Stay Where the Pros Play

A hidden gem in the league of the finest luxury resorts is located on Kiawah Island  in South Carolina. Located only 30 minutes from the historic city of Charleston, the 5-star, Sanctuary at Kiawah Island stands out.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island comprises over 250 hotel rooms and suites, measuring anywhere from 520 square feet to over 3000 square feet. Whether you want a view of the ocean, gardens, or the pool, The Sanctuary has something for you. A walk to the hotel’s two pools is only about five minutes, give or take. And shortly past the pools is the walkway to the beach, where attendants are ready to assist you and set up chairs and umbrellas for your party. As you relax on the sandy shore, enjoy a full meal or just a tropical drink, served right at your chair. Unlike most beaches, the soft sand is not your only surface on your walk to the water. After approximately 10 yards of the soft sand, there is about 30 yards of hard-packed, concrete-like sand. The harder sand allows for bike riders to ride along the water and gives a surface for playing beach games where your feet won’t get buried in the sand. In other words, the beach in Kiawah is still very attractive, but not in the cookie-cutter style of beaches that many are used to.

If the golf facilities at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island weren’t “up to par”, would the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA) host its annual major tournament there? Of course not! But Pete Dye created a treasure along the Atlantic Ocean when he designed The Ocean Course, and has maintained it beautifully to the point that it was selected to host this year’s 2012 PGA Championship, held from August 9-12. The Ocean Course isn’t the only spectacular golf course on the island, as there are two private courses for residents only. There are also 4 other Championship courses in addition to The Ocean Course: Gary Player’s Cougar Point, Jack Nicklaus’ Turtle Point, Tom Fazio’s Osprey Point, and Clyde Johnston’s Oak Point. Each features spacious clubhouses and is accessible by car or shuttle bus. Each course varies in difficulty, length, and setting, providing the perfect course for every golfer.

If Tennis is your sport of choice, the property offers two tennis facilities: the West Beach Tennis Club and Roy Barth Tennis Center, who teamed up to earn the resort the distinction of being the #1 Tennis Resort in the World by www.tennisresortsonline.com, and the #1 U.S. Tennis Resort by Tennis magazine. 

The resort’s spa is also highly ranked, being known as one of the Best Hotel Spas in the United States by Travel + Leisure. The Spa provides relaxing Southern comfort with all the natural surroundings one would expect, such as trickling water, the Sun’s calming rays, and the flow of ocean waves.

Also a fun island activity is renting bikes from the Sanctuary and riding all around the island. Almost everything is within biking distance from the resort, and seeing the sights of the island is amazing. When I visited this summer, I was able to bike right along the waves to The Ocean Course, so I could see exactly what the pros will be seeing come August at the PGA Championship. Being able to watch the tournament on TV next month and say, “I was there! I remember that hole!” will be something I can remember and tell others for a long time. 

In conclusion, Kiawah Island has almost everything to make your vacation memorable, from the golf to the Sanctuary to the beach, and everything in between. So, ask yourself next time you’re planning a vacation, “Why don’t we stay at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island?” And then remember to place your booking across WhataHotel! if you want an edge on your booking that you only get with the Exclusive Complimentary Perks our site offers!