The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island offers a full-service spa complete with 12 private treatment rooms connecting massage, sauna and whirlpool facilities. RELATED LINKS Return to Best Beaches

Accommodations

For years the Kiawah Island Inn provided the only hotel accommodations on the island, but this older property has been taken out of service and replaced by the Sanctuary (www.thesanctuary.com), a posh new beach hotel with 255 rooms and a high-end spa and fitness center. A stay at the Sanctuary is not cheap, but it's a good choice for travelers seeking the amenities of a full-service luxury hotel. Additionally the island offers a wide range of vacation homes for rent, including one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, as well as larger detached homes with three to six bedrooms. Lodging may be booked online, but give the exceptional variety of accommodations on the island, it's much better to pick up the phone and discuss your needs with a reservations agent

Dining Options

Visitors can choose from a dozen different bars and restaurants at the resort, ranging from casual cafes to finer fare at the Atlantic Room, a seafood restaurant with ocean views, and the more formal Ocean Room at the Sanctuary hotel. There are two small markets on the island, but if you plan to do much of your own cooking, consider stocking up on provisions before you leave the mainland.

Insider Tip

The villas, condos and houses on Kiawah Island are privately owned vacation rentals, and visitors should not be surprised by a certain lack of uniformity in the style and condition of individual rental units. Unless you stay at the Sanctuary hotel, Kiawah is not like a commercially operated resort where you can simply ask for different room if you're not satisfied upon arrival, so when booking by phone, try to get as many details as possible about the location and quality of the particular unit you're renting. To make matters even more confusing, Kiawah homeowners have the option of choosing third-party agents to maintain and rent their properties, notably Pam Harrington Exclusives (www.kiawahexclusives.com) and ResortQuest (formerly Great Beach Vacations, www.kiawah.com). While many travelers report good results from these outside agents, bear in mind that bookings made directly through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort (lodging.kiawahresort.com) come with added perks, including exclusive use of resort swimming pools, discounted rates for golf and other activities, and preferential treatment when reserving tee times, tennis courts and restaurant tables.