The Inn & Club at Harbour Town is the most polished hotel on Hilton Head Island and the best base for anyone who wants Sea Pines and Harbour Town on the doorstep. It sits inside The Sea Pines Resort, on the grounds of Harbour Town Golf Links, the course that hosts the PGA Tour's RBC Heritage each April, and the Harbour Town Lighthouse and yacht basin are a short stroll away. Sea Pines describes it as the only Forbes Four-Star hotel on the island. It is intimate, with 60 guest rooms of about 480 square feet each, decorated in a classic, clubby style, and the signature touch is personalized butler service, which handles everything from unpacking to dinner reservations. The Fairway Suite, with two master bedrooms and a kitchenette, overlooks the ninth fairway and suits families or two couples. Amenities are designed for an easy, cosseted stay: complimentary valet parking, free transportation to resort-owned locations, the use of adult bicycles for exploring the Sea Pines pathways, a fitness center, all-day bar service, coffee, tea and fresh baked goods every day, in-room dining and Molton Brown toiletries. The Serenity Pool, an adult-oriented pool area with a heated spa, overlooks the first fairway of Harbour Town Golf Links, with seasonal poolside service. In summer, guests enjoy beach concierge service at the Sea Pines Beach Club, with transport, chairs, umbrellas and food and drink on the sand, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Resort dining is close at hand, from Links, an American Grill, overlooking the golf course, to Harbourside, the Quarterdeck and Harbour Town Bakery and Cafe on the harbor, and Coast, Oceanfront Dining at the Beach Club.
Who it suits: couples, golfers and travelers who prefer a small, service-driven hotel to a big beach resort. Golfers are the obvious fans; Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the most famous courses in the country, and the Inn is the closest place to sleep. But it works just as well for anyone who wants to walk to the lighthouse at sunset, bike the forest preserve in the morning and have someone else handle the details. Because guests receive Sea Pines access, you also avoid the daily gate fee that day visitors pay.
The trade-offs: the Inn is not on the beach. The Sea Pines Beach Club is a short ride away, and in summer the beach concierge makes the trip effortless, but outside that season you will drive or bike to the sand. Children are welcome, and the booking form treats guests 13 and over as adults, but the atmosphere, and the Serenity Pool, lean toward adults; families with young children may prefer a beachfront resort with a kids' pool. In November, the seasonal beach service is not running, but the weather is mild, the golf courses are in good shape, Harbour Town Lights begins on November 27, and rates are often gentler.
Booking tips: Sea Pines frequently runs offers on the Inn, such as discounts on multi-night stays, so check the resort's packages page. Request a golf-course view, and ask your butler to arrange restaurant reservations and tee times ahead of busy weekends. During RBC Heritage week in April, the hotel is in the thick of the tournament, which is thrilling for fans and expensive for everyone.
Why stay here
- ✓Personalized butler service
- ✓Forbes Four-Star rated
- ✓Serenity Pool over the fairway
- ✓Complimentary valet parking
- ✓Adult bicycles for guests
- ✓Seasonal beach concierge
- ✓Walk to Harbour Town
- ✓All-day bar and baked goods
Good questions
Is the Inn & Club at Harbour Town on the beach?+
No. It is beside Harbour Town Golf Links, a short walk from the lighthouse. The Sea Pines Beach Club is a short ride away, with beach concierge service in summer.
Do guests pay the Sea Pines gate fee?+
Resort guests receive Sea Pines access as part of their stay, so you avoid the daily fee that day visitors pay.
What makes it different from other Hilton Head hotels?+
Its small size, butler service and Forbes Four-Star rating, which Sea Pines describes as the only one on the island.
