Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Mediocre at best! I was really looking forward to staying at Kiawah Resort but have left feeling so so disappointed. When we arrived we had to wait for our “Villa” to be ready. The description of it being a villa is a stretch, it was so dated and in need of repair. It wasn’t very clean, so much so my son wouldn’t use his shower! The only saving grace was the view. It was very disappointing considering the astronomical cost of staying there. Also, we could not get a booking for dinner that evening in any of the restaurants and had to get carry out which again was unbelievably expensive. Breakfast at the Jasmine Porch at the Sanctuary was unfriendly and on our last day was busy and we were basically told to go away. The only good eating experience was the Players Club where they were welcoming. Would never stay there again or recommend. Totally overpriced for the experience.

Kiawah has access to incredible amenities - One of the best beaches on the Carolina Coast, miles of bicycle trails, beautiful scenery, and wonderful sport amenities - golf and tennis. We were very excited about this trip, but it fell very much short. I am leaving three stars for the wildlife, scenery, and my prior love for this place - I have known Kiawah and Seabrook well since the early 1990's. The lodgings, dining, workout facility would earn a one star. These are all fixable, and I hope that Kiawah will pay attention to reviews like this. This was a long weekend family getaway for a conference. The conference facilities were updated and quite nice. This is a big upgrade for the island and hopefully a segue into trying to attract professional conferences. The lodgings were well below what I expected. We had opted for a villa and were assigned to the Turtle Cove Villas. The lodging is not just dated and in sore need of a paint job, it was dirty. The main bedroom had dirty carpet, the bathroom had filth in the corners, rust spots on faucets, broken drywall in the ceiling. We had opted to have the kids on a pullout couch. The couch itself was worn, stained, and grimy, but when we pulled open the tucked away bed, there were no sheets in the unit to be found, and the mattress was broken with crumbs from a previous guest eating in the bed. This entire unit was a disappointment, but the significant sore point is what you are paying to stay in such a condition. I understood that much of what you are paying for is access to the resort amenities, and I tried to justify it that way by staying out of the room as much as possible. Where you run into trouble with this thinking is that the entire resort has quite expensive fees and pricing throughout. There is no way of escaping the feeling that you are really just being taken advantage of. Dinner the only night we ate on Kiawah was basic fare, and over $200 for a family of four. Tables were grimy, and while our server was a nice person, when you are spending $45-60 an entree, you ought to be receiving a five star experience. I understand food costs, costs of running a restaurant are much higher in 2025. This experience was basic fare, mediocre execution, and exorbitantly priced. You are in a foody town of Charleston. Before you spend for a meal in on Kiawah, you are honestly better off heading into Charleston, or venturing into Johns Island along Maybank Highway where a number of new restaurants have opened. If you're concerned about driving (as you should be in this area of two lane highways), arrange for a driver service - you'd still save yourself money. I am all for having a nice time, and am not opposed to spending money for a great meal and a nice vacation, but here again is where you are not receiving value for the cost. In prior years, I have dined and stayed at the Sanctuary, and have made good memories there. We visited this time, and found two carry away sandwiches, a scone, and two black coffees ran us $60 another morning. While I highlight the price, my main concern was that again basic fare, and not great service in this coffee shop where orders were hurried and remarkably not memorable. This was a disappointing experience. I know Charleston well. It has become an expensive place, but this trip was obscenely priced with lack of value when you can stay on the Peninsula or any of the other barrier islands in the vicinity. I love Kiawah, but I hate to write that it is going to take time before I decide to take my business back.

Guys trip to play the Ocean course. Only one main road onto island that tends to get backed up, so give yourself two hours from Charleston. Highly recommend getting caddies, as shot selection is critical to stay out of trouble (ask for Sean from Cleveland- he’s hilarious and has an eagle eye). Stay for drinks on the back patio - incredible views.

We recently booked what was marketed as a premier villa on Kiawah Island, only to find ourselves in a completely unacceptable situation. The unit was old, dirty, and clearly neglected—complete with mold, hair, and even roaches. For nearly $10,000 a week, this is not just disappointing—it’s outrageous. To make matters worse, we were placed in two separate villas for our family. When we reached out for help, the initial response from them was dismissive and unhelpful. Their solution? Suggesting we use an air mattress or “push beds together” for three children. Imagine paying almost $8,000 and being told to make do like you’re in a college dorm room. Unbelievable. The only saving grace in this entire experience was Kimberly in Villa Registration. She stepped in when no one else would, quickly processed our refund, and treated us with the professionalism and empathy that the rest of the staff sorely lacked. Kimberly deserves a raise—she was the one bright spot in an otherwise appalling situation. Sadly, this isn’t our first issue with Kiawah villa rentals, but it will be our last. Guests deserve far better than this.

Just returned from a guys golf trip to Kiawah Island. The area is very beautiful coming from Texas where the climate is totally different. We got lucky with the weather as there was no rain our entire trip, but it was very muggy. In general, the courses were in great shape, although the greens were all pretty slow. Only problem is the holes didn't have much personality; many of them looked and played very much alike; not much variety. The Ocean course is not worth the cost IMO, though the caddies were all very helpful and friendly. Here are the problems. Lodging: We stayed in a 3 bedroom villa and it was sorely in need of a makeover. Very dull appearance; the doors didn't all close properly, the shower curtains had stains and/or mold on them. Food: Nowhere had breakfast!! You could get a sausage and cheese sandwich or an Uncrustable; that's about it. Some courses didn't even offer lunch. About the only place that served breakfast was The Sanctuary which is waaaayyyyy overpriced; nearly $50 for the buffet, $30 for pancakes and bacon. Their bowl of oatmeal could feed at least two people. My suggestion: bring groceries and prepare breakfast at your villa. Pricing: They gave us a card that knocked off 15% for food and non-alcoholic beverages. Some places didn't even honor it. Quit nickel and diming me to death! I'm spending a fortune already don't try to squeeze every last penny out of me. I've been on probably 20 golf trips with these guys and I think this trip ranks near the bottom.