The Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is magical! With a lush and enchanting garden landscape opening up to the Atlantic Ocean, a zero entry lagoon swimming pool, four fabulous restaurants, a full-service spa, beautifully designed guest rooms with stunning views and a heaping dose of Southern hospitality, there isn’t much one could want for when staying at the Sonesta Hilton Head except a few more days to stay there.
Sonesta Hilton Head Island
I had never been to Hilton Head Island before, so it was interesting that much of it is made up of gated communities, known as plantations, and the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head is the crowning jewel of the Shipyard Plantation located on the island’s south side.
It’s easy to see why the Sonesta was chosen out of all Hilton Head resorts to be the backdrop for a rose ceremony on ABC’s The Bachelorette. The resort and grounds are simply stunning from the moment you turn onto the plantation drive.
I love a hotel with an abundance of natural light, so I was thrilled to walk into such a bright and airy lobby space. The decor is fresh and modern and the floor-to-ceiling hanging mobile with sea glass, crystals and driftwood is a showstopper.
Our room (we stayed as complimentary guests of the resort) was just as light and airy as the lobby, the bathroom was fresh and up-to-date and the view overlooking the pool area was too good to be true!
How fabulous is this zero-gravity pool? The pool deck area is huge so there are plenty of chairs and umbrellas. Also, towels are provided so you don’t need to bring your own. If you’re a cabana person, there are some of those in the area and snacks and drinks can be ordered at the Sweet Cane pool bar.
There’s also a shaded pool you can enter directly from the resort; the fun doesn’t need to stop when it’s raining!
Upon arriving, I realized I’d forgotten to pack my flip flops, but the Sonesta has an amazing gift shop – Pearls – and it saved the day.
We couldn’t wait to explore the lush, verdant gardens surrounding the resort. There are lots of cozy places to tuck up and enjoy the view, some conversation or a cocktail.
For the ultimate in relaxation, park yourself in a hammock for a while. There’s room for two!
We let ourselves wander the many winding pathways when strolling the grounds, and I must have taken hundreds of photos. It’s absolutely gorgeous at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island!
We really enjoyed seeing the water birds and wildlife throughout the property, and ‘Turtle Beach’ quickly became one of our favorite hangout spots. It’s a turtles-only beach for their protection, but guests are welcome to watch them from the shore or from one of the floating docks.
Another guest perk is the chance to see the daily turtle feedings at mid-day – a favorite activity for families.
After visiting the turtles, we spotted a sign leading to the beach so we headed off in that direction.
The ocean is just steps from the lagoon and garden area and I couldn’t wait to dip my toesies in the surf.
The Sonesta Resort has bikes available for rent and we saw them all over the island throughout the weekend. It’s a wonderful activity for couples and families to enjoy together and a great way to explore the beach and the resort.
Having worked up an appetite, we walked up to Sandbar at Marker 72, a covered beach deck bar and restaurant. Tables overlook both the ocean and the lagoon and there is daily live entertainment in the summer.
The food, the hospitality and the entertainment were top notch, and the early evening view was spectacular.
The next morning, I visited the Arum Spa for a full body massage and it was fabulous! I also appreciated the fact I was able to change in and out of my clothes right in the treatment room, rather than in an open locker room environment.
Next, my boyfriend and I stopped by the Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar, available on weekends. The server pours your desired drink and then it’s up to you how you want to frou-frou it! There’s a whole bar of veggies, citrus and fruits to choose from.
We spent the afternoon at the annual Hilton Head Wine and Food Festival at Sea Pines Resort, home to the Harbour Town Lighthouse.
My favorite part of the festival was watching the cooking demonstrations (and tasting the results), but the wine sampling wasn’t far behind.
Tip: Wear bug repellant – the no-see-’ems were out in full force!
And then we returned to the Sonesta Hilton Head and enjoyed dinner at Heyward’s. My boyfriend ordered a ribeye steak and I ordered quinoa and roasted veggies. Everything was incredible.
Unfortunately, the next morning it was time to leave the island and head back to reality, but not before we enjoyed a hearty breakfast bowl send-off at Heyward’s. Delicious!
Although we didn’t eat there, Bayley’s Bar and Terrace was always busy and when I peeked inside before they opened, I could see why. What a lovely ambiance!
We were so relaxed after our Sonesta Hilton Head getaway and couldn’t have loved our stay more. It felt like we had our own private hideaway on the island – so heavenly!
When choosing which of the Hilton Head resorts to stay at, you won’t go wrong if you pick the Sonesta Hilton Head. It’s the ultimate dream resort!
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Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island
Website
130 Shipyard Drive
Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
Also in South Carolina — the charming town of Beaufort — don’t miss it!
Comments & Reviews
We love Hilton Head! My daughter and her husband were just there a month ago. I’ll have to check out the Sonesta the next time we visit.
Sure looks like all the people who go and stay at the island totally enjoy themselves. Looks like a beautiful place!
Wow this does look like a dream! I would love to head there right about now. I could use some relaxation and beautiful sights. This past Winter was hard to get through for me and I usually do better than everyone else but I struggled. I would love to start this beautiful season off with a fun trip.
Looking at your photos and reading through your post made me want to pack my bags and head over to the Sonesta Hilton. The place offers so much to see and do, you don’t need to go far to enjoy a really good vacation.
Sonesta looks so inviting! Such a lovely place to kick back and relax. I’m glad you had a wonderful stay. You definitely have me itching to book a vacay there now!
Looks like a wonderful spot for family. I’d love to visit there, looks so relaxing place.
This place looks amazing! Truly a wonderful place for the whole family. My family would love this place!
That looks like a dream resort indeed. And the food looks amazing. I would love to go there in the summer with my boys.
What an absolutely gorgeous and stunning place to visit. I am a little jealous….it looks so relaxing.
This brings back so many memories of my family and I going to Hilton Head at least twice a year. I miss those days.
Hilton Head is a beautiful place to visit! The resort has so many nice amenities and looks like a wonderful place to stay!
This hotel looks like an amazing destination for families! I have not been to Hilton Head Island in way too long!