Hilton Head-1/2 point from NJ..also planning activites?

[barbnjmom]

Hi ....will be making first trip to HHI this July. Will be driving from Jackson, NJ..leaving that Sat. to arrive Sunday July 11th.....taking the drive in 2 days (2 children, ages 9 & 4)...does anyone know a good 1/2 point to stay over...hotel recommendation? Thanks!!!

Also..where can I get a list of activites and how far in advance do you need to book?

Thanks!!!

Any photos of the 2 bedroom units?

 

[barbnjmom]

bump

 

[DownNeckBoy]

From Jackson it should take you no more than 11 hours to reach HH. My children are in the same range as yours and have been making this trip straight through for several years now. Additionally, there really is no midpoint that makes sense as a stopping point.

As for scheduled activities, you can get that via fax simply by calling up the resort. The only activity that you will need to have reservations for is the Chef Gordon dinner, should you wish to do that. Otherwise, winging it is OK. HH is not WDW!!! There is no need to obsess over PS's, FP's or any other acronyms!

Have a great trip!!!

 

[reneesam]

We drove down last week from PA and had to leave from here mid day, so we stopped at a Ramada in Dunn, NC, right before Fayetteville. If you are planning to stop, I would say to stop at the NC welcome center as you cross in from VA and get a reservation there (they are open until 5 or 6.) That way you can estimate how much longer you'll want to drive.

We drove back in one day (11 hrs plus breaks) and my kids (3 and 6 yo) did just fine.

You'll love it!

 

[apulk]

HH is our home resort so we go there each summer. Since moving to Pittsburgh from Charlotte in 1999 -- we have found that each summer we drive a little further in one day. It looks like you are about 50 miles further away (but we don't have to go through DC). We do the same thing -- check in on Sunday to avoid those huge weekend points so we really try to check in as early as possible that Sunday -- even though the room is never ready then.

We now drive from Pittsburgh directly to Rt 278, Exit 8 off I -95 (our favorite exit short of Florida) and stay right off of the island. We stay at one of the ones that offers free breakfast so we "sleep in" until 8am or so, grab a quick bite then do the 20 min drive to the resort. That will allow us to check in (get keys and pass to let us in the Beach house), rent bikes, sign up for any activity for later that day (since it's back at the bike rental area) then be on the beach by about 10:30/11:00 at the latest. They give you a phone number to check when your room is ready. We usually stay at the beach until about 3:30 then head to Sam's club and Piggly Wiggly to do our shopping.

Walterboro, SC is the place we stayed at two years ago -- it's about 90 mins north of the resort. Nothing fancy at this exit though -- a Ramada and breakfast at the Waffle House.

Hope this helps -- have a great trip.

 

[realpatt]

I would strongly recommend "A Private Affair" with Chef Gordon. We did this with 2 other couples and had a wonderful meal, a lot of wine, all for $50.00 per person. He would not accept a tip and said he was well compensated. Our friends and family were very impressed and we all would do it again in a second.

 

[TW1]

We do this from Eastern PA each summer. DS is now 6 and DD is now 10.

We make the Saturday drive as far as possible and end up in Santee, SC. about 9-10 hours. We stay in and recommend the Country Inn and Suites, about $75 and includes a good breakfast buffet.

In Santee, avoid the Comfort Inn next to Cracker Barrell. Santee has two supermarkets and a few regular chains like Pizza Hut, Cracker Barrel, Bob Evans, etc. From there, Disney resort is just about 2 hours, so we are on the road by 9 Sunday morning and check in before noon after a stop at WalMart for all the stuff we remembered leaving at home. (Happens every time, regardless of our best planning - go figure!)

Second choice in SC is Florence. Many, many choices of Hotels and Places to eat.

Saturdays in the summer can be crazy on 95 especially south of DC through northern NC. There are a few parallel roads, (Rt 1 and Rt 15) that are easy to get on and off when the traffic on 95 drives you (or the kids) crazy. Familiarize yourself with these options, you may need them.

You can't book activities until you check-in. But at check-in, go ahead and book what you want. They will fill-up in summer. A nice call about a week before to the front desk can get you a faxed copy of the weekly schedule. (Or maybe a reader here can post one?)

Wishing you safe driving!