The Sanctuary at Kiawah (Charleston, SC)

In April, I was invited by a bank that I do business with to a boondoggle down at the Sanctuary at Kiawah. I had been invited to other events at this venue previously, but had to cancel for various reasons which Im sure were critical at the time. Id been keen to visit this property, so I made a point to keep my diary clear this time. As it turns out, the days of the event included my wifes birthday. Im pleased to report that I am still married. In summary, the Sanctuary is a very nice upper four star, potentially low-end five star, oceanfront resort hotel. Perhaps the best analogy for the hotel is Ritz Carlton meets Gone with the Wind. Though far from over the top, the Sanctuary proved to be a very nice destination. Andrew Harper rates The Sanctuary as the #1 resort hotel in the US. Im not sure I would give it top billing, but it was indeed very nice. The hotel is set within a sprawling but generally tasteful, and now mature, real estate development. Unlike many developments where clear-cutting is part of the plan, extensive efforts were clearly taken to maintain as many trees as possible. Houses in some cases were tucked in amongst very mature trees, clearly presenting challenges during construction. Beyond houses, there were plenty of low-rise condo and townhouse complexes. The hotel itself is not visible from the main resort road, instead set back behind a thick growth of trees. Entry is via a large porte-cochre. Several doormen were on staff, even at odd hours. There were facilities to leave your golf clubs. Mine were transported without issue to the Ocean Course (a few miles away). The lobby is grand, with high ceilings, louvered walls and a generous lounge.

Check-in was quick and efficient.

Food service in the restaurant was very good, as were the event catered meals. While certainly not haute cuisine, I enjoyed each meal. The meals included both local favorites and more traditional cuisine. There were easily 10 dining options to choose from; I tried but two. My group essentially took over the bar both nights that we were there. Apologies to other guests at the hotel.

We also had drinks on the lawn outside of the lobby one night. The bar set up was ample (several bars, never a queue) and the passed hors doeuvres were tasty. The grass is cut just a bit longer than a putting green and was magnificent. Bugs at dusk were an issue, and I had bites in a lot of usual and unusual places after the cocktails.

My room was very nice in a chintz and floral sort of way. The bed was a high four-poster; I dont recall the last time Id slept in such a bed previously! The room was silent, and I did not hear any noise from the corridor or adjacent rooms.

The bath room was reasonably nice, with a separate shower and tub. There was a window which could be opened between the bath and the main room, allowing TV watching or taking in the water view (really only feasible in rooms with better views).

My room was described as being ocean view. Limited view might have been a more appropriate billing, as my room was in a corner and the direct view was of another rooms balcony about 10 feet away. Standing on the balcony, turning to the left, then you could see the ocean. The way the hotel is configured, every room had some sight line to the ocean (albeit indirect, in my case).

There is a club lounge at the hotel, but my booking did not provide access. As my entire stay was comped, I did not inquire about access.

We played golf at the Ocean Course, one of the top-rated golf courses in the US. Designed by Pete Dye, the course was very challenging. The course hosted the Ryder Cup in 1991 and the PGA in 2012, as well as other professional events. On the day we played, we were fortunate to have light winds (on a relative basis), but the greens were very fast and tough to hold. I was happy to card a 97 (bad for me, but good for me on this course!).

We saw about a dozen alligators on the course. We walked for our round (with caddies), and I steered clear of where they were sitting. Several of my companions got a little closer than I thought prudent. Having seen about a dozen, I wonder how many gators there were that we didnt see!

There were two outdoor pools (one for adults and one for families) as well as an indoor pool. I arrived half a day prior to most of the participants in the event and tended to business sitting poolside at the adults pool. The beach was vast, and had hard sand in many parts, allowing for bicycle riding and relatively easy running. I also took advantage of some nice running trails nestled throughout the broader property. There were some ponds along the path which had warning signs about alligators. That did not make me feel at ease, as the paths were very close to the water. I doubt too many guests get attacked each year (wouldnt we hear about it?)but I did not want to make an example. After my run, I noticed a number of little green crawly creatures had landed on me. They seemed harmless, though were a surprise!

The only service issue I had during my stay was that the light in the shower room did not work, leaving the shower stall quite dark. I called down to have it replaced, but four hours later, it was not replaced. A second call brought immediate attention and a follow-up note from the general manager apologizing for the need to repeat my request. The Sanctuary is ideal for couples and also well suited for families. I would have no hesitation to return. The ideal times to visit are clearly late spring and early autumn. Renting houses and villas (i.e.: townhouses) can also be arranged through the Kiawah website. I will give consideration to such an option in the future it could make an ideal family trip. I have not been, but would be keen to compare my experience at Kiawah to Sea Island in Georgia.