Is there a good high quality day spa in the city that has gentlemen%26#39;s treatments on the menu? No funny jokes, now! This is legit! LOL.
wisteriasalonspa.com/clientmanager/…
Here is a link to the Wisteria Spa, it is in the Village at Sandhills. I haven%26#39;t been but I have heard good things about it.
Can anyone tell me where to go and get a good pizza,
ice cream and a Friday Night Fish Fry,Steaks.
I know this post is old, but hopefully you haven%26#39;t been to Columbia yet. What area of Columbia are you looking at? Do you have a budget? Are you looking for casual or fine dining?
Hello all, hoping some of you have stayed at the Sandy Beach Resort. It has great reviews here, but I understand there are two parts of the resort - the old and the new. I booked a room in the old section because of the lower price. However, now I%26#39;m getting a little worried because people seem to think of the old section as.....beat up. Anyone know if the old section would still be fine? I don%26#39;t mind if the room is outdated, just want it to be clean.
Sandy Beach Resort - QuestionI haven%26#39;t stayed in the Magnolia Tower since the Palmetto building opened. The rooms in the Magnolia are more like 2-room hotel suits with a small kitchen between the rooms. The last time we stayed in the Magnolia the rooms were clean and well maintained as is the rest of the property. If you don%26#39;t need a condo room and want to save a little money I don%26#39;t think there%26#39;s anything wrong with the Magnolia building. Maybe someone who has stayed in the Magnolia recently could comment on the current condition.
OK, we got the last suite at the Holiday Inn at the Pavilion. So anyone else going week of April 6th??
We have 3 teen coys 12-16. I have questions but nobody is answering. thanks !
From:ddcile5
Sorry ddcile5, I%26#39;m not going that week but we will be there in June. There must be alot of people going if you got the last room, our spring break here isn%26#39;t until the last week of April and since it%26#39;s so late i think were just going to do some things around here and save up for our June trip. Can%26#39;t wait!!
Yes , we are not going in the summer, we have lake and camping here at home so looking forward to warmth and sand in MB early! Thanks for responding!
From:ddcile5
Bump
Will the construction around Coligny Plaza impact on guests staying at the SeaCrest or Shorewood, such as noise or traffic? Can guests still walk to Coligny Plaza from either location?
tghe answer is yes. the contract should be finished in May, but like all things human, that may not be the case.
As for walking, SeaCrest is right across the street, and you should not be impeded getting there.
Shorewood is on the other side of the circle, and you will have to navigate the construction area. Since you are walking, and the construction is road construction, I do not believe they will impede the sidewalks.
Stan (hhiguy)
Would it be best not to rent at SeaCrest until the construction is over?
NO! NO!
It should only be a minor nuisance.
Stan (hhiguy)
We are looking in to renting a condo here (Hyperion Towers). This will be our 1st visit to the area. We have heard that it is fairly quiet and safe and like the idea of being ocean front at this property as well as having a pool and the pier nearby. I know that there is not much going on in this area and that%26#39;s ok w/ us....we can always drive to Myrtle...any words of wisdom/advice?
Hyperion Towers is nice. It%26#39;s close to the northern tip of Cherry Grove, which is very quiet. The pier it is close to is private, however. The next closest pier is Cherry Grove Pier, over a mile away, fyi... The Pier is fun for kids (they have ice cream) and a bar overlooking the ocean/pier is there as well. Local favorite restaurants in Cherry Grove are Basil%26#39;s Pizza (great Calzones) and Duffy Street Seafood Shack.
Very quiet. Little traffic. The road is a dead end so there is no through traffic. Just the other renters in the area.
Basil%26#39;s and ';Duffy%26#39;s'; are on Sea Mountain Highway as you drive in. Also an IGA in same area. I always suggest people staying that far up in the Grove to keep a running shopping list. Whenever you%26#39;re out, stop at the IGA on the way back in. Saves you a trip out later for that gallon of milk or loaf of bread.
Quikest way to MB from Cherry Grove to MB is to run a mile or two out Rt 9 to Rt 31. Straight stoplight free drive to MB. Hop off at Grissom for Broadway or run 31 to the end for south MB attractions.
If heading to a NMB attraction on Rt 17. We usually stay on Ocean Blvd down to Cresent Beach and then out to Rt 17. Might not save any time but more relaxing than fighting the stoplights and traffic on Rt 17.
any other condos or resorts you%26#39;d recommend in the Cherry Grove area? We%26#39;ll be w/ 2 boys (11) so we want someplace quiet and safe but w/ stuff they can walk to.
Prince Resort is located right on the Cherry Grove Pier. 10-12 block walk to Sea Mtn. Not a bad walk to shops if allowed.
Closer to Sea Mtn. One block north. Oceans. Very generic. Economical but....Other than being close to shops, would be boring for the kids.
One block south. Springs Tower. Still nothing fancy but close to shops.
Right next door. Brand new this summer. Towers On The Grove. Some great rates being offered. Pools are questionable right now but should be up and running by summer.
Little over a mile south in Ocean Drive section. Near Main Street, Ocean Drive. You would have Avista, Ocean Drive Beach Resort and Ocean Bay Club.
In Cherry Grove, Laguna Keys is nice, quite, good pools. I stayed there a few years ago.
We typically stay in the ocean drive section, more shops %26amp; restaurants in walking distance.
Ocean Bay Club is two blocks south of main street and has a nice pool and lazy river.
The area of Cherry Grove Hyperion Towers is in, there really are not any shops or activities w/in reasonable walking distances. I will say that because it%26#39;s near the inlet, there is much to explore at the beach w/ the inlet, beaches, tide pools, especially during low tide. Adventurous 11 year olds would love it. However, if you think they would be bored, you may want to stay closer to Sea Mountain hwy. or by the Cherry Grove Pier. I%26#39;m not a fan of the newer high rise resorts, but probably a little more to offer to 11 year olds.
Check with Elliot Realty on Sea Mountain Hwy if your interested in something closer to the main drag. We always stay in a house across from the new Towers on the Grove which is about 4 blocks from Sea Mountain. My personal preference is that area since its within walking distance of Boulineaus (IGA Store) and Sea Mountain Hwy. Also there is a new burger place on Sea Mountain that is really good but really small. Maybe get it to go. Basils is good too. I wouldnt reccomend doing all your main grocery shopping at the IGA. IMO they are really expensive. Drive south on Ocean Blvd towards Ocean Drive Beach and turn right on 9th ave (I%26#39;m pretty sure thats right) and it will run you out to WALMART. But dont go on Saturday or Sunday, its super crowded then. Have a good trip.
Just curious about traffic on the Saturday before Easter coming from Charleston to Hilton Head at about 11 am. Since weekly rentals normally change out on Saturday is the traffic crazy Easter weekend coming to HH?
We are visiting Charleston for 4 days and want to stop in on some friends in HH for the day. Should we come on Friday or Sunday instead?
Thanks for any help!
traffic on Saturday before EasterThis should be our busiest week of the year. Not just Easter and spring Break. The Heritage also starts on Monday.
Friday should be best.
Sta (hhiguy)
Woo hoo! We are here! Weather today was fabulous. Planning on a dinner somewhere near Broadway on the Beach. Would like to do a bit of clubbing after. We prefer dance DJ type music, but would also enjoy some new wave 80s. Anyplace on BOTB that fits the bill?
Revolutions at BATB is the place you want to go - lots of 80s dance tunes. Also check out Crocodile Rocks there if you are doing a few spots/
Kevin
Toronto
I%26#39;m jealous!!!! Have fun. Love the ';woo hoo';. That%26#39;s my favorite phrase :)
We are visiting Myrtle beach again this summer. We would like any ideas on boat tours that would be good for teens and adults. Also, any suggestions on good local places to eat--we all hate the chain restaurants.
Thanks!
We are thinking about taking a dolphin tour here is their website. http://www.bluewaveadventures.com/
We took the Hurricane Fleet Dolphin Adventure tour last year (August) and the whole family really enjoyed it. Our kids ages range from 13-7. Saw lots of dolphins. My pick for favorite place to eat is River City Cafe. We go to the Surfside one. Great burgers, fun atmosphere, we sit outside on the deck and the prices are great!! Have a great trip!
If the Sea Screamer still operates it%26#39;s lots of fun. Part of the ride is a fun speedboat ride down the coast of NMB. Our whole family with ages ranging from grandmother to 6 year old had fun.
We have only stayed in Myrtle Beach once. We stayed at the Grand Atlantic (which was basically a 3 bdrm hotel). We are going in a few weeks and have narrowed it down to Shoreham Towers I(3 bdrm) or Baywatch(4 bdrm). Has anyone stayed at either and please advise on both properties. Thank you!!!
We have stayed 2 years at Baywatch and love it. We book through Elliot Realty and have not had any problems. The staff at Baywatch has always been very friendly. Our kids (ages now 9, 15, 19) enjoy the pools and lazy river. Both times most of the other people were families also. My 9 year old always makes new friends during our stay. This year we will be there May 27th until June 6. CANNOT WAIT. Sorry I don%26#39;t know anything about Grand Atlantic.
Thank you for your reply. We are most likely going to stay at Shoreham this time. If we stay at Baywatch we have to leave on Saturday and find hotel for that evening. I was so hoping to stay at Baywatch as we are taking our 9 y/o granddaughter! I will post our reviews upon our return.
I haven%26#39;t stayed at Baywatch but last year our condo (crescent towers) was next door to it. It looks very nice we walked over to the pool are and got a drink, but we were there the week of July 4th and it was so CROWDED you really couldn%26#39;t walk around the pool area or find a spot on the beach anywhere. You have to think about how big that complex is and how many people are in each unit and you%26#39;ve got alot of people. If your going when it%26#39;s not so busy it would be nice.
We are currently looking into two rentals in Shorewood and Villamare. I%26#39;ve read the reviews but still need that final decision - what is your opinions on the topic?
We are 2 A and 2 C staying for spring break and the important areas for us are: pool, clean and updated rental, walking to the beach and well kept complex.
THANKS!
Never stayed at Shorewood. But my family has stayed at Villamare twice. Both times were different units, each had an ocean view and each had 2 BR 2 BA. Master had a king and second bedroom had two fulls. Nothing about my experience would keep me from staying there again.
Where is Villamare in relation to Shorewood?
Villamare is in Palmetto Dunes, Shorewood at South Forest Beach.
Not all units in Villamare have ocean views.
However it is an Oceanfront complex.
Stan (hhiguy)
Below is a link to a map of Villamare.
goodevacationrentals.com/maps/villamare.jpg
Thanks y%26#39;all!
We decided for Villamare in a oceanside unit - thanks for the map!
I%26#39;ll post on TA once we are back with our review.
We are having a family reunion with 6 kids ranging from 11 to 16 (most are teenagers). We have it narrowed down to Oceans One, Anderson Ocean Club and Caribbean Resort. We originally were booked at the Marriott at Grande Dunes but some family members wanted to stay closer to the action, so that%26#39;s what we need to do. I did explain that Myrtle Beach is not really a walking up and down the streets kind of place, since everything is so spread out. With these 3 hotels is there one that is in a better area then the others. What is in the surrounding areas. I read that Oceans One is nice but in a more %26#39;rif-raff%26#39; type of area. If anyone can let me know what the area around these hotels are like and compare them for me, I would be so appreciative. Thank You!!
Help..Oceans One v Anderson v Caribbean?????
We are staying at the Caribbean June 5-12 so i am partial to it. We love the Sea captain restaurant right next door. My teen son and younger son love the waterslide there.
I have never stayed at the other 2. Ocean one is in downtown and very close to Family Kingdom amusement park. Which is great, so you do not have to drive. Friendly%26#39;s restaurant is also right there, and we like it.
Anderson Ocean club, i really do not know anything about it. Sorry can%26#39;t help there.
Help..Oceans One v Anderson v Caribbean?????Thank you mrsbeachlover! When you said that Oceans One is %26#39;downtown%26#39; does that mean that it%26#39;s in a different type of area than The Caribbean. I%26#39;ve never been to Myrtle Beach so I%26#39;m trying to get a handle on the differences between the surrounding areas around the 3 hotels. I was wondering if any of these hotels are in a more safe place than the others. Any help you can give me with that would be great. Thanks again!
Some locals may tell you they do not feel safe downtown but, we have stayed downtown and felt safe. The address of Anderson ocean club and Caribbean seem to be in the same area i believe. It is a little more residential.
You can google the address and have a look around.
Just wondering is safety the biggest issue? or is it something else?
When are you guys coming down?
Thanks mrsbeachlover you%26#39;re being very helpful. Some of us wanted to stay in a more residential area and some wanted to stay in a more central place. Safety is partially the issue and just wanted to be in a clean and nonriff-raff area. Sounds like the Anderson and Caribbean would maybe be a good compromise.
We%26#39;re planning on being there in mid-July.
The area around Oceans One is just as safe as any other area in MB. We%26#39;ve been staying at The Sandy Beach Resort for years, which is next door to Oceans One, and have never felt unsafe or had any problems or seen anyone else have trouble. The Family Kingdom Water Park is next door to The Sandy Beach and The Family Kingdom Amusement Park is just across the street. The teens can get a combo pass for the water park and the amusement park and come and go as they please bewteen the two for the day. The 2nd Ave Pier is just a couple of blocks north if you want to fish or take a walk on the pier. They also have fireworks one night a week from the pier so Oceans One and Sandy Beach have perfect views from their balconies. There%26#39;s also a convenience store and a beach shop right across the street. If you take 3rd Ave South out to 501 you can bypass a lot of traffic and take backroads to Broadway At The Beach and Walmart. It%26#39;s also easy to get to the bypass if you want to go to restaurant row for supper and avoid the traffic on Hwy 17 thru town. Murrell%26#39;s Inlet is a short drive and there you will find some of the best seafood restaurants in the area (like Lee%26#39;s Inlet Kitchen). As you can see the Oceans One area has a lot going for it.
With the age group you have, they would probably have more fun at Ocean%26#39;s One since Family Kingdom is right there.
Travel Momma:
I travel quite a bit and research my destinations and selections significantly on various sites. Be wary of Oceans One in Myrtle Beach. One clue is that when you check trip advisors reviews, sort by rating and then click on the reviewer of all the ';bad'; reviews, you will see that these are people with ';real'; profiles, past destinations and past postings. If you click on the ';great'; reviews, the user usually has one posting, one day, with no profile. Be wary of places rated with such distinct differences in opinions. Changes in ownership, renovations and # of years open may impact drastic differences in ratings but this place has only been open for a year! Some of the issues with this place are critical to your vacation pleasure so be sure to read the blogs. I have not stayed here (was looking at it for this years spring vacation). Over the years, I%26#39;ve become aware of how many ';paid reviewers'; or ';planted reviews'; there are on tripadvisor but if you read the reviewers profile and history, you can quickly realize if they are a legit traveler. I have not stayed at this hotel but have at Long Bay in Myrtle Beach. Not a great hotel but I%26#39;ve only been to MB last year. I read some good reviews from a legit seasoned traveler (who travels with family) about Dunes Village Resort and Island Vista. Good Luck! I just started my search for a place there 4/18-4/25. Let me know if you find something great!
We are staying at Sandy Beach in april which is next door to Oceans One so that area does not concern me. Both places look really nice from the outside and from pictures posted. However Anderson Ocean Club also looks great from the outside and from pictures. We checked out several places when we were there in the fall for future visits. I think the Carribean is a little further up ocean blvd away from Family Kingdom and the strip where teens like to be.
Out of the 3 I would say Caribbean is the better choice for a family. Simply because of the activities at the hotel and location. However, note the different buildings. The Cayman Building is the better choice then probably the Dominican.
Nothing wrong with Anderson, I just don%26#39;t think it%26#39;s a family friendly place. It%26#39;s more for couples and older crowd. Oceans One is nice as well and I don%26#39;t think you can go wrong with a hotel that%26#39;s only a year old. It%26#39;s right next to Family Kingdom and that strip where you can walk up and down the street for a few things.
Well we are a family staying at the Anderson Ocean Club. Whats not family friendly about it. It has a kiddie pool for crying out loud.
I am interested in going to Hilton Head Island. When is the best time to go weather wise? I don%26#39;t want to go when it is rainy or below 50 degrees.
Thanks!
It%26#39;s been a colder than usual winter this year; however last week it was in the 70s and 80s. A cold front has just moved in but by mid-week it returns to 70s.
Late March is typically good weather, with 70s and some 80s. From then on, weather is great.
As a local, I think our best months are May and September. It%26#39;s warm and sunny. The ocean temperatures are balmy, and the tourists are on the whole not here.
Stan (hhiguy)
Thanks hhiguy.... I like travelling in September; usually the weather is good and traffic is lighter with kids being back in school. I just might head down there this September!
The quick flight from AC to Myrtle, was just over an hour. When we went for the rental car we found that U-Save had moved its spot. But they did upgrade us from a mid-size car to a minivan. Plenty of room for the two of us.
We were hungry so we went to Hot Stacks, the coffee was the best of the trip. But the meal was overpriced!
Then we headed up to N. Myrtle Beach to go sea shell hunting. There weren%26#39;t too many shells there.
After returning to Myrtle we went to Manny%26#39;s for lunch, Great Sandwiches at a good price!
Then I stopped at my Mrytle barber, the Captain Chair, using we visit in August and I need the shortest hair possible because of the heat!
Then we checked in at the Sandy Beach resort, then we found that they increased the rate which we obtained thought the SBR web site. At first it was the tax increase, then a phony golf package which I was on, then finally the changed the rate back!c Not Good!
We wanted to use the whirlpool and were ready, but the whirlpool didn%26#39;t work! We found out that the circuit breaker for the whirlpool goes off when the walkie talkie are used by the employees! Not Good!
We never used the balcony, except to take a picture together. The only way we fit was sitting together, the balcony was small. Not Good! The view was a little of the beach, the hotel next door, and the street! Not Good!
For dinner we went to Thorny%26#39;s and both of us had the same meals and drinks. Steak and Shrimp, salad, and a couple of Mudslides. Four more souvenir glasses!
The second day started with a breakfast at Harry%26#39;s. The coffee there was OK, and so was the breakfast.
We returned to the SBR and used the outside pool and hot tub, which were both heated. Good!
We then wented down to the Compass Cove just so Janet could check it out.
For lunch we did Manny%26#39;s again! We shared a Chicken Ruben. Very Good!
We hit the beach again in search of shells, and had much better luck near the SBR.
Going for dinner, the elevator gave us a scare. It got stuck at the 7th floor, and after hitting the alarm button a few times. The door opened. Not Good!
Dinner was at New China, which was OK. I prefer the Ocean Garden in NMB.
The next morning all we could find open early was Denny%26#39;s. The best breakfast, but the worst coffee.
We enjoyed Myrtle Beach very much, but will not return ti the SBR!
Thanks for the report, i wish your stay could of been a little better. I actually checked out SBR earlier for our trip but i think i just crossed it off my list.
There%26#39;s a new resort in NMB, Tower at the Grove that looks very good! My next weekend trip will most likey be spent there.
sorry to hear bout the bad parts of your trip. What room did you have at sbr, oceanview king suite??. Thats one of the few bad reviews about sbr ive seen so far. Your making me worry now about sbr and having a bad view in an oceanview king suite. Well be there on the 29th. I hope we enjoy our stay??? And again sorry to hear bout your bad experiences..
Thanks for the report! Sorry SBR wasn%26#39;t up to par.
And a few resturants too.
How was the weather??
Just nice to get away, though, huh?
Don%26#39;t worry, Andy! I stayed at the Sandy Beach last year and I will be checking in for another visit on the 29th too! The place is great! Just make sure you get an oceanfront room in the new part of the building. Ledzep must have had an ocean view room. The balconies on the ocean front rooms were plenty big enough and the view was great! The furniture and fixtures were beautiful! If I could post my pictures from last year on this forum, I would.
This is one of the nicest places I have ever stayed and you can%26#39;t beat the bargain rates they have right now. I made my reservations last night and I am so excited!!
About the whirlpool, mine didn%26#39;t work last year either. But think about it, do you really want to drive that far to the beach just to sit in a tub in the bathroom? Spend your time watching the waves roll in!
Ocean View King Suite Andy.
Tower at the Grove in NMB looks much better than SBR.
http://www.towersonthegrove.com/
Looking at the Tower for our next weekend getaway!
dk, we got an oceanview king room, same as led zep had. Oh boy maybe thell let us switch to an oceanfront room haha.. Well make the best of it i guess...
has anyone stayed in the king angle suite palmetto?
Andy, you should give the resort a call. I%26#39;d think that if they have oceanfront rooms available, they will let you switch. I mean, its not like you%26#39;re canceling or anything. I just made my reservation last night and got oceanfront. Good luck!
has anyone stayed in the king angle suite palmetto at the sandy beach resort?...booked for the end of april
We%26#39;d like to visit Savannah while we are in the area (we are staying at the Main Street Inn for a week). How far away is Savannah from HHI?
We just got back from a week at HHI last night. We did a day trip to Savannah. It took about 40 minutes to make the drive. We also did a day trip to Charleston, SC. We liked it a whole lot more.
It is about a forty five minute drive from the island to Savannah. You can also take a boat ride from Harbor Town marina.
From the island take 278 to rte 170. Go south on 170 to 170A. Stay straight to 17. Take a left and go across the Talmadge bridge. If you saw ';Forest Gump'; this was the bridge in the movie. Take the first exit off the bridge and go to MLking Blvd. Make a right and go into the Visitors Center.
There is a museum there and you can pick up trolley tours. I suggest you take one for an overall impression. Later go to The city market and stop at ';The Lady and Sons';. This is Paula Deen%26#39;s restaurant for old fashioned southern fare. They do not take reservations.
finally take a walk down River Street before coming back.
I warn you that there is a commercial ';Visitors Center'; before you get to to the real one. You want the Visitors center that is on MLKing Blvd and is next to the Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD)
Stan (hhiguy)
Thanks so much! I am a ';foodie'; and can%26#39;t wait to eat at Paula Deen%26#39;s.....my husband is a big fan of the book and movie ';Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.'; Do you know anything about the tour?
Not to burst your bubble, but the line to get into Paula Deans is around the block and I would want to waste my time doing that. There are tons of other places in Savannah to try. Just take a picture under the sign at Paula Deans. I went to Savannah in March, there is a trip report under my profile. You definatly have to go to Forsythe Park, it is absolutely beautiful. I enjoyed the City Market and squares rather better than River Street. But if you have never been, River Street is a must. Charleston is great as well, I just got back from there a couple of weeks ago. However, I would choose Savannah since you are on 40 mins away.
I would definitely read the reviews of The Lady and Sons under the Savannah Forum before standing in the heat to dine there. I was there in August and December last year and never heard a good word about it. We tried Mrs. Wilkes and it was fabulous and inexpensive! If you like fried green tomatoes, Huey%26#39;s on the River is the best place to get them!
Thanks for the info. I%26#39;d rather hear the truth than be disappointed. The only problem is that I have spoken to others who loved the restaraunt and read other forums describing it as a ';must.'; Oh well, I%26#39;ve done my research and will have to rely on my best judgement about things when I get there I guess.
Thanks again for your help.
the problem with The Lady %26amp; Sons (beside the possible wait) is that if people are used to southern cooking, the buffet is just like what their mothers or grandmothers cooked everyday. It%26#39;s well done, but nothing special. My son, even says his wife can cook better than that. Ordering from the menu is better.
The people that are used to another type of cuisine, such as Tex-Mex or Italian think it%26#39;s great. It%26#39;s something brand new to them.
We took a day trip to Savannah from HHI last summer and really enjoyed it. We parked at the vistor%26#39;s center, took a trolley tour and had lunch at Mrs. Wilkes. While Charleston is a farther drive, we have been there several times and highly recommend it also...horse drawn carriage rides, excellent shopping and very friendly locals.
We ate at the Lady and Sons last wedsnesday and I would highly recomend it. When we were planning our trip to HHI I really wanted to plan on eating there. After reading a lot of reviews I was torn as to whether or not we would go there. We decided to do and and it was great. I will be wrting a review here shortly. It was one of the best places we ate during our week stay, and at the bargain price of $13 it is very hard to complain. We ate at a few places that I was very disappointed in.
Once you walk to Lady and Sons and see the line, you can decide for yourself. Have fun!
Our family normally stays in Myrtle Beach, but we are planning to stay in either Surfside or Garden City this time..Does anyone know about the condos and accomodations at either of these beaches? We are a family of 5 and want something CLEAN and NICE.
Thanks!
We found a great condo in Surfside using vrbo.com. The complex was Shores of Surfside, but there are many to choose from.
Thank you!!
This is not oceanfront but has very nice amenities and nice clean villas in Surfside Beach.
myresortnetwork.com/Condo-Rentals/…
TripAdvisor requires as I am affiliated with a business to make know who is providing information or an opinion:
I am the Executive Vice President of Seaside Rentals Premier Vacation Homes located in Surfside Beach SC. I feel I can appropriately respond to your inquiry from personal experience, provide insider information as our company does not represent any condominiums.
Choosing a condominium can be difficult as each is individually owned, decorated %26amp; maintained. The key is not trying to pick the right complex but the right condo within the complex.
You can rent directly by owner or using a Real Estate Rental Company.
I would begin by visiting website of local companies to preview area condo complexes available in the area to choose a complex. www.surfsiderealty.com, www.gardencityrealty.com. Then you can decide whether to rent one of their units or one directly rented by the owner www.cyberrentals.com, www.greatrentals.com.
Hints:
1. Ask for pictures/visual tours.
2. Ask when it was last redesign/refreshed.
3. Ask if there is a rating system.
4. Ask to speak to the head of Unit care/Housekeeping (*they are in the units more often and can give the best opinion*)
5. Tell them it is imperative your unit is perfect (you’re responsible for the group/nasty sister in law coming/special event etc)
6. Listen to descriptive terms, we can%26#39;t use terms like old/out dated - listen for the words clean/comfortable/great place to just park your bags %26amp; head to the beach! (means basic/older), new/bright/professionally decorated (means redesigned/looking good)
7. 2 weeks prior to arrival call/ask to have the unit personally inspected on your behalf. Request if necessary to have the carpets/furniture cleaned - pillows refreshed if you have special concerns (allergies, etc.)
As I previously worked for a condo/home rental agency in the area, have been onsite of many of the properties, in my opinion I liked One Ocean Place, Surf Master %26amp; Royal Gardens.
May where ever you go... where ever you stay... give you all the wonderful memories I have been given to cherish of my families vacations here.
Sincerely, Lynne
Surfside Beach is a great family spot. I have used Old Colony Realty before and been very happy.
I am looking for a 2 BR rental at the Marriott OceanWatch Villas for Jul 5 through Jul 12. Does anyone out there have one for rent this week? We are restricted to this week, as my family has a time share that week, and we are trying to meet them there to get all the grandkids together. Thanks. My e-mail is abmaphis@msn.com
Wanting to take a 6 hour drive to MB so that I can have the experience of teaching my 2 yr old of looking for sharks teeth b/c he loves sharks and i remember how much i loved doing this. only thing is i dont remember at all what hotels are near this. The only thing I remember was it was right behind the water park. It%26#39;s in a little trench like area. Any help with what hotels are near this would be grateful.
I am sure others will be of more help,. but....if you can remember the name of the water park, you can type it in and get its address. Then go to Goggle and type in the address. You can do a search of nearby hotels. Good luck and enjoy the time with your little one:-)
The only water park actually on the beach is the Family Kingdom water park. The Withers Swash is right there which is probably the trench you%26#39;re thinking of. (Swashes are nasty and full of polluted runoff, not a great place for little ones to play. Generally you shouldn%26#39;t swim within 100 feet of one even further if it has been raining) I am not sure if there is an abundance of sharks teeth there. I haven%26#39;t heard of any specific locations. Some of the hotels near there would be Sandy Beach, Oceans One and Holiday Inn Westgate
We find lots of sharks teeth around the vicinity of the 2nd Ave Pier which is just a couple of blocks north of The Family Kingdom Water Park. Most are small but we do find some nice ones on ocassion. The biggest I ever found I found while walking the beach mid-morning. It was laying there in the sand all by itself and I was amazed no one else had noticed it. It was so big I thought it was surely a shell but it wasn%26#39;t.
PLEASE DO NOT LET YOUR LITTLE ONE IN THOSE SWASHES (Drainage ditches) nothing but pure bacteria. North Myrtle Beach people are finding sharks teeth. I am always amazed how many parents let their children play in the sewer.
oh gosh i had no idea that those were nasty places. as a child i used to play in those trenches all the time and never imagined those were that nasty. thanks for telling me i will definitley not take my son to look in that trench i was talking about as i am pretty sure it was the family kingdom it was behind and there were thousands of sharks teeth around there but I am sure I can find some near the piers. Thank you everyone.
It could have been Springmaid or something in that area becuase there used to be a waterpark at the end of Ocean Blvd I think.
We are looking for a bit of information on these villas. Are these villas within walking distance to the beach, in good condition and do they have decent pools. Some of them look like they are on the lagoon system, is that possible? Any information would be helpful! Thank you.
we stayed there in the early nineties. We actually considered buying one before we bought in Captains Walk.
They are quite large and most units have views of the Fazio Golf course. It is a short walk to the pro shop.
You do have to walk to the beach on a bridge over the lagoon. It is probably a five minute walk.
Stan (hhiguy)
Hi-
We are considering going to Myrtle Beach in August this year (8th to 15th) and I was hoping you all could help with some suggestions for places to stay with the following amenties!! We are 2 adults, a 6 and 3 year old.
~Good Kiddie Pool Area
~1 bedroom condo (2 doubles or 2 queens)
~Kitchen
~prefer ocean view or ocean front
~washer %26amp; dryer in room (not essential, but would be fantastic!)
~ would prefer a slightly ';quieter'; beach area, so we dont need to be on the ';strip';.
~something clean and in a safe family area
Oh, and lastly, for 7 nights, I would like to keep in at $1000 or under.
Am I asking for too much? Perhaps I need to give up on some of my amenties, etc to get that price.
I saw that Sea Crest has a special and meets a few of my wants (kid pool area, condo set up, ocean view) and is around $900 for that week.
Any other suggestions? I really appreciate all the help in advance!!!!!
Thanks!
I also see the Landmark and Caravelle meet the price requirements and several of my other wants (minus washer and dryer).
Whats the ';best'; of these 3 places? Will I get anything nicer for my price range?
Thanks!
The Sea Crest is good choice. They have many amenities for young children. We stayed there a few years ago before they renovated and thought it was fine. That being said I prefer the north end of MB. You might check the Dunes Village Resort (they were running a 20% off special) so you might get a deal. Also check into Ocean Reef Resort, The Long bay Resort and the Caribbean. All these places have nice kiddie pools. Maybe check VRBO.com as well you can always get a good deal there. Good Luck!
The Sea Crest isn%26#39;t in what%26#39;s considered a quieter area. My family always stayed there when our kids were teens %26amp; we liked it very much. They%26#39;ve recently renovated.
If you are interested in a condo, vrbo.com is a good place to look. Many of the owners are offering ';early booking'; discounts because of the recession. We had 4 out of 6 owners that we contacted offer about $200 off of a week%26#39;s stay. Most of the condos have washer %26amp; dryer in the unit.
Try Holiday Sands South - make sure it is south because north is the strip area you mentioned you didn%26#39;t want. I had some friends who stayed there last year and they liked it. I have no personal experience with it. I checked their prices and they were pretty good for spring (when we are going). Also check out reviews on here.
I like Compass Cove but I don%26#39;t think it will be price range you want.
I consider Sea Crest to be in that quieter area. I think you would want to stay away from anyplace between or really close to 2nd ave pier to pier 14 or 100 N Ocean Blvd to 1600 N Ocean Blvd to keep away from the strip area. Good Luck!
I stayed at Grande Shores a 1 bedroom condo last summer with my husband and 2 boys (ages 4 %26amp; 7). It has 2 queen beds, kitchen, sitting area, bathroom and balcony but no washer/dryer. I believe their 1 bedroom condos are ocean view only. They also have 2 bedroom condos that do have washer/dryer. It%26#39;s on 77th N, with hotels on one side and residential on the other. Not a fancy hotel but it fit out budget and the kids loved it. Check their website for details.
I second Holiday Sands South. I stayed in the condos last March and they were really nice and clean.
I did take a look at the Holiday Sands South. Im quite intrigued by it. They have a fantastic rate for when we are going.
We are headed though for a short stay in May (before a family event,and I got a good rate at the Compass Cove), which I think is right next door. (Compass Cove is much more expensive in August!). So, Ill check it out when Im there and see if its what we are looking for!
If anyone has any other suggestions, please add them!
Thanks again for the replies!
If you would like, I can put you in touch with the people we rented from last year and this year. Their condos meet all of your requirements (there is a laundry room as opposed to W/D in the condo). You can check out my review of the Myrtle Beach Resort if you would like to know more. It is a quieter area of the beach and definitely below $1,000 for the week. Also, you will get two bedrooms instead of one so that the kids have their own bedroom.
I second NJParalegal for Myrtle Beach Resort. Check it out on VRBO and rent directly from an owner. You%26#39;ll have a good idea of what you%26#39;re getting. It is a fantastic resort complex for the kids with a great lazy river and kiddie area. They also have kids activities at the resort (for all ages)
check out Long Bay Resort. I%26#39;m not sure about the washer and dryer but they%26#39;ll have all the kiddy stuff you%26#39;ll want. My niece took her 2 toddlers and told them at reservations she didnt want to be to high up and wanted easy access to the kiddy pools.
She came home thrilled with the place. The Landmark Resort is nice with kids too. Has all the kiddy pools, you can get room service food or cook and if you get an ocean view room rather than ocean front, you can get the condo style where your bedrooms are separate from the den and kitchen. Really nice. Plus, even though it%26#39;s a bit older and not really fancy, it has the ';over the road'; walkway so that you dont have to cross the street in traffic. When my child was small we loved that because we could just use her stoller across that and all the way to our car.
We will be in the area next August (adults and children)
We are considering the following for renting a house on or near the beach.
North Myrtle beac
Isle of Palms
Foley beach
Kiawaih beach (may have spelled wrong)
any recommendations on which area is nicer?
we want to be able to swim and go to restaurants when needed. We don%26#39;t want to be too desolate or too busy any advice would be much appreciated!!
Myrtle Beach is very busy, and Kiawah is very quiet. In between are Folly Beach and Isle of Palms.
Folly Beach is an old-style beach town, with restaurants and tee shirt shops, and a hodge-podge of various sorts of architecture. Folly is very popular with day trippers, including surfers, from the surrounding area so can be quite crowded on summer weekends.
Isle of Palms is a good compromise, with more restaurants than Kiawah, but not so ';funky'; as Folly Beach. Also, IOP is only about 20 minutes from Charleston or Shem Creek, for more restaurants and activities.
Sounds like Isle of Palms would work for you.
I agree with Villa. Look into condo rentals in Wild Dunes. Try Carolina Coastal Properties, ResortQuest or Island Realty. If you go to www.wilddunes.com they have a very nice interactive map of the community. Obviously off the beach will be less expensive than ocean front. Rates generally drop after 8/15.
thanks,
if one family in%26#39;t sure if they will make it, we want them to be able to hotel it, since they don%26#39;t want to go in on the house rental in case they aren%26#39;t able to come. would both Folly Beach and IOP have hotels they could stay at?
There are hotel accomodations at both beaches. IMHO the options at IOP are better.
Taking the family to the beach! There is still snow on the ground here, so maybe it seems crazy that I started counting this early, but I%26#39;m really tired of the frozen tundra!! LOL!
So here is our ideas. If anyone has more interesting stuff to add, please feel free!
1. We%26#39;d like to do Medieval Times one night if I can find discount coupons somewhere. They had a ';free kids'; offer, but it expired before our trip.
2. Ripley%26#39;s Aquarium.
3. Mini-golf (putt-putt to you Southerners).
4. Benjamins Seafood (a must on every trip)
5. Beach time (of course) and the lazy river and pools.
6. Amusment park near the ocean in the evening some night.
7. Husband and son want to do the Nascar Cafe. Me and the daughters will hang at Broadway at the Beach.
8. Husband and son would like to do deep sea fishing. Does anyone know of a place less than 400 bucks?????
We are staying for 5 days and I simply CANNOT wait to go! Even the long drive doesn%26#39;t scare me. I%26#39;m so stinking SICK of endless winter!
100 days and counting....Those are all such great ideas!
FYI, I *think* the Nascar Cafe closed, I think I saw an article about it online recently. :( We%26#39;re really sad about that, we went there last year and our boys absolutely loved it. But, there are tons and tons of other things to do and you%26#39;ve got a nice list going.
Don%26#39;t know how you feel about this, but there is a local winery called La Belle Amie that is supposed to be really fun and actually kid-friendly. Link on internet is http://www.labelleamie.com. They play live music and have festivals, we%26#39;re thinking of stopping there on the way in the first day (Saturday June 27) b/c there%26#39;s some sort of Summerfest going on. Might be a great way to kick-off your vacation!!
Hi,
1st trip to Myrtle Beach since I was 7 is coming up on April 6. We%26#39;re staying at the Seaglass Tower near the Yatchsmen. What are good places for food and/or entertainment near this Resort?
TIA
Is it the second week of May? We%26#39;ll be going down May 12-16th for a quick vacation and staying at the Ocean Reef Resort. I%26#39;ve never really been to Myrtle before, always had to cancel last minute! Anyway, can anyone tell me what to expect and if they%26#39;ll be in our area?
Bump! No one ever answers my posts. :( Anyone?
I was researching the Myrtle Beach area for a little getaway and saw that Myrtle Beach is no longer hosting Bike Week as of this year.
Check it out:
http://www.myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com/
There will be a Harley Rally that week. May not be as large attendance as in the past, some are going to North Carolina to a new destination primarily due to city government enacting tighter ordinances and traffic control and esp a new law requiring helmets. IMO if they do not want to wear helmets, OK%26gt; Just dont expect public assistance when they suffer massive head trauma. It is the riders choice.
That article is mis-leading, Myrtle Beach never hosted bike week. They would ike you to believe that in order to keep some of the bikers away. The rally is hosted by the local HD dealer.
No one really knows what to expect but I can tell you I have lived about a mile from Ocean Reef for the last 3 years and the Harley Rally has never bothered me. It%26#39;s a little more noisy but you don%26#39;t hear it on the beach and there is more traffic but they are usually quite courteous about their riding so no problems there. To be honest I have more of an issue with traffic in July with people in SUV%26#39;s cutting across 3 lanes to make a turn or slamming on the brakes because they are lost. LOL
Well,
Let me clear this up for you folks out there, there will definitely be two huge bike rallies this year just like in previously years the only difference will be the 15 rules and regulations that the city of myrtle beach put into action as of this year and violators will be gave a ticket for $100 and the biggest rule I think that will affect most bikers is the helmet law whick in Myrtle Beach everyone will be required to where one in the city limits of Myrtle Beach only but to avoid all of the headaches limit your visits to Myrtle Beach as much as possible and stay in North Myrtle Beach because these rules don%26#39;t affect them at all the changes are just in the City of Myrtle Beach. Down in North Myrtle Beach things are still the same as before, so come down and have a good time.
I have checked a couple of websites for bookings during that time of the bike rallies and alot of stuff is already sold out, so what do you think about that?
My friend and I age 24 are looking for a get away in early March. We will be flying in to Charleston. I would appreciate help in knowing what is the best place to stay since we will be w/o a car. Since we are college women we are on a budget but want to stay someplace safe and walking distance to the ocean, shopping and nightlife. Thanks.
How long do you plan to stay in the area?
Also, are you more interested in being by the ocean, or in being in historic Charleston?
(Although Charleston is surrounded by water, it does not have a beach.)
You might want to think about renting a car to do all that you are asking for. As Villa said, Charleston is surrounded by water, but no beach, you have to go to one of the barrier islands to find beach (Sullivans, Isle of Palms, both are north of Charleston, Folly, Seabrook %26amp; Kiawah are south of Charleston and further than Sullivans %26amp; IOP)
Look into the Mt. Pleasant or Shem Creek areas, that will put you between the Historic District and the beach. Shem Creek would have some nightlife, but the Historic area would have more. There is lots of shopping in the area, but it is most easily accessed by car (unless you stay in the Historic District).
What is your budget??? Given that info there may be more help out here for you.
Which hotel would you recommend in the historic Charleston to stay in to be walking distance to shopping and the nightlife? Thanks so much for your input.
Most hotels in the historic district will be within walking distance of shopping and nightlife, especially if you choose a hotel near the Charleston Market or East Bay Street.
The question is: What is your budget for accommodations?
Hotel price within $100-120. I%26#39;ve read good reviews on the Holiday Inn Historic district. Is the hotel within walking distance to shopping, nightlife and restaurants? Would you recommend this hotel or what other hotels you would suggest? Thanks again.
The Holiday Inn Historic district is a little further from the center, but it is definitely walkable for two young women. HI Historic district is close to the College of Charleston. There are some popular casual places in the area. You will see lots of students around, and they will direct you to their favorite haunts.
Holiday Inn Historic District is in a good, walkable location, but I would be surprised if you can get it in your price range (it shows an average of $189/nt through this website).
It%26#39;s going to be tough to find that price range in the Historic District. If you were staying along I-26 or out near the outlet mall, you might be able to find it.
I agree with the others. You are looking at $190 at the low end to about whatever you want to spend on the upper end. The Lodge Alley Inn on East Bay is very convenient to everything but the ocean. It gets generally good reviews. I actually stayed there once. If you try this one ask for a room on the back side of the Inn.
If you are staying for a week, you can still get good weekly rates in some of the villas on IOP, especially the ones in Wild Dunes. This will give you the ocean part. Charleston is about a 20-25 minute drive so you will need a car. FYI the rental rates in WD go up 03/01 so late Feb is cheeper that early Mar.
I would also suggest you sign up with the major hotel chains frequent traveler programs. They sent out email alerts of special deals at various locations. Charleston shows up on Marriott%26#39;s alert almost every week.
What is your opinion of the Days Inn-Historic District? Thank you.
Location would be good, have not stayed there. You might want to check some of the reviews on this site.
We will be travelling by car from Toronto the week of April 13th, (arriving the 14th), and are looking at these two hotels.
The Caribbean comes recommended by a friend here, and we are also thinking about the Cove.
Two adults, no kids, just want to have a good time and chill for a bit.
Looking to find a goods sports bar for wings and beer, some decent shopping, and different places to see along the way.
First trip to Myrtle, so your feedback is especially appreciated.
Anyone is welcome to offer any other sites as suggestions too!
Thanks in advance!
I would go with the Caribbean over the Compass Cove. I prefer the location of the Caribbean. It%26#39;s closer to Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing isn%26#39;t too far. Both Broadway and Barefoot have many very fun bars. Maragritaville and Senor Frogs...to name a few. You also might like Wild Wing cafe at Barefoot. If you choose the Caribbean try to get a room in the Cayman Tower...It%26#39;s newer then the rest of the resort. Good Luck!
I would go with the Caribbean. Get the new building. A plus is the Sea Captain%26#39;s House restaurant is next door. In my opionion the best restaurant in Myrtle Beach.
http://www.seacaptains.com/
Hey, thanks for your all of your advice!
I hope the weather is good around this time of year...granted, it%26#39;s a crap shoot, but it%26#39;s below zero here today, with flurries....
ENOUGH!!!!
I have never stayed at the Caribbean but I have stayed twice at Compass Cove and I like it. I know you are not taking kids and it has a lot of water features so there may be a lot of kids. They do have a bar onsite with an oceanfront deck that is nice. They will be further than the other from Broadway at the Beach, etc.
Thank you very much for your information...
We could see that Compass Cove was indeed further
down the beach, and would probably be quieter, too.
Our vehicle uses diesel gas...are there stations nearby that will be able to serve us?
We think so, based on what we see on visit.myrtlebeach.com.
Is The Caribbean in a safe neighborhood, too?
Thank you!!
Caribbean is in a better location than Compass Cove in my opinion and yes it is safe there. Also I just received an e-mail that Caribbean has finished their new water park. I plan to visit there to see it when I am there in April to see how it compares to Dunes Village.
I prefer the Cove, plus the Pinnacle building has recently been renovated. Plus there a specials for free days during the spring on their web site.
The Caribbean is great! Great neighborhood if you stay there the Cayman is the newest and the priciest but the Dominican isn%26#39;t bad and all oceanfront. And MB is like anywhere else you can get your fuel with out a problem (like most places all stations don%26#39;t have it but alot do. BATB is great it has The Hard Rock Cafe, Margaritaville (call for a preseating time)Planet Hollywood, Nascar Cafe, you could go to the House of Blues (@ Barefoot Landing) tons of stuff to do.
Get a coupon book, map (some hotels give them to you when you check in or they are in most lobbies) and just look them over and ask your front desk for directions to save you time.
Good luck and have fun
Hey, thanks to everyone who offered up thoughts and suggestions for us.
We booked our room last night at...The Caribbean!
The lady I spoke with, Linda, was utterly charming and helpful and oh, so southern.
Booked us a King suite and offered up a discount.
Looking forward to experiencing the hospitality, only 4 more weeks and we will be there...
plus, I am celebrating a birthday during our stay, so it will be especially memorable.
Cheers!!
What kind of discount did they give you? I have a reservation at the carribean for the last week of June that I booked about a month and a half ago. I called the resort Tuesday to ask a question and decided to confirm the balance and to my surprise it was more that I had been quoted. When I asked why it was different than my email confirmation I was told that it was due to the SC tax increase.
Hi there,
What%26#39;s the brewpub scene in Charleston?
Brewpubs?I know of one, the Southend Smokehouse and Brewery down on East Bay St. I am not a big beer drinker, but what I have tasted there (beer wise) is good. Can%26#39;t say I have ever eaten there.
Brewpubs?Southend is nice - decent food, too. There is another on Broad (?) that gets high marks by some - Charleston Beer Works.
Great, thanks for the info!
Good Post Topic fancy75
We are going to be in Myrtle Beach / Charleston the 1st week in April , and it%26#39;s nice to know where to go for a good brewsky
We were in Canada last year where 2 different pubs (linked with micro breweries) offered a sample of all their beers.
One offered 7 different samples in small glasses (each about a 6th of a pint) whilst the other had 9 different ones with a description of each one (you were even offered advice as to the order in which to drink them).
Do any of the brew pubs do that in Savannah?
Oops I should hae said Charleston!! Sorry
My Fiance and I are going to North Myrtle beach to get married. But I am having a hard time figuring out which wedding chappel to use. They all sound wonderful but I would rather go by someone%26#39;s personal experience.
Hello...My husband and I were married in 2005 through Together Forever wedding Chapel. I highly reccomend them. Everything was prefect. They married us in NMB not far from the Cresent shores resort. My brother is getting married this June in NMB and they are using the Seaside wedding Chapel..so everything has been great with them too. Let me know if I can anwser anymore questions for you...Good Luck!
Does anyone know any hotels that have happy hours right at their own on-site bars? Thanks in advance!
Embassy Suites in Kingston Plantation has this, pretty much every day starting around 4 to about 6 pm. We definitely took advantage of the free drinks and snacks last year, it was a nice added touch to our stay. :)
I remember the Dunes Village Resort had a Happy Hour from 4-7 at the beach bar last summer when we were there.
Has anyone stayed at Ocean One. We have rented a condo there for May. After reading these stories, I am concerned. Thanks!
I%26#39;ve never been there, but several folks here recommended Ocean One to me. I%26#39;ve been told it%26#39;s very nice.
Each unit in any Condo development is privatly owned. Some owners are more caring than others.
Having said that, I know that Ocean One%26#39;s plant is in really good shape.
it%26#39;s one of the three developments generally recommended on this forum.
Stan (hhiguy)
Thank you. I appreciate the advise. What do you mean by ';plant';?
the Common Areas whch include
The buildings, the pool, and landscaping.
Stan (hhiguy)
We are staying near Palmeto Dunes. I know their is the outfitters store but was wondering if there is a less expensive alternative for rental of a canoe for a week.
Also will anyone deliver. We have a house on the lagoon so we were thinking it might be fun to have the canoe for the whole week but the Palmetto outfitters store seems more suited for hourly rental.
Also what is the best place on the island to buy fishing gear?
Thanks
Fishing gear- Walmart in Festival Center
Try Outside Hilton Head - In Shelter Cove Shoppes near the Piggly Wiggly.
Stan (hhiguy)
We have reservations at the Coral Beach Resort in April. I%26#39;m hoping I made a good choice. Any feedback? We are traveling with 2 17 year olds. I%26#39;ve read many good things. Hope they%26#39;re true.
Coral Beach ResortThe pools are nice and they usually have some things going on such as karaoke at the pool and they have a game room. The rooms when I stayed there were in desperate need of an overhaul. I do not know if they have updated recently. That was my only problem I had with them.
Coral Beach ResortI have stayed there for the last ten years and we love it. The enitre resort has always been spotless. I think that you made a good choice.
I actually stayed at the Coral Beach March 17 and 18. The rooms are in the process of being renovated, so some are in being painted, fixed, etc. The room I was in had some significant problems -- non-smoking but reeked of smoke, bed was like sleeping on a cardboard box, etc. The price was great -- paid like 60 for the night, but the pain in my back made me question the value. Venue does have nice pools, etc, but the other options there are not worth it. I recommend looking at some of the newer properties as the Coral Beach might not be the best....I wish I had.
I am looking to go to the Embassy Suites in Myrtle Beach the end of July 2009. I have seen bad reviews on the hotel. Does anyone have insights to assist in decision process?
My husband and I are planning to visit Summerville in May of this year to explore the town and hope that maybe someone on this site can tell us a little about the town and surrounding area. We stay on Seabrook island and one day I looked on the map and came upon Summerviile. Have received lots of info from the local Chamber and some real estate info as well. It always helps to get some local feedback. Living in New Jersey we are looking for a else hectic pace and Summerville seems to fit the bill.
Ginny,
My husband and I are looking to move to a warmer climate near the ocean (we live in central Ohio now) and Summerville attracts us. We want to be close to the ocean, but not have to endure heavy traffic in a large city (we live in Columbus, OH currently). Can you tell me about Summerville? Did you end up deciding to move there? If so, how accepting are the locals of new residents? Thank you for any and all information.
Beth
We lived in Summerville for about 9 months and we really enjoyed it. Laid back and calm. It%26#39;s about 30 min from downtown Charleston and the beaches. It%26#39;s nice cause it%26#39;s not too far if you want something to do or to go enjoy downtown shopping/dining. The downtown area of Summerville is cute and quaint too. There is the Flowertown festival in March (end) that is a lot of fun and totally worth walking around. Summerville also just got a new shopping area off Alt 17 with a Target, TJ MAXX and movie theatre. That%26#39;s realyl nice cause you don%26#39;t have to drive to N. Charleston to find something to do. But it%26#39;s a great location - close to everything. You%26#39;ll really like it. I suggest taking a trip and while you are there talk to everyone. We talked to servers at restaurants, concierge and hotel staff, random people in shops. It really helped us to get everyone%26#39;s perspective on the places and the area. Good luck! Christine
It really does not matter where you move, there will be those that will not be so ';thrilled'; to make new friends and in the south, even less if you come from the north. I have lived in SC for over 21 years, prior to that 4 other states, and it was the same in every state-- Outsiders are not always a welcome addition. That being said, the coast of South Carolina really has more ';outsiders'; anyway then locals. Price of housing has driven alot of ';locals'; out of the area,, high property taxes and high homeowners insurance. The wages in SC are more on the lower end of the scale. Do not come here thinking that if you make a certain dollar amount where you are now that you will find that in SC, you probably would not. I love SC, I would not ever move from here, it is everything I want. Myrtle Beach is not a southern town by any means, it is very northernized in my opinion, but we love the night life that is main reason we live here. We have 1/2 the house we did in upstate SC with twice the mortgage, taxes, insurance. I know that moving from up north, prices seem very good down here. I do know if you go to a condo, your monthly homeowners fees have been very volitile, going up and up and up. I try to be honest as I can, I am one of those who moved here 21 yrs ago, been down that road.
Hello from Summerville!
Hmm, what would you like to know? Yes, there is the %26#39;historic%26#39; section of town which means Main Street/Hwy. 17 with it%26#39;s quaint shops and restaurants. There are also some lovely older homes as well. I don%26#39;t know about Jersey, but Summerville is still relatively small, but due to someone allowing a glut of home and condo building everything has changed mega rapidly. I live only 3-4 miles from I-26 and depending on the time of day, it can take me 30 minutes to get there. The town planners have not done their jobs as there is all this building going on and we just don%26#39;t have nor have they planned the infrastructure. Therefore we do have a lot of traffic to be so small. We will also have a whole generation coming up that will ask ';flowertown in the pines, what is that?%26#39;%26#39; This is how Summerville has been referred to. There are beautiful places with lots of azaleas, dogwood trees and of course the camelias. Don%26#39;t get me wrong, there is still somewhat a small town feel, but it is fading fast. If Jersey is metropolitan big then you should like Summerville.
All the best!
Bermuda1959
Hi - I am a native South Carolinian and have lived in S/ville for 26 years. I am curious to know about the night life you%26#39;re referring to. Is that in Summerville?
Hi,
My husband and I are planning on going to Myrtle Beach, SC in the first weekend in May and need suggestions on a good place to stay. Here is what we are looking for:
1) On the beach (or very close walking distance although we will have our car)
2) Two or Three bedroom suite with kitchenette (are staying with another couple and would like some privacy as well as making bfast/lunch in room with mini fridge or so)
3) Minimal kids. We don%26#39;t have kids and our friends aren%26#39;t bringing theirs. I don%26#39;t mind if there are kids at the hotel/resort but I don%26#39;t want to be in the middle of a playground. My vacation wardrobe would look ridiculous with tons of kids running the property.
We are hoping to keep the cost reasonable by sharing the suite however I don%26#39;t want a crappy establishment. Any ideas for the above amenities between a Motel 6 and the Ritz?
Much Abliged,
Starcyn : )
Hi
We are trying to find a place to stay for 4 days beginning of April 2009. We are looking for a 2 bedroom condo / hotel suite with either oceanview or oceanfront. Our price range is max $175 a night.
I have looked at NMB - Seaside or Atlantic Breeze or Dunes and Litchfield Beach %26amp; Resort for something out of the Myrtle Beach hustle.
Any advice!
Thanks
Not sure I can help much with the comparison.
Litchfield B%26amp;R is a very nice property. It%26#39;s gated, so traffic is limited to guests and permanent residents. It%26#39;s got a good beach, and there are plenty of very good restaurants, particularly in Murrells Inlet and Georgetown. Brookgreen Gardens is also very close, and the gardens should be in good form by early April.
NMB is a fun, relaxed area, retaining as much of the old beachy feeling as you%26#39;ll find left around here.
We have vacationed in the Litchfield Beach/Pawleys Island area for over thirty years. Guess where my vote goes! I know that North Myrtle Beach is not Myrtle Beach, but we avoid going North whenever possible.
South of Myrtle Beach is just more laid back and less commercial. There are fabulous restaurants and carry out options as this area attracts a sophisticated traveler. Our story of families returning year after to year to both Litchfield and Pawleys is not unusual.
Let me know if you want more information.
Thanks - I kinda got that impression too but with a 8 and 12 year old I thought there wouldn%26#39;t be much to do in Litchfield or??
We are definately not looking for 24/7 entertainment - that%26#39;s why we don%26#39;t want to go to Myrtle Beach but some activities are good for days with colder weather.
Can you recommend any places to stay in Litchfield/Pawleys that have heated pools / good indoor pool and oceanview/ocean front?
THANKS
If the weather turns on you, Myrtle Beach is 20 minutes away. There may also be some activities in Murrels Inlet, along the marsh walk. I know there are waverunner tours that could be operating in April. Hunnington Beach State Park is adjacent to North Litchfield. Lot%26#39;s of wildlife and alligators there! Pawleysdude can probably give you more info. At this point in our lives, we%26#39;re diners and beach sitters!
I don%26#39;t know if the pool is heated, but we stayed at Litchfield Retreat for many years. The building is a ';V'; shape with the pool in the center, thereby protecting it from winds. These condos are usually rented by the week, but you may be able to get a nightly rental in April. LR condos are privately owned, and he units are rented by several RE company: Sandbarr, Litchfied, and Dunes Realties and The Dieter Company. We%26#39;ve used them all, and they%26#39;re all good. As with any condo rental, look at the pictures for renovations.
For an ocean view, look at the condos on the fifth and sixth floors on or towards the front of the building. The front units are three bedroom, but you could get a good price in April. The top floors have soaring, cathedral ceilings. Litchfield Retreat is in the residential part of the beach, so the balcony views are lovely from whatever location.
In the spring, I would probably choose a south wing condo as the afternoon sun will warm the balcony.
If you choose to look at a particular LR condo, let me know. We%26#39;ve stayed in several.
Try Litchfield Beach and Golf resort...there are 2 bedroom units Oceanfront/view in Bridgewater ( be sure to get floor 3 or above) ..it has an indoor heated pool in addition to outdoor pool...Brookgreen Gardens also has a small zoo that children will enjoy...there are other interests for children closer to Garden City, Surfside approx 10 minute drive from Litchfield...bike on the beach ...plenty of restaurants and NO crowds....
My friend and I are coming to MB for the first time and have booked the Avista Resort for 3 nights. I think I will book the Litchfield golf resort for a room for the first night so we can do the Brookgreen Gardens and then make our way up to North Myrtle Beach. The Avista Resort looks really nice and we got a great deal on their website under manager%26#39;s specials. We are attending the Mayfest on the 9th, so I hear it%26#39;s just north of there. Correct?
I am looking to go to Myrtle Beach next week. My dauhghter is definately looking for beach time and tan. Anyone there now? How is the air and water temps? Or should I plan to go in May or June?
Is it beach time now?The water will be cold regardless of the air temps. Maybe a local will know next week%26#39;s forecast.
Is it beach time now?I subscribe to the sun news online newsletter. Great resource
for local news and weather:
accuweather.com/us/…
Mid day in March CAN be nice on the beach, Water is cold. May need to rig a wind screen. Or just wedge an umbrella on its side to break the wind. Can definitely get some sun that way. May is much better weather, June begins to get more crowded.
The Sun News had a funny little blurb on the front page Sunday. It said ';When you see someone in the ocean in March you can just ask what part of Canada they%26#39;re from.'; It might be warm enough to lay on the beach but the water will be quite chilly. The Atlantic is a large body of water and it takes a long period of warm weather to heat it up, as in months.
well ill be in the ocean when we come next week. Its alittle shock to the system but you get ajusted to it lol all those buffalo winters help in that regards. We will be tanning any chance we get as well. The forecast has changed 4 times in last 3 days so who knows what it really gonna be like.
March %26amp; April are not your best months. You maybe able to lay out %26amp; get a tan but you won%26#39;t want to get out very early. The water is COLD. May will be warmer and June better than that but if you decide to go in June try to go the 1st week as the rates go up the 2nd week. For the warmest temps July, Aug or Sept. are the warm ones.
I am looking for reviews on the Soho Restaurant. If anybody has eaten there what did you think???????????
SoHo is wonderful! Fresh, healthy food, sushi is excellent. It is a favorite place to eat for my family members that live in Myrtle Beach.
Hi there - does anyone know of either a boat or yacht rental in Charleston for one week???? My honey and I are planning on visiting your beautiful city next month and wondered about a boat or a yacht as a base for us. Anything but a hotel room. Thank you. Marydallas
Might try http://www.coastal-yacht-charters.com/ Haven%26#39;t heard of this but it seems like a great idea. Sounds like it could be expensive though.
Hi Culturehound - Appreciate your information as this looks like the VERY BEST PLACE to answer all my question If you ever need info on Texas or Dallas just give me a ';HAY-HO'; and I will try to oblige. Happy Trails, Marydallas
My husband and I will be headed to Charleston in July for 5 nights. I have just booked our airfare and are now debating about where to stay. I know its going to be hot when we go so I am not sure if it is important to stay somewhere where there%26#39;s a pool? I love the look of the Harbourview and also the Market Pavillion.
Or should we stay 2 or 3 nights in Charleston (the historic district) and 2 nights near or on the beach? Also is it ideal to rent a car? Thanks in advance!
You will have potential issues with minimum stay requirements at many of the beach accomodations particularly around the 4th. It%26#39;s not a bad plan to stay at one of the nearby beaches and take trips into the city. The Isle of Palms, Sullivan%26#39;s Island and Folly Beach are all within a 20 to 25 minute drive to the historic district. You may want to look into the Boardwalk Inn in Wild Dunes or one of the IOP hotels as a start. Whether you stay in the HD or at one of the beaches, you will probably need a car.
Stay at the beach, and do day trips into Charleston. Very easy driving. Also, you can park for a full day in Charleston for about what you pay for an hour in Midtown Manhattan.
You will find that most condo and home owners rent only by the week, usually Saturday to Saturday, in the summer. Since you have already booked your flights for a five day stay, you may be limited to a hotel or bed and breakfast at the beach.
A number of the condo units also rent Sunday to Sunday. It works out better if all of the units don%26#39;t turn over in the same cycle. If you deal with one of the smaller property management firms, they typically will try to accomodate shorter stays by splitting the week between two guests.
I saw that the Boardwalk Inn has availability. How is this resort?
The Boardwalk is probably the best of the ';beach'; hotel options near Charleston. I have gone there for food and drinks, but since I own a condo in Wild Dunes I have never stayed there. It gets mixed reviews, but you can%26#39;t put a great deal of stock in reviews unless you know the reviewer. The Inn is owned and managed by Destination Wild Dunes (DWD) which is a Destination Hotels and Resorts (DHR) company. They also own the amenities in Wild Dunes including the 2 Fazio-designed championship golf courses, the fitness center and the restaurants associated with the amenities and hotel. If you want a hotel experience that is ';resortish';, it is a good choice. My biggest issue with DWD is that IMHO they have overdeveloped the space they control.
Between the BI and the ocean there is a very nice development called Grand Pavillion. Adjacent to the BI there are condos called the Village at WD which were developed by the development affiliate of DHR. The random probability that you will actually see the ocean from any of these accomodations is near zero. The ';overdevelopment'; also leads to this particular area being the most crowded beach areas in Wild Dunes. Even at that it is less crowded than most other beaches on the east coast.
It sounds like you enjoy the beach and sun and there is plenty of that to be had anywhere on IOP or in WD. Personally I love to lay in bed and watch the sun rise over the Atlantic, hear the sounds of the breaking waves and smell the salty aromas of the ocean. The condos in Port O%26#39;Call, Mariner%26#39;s Walk, Seascape, Summer House Beach Club, Ocean Club and Tidewater all offer ocean view to ocean front places to kick back and relax. It%26#39;s all a great base to go into the city or the nearby plantations, or just sit on the sand and veg.
The Charleston area is a great place to get away from it all and it offers a variety options for a variety of interests. At the end of the day, I hope you enjoy your stay and come back many times and if I can help I%26#39;m happy to try.
Thank you very much for your input. Do you think we should just stay in Charleston and drive to the beaches for a day? Or just splitting it up okay? I really want to stay in the historic district but also would love to stay at one of the beach resorts. Being that where the Boardwalk Inn is and you say its very overdeveloped, can you offer an alternative where to stay for a few nights?
Sorry for all of my questions!
I may have miscommunicated and imposed too much of my personal preference into the response. Even though I%26#39;m single and don%26#39;t tend to over pack, when I go somewhere I like to settle in and not re-pack and move. If you want to stay in the HD and go to the beach, do that. If you want to stay at the beach and go into town, do that. I personally wouldn%26#39;t try to blend the two. I would stay one place or the other and do day trips to the other.
If you want to spend a night at the beach, the BI is an excellent choice. When I say ';overcrowded'; I don%26#39;t mean stacked on top of one another. I%26#39;m spoiled with the areas to the north of IOP where if you are within 25 yards of the folks next to you, it is because you chose to be.
If your primary interest is the HD, stay downtown. The beach is less than a half hour away and there is plenty of public parking. The Mills House is great; so is Harborview.
Don%26#39;t split your trip.
If you haven%26#39;t been to Charleston before, stay in the historic district, and visit the beach for a day, depending upon your mood and the weather. When you come back (as I suspect you will) stay at the beach.
Just got back from a week in Charleston and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Historic District which I highly recommend. We took a couple of day trips to the beaches and spent most of the time exploring Charleston. I do highly recommend Gresh Meggett%26#39;s Eco lighthouse tour. He takes you out to Morris Island on his boat and you get to explore this beautiful, uninhabited island on your own. We actually loved it so much, we went twice. Gresh is a great guy, you will not be disappointed.
I would stay at the Holiday Inn Historic District. They have a great pool and the staff there is above and beyond incredible. We drove to the beaches when we stayed there. The hotel location is great and its an easy drive to anywhere. It was so nice to come back to this hotel after a long day. They truly welcome you with southern hospitality.
In July of 2007, we stayed at Seascape in Wild Dunes. We had stayed there in 2005 and it was lovely, but by 2007 the beach was a disaster. We had only a few hours of access each day and the 50lb sandbags were such an eyesore. Of course, I realize that residents need to protect their property, but we%26#39;re not spending vacation money so lightly these days and I like to know if the erosion problem has been resolved. An insight from recent visitors would be appreciated.
Almost postive they are all gone as the beach renovation was completed last summer. It is amazing. Go to their web site and see the pictures of before and after.
The beach is gorgeous. Very wide now - more beach now even at high tide. At low tide you%26#39;ll have quite a hike to get to the water. Excellent job by all! (and I hope you heard about the cannonball that was found when the sand was sucked up from offshore and spread on the beachfront!)
Thanks so much! We%26#39;re really ready to go back. It%26#39;s such a wonderful escape.
Hi,
We are planning on a 2-3 night stay near the beach and finishing our trip in Charleston. Since this will be end of April, we don%26#39;t anticipate laying or swimming at the beach but would like to enjoy some outdoor activites like biking. Is one area better than another? Saw Kiawah had lots of trails but the area is pricier and quieter. We do want some nightlife and dining that, hopefully, we can walk to.
Best beach area for biking, IOP, Folly, EtcFrom your other thread I think you got some good advice on HD savings. I saw that someone got the Mills House for $115 on Hotwire. The Mills is very nice and near the center of everything.
In late April there are no minimum stays in the condos in Wild Dunes. You could do 2 or 3 days there in a nice one bedroom place with all the comforts of home. The beaches are wild and firm and great for cycling and Wild Dunes has lots of trails as well. If you Google ';Wild Dunes vacation rentals'; you should pull up most of the companies that represent those properties. Nightlife and good food will be a 10 minute drive.
Best beach area for biking, IOP, Folly, EtcKiawah is quiet, for sure; but Kiawah Island%26#39;s 10-mile packed sand beach, along with Kiawah%26#39;s 30+ miles of paved bicycle trails, is perfect for your main activity. You might also enjoy kayaking on Kiawah%26#39;s river and marsh creeks.
If you do go to IOP, there%26#39;s Morgan Creek Grill for semi-casual and the clubhouse at the golf course as well (this is not as formal as you might think, for lunch anyway). ';Downtown'; IOP has some breakfast, lunch and dinner places as well as music venues but from WD you%26#39;d have about a 5 minute drive.
Plenty of biking in WD; you can even take a boat ride out to the barrier island, or go crabbing, or rent kayaks or go deep-sea fishing if that interests you.
Do NOT miss Shem Creek for fun nightlife and the area%26#39;s prettiest sunset!
Our trip to Charleston is April 4-11.
Our group consists of two active 75-yr olds, two forthy-somethings and a teenage girl.
Staying on Folly Beach. Husband like civil war and othe military history. Teenager is a photography enthusiast.
I%26#39;m not clear on what we would see on the home and garden tour? Will it take the place of an historic home tour, or should I include one of those too, or is the historic home tour plus a plantation tour enough?
Thank you in advance for you advice.
I%26#39;ve planned most of our tip using this forum for recs on restaurants and sightseeing!!!
Any other new or must-do/must-eat recs also welcome here.
The Historic Society%26#39;s Home and Garden Tours is a month-long event; each day featuring about 8-9 properties for one price. You would purchase your tickets, be issued a map, and walk (primarily down a single street), going from historic home to historic home, each of which is marked by a flag and manned by docents who are given some pertinent facts about the homes, architecture, history and furnishings. Some of the days the tours feature homes; some days the tours feature gardens. It might take 10-15 minutes to get through each home so all of the homes can be done if you stick with the plan.(might be best to start at the last home on the tour instead of the first one)
If you toured a single historic home, that tour would obviously cost less but it would not be a home that is currently lived in - it is a ';museum'; of sorts. The tours I mentioned in the first paragraph are of homes that are currently lived in, so you get a really great idea of how people live in 100-200+ year-old historic homes. The Historic Society tours cost $45 for the 3-hour time period; the single museum homes might be $15.
These 2 hotels seem to be owend/managed by the same company. Both have the same great rates. I%26#39;m having trouble figuring out which pictures go with which resort. Their two websites seem to use the same pics to advertise both hotels. Arfe they the same quality as each other and the web pics are therefore representative of both hotels? Or, is one substantially different or have different amenities, room quality, etc than the other?
What can you experienced Myrtle Beachers tell me abou these 2 places?
We stayed at Sea Crest several years ago, but we%26#39;ve stayed at the Coral Beach a couple of times, the most recent time was for a quick weekend getaway with my wife last summer. We love the Coral Beach, but to be honest, from what I remember, they were both nice. I looked at the photos, and while the look the same, they are photos from each place. The water park area looks similar. We love the Coral Beach. Here are TWO thing I recommend. #1, angle ocean-view is not always a room on the side of the building. We were in an angle ';ocean-view'; and while it was TECHNICALLY in the same building, it was designed almost like a wing from the main building going inland. It had the view you would see if you were in a building BEHIND the main building which was on the beach. As far as getting to the elevators and everything else, it was exactly the same room, but the view was NOTHING compared to the ocean-front. We went ahead and paid the extra to move to an ocean-front room, and I will say that made SUCH a difference. #2, I%26#39;d recommend the suite with either 2 bedrooms with a kitchen/bathroom in the middle if you have kids, or 2 rooms with a bedroom/living room seperated by the kitchen/bathroom suite if you are just a couple. We have found the 2 bedroom design is nice with kids because you can watch TV or whatever in a ';parents area'; and the kids can do the same. If you are just a couple, one can sleep while the other sits on the couch in the other room and relaxes watching TV or whatever. It worked out much better than the old set-up we used to get (2 queen sized beds in a room with a bathroom attached and 1 TV.) Ask how much more these extras cost, it might be worth the splurge. I know it was for us. I wish someone had explained why the extra money might be worth it to us in the past:)
Raymond
http://gosmoky.wordpress.com
