Best Places to Stay On Kiawah Island SC For Families, Couples & Golfers

1. How to Decide
2. Best Kiawah Island Hotels
   • The Sanctuary
   • The Andell Inn
   • Dublin by Auberge
3. Vacation Rentals, VRBO or Airbnb
   1. Through Kiawah Island Golf Resort
   2. Airbnbs
   3. VRBO

How to Decide : Best Places to Stay On Kiawah Island SC

When it comes to the best places to stay on Kiawah Island SC you have to choice of staying at 1.) The resort the island is built around which is The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort 2.) A vacation rental or Airbnb or stay a minutes off the island at either the 3.) Andell Inn Marriott or 4.) the luxury spa resort the Dunlin by Auberge.

Keep in mind a lot of Kiawah Island is open to resort or golf club members only, so if you want to access the amenities, the resort’s complimentary private ride service, most of the beach access points, river access for kayaking and paddle boarding, some outdoor activities (which do require a fee) and Night heron park etc without sneaking around, then you will need to stay either at the resort or at a vacation rental with access to the resort.

Without access you can still enjoy beach walker park, the restaurants, biking from beach walker park and Freshfields Village which is technically off the island – all perfect for nature lovers. You’re also allowed to bike onto the island if you wish.

Use my Kiawah Island map to get a feel for where things are for the island before you choose!

Best Hotels on Kiawah Island : Best Places to Stay On Kiawah Island SC for Couples & For Convenience

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a luxury 5-star resort with ocean views. It can be thought of as the go-to choice out of the places to stay on Kiawah Island SC, especially for the most convenience and an amazing stay with easy access to the entire island. This resort is a popular choice for a romantic getaway, family vacation or golfing trip.

The Sanctuary is the perfect place for a relaxing, luxurious getaway. On site at The Sanctuary you’ll find world-class golf, multiple pools, modern amenities, private and direct beach access, a spa, distinctive dining options, the Roy Barth top-ranked tennis center, bike paths, basketball courts, exceptional service and of course beautiful rooms.

Keep in mind you’ll have a 25% discount on rounds of golf at their world famous championship golf courses if you do choose to stay at The Sanctuary, like the stunning Ocean course or Cougar Point.

A Moderately-Priced Gem : The Andell Inn

The Andell Inn by Marriott is another great option for the best places to stay on Kiawah Island SC for anyone with a car. The Cougar Point golf course is about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, and the hotel offers a shuttle to the beach which is about 15 minutes away.

On the property, you’ll be surrounded by the natural environment of the area, like beautiful salt marshes and water views, with a restaurant and salt water pool on site and more of an intimate experience and boutique hotel feel.

A New Luxury Experience : Dublin by Auberge

Finally, the Dublin by Auberge is a new luxury hotel located just outside of Kiawah Island in a great location on a beautiful marsh. You can think of it as a similar alternative to The Sanctuary in terms of pricing, but with a smaller, more boutique feel, and beautiful southern design by Amanda Lindroth.

The hotel also does not have direct access to Kiawah Island beach, and there is only a small saltwater pool, so I’m categorizing it as one of the best places to stay on Kiawah Island SC for couples or those without young children.

Best Places to Stay On Kiawah Island For Families & Groups : Kiawah Island Vacation Rentals

If you aren’t looking to spend quite as much, don’t need the convenience of staying on the resort or would like to have a full kitchen and place to cook during your trip, then a vacation rental is probably the way to go! You can either book one through the Kiawah Island Golf Resort or independent renters. You can even find vacation rentals that are within walking distance of the golf courses.

A quick note on sea turtles at Kiawah Island 🐢

In case you don’t already know, Kiawah Island is a vital nesting ground for loggerhead sea turtles from May through August. Hatchling emerge from their nests at night, heading on their journey toward the ocean or early morning.

If you’d like a chance to potentially see them heading toward the ocean, consider staying in an oceanfront rental where you can have a good eye on the beach. Just keep in mind that no lights are allowed on the beach during the night time hours, including coming from your rental, as it interferes with the turtle’s ability to reach the ocean and survive. You can read more about to support the natural journey on this page.

Vacation Rentals Through Kiawah Island Golf Resort

There are tons of vacation rentals and places to stay on Kiawah Island SC that you can get directly through the Kiawah Island Resort website. These rentals tend to be pricier and are best with larger groups, and they all include resort access.

Make sure to make your reservation well in advance, like you would for any vacation home rental. Some even have lagoon views, views of the Kiawah river or even better, ocean views! East Beach village is a popular area, along with West Beach Village.

An example of one of these homes is shown above. You can rent this beautiful 109 Flyway Drive home which has its own boardwalk and backyard oasis.

Kiawah Island Airbnbs

For a more affordable stay or for a rental for smaller groups, Airbnb is great. You should be able to find all types of rentals as long as you reserve in advance, from smaller places to stay on Kiawah Island for a couple or for an intimate family vacation, to huge homes or oceanfront villas.

Keep in mind if you rent through Airbnb there’s a high chance that your rental will not include resort amenities, but some do!

This 3-bedroom Airbnb and guest favorite includes access to the community swimming pool and a gorgeous screened porch, while this 3-bedroom condo includes full resort access.

VRBO Kiawah Island Rentals

VRBO is another option for finding a vacation rental on Kiawah Island. I tend to prefer Airbnb overall as I feel like there are more options, but VRBO tends to have more luxury rentals.

This beautiful rental has 2 bedrooms right on the ocean, while this 3-bedroom rental shown above comes with access to a community pool.

Now that you have a good idea of the island and best places to stay on Kiawah Island, it’s time to plan your activities! Visit my blog on the best Kiawah Island golf courses to find out which are the must-see courses.