Has anyone been to Hilton Head before?

[izzy]

I won an 2 BR condo today on Skyauction for a one week stay in Hilton Head in late August ($322 - Woo hoo!!!) Anyway, I have only been to Myrtle Beach and Charleston before, but never to Hilton Head. What should I expect? I hoping it won't be as crowded and touristy as MB, but still with plenty to do.

Also, my condo is about 1 mile from the beach. Is there public parking near the beaches so that we can easily access the beach? My parents are coming with me and they are in the mid-70's, so I'm sure they're not going to want to walk that far to get to the beach - especially in August - LOL!!.

 

[damo]

We've gone to Hilton Head every year for the last 18 years. If you tell me the name of your resort I can give you some info as to what is in the vicinity. We love it there and plan to retire there.

 

[Margie J]

I visited Hilton Head for the first time two years ago. It was a wonderful, relaxing place. I was there in May, just before the summer season and not during any major golf or tennis tournaments.

There's plenty to do on the Island, such as tennis, golf, water sports, biking, nature walks, shopping, etc. The beaches are clean with fine white sand and warm water. Many Resorts and condos have private access to the beach.

There are many fine restaurants right on the Island. Seafood there is terrific so if you like that you will be in heaven.

 

[izzy]

It's the Coral Reef resort. I believe it's a timeshare, and it's located in the Shipyard Plantation area - whatever that means!

By the way, if it's a run-down dive, please don't tell me! This is the first time I've bid on something from Skyauction, and I'm kind of nervous about it!

 

[rbaity]

Coral Reef is a very nice resort and Shipyard Plantation is so beautiful. It will take a while to learn your way around, but get a map and it will be easier. HH is very laid back. Landscaping, golf courses are gorgeous. You will drive to a beach access area, about maybe less than 1 mile, park your car, then you'll be right near the beach. Wonderful beach!
There are bike paths (mostly flat) all through Shipyard, so rent a bike for a week and you'll love the riding. In fact, you can ride lots of places, all through the island. Everyone rides down there.
Not as commercialized as other SC beaches, and definitely a restful place. I think you'll love it. We're going down next week and will be staying at another Shipyard resort.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We stayed in the Shipyard Plantation at the Crown Plaza and loved it! It is really beautiful there! The beaches are nice, the food is superb and the shopping is awesome at the outlets!!!

 

[pogopossum]

we are dvc members and bought our original points at the hhi resort. we loved our week there and the island is a golfer's dream. the sea pines course is expensive and what i hear the whole sea pines area isn't worth the toll to get in, there are so many other delights on the island, (such as the jones course at palmetto dunes or any course at pd).

it's worth the time to go check out the disney resort and we did a afternoon boat tour at the docks by the resort that was great. there is a disney catalog outlet store at the local outlet mall.

fyi, the story behind the names such as shipyard plantation, sea pines, plantation dunes, etc. until last century the island was owned by something like 6 families and split into plantations. when the decision was made to open up to tourism then the plantations were developed and named after original plantations. have a great time, the beach was great, get out those boogie boards and inflatible rafts and catch a wave for me.

 

[izzy]

Originally posted by rbaity
Coral Reef is a very nice resort and Shipyard Plantation is so beautiful. It will take a while to learn your way around, but get a map and it will be easier. HH is very laid back. Landscaping, golf courses are gorgeous. You will drive to a beach access area, about maybe less than 1 mile, park your car, then you'll be right near the beach. Wonderful beach!
There are bike paths (mostly flat) all through Shipyard, so rent a bike for a week and you'll love the riding. In fact, you can ride lots of places, all through the island. Everyone rides down there.
Not as commercialized as other SC beaches, and definitely a restful place. I think you'll love it. We're going down next week and will be staying at another Shipyard resort.

Whew!! Thanks for the positive post on the Coral Reef and HH in general. I don't play golf, but I shoot a pretty mean game of putt-putt. I had started out bidding on a 3 BR at the Coral Sands resort, but when it got to over $525, I thought I'd try my luck with the Coral Reef. I really only needed 2 BR's anyway, and I'm sure I can use the extra $200 to buy gas to travel from Virginia to HH and back - LOL!! (Actually, I'm hoping $200 will be enough!)

 

[damo]

We are timeshare members in Shipyard and have toured the Coral Reef. It is very nice and quite new! Shipyard is very central on the island. It does take a litle while to get used to the Island especially at night. There are very few streetlights and it is easy to miss roads. Shipyard is a gated community and you will feel very safe. You can access the beach at the hotel. There is parking especially for beach-goers.

If you go to the DVC members site you will find lots of info!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

I answer for most of all the vacation rental companies In Hilton Head after hours. If you have any specific questions about any of the resorts of where good dining, shopping, etc is, please let me know and I will help you.

 

[Lucky4me]

Be happy you ended up at Coral Reef and not at Coral Sands. Coral Sands is not on a plantation and some of the front entrances face the dumpster at Bi-Lo. The units are brand new and nice inside, but the location is terrible. We did a sales pitch and they actually wanted $20,000 for a weeks worth of points there. I told the guy if I was going to spend that much I'd buy into DVC. He was not happy.

We stay in Port O call at Shipyard and love it even though it's 25 years old. I believe Coral Reef is only a few years old. You will love it!

 

[my3kids]

I stay in Shipyard all the time at Hilton Head. It is a gated, private plantation and you will have a pass for your car to enter the area. There are miles of bike paths throughout Shipyard. You can drive to the Shipyard beach access point. There is a drive-around where you could drop off your parents and then park the car in the lot right there. The access is at the Crown Plaza Resort and there is a well kept wooden walkway right to the beach. There are some steps up over the dune if steps are a problem for your parents. They have pool bars where you can get cool drinks.

Just outside the Pope Avenue gate is Coligney Plaza, a main area of the public part of Hilton Head. There are restaurants, an ice cream shop, speciality shops and such. There is also a good supermarket across Pope Ave, Bi-Lo which is convenient for picking up items for your condo.

Enjoy the trip. I love HH.

 

[izzy]

OK, y'all are really getting me excited now about this trip! Thanks so much for everyone's advice and help. Sounds like I got really lucky this time!