helped my husband and I navigate our credit card point game.
William F.
WE’VE SAT ON THOUSANDS OF POINTS FOR YEARS WITH NO CLUE HOW TO REALLY USE THEM. TIFFANY COACHED US HOW TO COMBINE OUR POINTS, TRANSFER POINTS AND ADD MORE POINTS THROUGH CREDIT CARD SIGN-ON BONUSES. AWESOME SERVICE.
SUZANNE M.
WE OWN A SMALL BUSINESS AND HAVE ALWAYS WRITTEN CHECKS OR USED OUR DEBIT CARD EARNING ZERO TRAVEL REWARDS. WE’VE CHANGED OUR WHOLE WAY OF MANAGING MONEY AND ARE ON OUR WAY TO A FREE LUXURY VACATION THANKS TO TIFFANY.
JANET M.
TIFFANY HELPED MY HUSBAND AND I EARN A VACATION TO CROATIA BY USING SPECIFIC TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS ON OUR DAUGHTER’S WEDDING. WE HAD PLANNED TO WRITE CHECKS TO ALL OF THE VENDORS, SO GLAD WE MADE A 1:1 COACHING CALL.
Liz R.
WITH TIFFANY’S GUIDANCE, we EARNED 400,000 CREDIT CARD POINTS BUT WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW BEST TO USE THEM. WE HIRED HER TO PLAN OUR TRIP USING A COMBINATION OF POINTS, MILES AND CASH (CREDIT CARD). HIRING HER WAS THE BEST MONEY I’VE EVER SPENT. SHE WENT WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND. PARIS HERE WE COME.
