The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort and Spa
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 10
- Reviews
Editor Pick
Relaxation is More than just a Word
The Westin is a luxury resort and spa located at the "heel" of the "boot" that is Hilton Head. This puts it in a great location for the adventurers while on vacation. The "toe" of the island is just as easily available as the mainland. Both are just a few minutes drive in opposite directions from the front entrance.
Our room was on the fourth floor and was a rough pentagon shape. Unusual, but the furniture arrangement made it work perfectly. The sliding doors opened to a small balcony complete with two chairs. Here we were serenaded by a chorus of frogs in the pond below. The daytime view was of the pond and part of the swimming pool. We were treetop high and there seemed to be a constant breeze to enjoy.
The beach was wide. The sand was firm down by the water and soft (but "shelly") closer to the hotel. We walked along the water's edge and enjoyed the splashing of the relatively warm waves on our feet. Unfortunately, this is not the prime "shelling" area, so we did not find any treasures, but we enjoyed the search as much as the walk.
The beaches here are all public beaches, and there are several homes on the oceanside. You can walk for miles if you choose to and bask in the warm sun and balmy breeze that caresses you as you make your way up and down the beach.
If walking is not your thing, then rent a bike and ride along the paths that meander all over the island. The land is relatively flat, so the ride is not tiring. It may leave you with a sore rear end since most of the bike seats are not overly padded, but they are comfortably cushioned for short rides. You can even ride to the local mall and several shopping centers without using your car. Just be sure to ask for a bike with a basket for your purchases. Bike rentals are available in the rear of the hotel, behind the pool.
This hotel is more than just the "spa' portion of the name. It is a place where you can truly relax and enjoy some quiet time with your family.
By the way, early May is one of the best times to come. The weather is usually warm and the mosquitos have not taken over yet. The stores are stocked because the "spring break" visitors have just left and the "summer" family vacationers cannot start to arrive until the end of the month when school lets out. Think about it the next time you need a break.
From journal Hilton Head Island Moods
Wonderful hotel
- December 3, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
We had a wonderful trip over Thanksgiving. The staff was very accomodating and friendly. I would most definitely stay there again.
A nice get away
- July 15, 2008
- Rated 4 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
We went to Hilton Head Island for a romantic/relaxing get-a-way. The Hotel was great. Our room was fine, not super quality but the beds were comfy and the bathroom spacious. The water pressure in the shower was low, but no biggie. We had a partial ocean view room and it was perfect! We overlooked beautiful trees and the ocean with a view of the pool as well. We did not bring our children, but did hear them runninig in the halls once in a while which did not really bother us.
The drinks at the pool bar were a little expensive, but YUMMY!! We only ate breakfast at the buffet, but it was good. The hotel staff were VERY friendly and helpful. Debbie the concierge was great and made wonderful suggestions for dinners each night.
The hotel was in a fantastic location and beautiful outside. The beach was nice - to one side was all private homes so the walks were nice because it was quiet to one side. The pool was easy to get a chair and we loved the live music daily - the musician was very talented.
All in all the stay was great and I would go back again.
Not a Luxury Experience
- June 27, 2008
- Rated 3 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
My husband and I were excited to take this trip, as it was our first alone together since the birth of our daughter two years ago. The marketing for this hotel is great and made us feel we were in for a romantic and upscale experience. The hotel lobby and pool area looks great, but it ends there. The hallways and rooms have horribly stained carpeting, the elevators are extremely slow and antiquated (and ours was a VERY long walk from the lobby), the food at Carolina Cafe is extremely expensive and terrible, items we charged to our room showed up on the final bill as more expensive than the receipts we had, there were bugs in the room, one of the plumbing fixtures was coming off the bathroom wall and the brass lighting fixtures were straight from the 1980's, and there was a family with eight people (four of them kids) and a barking in the room next door to us (although this family was very nice, I must say). Also - there were kids EVRYWHERE at the hotel - it was like we were at Disney. Please be warned that 17% gratuity is added on to bills for Turtles poolside and at the pool bar area. So, even if your service is slow (which it was in our experience) you have to give 17% to the server. The most positive points were the comfortable beds, the friendly staff (not quite as much at the front desk, though), and the patio we had overlooking the ocean. We booked at the Westin because we were expecting a lovely couples getaway. Lucky that we are so happy in love, as we tried just to laugh and make the best of a bad situation. It was such an expensive mistake, though.
Beautiful surroundings and great escape from northern spring weather
- April 7, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
a traveler from Travelocity.com
I booked this room through travel website at $144 less than the listed price available on every other site. So it was totally random that the Westin was the hotel that won my bid of $135 per night for a "resort" type room.
Now, down to the review.....it was fantastic! The room was large and comfortable, the beds were great, and the only thing wrong with the room was no view. I didn't try to upgrade, I just took what I was given and considered it had something to do with the price I paid. I spent little time in my room so it wasn't a big deal. The surroundings were fabulous. Foliage and flowers everywhere. I felt like we had escaped to a tropical paradise. We had left cold weather and drab colors behind. I like the Port Royal Plantation area, easy to get anywhere we wanted to go. Eat at the "Oyster Factory". Great food. We didn't use any of the resort amenities, so I can't comment. We did have drinks every evening at the Turtle Bar on site. Margaritas were good. Overall, I would stay here again. The staff were very friendly. One last note...this is not your typical beach vacation resort. It did seem to cater to adults. I don't know if I would feel comfortable going in and out from the beach wearing beach attire with children in tow with rafts or sand buckets. If there were other entrances specifically for entering and exiting from the beach, I didn't see it. This was a great adult getaway and we enjoyed the hotel. I will recommend it to others for a quick weekend getaway!!!