Holiday Inn Express and Suites Bluffton at Hilton Head Area

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites Bluffton at Hilton Head Area is the value base for travelers who want Bluffton's river town and Hilton Head's beaches without island prices. It sits at 35 Bluffton Road on the mainland, and the hotel describes itself as minutes from Old Town Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, which puts Calhoun Street's galleries, the Church of the Cross and the Bluffton Oyster Company a short drive one way and the bridges to the island the other. The hotel says it is newly renovated, with updated public spaces and guest rooms featuring new mattresses and 50-inch TVs. Room types include standard rooms, suites and one-bedroom suites, which give families or longer-stay guests a separate living area. The free Express Start breakfast is served daily, from 6:30am to 9:30am on weekdays and 7am to 10am on weekends, and parking is free, including space for oversized vehicles such as trucks, vans and boat trailers, which is useful for anglers and golfers with gear. There is one outdoor pool. Dogs are accepted, up to two per stay, with a nightly fee, a deposit and a weight limit, so read the policy before booking. It is a practical, no-frills choice for families on a budget, road-trippers breaking a journey on the way to Savannah or Beaufort, anglers and golfers, and anyone visiting friends in Bluffton. Staying on the mainland means you will drive to the beach, but Bluffton has its own excellent restaurants and the calmer pace of a real small town, and rates are usually well below comparable hotels on the island.

Why stay in Bluffton: the town has grown into one of the most appealing places in the Lowcountry, with a historic old town on the May River, a strong dining scene, and easy access to both Hilton Head and Savannah. Staying here puts you closer to Savannah, Palmetto Bluff, the Port Royal Sound Maritime Center and Beaufort than an island hotel would, which suits travelers who plan several day trips. Old Town Bluffton's Thursday farmers market, galleries and oyster season, roughly mid-September to mid-May, are all easy evenings out.

The trade-offs: the beach is a drive of roughly twenty to thirty minutes or more, depending on traffic and which beach you choose, and summer traffic on US 278 over the bridges can be heavy at peak times. There is no restaurant or bar on site, and the pool is a standard hotel pool. If your trip is mostly about lying on the beach, an island hotel near Coligny may be worth the extra cost.

Tips: ask for a suite if you have children or are staying several nights, request a room away from the road, and confirm current pet fees and rules. Rates are lowest from autumn through winter, including November, and the hotel is a smart fallback when the island is fully booked during summer weeks and RBC Heritage week.