The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
Located along the shores of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island is a beautiful oceanfront hotel located just 21 miles from downtown Charleston. A part of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, the Sanctuary is one of three options for accommodations offered for resort guests–other options include the Resort Villas or Premiere and Private homes. We were fortunate to stay at the Sanctuary as we traveled from Orlando to Washington, DC and we were enchanted by the fantastic service and exquisite accommodations that capture the history and charm one associates with the South.
As you enter the Island you must pass through security gates and be cleared by the friendly security staff before you can proceed to the resort. I was greeted by a staff member who immediately found my reservation and gave me a parking pass and directions to the Sanctuary Hotel. One of the first things that I noticed was the arched tree lining the drive as we made our way to our home for the night.
As I pulled up to the resort, I was waved in by a dancing and smiling bellman who immediately helped with our luggage. I felt so welcomed. As I looked over to the property where we were directed, I was overwhelmed with the beauty of the historic building. The bellman loaded our bags and escorted us into a grand lobby where I noticed beautiful, antique furniture with exquisite artwork decorating the walls. We checked in and my daughter was immediately presented with a gift just for her–a sand pail with bubbles and a kite for playing on the beach.
We were taken to our room where the bellman unloaded and put our bags away for us. He went and retrieved some ice for us and had a refrigerator delivered for our comfort. I was struck by the beauty of our surroundings and comfort of our accommodations. The view of the ocean and the property from our sizable balcony was stunning. The welcome basket was filled with local edible and decorative goodies for us to sample.
We immediately put on our bathings suits and headed for the beach/pool area. My daughter and I walked on the beach looking for seashells for a while, then jumped in the pool where we swam for several hours. We ordered a bite to eat from The Market At Town Center (on the property). Our food arrived and we sat at a table by the pool to eat our dinner. I enjoyed a large chicken salad sandwich with goat cheese and a cup of crab soup, which my 3-year-old thoroughly enjoyed. The food was fresh and delicious. We grabbed some chocolate and vanilla ice cream from the shop inside and sat on a bench outside to enjoy it.
It was getting dark, so we decided to pack up and head upstairs. My daughter enjoyed a bath in the sunken tub while watching her favorite show, thanks to the shuttered doors in the bathroom that opened to the bedroom. After her bath, we retired to our large bed that looked out on the ocean and property grounds.
When we awoke in the morning, we saw the sun beaming in from our large picture window, so we sat out on the balcony and enjoyed the view before walking downstairs for breakfast. We decided to try out the breakfast buffet in the hotel.
We enjoyed breakfast on the porch overlooking the pool and the ocean. The view from the porch took me back in time–it was like being in a movie set in the 1920’s. The breakfast buffet was delicious and our waitress was super helpful and took the concept of service to a whole new level. She helped me carry a plate of food to my daughter and even brought me a special hollandaise poached egg with a fried green tomato when I couldn’t decide whether to order that or sample the delights from the the breakfast buffet. Then, to top off an already wonderful breakfast, she packed up some muffins and pastries for us to enjoy on our long drive ahead.
Before we left I was able to tour the spa area and meet the spa director. The spa was stunning and I wish I had had more time–I could have spent an entire day enjoying their services and relaxing. I also took a tour of the art gallery, and was impressed by the beauty of the custom beach-themed artwork.
After my tour of the property it was time to get on the road, as we had a long drive to Washington DC. I was very sad to leave this beautiful property. I am greatly looking forward to my next visit, where I hope to spend an entire week enjoying all of the amenities that this property offers!
