5 Best Hotels in Charleston, South Carolina

Mount Pleasant's finest hotel sits on Charleston Harbor, so you can gaze at the city's skyline with your feet on this resort's sandy beach or from the waterfront pool. The Beach Club's spacious rooms all sport oversized balconies overlooking the pool and harbor. Grounds include a bocce court, life-size chessboard, and a private movie theater. The resort's original hotel, the adjacent Harborside, shares the grounds and includes an additional 125 rooms and the Estuary Spa. A lot goes on here, from splashy boat shows at the marina and wedding celebrations to summertime concerts on Friday evenings. Children can jump into the mini-mariners' program, and parents can learn to navigate a sailboat. A number of annual sailing events are held here, and the bar scene at the three on-site restaurants is fun. Get here via a 10-minute ride on the Charleston Water Taxi (bikes are welcome) or on a trolley that runs to the Market area.

Guests at this 1,600-acre island beachfront resort can choose from two Tom Fazio–designed golf courses, a nationally ranked tennis program, and miles of paved trails to walk and jog. The focal points are the bright-and-airy Boardwalk Inn, which sits among a cluster of homes painted in pastels to resemble Charleston's Rainbow Row, and the Sweetgrass Inn, a 153-room hotel. Guests have access to multiple pools, including a heated adults-only enclave and two beachfront pools—and a bar and café—at the Grand Pavilion. Downtown-quality meals and drinks are served in myriad hot spots near (or in) the Sweetgrass Pavilion and beyond. The chef-driven Coastal Provisions restaurant serves date-night-worthy crab cakes and gnocchi, and Huey's, at the Links Course club house, offers hearty breakfasts and upscale pub grub.

Choose from one- to four-bedroom villas, three- to eight-bedroom private homes, or one of the ultraposh 255 rooms at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island at this luxury waterfront hotel and spa that is one of the most prestigious resorts in the country and yet still kid-friendly. Its vast lobby is stunning, with a wonderful collection of art and walnut floors covered with handwoven rugs. The West Indies theme is evident in the guest rooms, where bedposts are carved with impressionistic pineapple patterns and ceilings have exposed planks painted white. A top-rated steakhouse, the Ocean Room, has incredible architectural details, including wrought-iron gates and a stained-glass dome. Four rental cottages are located beside the Ocean Course's clubhouse, overlooking the driving range and the Atlantic Ocean. Along with the 10 miles of island beaches, recreational options include kayak and surfboard rentals, nature tours, and arts-and-crafts classes.

Prices can triple during high-season weekends, so book in advance, check the calendar, and book strategically if you're also planning to stay elsewhere in Charleston.

About 350 fully equipped one- to six-bedroom villas, cottages, townhomes, and homes are available on Seabrook, one of the most private of the area's island resorts. Seabrook is endowed with true Lowcountry beauty, and wildlife sightings are common: look for white-tailed deer, alligators, and even bobcats. Going to the beach is as popular as playing golf or tennis. The Beach Club and Island House are centers for dining and leisure activities. Because each unit is individually owned, Wi-Fi access varies accordingly, and rentals are made via Vacasa. The smallest units are often priced as cheaply as a hotel room, making the island a secluded, quiet value for relaxed family time. The pool complex is oceanside and is across the street from the clubhouse.

If you're looking for amenities in a get-away-from-it-all escape, the island's only resort has both. These 250 time-share units can be rented out with a two-day minimum stay. Summers are solidly booked, especially the weekends. Although none of the accommodations sit on the beach, most are just a short walk away, and there are three swimming pools within the resort (four, including the indoor pool). The family-oriented recreation staff knows how to keep kids amused with everything from painting classes to organized nocturnal turtle-watches. There are also Lowcountry shrimp boils and nature walks, but the primary activity here is enjoying the island's golf complex. (There’s even a mini-golf course on-site.) A tram transports you to the resort's beachfront cabana, which is delightful and stocks plenty of chaises.