Help! Advice for Charleston, SC

[B714210]

We are taking a cruise from Charleston this July. Plan was to go a week in advance- over 4th of July to spend time relaxing and soaking up history. Just 3 of us, DH, DS, who is 15 and me. I have searched all over for a 1 or 2 bedroom condo on the beach in the Charleston area. (Mostly Folly Beach) First problem is that there are virtually no small condos- most are 3 bedrooms. Even the houses are 4, 5, 6 bedrooms. The rents are way over our budget. So, now it looks as though I am going to have to head up to Myrtle Beach to get a smaller condo on a beach for a price that won't break the bank. Any advice to find a place near Charleston, or what are some of the better condo developments in Myrtle Beach? Honestly, at this point it is cheaper to take 2 seven day cruises back to back, that include food than to pay a weeks rent.

 

[homedad]

if you want the south end of the Grand Strand try Pawleys Island or even better Georgetown area, though there is a paper mill in Georgetown. Have you looked on Kiawah Island? Lastly one of my fav restaurants in Charleston is Magnolias, great lowcountry food.

 

[cnorth]

There are also condos on Isle of Palms. I'm not sure how many they sleep, but that could be an option, and it's a beautiful area

 

[myfairygodmother]

Take a look at the Sea Cabins on Isle of Palms. They are oceanfront with a private pool/parking. They are all privately owned and are the perfect size for a family of 3. Keep in mind that there are three floors and no elevators but you can often get a good deal on rentals there.

 

[java]

Kiawah island is beautiful and about 20 minutes from charleston. They hav plenty of beach front at different "luxury"levels.

 

[lastminutemom]

Wild Dunes is a resort on Isle of Palms. Probably out of your budget but they have smaller units.

 

[B714210]

Thank you for your ideas! Keep them coming, please. I will do some research once I get some coffee in me and see what I can find.

 

[Danibelle]

Kiawah island is beautiful and about 20 minutes from charleston. They hav plenty of beach front at different "luxury"levels.

I think these luxury levels will be pretty expensive. Charleston is not known for being a budget locations. That said, it is a beautiful, historical city with great restaurants. Myrtle Beach will hopefully be cheaper and it also has a few good restaurants.

 

[NCRedding]

Litchfield Beach is south of Myrtle Beach and north of Georgetown. They have a variety of accommodations, some on the oceanfront, and others back with a marsh or scenic view. It is very private, gated community. They have a neat pool area, great golf courses, and a beach house with bathrooms, showers, etc. Look for their specials on the website. I like it because you can be in the hustle and bustle of Myrtle Beach in a matter of minutes, but you have a peaceful beach area. I also love the restaurants in Murrell's Inlet.

For history in that area, check out Georgetown. Also check out Huntington Beach State Park which has an old house owned by the people who donated the land for Brookgreen Gardens and the state park.

Kiawah has a variety of accommodations also. The ocean front ones can be very expensive, but the marsh views are beautiful. You may also want to check out vrbo.com. They usually have lots to offer in the Charleston and Myrtle Beach area.

In the Charleston area, there a couple of suite hotel places that might work for the 3 of you. We've stayed at Embassy Suites downtown and at the convention center. There is also a Quality Suites North Charleston which offers a two room with sofa bed option. I love Charleston, and I love Litchfield, but they are two very different vacations.

Enjoy your cruise. I've sailed from Charleston. Its an easy port to get to and use, since it is so small.

 

[EeyoreEma]

Definitely check out isle of palms. Also check on vacation rentals by owner - sometimes they have decent prices on smaller units at wild dunes. Tons of great restaurants in Charleston - Magnolia's, S.N.O.B., Tommy Condon's, Poogan's Porch, Hominy Grill ... love it there!

 

[Megkel]

I third (or fourth) Isle of Palms. Folly Beach is a party beach, all the college kids go there to drink. (It's legal to drink on the beach there.) Isle of Palms is much much nicer, fewer crowds and in general a wonderful area.

If you are military there is a place called Short Stay. Short Stay recreation area on Lake Moultrie offers 30 two-bedroom villas and cabins and 12 three-bedroom villas for rent. Each has a fully equipped kitchen, cable TV, and central heat/air conditioning. Reservations must be made in advance. No pets allowed. One hundred campsites are available on a first come basis. Short Stay features man-made beach swimming area, laundry facilities, boat launching areas, snack bar, bait and tackle shop, boat and motor rentals, fishing piers, and picnic facilities. Lakeview Clubhouse and Cafe serves meals on a seasonal basis. Campsite features some of the state's best fresh-water fishing. Fish licenses are required and may be purchased at the tackle shop. Call ITT office at Bldg 708, Naval Weapons Station at (843)764-7601 DSN 794-7601 for reservations/information.


Hope that helps, enjoy your stay in Charleston!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

we've had great luck with the double tree -- right in the middle of all the places to go and things to do. 181 Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Take a look at the Sea Cabins on Isle of Palms. They are oceanfront with a private pool/parking. They are all privately owned and are the perfect size for a family of 3. Keep in mind that there are three floors and no elevators but you can often get a good deal on rentals there.

I was going to suggest this as well. We rented one from VRBO last summer for a great price. We were oceanfront and had a swimming pool.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I third (or fourth) Isle of Palms. Folly Beach is a party beach, all the college kids go there to drink. (It's legal to drink on the beach there.) Isle of Palms is much much nicer, fewer crowds and in general a wonderful area.

If you are military there is a place called Short Stay. Short Stay recreation area on Lake Moultrie offers 30 two-bedroom villas and cabins and 12 three-bedroom villas for rent. Each has a fully equipped kitchen, cable TV, and central heat/air conditioning. Reservations must be made in advance. No pets allowed. One hundred campsites are available on a first come basis. Short Stay features man-made beach swimming area, laundry facilities, boat launching areas, snack bar, bait and tackle shop, boat and motor rentals, fishing piers, and picnic facilities. Lakeview Clubhouse and Cafe serves meals on a seasonal basis. Campsite features some of the state's best fresh-water fishing. Fish licenses are required and may be purchased at the tackle shop. Call ITT office at Bldg 708, Naval Weapons Station at (843)764-7601 DSN 794-7601 for reservations/information.


Hope that helps, enjoy your stay in Charleston!

Lake Moultrie is about an hour away from Charleston - not somewhere you want to stay and drive in every day for the beach or sightseeing.

 

[B714210]

These are some great ideas. I have been looking at IOP on VRBO. Some of the listings for the sea cabins say they are 490 square feet. Is that correct? Even though there will only be 3 of us, that seems tiny for a bedroom, living room and full kitchen. Is this a completely safe area as well? Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

These are some great ideas. I have been looking at IOP on VRBO. Some of the listings for the sea cabins say they are 490 square feet. Is that correct? Even though there will only be 3 of us, that seems tiny for a bedroom, living room and full kitchen. Is this a completely safe area as well? Thanks again for all of your help!

Yes, that is correct. There is 1 bedroom, 2 built-in bunk beds in the hallway, a full bathroom with tub/shower, full kitchen, living room (usually with a pull-out sofa bed) and balcony overlooking the ocean. Keep in mind that each owner may have different furnishings so ask if you have any questions.

There is a locked walkway out to the beach and a pier out into the ocean. There is also a pool with kiddie pool area and laundry room - all require a code or key for entry.

The condo is compact but has everything you need. The area is very safe. IOP has their own police and fire departments so emergency services are very close by. The new connector bridge is not a drawbridge (like the one from Sullivan's Island to Mt Pleasant) so traffic moves quickly off IOP most of the time. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in Mt Pleasant (there is a Target just over the connector bridge).

If you have any questions about the Sea Cabins, just ask. My parent actually owned one from the time they were built until Hurricane Hugo so I spent a good bit of time in them during school breaks. We rented one this past summer and had 3 kids with us and had plenty of room.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Found some pictures we took last summer. I didn't take any of the inside.

View from our balcony

The pool (I was zooming in from our balcony)

View of the Sea Cabins from the beach

View of the locked walkway onto the beach. You have to have a code to get in or out of the gate.

There is also private parking and you have to have a permit to park there. The lot is patrolled by security.

 

[mdsouth]

You should try Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort. It is really nice. It is between Myrtle Beach and Charleston on Pawley's Island. Very nice and upscale place - private beach and great pool with lazy river, kid's pool, water buckets plaything in pool, etc. You can also rent bikes.

I am getting a four bedroom villa on the fairway for 801.00 total for five nights. They have lots of different room types (condos, villas, inn rooms) etc. We are on the fairway instead of having an ocean view but it works for us.

We just hop in our car and drive over to the parking lot to the beach access, from our villa door to the beach 2 to three minutes tops!

We have stayed there twice and will be returning this summer.