The Sanctuary Hotel, Kiawah, SC       

Pool complex, The Sanctuary

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island is, by far, the best hotel experience you can have in South Carolina.  I have just returned from my annual girls weekend, which was held for the first time at the Sanctuary.
I can't say enough good things about this amazing property.
The first thing I must mention is the wonderful Sanctuary staff.
Each and every staff member we encountered was friendly, helpful and cheerful.  They all took the time to greet us, ask us what they could do for us and then went the extra mile to make our stay absolutely perfect.  Pull up to the entrance in your car and valets are waiting to park it for you, bellmen are taking your luggage and whisking it away to your room for you.  The check in process is quick and easy.  Take a stroll past the pool, and attendants approach you to offer chairs, towels, umbrellas and iced water with lemon.  Still thirsty?  There is chilled sweet tea awaiting you in the lobby.  Groggy from your trip?  There is free coffee each morning in the West hall area.  In need of a sugar boost?  Try the Friday night Ice Cream Social.  Too tired to decide which restaurant to choose for dinner?  Try a relaxing Friday Night Seafood Buffet dinner by the pool, where even the children are pampered by the peanut butter and jelly sandwich bar.  Wondering about the infinite varieties of plants on the grounds?  Ask a friendly gardener about the names of the plants in the butterfly garden...he knows them all!  Ready for a high-end dinner date?  Speak with knowledgeable and friendly Mr. Charlie at the concierge desk.  He will suggest a restaurant, explain how to catch a free shuttle to the Ocean Course clubhouse and tell you the best time of the evening to watch an especially beautiful moonrise over the surf.  
We stayed in a room with a balcony and a view of the lawn and the ocean.  This basic Sanctuary room was very large and featured two comfy queen-sized beds with luxurious bedding and mounds of pillows.  There were double closets, lighted by motion sensitive fixtures, a dressing table with a makeup mirror,  a wet-bar area and a desk. The furniture in the room, balcony and throughout the hotel was custom made, comfortable and elegant.   The bathroom was easily 100 sq feet, and featured a large tub, bordered by a shuttered opening into the main bedroom area, an oversized double sink vanity, a separate water closet and a glassed in shower with a rain-shower and separate hand-held shower head.
The chamber maids not only kept the rooms perfectly clean and tidy, but they helped negotiate the card locks on the doors for us.
Whether strolling the beautifully landscaped grounds, dining at the many fine restaurants, swimming in the pools, soaking in the spas, or relaxing in the spacious lobby's upholstered chairs and sofas while you enjoy a cold drink, you are pampered, spoiled and catered to.  The Sanctuary at Kiawah...the perfect oasis, just 35 minutes from Charleston.  I will review the Spa and restaurants in tomorrow's blog posts.