Renovated Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island Review

Casey Clark Avatar
large blue pool with two people sitting next to palm trees at sonesta resort hilton head island
Main outdoor pool at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Photo credit: Casey Clark

As someone who loves the beach, I was over the moon when I found out that Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island underwent a multi-million dollar renovation to transform its 11-acre property into a must-visit ocean oasis. I’ve never been to Hilton Head before and this was the perfect introduction to the island. Let me just say — if you’re from a beach family, then you’ll want to plan your next vacation or girls trip to Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island for a peaceful and relaxing getaway in South Carolina.

This writer was hosted.

Pros:

  • Adults-only pool
  • Multiple on-site dining options
  • Easy beach access

Cons:

  • No microwave in room

SheBuysTravelTip: If you plan on visiting Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island, you’ll want to sign up for a free Sonesta Travel Pass to unlock exclusive rates and special benefits during your stay.

Are you ready to explore more destinations? Get inspired with our newsletter!

Rooms at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

large bed with foot bed and wooden headboard with striped rug and leaf wall paper at sonesta resort hilton head island
Interior of a suite at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Photo credit: Casey Clark

The rooms at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island are spacious, clean and modern. There are a plethora of room types, including deluxe, terrace, pool view, superior, horizon west, premier view and suites. I stayed in a pool-view room with a king bed that was super comfortable and cool to the touch.

In the room, you’ll also find the following amenities:

  • Flat screen television
  • Coffee machine
  • Hairdryer
  • Mini refrigerator
  • Free WiFi
  • In-room safe
  • Iron and ironing board

The view outside my room was spectacular, as it was nice to look at the water while I did some work. It was a bit noisy, especially during bingo in the afternoon, but I easily overlooked that since the view was so spectacular.

With the rooms, if you plan on traveling with four people, you’ll want to opt for a room type that has two beds and a sofa bed to make it more comfortable for everyone or a larger suite if that’s in your budget.

My favorite feature of the room was the bathroom — it was very spacious and the body wash smelled divine. There was also a lot of counter space, which I appreciated since I have a lot of makeup and skincare products.

Amenities at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

pool with beige lounge chairs and two white cabanas on pavement at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.
Adults-only pool in the afternoon at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Photo credit: Casey Clark

There’s no shortage of amenities at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. For starters, you’ll find two pools — one for everyone and one for adults only. It’s the perfect spot to soak in the sun and cool off while having a refreshing beverage. If you want to hop in the jacuzzi, you can do that too.

If you’re more of a beach person, then you can head over to the beach. It’s a public beach; however, there’s a direct entrance to the beach from the hotel.

Other activities on site include a craft center, turtle talk and feeding, complimentary beach yoga, poolside bingo, fireside smores, outdoor movies, bike rentals and outdoor games such as ping pong and corn hole. After enjoying the property all day, you can book a spa appointment for a facial or massage during your stay.

SheBuysTravelTip: If you’re looking to rent chairs and umbrellas, Shorebeach is the only company that can set up equipment for beachgoers, even if you’re staying on the beach.

Food at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

three fried green tomatoes on a plate with red diced bruschetta and a sauce drizzle from Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island
Fried green tomato appetizer from Seacrest Restaurant and Terrace at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. Photo credit: Casey Clark

The food at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head blew me away and I always looked forward to mealtime. It’s worth noting that the culinary scene was part of the renovation and it definitely showed in the quality of the meals on site.

Some of the restaurants and bars on site include Seacrest Restaurant and Terrace and Sweet Cane Bar and Grille, with the two newest being The Patio and Driftwood Rum Bar. I highly recommend eating at Seacrest since the menu is full of delicious seafood and other bites such as grilled mahi mahi, wild mushroom ravioli and grilled Atlantic salmon. My favorite bite from the whole trip was the fried green tomatoes that I had there.

If you’re craving something sweet, you’ll want to head over to Sea Glass Provisions for some gelato. This grab-and-go mart is the perfect spot to grab a coffee and a quick breakfast in the morning or a handheld lunch.

SheBuysTravelTip: You might see online that there’s a seafood buffet at the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island; however, that is no longer there. Instead, you can get delicious seafood at Seacrest and the other restaurants during your stay.

Things to Do Near Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

red and white striped lighthouse next to palm trees and a white building at Coligny beach
Exterior of the Harbour Town Lighthouse located at Coligny Beach in South Carolina. Photo credit: Casey Clark

If you’re looking to go shopping or sightseeing outside of the resort, then you’ll want to head over to Coligny. A trip to Hilton Head is not complete without seeing the iconic red and white Harbour Town Lighthouse located on Coligny Beach. After you’ve done that, you can head over to Coligny Square to browse the small shops to pick up a souvenir or another beach dress for your next dinner reservation. This is less than 10 minutes away from the hotel and can be accessed by car or bike, depending on your preference.

Getting to Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island

green and white mini charter bus on pavement with doors open at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.
Mini Sonesta bus outside the main entrance to the resort. Photo credit: Casey Clark

If you’re flying into Hilton Head Island Airport, then it’s about a 17-minute car ride to the hotel. While you can get a rental car, Lyft and Uber are readily accessible and can be more affordable, especially if you plan on staying on site for the majority of your visit. If you decide to drive down, parking is included in the resort fee so you don’t have to worry about paying anything additional, which is a nice perk.

Read More

Casey Clark is a writer from New York City who specializes in Disney and family travel. Casey splits her time between NYC and Orlando and goes to the Disney theme parks often. Casey has written for a handful of national publications including Parents, HuffPost, The Wall Street Journal, Brit + Co, and more.
Read full bio

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *