Immediately following my March wedding to Dan, the two of us packed up the car and drove three hours from Jacksonville to our coastal home for the weekend, the Sonesta Resort at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. In order to afford the wedding of our dreams, we’d made the tough call to delay a big honeymoon abroad and just take a little mini-moon to decompress post-wedding, and the Sonesta Resort HHI turned out to be just the right place to do so!
Why Hilton Head?
I’ll admit that going into the weekend, we had no real idea of what there was to do in Hilton Head. Our initial mini-moon planning was based around romantic city breaks in lovely historic settings. Places like Savannah, Charleston and New Orleans, where we could just unwind and enjoy a few romantic strolls, some tasty local fare, and of course, some impossibly chic boutique hotel digs. We spotted Hilton Head Island on the map when looking for hotels in the vicinity of Savannah, Georgia, and the more we thought about it, the more we loved the idea of just relaxing on the beach and eating fresh seafood all weekend long. When a good deal for the Sonesta Resort HHI appeared, we decided to book it first and figure out the details later. After all, we could always cancel our booking if we changed our minds.
First Impressions
Getting to Hilton Head Island was a bit of an adventure in itself! Though it’s just twenty or so miles from Savannah as the crow flies, the roundabout route over rivers and around marshland actually runs for around 40 miles and takes about an hour to drive on a good day. As Dan and I sat in accident-ridden highway traffic on our way to the resort, we decided that once we arrived in Hilton Head Island, we’d just settle in and relax for a couple of days. No big excursions, no nights out in nearby Savannah, just us and the resort and the Atlantic at our feet.
It was raining when we finally turned onto Shipyard Drive and drove a winding two mile stretch past biking trails, golf greens, pools, tennis clubs, resorts and vacation homes, arriving at last at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. The building exterior did not look like anything special from the parking lot, but we were eager to get out of the car and see what we were in for. As soon as we stepped into the sleek, modern lobby, we breathed a sigh of relief. This place was gorgeous, with a light filled atrium, well-heeled staff, and a beautiful lounge with comfortable seating and a polished wooden bar extending beyond the lobby. It immediately reminded us of all the beautiful Disney resorts we visited so often in Florida, and we smiled as we checked in for our honeymoon stay. Upon check in, we were given two room keys, a parking permit, and a phone number to call or text if we needed anything during our stay. Then we hopped in the elevator and up to our room, located on the second floor.
The Rooms
The Sonesta Resort HHI has a variety of rooms and suites available, from standard rooms to suites overlooking the ocean. We’d booked the Standard Guest Room, which was the least expensive room option, for two nights and crossed our fingers for the best, so we were relieved to open the door and find a spacious, beautifully renovated room decorated in muted tones with bright pops of reddish orange. If a room with a view is at all important to you, make sure to book a garden or ocean view room. Our room was beautiful and had a nice little balcony, but since our view was of the parking lot, we didn’t actually use the balcony as much as I’d imagined we would. Still, the room itself was lovely, with soft white bed sheets, elegant mirrors and frames, and plenty of room to spread out.
The bright, modern bathroom was stocked with heavenly mango-coconut scented toiletries. I normally bring my own hair products and avoid the ones provided by the hotel, but this particular brand left my hair looking and smelling incredible. Wish I could have taken some home with me! And let’s not forget my favorite in-room amenity: bathrobes for lounging around in the room! There was only one bathrobe, so I made a mental note to respond to my welcome text and ask for a second bathrobe at some point during our stay.
At the moment, however, all we wanted to do was just relax and enjoy each other’s company. Exhausted from the long week leading up to the wedding and hungry after our three hour drive to South Carolina, we just vegged in the room and dug into the “bridal basket” the staff at the Club Continental had put together for us the day before. The basket contained a little bit of everything from our wedding dinner menu, and two enormous pieces of wedding cake for a sweet finish. What a thoughtful little touch to extend the wedding day fun right into the honeymoon! The resort had tons of amenities that we would enjoy later in our trip, but for the time being, all we wanted to do was sleep away any wedding-related stress and wake up refreshed.
Amenities
Dining
The Sonesta Resort HHI offers three bars and two full-service restaurants. Bayley’s Bar and Terrace, located just past the main lobby, is a stylish lounge and bar with plenty of comfortable seating, frequent live music, and an open layout that invites passersby to stop and have a drink. Heyward’s is the resort’s signature fine dining restaurant, while the Seacrest Terrace and Patio next door offers more casual meals in a fun indoor-outdoor setting. There is also a poolside bar serving up quick eats and tropical drinks, as well as a seasonal beach bar with full menu, which was closed when we visited.
Spa
The Sonesta also has an award-winning spa. The Arum Spa offers massages, body treatments, facials, and beauty services like waxing and manicures. A couple’s massage just wasn’t in the budget this time around, but I would love to return for a full-on spa day if I ever get the chance!
Recreation
Hilton Head Island is a haven for nature lovers and those looking for a little bit of relaxation. The primary draw, of course, is immediate beach access.
Having the beach so close means it’s easy to pop back to the resort for a nap, some sunscreen, or a drink at the lagoon-style pool, and it makes seeing the sunrise or sunset a total breeze! For those craving even more variety, there is also a gorgeous lagoon style pool with lounge chairs and cabanas, as well as a hot tub and fitness center just steps away. For those traveling with children, be sure to inquire about daily kid’s activities offered near the pool! Other amenities include golf, bicycle rentals, miles of walking trails, a business center, and in-room dining.
Our Experience
After a long, much-needed nap in our room, Dan and I went downstairs to explore the resort and grab dinner. This was the perfect spot for us to just show up without any real plan, and still have a great time. From the award-winning Arum Spa to the bevy of dining and entertainment options, there was no real need for us to leave the resort at all. If we wanted to get out and explore, there was a helpful guide in our room pointing out some favorite local parks, fine dining options, and activities like boating or fishing, as well as a dedicated concierge to help arrange any plans away from the resort. We decided to take it easy on our first night and have dinner onsite at Heyward’s Restaurant.
Cozied up at a table in the back, Dan and I ordered a couple of cocktails and a seared tuna starter, and leaned back to just take it all in. The dining room had a lovely intimate vibe, with comfortable chairs, small tables of two or four, and dim lighting to help set the mood for a relaxed yet upscale dinner experience. The menu featured plenty of local seafood and “low country” flavor, which luckily for me included simple pleasures like shrimp and grits in tasso ham gravy. If I ever had to make a list of favorite things I’ve discovered living in Florida, shrimp and grits would definitely be way up there! Dan had the seared airline chicken in a sumptuous white wine sauce, and we ordered a second round of drinks to toast to the beginning of our lives together.
After dinner, we braved the cold to go out and see my favorite part of the resort: its beachfront views! It was a little past ten in the evening and windy as hell, much colder in late March than we had anticipated, but the moon glowing over the Atlantic coastline was nothing short of magical. Resolving to go buy jackets the following day, we retreated back to the resort and warmed up by one of the sleek glass fire pits until one of the groundskeepers finally came to shut it off for the night.
The next morning, Dan and I headed downstairs to have breakfast at Heyward’s, and were seated next door at the Seacrest Terrace and Patio. I loved the bright pops of orange against beachy rattan and slate gray finishes, and was even more excited when our delicious breakfasts arrived. Dan ordered a traditional eggs benedict, toast and coffee, while I had a mocha latte and almond french toast. Trés Instagrammable, non?
After breakfast we hopped in the car of search of jackets that would withstand the windy conditions at the beach. Somehow, in the rush to get all of our wedding decor and honeymoon essentials packed and get on the road, we’d forgotten the most basic beach essentials of all: swimsuits and sandals. So, when our search for jackets brought us to the outlet mall, we also grabbed some sandals for splashing around the coast. I sent a quick text to the concierge while we were out, requesting a second bathrobe for our room, which was already delivered by the time by returned to the resort to change. Armed with the right footwear and some lightweight but effective North Face jackets, we went straight to the beach for an afternoon of sunshine, shoreline, and jellyfish spotting. I don’t consider myself a beach person, in that I try to steer clear of teeny bikinis and days spent baking in the sun, but I loved just roaming up the shoreline taking silly photos and trying to identify some of the sea creatures washed ashore.
Post-beach, we popped over to the poolside Sweet Cane Bar and Grille for a pre-dinner pick me up. I’d been on a seafood kick all weekend, and was really hoping the menu would include peel and eat shrimp or some fresh oysters. Sadly, it was just another poolside bar menu of tacos, burgers and chicken fingers, but the delicious cocktails more than made up for the lack of fresh local seafood. I especially loved the banana colada. The longer we sat and enjoyed the scene poolside, the more I understood the appeal of going on a cruise and having this kind of spread available all day every day. We found a nice lounge area in the sun and relaxed for a while, then went upstairs to get cleaned up and figure out dinner plans.
A quick web search back in the hotel room showed tons of award-winning seafood restaurants spread across the island, but since it was Easter weekend, all the top-rated places were booked up. We didn’t feel like leaving our little paradise and dealing with traffic anyway, so we enjoyed dinner at Heyward’s for the second evening in a row. This time, Dan ordered a steak and I had salmon. I’d initially ordered the flounder, which arrived missing a key ingredient. It wasn’t worth getting upset over, and I think the kitchen compensated by sending out two generous pieces of salmon when my dinner finally appeared, so we shifted right back into happy newlywed mode without a hitch. For dessert, we ordered my favorite treat in the universe: crème brûlée. Yum! Then it was off to the fire pits and the beach once more to soak up our last evening in South Carolina.
The day of our departure happened to fall on Easter Sunday, which meant that the resort filled with extra people and that Heyward’s closed early to set up for their Easter brunch. Despite the fact that we normally like to sleep in on the weekend, Dan and I decided to wake up early and head out to the beach to see the sunrise over the Atlantic Coast. Totally worth it.
After snapping a few photos and lingering to watch the sky change from purple to orange, we went back to the room and hit snooze for a couple hours, then showered, donned our waffle robes, and ordered room service. French toast and coffee in bed? Total honeymoon vibes, and a great way to bring our weekend to a close.
Final Impressions
Our weekend away was just what we needed to just relax and enjoy our first days as a married couple. We loved how beautiful the resort was and how it seemed to offer everything we needed, whether we wanted to stay in or go out. I especially liked having the ability to text instead of call if we needed something, and not feel like a nuisance for doing so. The food at the resort was wonderful, the beach was perfection, and Dan and I were able to truly relax and have a good time for the duration of our stay. While there were a couple of minor things that went wrong or were inconvenient, the staff at the Sonesta Resort HHI quickly took care to correct the problem or offer an alternative, for example offering room service in lieu of the dining room breakfast on our last morning. We were sad to leave when the time came, but I’m already planning a second trip back to experience it all over – and this time, I won’t forget my swimsuit!
Book Your Stay Today!
Ready to book your own weekend away? Rooms start at $179 per night, plus resort and parking fees. Click here to see current room rates and menus and to book your stay.
Note: I recently got a new phone and am super bummed to see that some of my favorite photos from our honeymoon did not make it through the transfer. I pride myself on almost exclusively using my own photos on this site, but in this case I supplemented with images directly from the Sonesta HHI. I did not partner with Sonesta to produce this post, nor was I paid to share my thoughts on our stay. We had an amazing experience at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, and despite the lack of original images, I wanted to share and encourage others to check out this lovely little spot on the Atlantic Coast.
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