The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort

We stayed at The Sanctuary in May with our two children, ages 22 and 23, to celebrate my husband’s 55th birthday. We travelled nearly 5,000 km from Western Canada for the trip, and Kiawah Island itself absolutely exceeded our expectations. Our first impression of The Sanctuary was wonderful. We were greeted warmly when we arrived, the hotel was beautiful and exceptionally clean, and our Club Level room was lovely with a beautiful view toward the beach. The beach itself was incredible; wide, pristine and one of the cleanest beaches we have experienced. We travel quite a bit internationally, and I was genuinely surprised by how gorgeous the beaches were along this part of the East Coast. The weather in mid-May was also perfect for us. Unfortunately, one interaction with the concierge really put a damper on an otherwise lovely trip. On our first morning, my daughter and I came downstairs a little later than my husband and son. My husband had texted to say they were already at the beach and asked us to meet them. Since it was our first morning, I wasn’t sure which way to go or whether we needed to bring towels, so I approached the concierge and simply asked. His response was, “Are you even staying here?” I was honestly stunned. There were so many professional and courteous ways he could have confirmed that I was a hotel guest: “Good morning, I don’t believe we’ve met; what room are you staying in?” or “May I have your last name?” Anything would have been preferable to the way the question was delivered. We were Club Level guests and had planned this trip as a special surprise for my husband’s birthday, so being spoken to that way left me feeling embarrassed and unwelcome. Months later, it is unfortunately still the part of the hotel experience that stands out most. Club Level itself was also a little disappointing compared with how it had been presented to us. We upgraded with the impression that it would feel almost like an all-inclusive experience, and I wouldn’t describe it that way. The food was fine, but not particularly memorable. The lounge also felt tucked away with very little connection to the beautiful surroundings of Kiawah. When you walk in, there is immediately a desk where staff are often working on computers, which made the space feel more administrative than welcoming. I think having that workspace tucked into a separate office and having someone actively greeting Club Level guests would completely change the feeling of the room. The servers were pleasant, but strangely, we weren’t offered drinks until our final day. Overall, I expected Club Level to feel a little more polished and attentive considering the additional cost. The rest of the resort was very nice. The bar staff were particularly friendly, and we enjoyed the restaurants on property. Jasmine Porch was casual and had more of a comfortable family-restaurant feel. The food was good and we enjoyed it. We celebrated my husband’s birthday at The Ocean Room. The restaurant itself is beautiful and the service was very good. The food was good as well, although I wouldn’t say it was exceptional considering the price point. It was also extremely quiet the evening we were there, which took away a little from the atmosphere, although that may simply have been the timing of our visit. What we loved most, though, was Kiawah Island itself. Rent bikes. We had such a fun time riding around and exploring the island together. Everything felt incredibly clean, peaceful and safe. We also drove farther up the island to the Ryder Cup Bar for sunset, which was absolutely beautiful and something I would highly recommend. Freshfields Village was another lovely place to wander around and visit. Despite the concerns with Club Level and particularly the concierge experience, I would return to Kiawah without hesitation. In fact, I can easily imagine coming back with more friends and family and perhaps even making it an annual destination someday when we have grandchildren. For a larger family group, I would also seriously consider renting one of the vacation homes on the island rather than staying entirely at the hotel. The Sanctuary is a beautiful resort in an exceptional location, and most of our stay was very enjoyable. I simply hope that on a future visit the level of warmth and professionalism is consistent throughout the property, because one thoughtless interaction can unfortunately have a lasting impact — especially when guests have travelled such a long way to celebrate something special. Kiawah Island, however, completely stole our hearts. We would absolutely return.

Wonderful and extremely relaxing. The hotel is beautiful and loved all the antiques.

Absolutely — here’s a polished version that keeps your genuine enthusiasm but makes it read like a standout TripAdvisor/Google review: Simply Exceptional — The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island I’ve traveled all over the world and stayed at some truly impressive hotels and resorts, but The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island is, without question, one of my favorites — and perhaps my favorite of them all. The hotel itself is absolutely stunning, but what really sets it apart is how impeccably it is run. Over our five-day stay, there wasn’t a single hiccup or misstep. Every employee we encountered was warm, genuinely kind, and respectful. Everyone seemed to have a smile on their face and was constantly looking for ways to make our stay more comfortable and enjoyable. That level of service is incredibly rare. The food was excellent throughout the resort, and the golf was world-class. The beach was beautiful, peaceful, and uncrowded, with warm, enjoyable water. It was the perfect combination of relaxation, luxury, and recreation. We booked a Club Level room, and it was absolutely worth it. The Club Lounge offers more amenities than any club-level experience I’ve ever encountered. Breakfast was plentiful and excellent, and the evening hors d’oeuvres were so substantial that you could easily skip dinner. Wine, cocktails, and other refreshments were available throughout the day. It added an entirely different level of comfort and convenience to the stay. What I loved most, though, was the character of the place. The Sanctuary manages to be elegant and luxurious while still feeling comfortable and welcoming. It has genuine Southern charm without even a hint of pretentiousness. Nothing feels stuffy or overly formal. Instead, there’s a warmth and graciousness that makes you feel like a welcomed guest rather than a customer. After five days, we left feeling like everything had simply been done right. If you’re looking for a beautiful resort with exceptional service, world-class golf, a fantastic beach, outstanding food, and genuine Southern hospitality, I can’t recommend The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island highly enough. We will absolutely be back.

We loved our time at the Sanctuary and cannot wait for our next visit!

This experience here was beyond our expectations! Our family celebrated four monumental birthdays and had the best time. Janet at the beach/pool area was phenomenal! MJ in the club lounge was amazing. Thankful for this trip and thank you to the sanctuary for making it so special!