7 Best Hotels in Hilton Head Island, Hilton Head and the Low Country

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Hilton Head has some 6,000 villas, condos, and private homes for rent, almost double the number of the island's hotel rooms. Villas and condos seem to work particularly well for families with children, since they offer more space and privacy than a hotel room. Often these vacation homes cost less per days than hotels of the same quality and provide more homelike amenities such as full kitchens, laundry, and room for bikes and outdoor gear.

While using online booking sites such as VRBO or Airbnb is a decent option, using a reputable local rental agency has many advantages.

Villas and condos are primarily rented by the week, Saturday to Saturday. It pays to make sure you understand exactly what you're getting before making a deposit or signing a contract. Before calling a vacation rental company, make a list of the amenities you want. Ask for pictures of each room and ask when the photos were taken. If you're looking for a beachfront property, ask exactly how far it is to the beach. Make sure to ask for a list of all fees, including those for parking, cleaning, pets, security deposits, and utility costs. Finally, get a written contract and a copy of the refund policy.

The Inn & Club at Harbour Town

$$$$ | 7 Lighthouse La., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA Fodor's Choice
The Inn at Harbour Town, Hilton Head Island
The Sea Pines Resort

This European-style boutique hotel located within the Sea Pines Resort pampers guests with British service and a dose of Southern charm—butlers are on hand anytime, and the kitchen delivers around the clock. The spacious guest rooms, decorated with neutral palettes, have luxurious touches like Frette Italian bed linens and spa bathrooms with large soaking tubs. The landscaped patio, dotted with upscale furnishings, backs up to the first tee of the Harbour Town Golf Links. The Harbour Town Clubhouse, just next door, is a beautifully designed building that houses the golf pro shop for all three Sea Pines courses. The on-site restaurant serves a stellar breakfast and is also suitable for a romantic date night.

Pros

  • The staff spoils you from arrival to checkout
  • Ideal location, walking distance to golf and tennis
  • Complimentary valet parking

Cons

  • It's a drive to the beach
  • Two-day minimum on most weekends
  • Less appealing for families
7 Lighthouse La., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA
843-363–8100
Hotel Details
60 rooms
No Meals

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Montage Palmetto Bluff

$$$$ | 477 Mount Pelia Rd., Bluffton, SC, 29910, USA Fodor's Choice
The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Hilton Head Island
Courtesy of The Inn at Palmetto Bluff

A 30-minute drive from Hilton Head, the Lowcountry's most luxurious resort sits on 20,000 acres that have been transformed into a perfect replica of a small Southern town, complete with its own clapboard church. Located on the banks of the May River, Palmetto Bluff allows guests to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy the scenery amid the sprawling property. Upscale amenities include an acclaimed spa, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, and a variety of restaurants and dining options. There's also no shortage of activities, including tennis, biking, horseback riding, a sporting clay shooting club, kayaking, scenic cruises, multiple pools, and even a bowling and game room. Accommodations range from hotel rooms to cottages to spacious home rentals. All of the cottages are generously sized—even the one-bedrooms have more than 1,100 square feet of space—and the decor is coastal chic, with sumptuous bedding, gas fireplaces, surround-sound home theaters, a screened-in porch, and marvelous bathroom suites with steam showers. Whether on a day trip or a weekend-long stay, this is an experience you won't want to miss.

Pros

  • 18-hole May River Golf Club on-site
  • Tennis/bocci/croquet complex has an impressive retail shop
  • The river adds both ambience and boat excursions

Cons

  • The mock Southern town is not the real thing
  • Isolated from the amenities of Hilton Head
  • Escaping in luxury is priced accordingly
477 Mount Pelia Rd., Bluffton, SC, 29910, USA
843-706–6500-resort
Hotel Details
50 cottages, 75 inn rooms
No Meals

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Beach House Hilton Head Island

$$$$ | 1 S. Forest Beach Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA

Located along one of the island's busiest stretches of sand, this resort is within walking distance of Coligny Plaza's shops and restaurants. The hotel emphasizes laid-back comforts in its spacious guest rooms. Oceanfront rooms usually have to be booked months in advance, particularly if you're planning to visit in summer. 

Pros

  • Central location cannot be beat
  • Spacious rooms
  • Hoppin’ bar and restaurant

Cons

  • In summer the number of kids raises the noise volume
  • Small front desk can get backed up
  • Not a spot for a quiet getaway
1 S. Forest Beach Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA
843-785–5126-hotel staff
Hotel Details
202 rooms
No Meals

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Recommended Fodor's Video

Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort

$$$$ | 23 Ocean La., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA

At this beachfront hotel with a Caribbean sensibility, the spacious accommodations range from studios to two-bedroom suites. The rooms have tasteful tropical decor and balconies, many of them facing the ocean. Located in Palmetto Dunes, the hotel has three large pools (including an adults-only pool), and a kids' splash zone. There are several dining options including a restaurant, a café with to-go items, a sports bar, and outdoor bars serving poolside drinks.

Pros

  • Lots of outdoor dining options
  • Well suited for both families and couples
  • Packages are often good deals, and many include breakfast, bottles of wine, or outdoor cabana massages

Cons

  • Wedding parties can be noisy
  • Pricey
  • Noise travels through room walls
23 Ocean La., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA
843-842–8000
Hotel Details
323 rooms
No Meals

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Palmera Inn and Suites

$$$$ | 12 Park La., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA

This property located just off William Hilton Parkway has private balconies and full kitchens in each suite. Affordable and pet-friendly, the hotel has a pool, hot tub, fitness center, and guest laundry room. The public beach is 2 miles away.

Pros

  • One of the island's most reasonably priced lodgings
  • Parking and Wi-Fi are free
  • Good place for an extended stay

Cons

  • Doesn't have an upscale feel
  • More kids means more noise, especially around the pool area
  • Going to the beach or to dinner requires a drive
12 Park La., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA
843-686–5700
Hotel Details
156 suites
No Meals

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Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

$$$$ | 130 Shipyard Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA

Set in a luxuriant garden that always seems to be in full bloom, the Sonesta Resort is the centerpiece of the Shipyard private community, which means guests have access to its amenities, such as golf and tennis. Inside, Sonesta has an elegant lobby with towering windows that let in lots of natural light. Outside, guests can swim in the zero-entry pool, stroll across a latticed bridge that crosses lagoons, or relax at the beach pavilion that has seen many an island wedding. The family-friendly resort also has a supervised kids' club.

Pros

  • Wonderful on-site spa
  • Spacious rooms
  • Beach access

Cons

  • Crowded during summer
  • Service is sometimes impersonal
  • Doesn't have the views of competing resorts
130 Shipyard Dr., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA
843-842–2400
Hotel Details
340 rooms
No Meals

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The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa

$$$$ | 2 Grass Lawn Ave., Hilton Head Island, SC, 29928, USA

A circular drive winds around a sculpture of long-legged marsh birds as you approach this beachfront resort inside Port Royal. The lush landscape enhances the beautiful location that lies on the island's quietest stretch of sand. All of the rooms, most with water views from private balconies, feature the chain's signature beds and were reappointed and renovated in 2023. Guests will enjoy the sprawling outside areas, pools, dining options, diverse activities for kids, and the resort's 8,000-square-foot Heavenly Spa.