DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront

The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront is a south-end resort with a feature no other hotel on the Strand can match: Springmaid Pier. The resort, long known by the Springmaid name, sits at 3200 South Ocean Boulevard, and its daily resort charge includes a walking and fishing pass for the pier, with fishing-pole rental, so anglers can be on the rail at sunrise without paying separately. The same charge covers internet, water-park access, mini golf, beach towels, recreational activities and a discount on surf lessons, which makes the total easier to compare with resorts that sell those extras piecemeal. Rooms have been newly renovated, many with ocean views, and the pools include indoor and outdoor options for year-round swimming. On-site dining keeps things simple: Ocean Blue serves all-day dining with a buffet breakfast and American classics, Southern Tide Bar and Grille handles beachside food and drinks, and the Pool Bar mixes tropical cocktails. Dogs are welcome (up to two per room, no breed or weight limits) for a nightly fee, a rarity on the oceanfront, and self-parking is charged daily. The location is practical: the airport is about a mile away, The Market Common about two, and the art museum and Myrtle Beach State Park are close by, while the boardwalk is under three miles north and Broadway at the Beach about five.

Who it suits: anglers first, since the pier pass is unique; families who want included extras like mini golf and water-park access; and dog owners, who will find few oceanfront hotels this welcoming. The resort's size and range of facilities also suit groups and reunions. Travelers who want walkable nightlife should look at central Ocean Boulevard instead.

Making the most of the pier: Springmaid Pier is a long, classic fishing pier, and having it on the property means you can fish at dawn, come back for breakfast and return for the evening bite. Ask the front desk about pole rental and bait, and watch for dolphins along the outer bars. Non-anglers can simply use the pass for a morning walk above the surf.

Fees and practicalities: budget for the daily resort charge and parking when comparing prices, and for pet fees if bringing a dog. Check-in is at 4 p.m. The south-end location puts you minutes from The Market Common's restaurants and Warbird Park, the art museum on South Ocean Boulevard and Myrtle Beach State Park, which makes a car-light south-end day easy before driving north for the boardwalk and Broadway at the Beach.