Kiawah Island Golf Resort & Vacation Rentals

Kiawah is owned almost enitrely by the Kiawah Island Golf Resort which has preserved the Island and enabled it to remain a pristine coastal escape from most commercial activity and any sort of hustle and bustle!

Within the Resort, you can stay at the oceanfront, AAA rated five diamond resort called The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, or rent a villa or private home.

The Sanctuary at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort is the only hotel on Kiawah and is a truly unique experience. One of only three five-diamond resorts in South Carolina, this new resort is truly top of the line and yet feels like a home away from home. Be prepared though - a resort of this stature is not inexpensive, but that's to be expected.

Built to feel like an old vacation manor with great attention to detail (even the floor boards were "engineered" to creak here and there for that old home feel), the Sanctuary is exceptionally tasteful and well decorated. The hotel, its two outdoor pools, and a lovely grass courtyard, all overlook the beach and the ocean.

Large, well-appointed rooms, an exquisite spa, and several fine dining options contribute to this hotel's renown.

Here's a quick rundown of the Sanctuary's restaurants:

• The Ocean Room Prime – This restaurant recently became a "steakhouse", though if it's anything like it was before this theme and menu change, then it's likely still as phenomenal as it ever was. In my experience, the food is expertly prepared. The room is gorgeous, whether you sit at a regular table or snuggle up in a love-seat, and you can't beat the view over the Atlantic Ocean. The service is outstanding and the bartender is the best in at the hotel!.

» TIP: The Ocean Room is fairly formal. Men are required to wear a jacket to dinner.

• The Jasmine Porch – This beautiful room has been decorated to look a true Southern porch. Oversized shutters and lanterns surround you as you dine sitting in large wicker chairs. Though more casual than the Ocean Room, the food is wonderful and the service is equally good.

• The Loggerhead Grill – Poolside dining, casual fare.

• Beaches & Cream – Quaint ice cream parlor.

You can also grab a meal in the sitting area around the Lobby Bar. Relax in large, leather chairs and sofas surrounded by tables with old-fashioned wooden toys. The wait staff will come to you and bring you casual fare and drinks from the bar. The Lobby Bar is a nice spot to relax and unwind. In winter, it's a toasty place to curl up near the over-sized fireplace. In summer, take your drink or sandwich outside and enjoy it in an Adirondack chair on the patio overlooking the grass courtyard and the ocean beyond.

If you're looking for a luxurious, elegant and peaceful vacation on Kiawah Island, the Sanctuary is unsurpassed!

Kiawah Island Rentals

A Kiawah Island vacation rental is a more laid-back, private way to enjoy the island (no jackets required for dinner!)

The Kiawah Island Golf Resort offers one- to four-bedroom condo-like "villas" situated along the 10-mile beach. These accommodations include a living room, full kitchen, dining room, and separate bedrooms as well as a balcony or screened in porch overlooking the ocean, one of Kiawah many lagoons, or the lush island flora.

The Kiawah Island Golf Resort has been around for awhile (though the Sanctuary is only a couple years old). The newer, more updated villas are the "premier" level villas and cost a little more, but if you're planning on spending most of your days out of the house - which I recommend you do! - then the economical "resort" level, or "deluxe" mid-range villas are just fine!

All villas and homes rented through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort come with special Resort privileges, including:

• Complimentary access to the Tennis Club (adults only) pool and the Night Heron pool complex,
• Discounts on golf fees and tennis fees,
• Discounted rates for nature and recreation programs,
• Complimentary transportation to any Resort-owned venue,
• Access to and advance reservations at all Resort restaurants, including those in the Sanctuary,
• Grocery service to stock your villa before you arrive,
• Access to the Sanctuary spa and the ability to make appointments in advance (non-resort guests can go to the Spa but can only make same-day appointments), and
• "Cashless" charging privileges.

For those with lesser budgetary restraints, Kiawah Island Golf Resort also offers private and "premier" home rentals. These homes are exquisite and typically have between 3 and 8 bedrooms. The premier homes come with a dedicated concierge, customized arrival and departure protocols and coordination of your resort activities, full daily maid service each day, newspaper delivery and complimentary use of four bicycles to explore the island. Full access to the fitness center at The Sanctuary is included.

Privately-owned villas and homes are also available for rent through private home owners and rental companies not affiliated with Kiawah Island Golf Resort. These are generally found through a few rental companies on Kiawah such as Beachwalker Rentals and local realtor Pam Harrington Exclusives.

Private rentals can also be found through online listings such as Cyberrentals.com.

» IMPORTANT TIP: Note that if you don't rent directly through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and if the private villa or home you rent doesn't have a pool, you will NOT have access to a pool while you're on Kiawah! This is an important factor to consider when deciding on a Kiawah Island vacation rental.

» TIP: One of the perks to having your own place, whether it's a villa or a home, is making a fresh, local dinner for you and your family. Just outside Kiawah on Betsy Kerrison Parkway, you'll find Rosebank Farms, a true "old-Kiawah" establishment. There you can get fresh fish and shrimp, local vegetables and fruit, and much more. Bring the kids to see the "Barnyard Museum" – consisting of local artwork and a menagerie of farm animals, including cows, pigs, donkeys, chickens, rabbits, and parrots, most of which can be pet so long as they feel accommodating. It's all a bit rustic, but you can't find fresher local food and it's a fun visit!

For more grocery needs, visit Freshfields, the new Kiawah Island village where you'll find Newton Farms grocery store, along with ice cream shops, boutique clothing stores, and evening concerts on the green.




Where ever you stay on Kiawah Island, you'll be immersed in the understated elegance and lush coastal beauty of this idyllic Lowcountry island.


Return to the Kiawah Island main page to discover where to dine and play during your stay at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort or in your own Kiawah Island vacation rental.