The Dunlin, Kiawah River

My husband and I have been wanting to explore the Charleston area for quite some and finally was able to find time in our schedules. Originally while planning our vacation I was looking at hotels exclusively in the downtown area of Charleston, but I saw an advertisement for The Dunlin and was completely smitten with how cute it looked. I have also stayed at a number of other Auberge properties and have never been disappointed. I decided to book a room for 3 nights before we ventured into the city. Not only was this the best decision I made, but I actually wished we stayed at The Dunlin our entire trip! When we return, we will be staying at this resort our entire vacation. We arrived at dusk and as soon as we pulled up to valet, Megan at the front desk came out to welcome us to the resort and check us in. That took only a few minutes and after we were finished she walked us to our room to give us a quick tour. Our bags were already in our room and we were able to settle in quickly. We had a riverfront king room facing the Kiewah River and absolutely loved waking up to the view. The room was spacious as was the balcony. The bathroom was great and the shower was huge. Amenities were top notch, and we especially appreciated the clothes steamer which worked like a dream. One thing I always appreciate at luxury hotels are the towels. The towels at The Dublin were large and thick and did not disappoint! The food at the hotel was wonderful. We had breakfast at Linnette’s and one morning ordered room service; everything we ate was delicious. My favorite for breakfast was the crab cake Benedict. We ate at Linnette’s for dinner as well, and enjoyed having cocktails in the evenings in the Willet room. The Dublin has great amenities!! The pool area has the cutest vibe, I loved the decor and the poolside drink and food service was attentive. Every time we went to the pool the staff brought us a cooler with waters. They have super cute cabanas and day beds to rent, but the regular lounge chairs are very comfortable if not staying for too long. We also rode bikes every morning that are free to use for resort guests. The valet staff always offered us water before we rode away which was super thoughtful. I loved exploring the area surrounding the hotel, we rode to the farmers market nearby and explored some of the paths by the river and ponds. While this hotel is remote, the drive is easy and quick into Charleston and other local areas. We really enjoyed exploring the area. I recommend renting a car to get around easily as I do not expect Uber to be easy. Valet is offered and the attendants hustle, we never waited long. They always offered us water and helped us load our car. We let them know we were heading to Folly beach one morning and they had beach chairs and an umbrella waiting for us - wow! I cannot finish this review without mentioning the many activities offered by the hotel that we enjoyed. The memories from the activities we did is what really sets this hotel apart and makes me eager to visit again. The Goatery nearby was the cutest experience. We attended a tour with one of the owners, Missy, who was delightful and filled with knowledge. We held a mini goat and even got to collect eggs! She gave us a taste of the goat cheese they make on property as well, what a treat! We also paid for a fishing excursion and were set up with Captain Adam who was amazing and took us on a great fishing trip in-shore. The Dunlin sent off up with a packed lunch (the cookies for dessert were delish!) and cooler with waters for the excursion. If you are considering staying at this hotel, I promise you will not regret it! It is truly a luxury hotel that provides top-notch hospitality and service with the cutest southern vibe! Every team member we interacted with was so lovely and attentive. We can’t wait to visit again one day!

THIS PLACE!!! The aesthetic was enough for me. Everyone here has been great! So friendly and helpful. Our favorite part was being able to take out the fun cars they have for guests and explore the area, especially Charleston. One of the managers, Megan is such a plus for this place! She’s great!

In reviewing the Dunlin, it’s not a matter of what to say but where to begin. The Dunkin Auberge is a spectacular property. The attention to detail from color palettes, to lighting fixtures, fabrics and window treatments are so thought out and artistically executed. The surrounding property albeit small is filled with natural beauty. Rooms overlook a gorgeous salt marsh. Bikes are free and available to ride throughout the various paths out to a butterfly garden, a flower field, the goatery or farm stand. There are two pools on property with enough lounge chairs and towels . To be clear, the Dunlin is a boutique style property not a resort. Meaning, if you’re going expecting non stop activities and stimulation this is not for you. The property maintains an air of sophistication and solitude without being snooty or uppity. As far as dining there are two on site options: The Willet Room for morning coffee - the barista Marco is excellent at his craft in making real lattes and Machiattos.. In the afternoon and evenings they offer light bites and cocktails. The view here is especially pretty on the outdoor porch if you manage to snag a seat. Be prepared though as waiter service here can be extremely slow thereby redefining “ low country” style. Linnette’s offers a great variety for breakfast lunch and dinner. Decor inside this restaurant is out of a dream and any photographs you’ve seen don’t do it justice. Food is beautifully prepared and staff is friendly. The manager Jordan who runs Linnette’s should be commended for her ability to make you feel not only welcomed but attentively attended to. In our time there, she interacted with guests as if each and every guest were the most important person in the room. Her willingness to pitch in and get her hands dirty in order to help her staff did not go unnoticed and should be noted by other food service managers who tend to hide behind the scenes and avoid getting involved with their guests. She truly separates herself as a leader in her arena. Prior to our arrival we worked closely with Emily and her concierge team to plan a special celebration. Emily remained in constant communication with us prior to our arrival and didn’t miss a detail. She worked in conjunction with the house pastry team to create not only a cake which was truly a work of art, but also a true delight for the taste buds. The Dunlin is immaculately clean which is something that is often lacking in even the most exclusive hotels around the world. Rooms are clean and well maintained. The grounds are immaculately kept as well. There is such peacefulness and tranquility when staying here. While I’d say The Dunkin lends itself to being more of an adult style Property, there were some families with young children who were beautifully behaved and were able to participate in activities geared toward their age group. If you are thinking of trying The Dunlin, do so. Their attentiveness to every request as well as their ability to capture a relaxing and upscale experience makes a stay there worthwhile.

Bottom line: By the time we left The Dunlin (a day early), I was convinced it's a money laundering operation. How else to explain the weirdness we encountered? First the pros: 1. Beautifully decorated. 2. Food was excellent, other than my husband's burger at lunch, which upset his stomach. 3. Staff, with a couple exceptions (see Cons) were excellent: friendly, helpful, professional. Some of the best service I've had in awhile. Now the cons: 1. This place swims in a sea of concrete. It's at the back of a tightly packed development, with houses everywhere you look (except the river/marsh). Not at all conducive to a relaxing, quiet getaway. 2. Hotter than Hades. We live in the South Carolina Lowcountry and know heat. You beat it with shade and trees. This place had none. 3. World's smallest pool. Could barely swim. 4. Nothing to do. This was especially galling, as we got charged a $52 resort fee for ... nothing. My husband went through a hassle to get into the "gym," which was on par with a Hampton Inn, at best. We didn't see the spa, as we decided to leave early. 5. Weird layout. Check-in "lobby" is smaller than my living room. The only place to sit is on the tiny porch, which in Carolina heat or thunderstorms would be uncomfortable and unsafe. The "fine dining" restaurant (more below), Linette's, is up a steep flight of stairs. The suites had a large living area, but tiny a bedroom. 6. Suite bathroom lacked enough towel bars or hooks for towels, had only one bathmat for sink and shower, needed a makeup mirror, and the sink vanity area was so small that everything got wet when I washed my face. Now the biggest con: We were there for our anniversary and the Dunlin kindly put a split of champagne and a small cake in our room. So nice. Then we had lunch at Linette's -- and realized that was it for "fine dining." The place looks like an ice cream parlor, has a noisy and smelly open kitchen, has a bar taking up lots of space, and it was too hot to eat on their balcony. However, the downstairs bar/lounge is beautiful and very quiet. Surely they'd let us eat there.... We check in for our dinner, greeted by a nearly deaf hostess who was so unresponsive I feared she had a medical issue. No smile, no greeting. The manager was there and did greet us. We declined a noisy two top next to the bar, in the center of the room, where EVERYONE had to walk past us -- not romantic. Too hot to eat outside. So we asked if we could eat downstairs in the Willet Room (lobby bar). Yes, we could. Yay! Super waiter (Darren? Daryl?) was very professional, friendly and welcoming, then broke the bad news: We only could order bar bites there: dips, shrimp cocktail, etc. NOT an anniversary dinner. We asked if an exception could be made, but the waiter said he couldn't. I could see how uncomfortable he was being the bearer of bad news, and it wasn't his fault. So I went upstairs, collared the manager, and explained the situation. After a moment, he got it, and we had a delectable meal served to us, along with two glasses of Champagne. But c'mon, people: You're in the service business. I formerly was a convention planner, working with some of the finest properties in the US. I've stayed at legendary properties in the North America, Europe and Central America. NO ONE should have to pull rank to be served a meal in the bar. It's not just bad policy, it's indicative of the main problem at The Dunlin: It's masquerading as a fine resort, but needs a real service-oriented heart and soul behind the mask.

Wonderful and professional staff! Each person excelled in their work and was attentive to our stay. They made us feel welcomed and appreciated. The property is beautifully decorated and thoughtfully curated. We have already highly recommended The Dunlin to several friends. We made wonderful and unexpected memories during our trip and stay there. Our youngest daughter loved Camp Dunby and the staff. What a clever and perfect mascot (the cutest rattan puppy)! Meals were thoughtfully prepared and carefully presented. We loved the nightly 'smores option, turn down services, food, drinks, views, daily activities, and bike rides. The farms were also unique and a lot of fun and learning. The staff on the farms are experts and take great pride in their work. The playground was so well done! Our daughter thoroughly enjoyed the zip line and playground equipment. It's all in the details and the Dunlin has details down. We also appreciate the complimentary car service on the one night we went to dinner. There is little need to leave the property but it was a great option if you like!