Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort

The Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort is the other big hotel at Kingston Resorts, the self-contained beachfront community on the northern end of Myrtle Beach, and it suits travelers who want the resort's facilities with a calmer atmosphere than the family-focused Embassy Suites. It stands at 10000 Beach Club Drive, an oceanfront hotel whose rooms have balconies with ocean views, and its own pool deck is built around a sand-bottom pool with private cabanas, a softer, more relaxed setting than the slides and splash zones down the boardwalk. When the children do want water rides, the Currents Waterpark at the sister Embassy Suites is a short walk or shuttle ride across the resort boardwalk. Dining on site includes Amalfi, a cafe with an endless breakfast buffet and beach views, Black Drum, the bar pouring local Carolina beers, and the Wet Whistle. Spa33 offers treatments and couples rooms, and 78Fitness adds Peloton bikes, golf simulators and sand volleyball. The hotel is also one of the area's major event venues, with more than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including the oceanfront Dunes Ballroom on its top level, so it hosts weddings and conferences through the year. Tanger Outlets and Barefoot Landing are about ten minutes away, and the North Kings Highway theaters are close, which makes it a useful base for the holiday-show season. Check-in is at 4 p.m.

Hilton or Embassy Suites: the two hotels share Kingston's beach, shuttle, fitness club, spa and restaurants, but they suit different trips. The Embassy Suites gives families two-room suites, a free breakfast and the waterparks on the doorstep. The Hilton offers classic hotel rooms with balconies, a quieter pool scene and a more grown-up mood, which works better for couples, golf groups and conference guests, while still letting families reach the waterparks when they want them.

Room strategy: ask for a high floor on the ocean side for the best balcony views up and down the coast. Compare room-only rates with breakfast packages, since the Amalfi buffet is a convenient start to a beach day. In cooler months, the 78Fitness indoor facilities and Spa33 carry the leisure side when the outdoor pools are less inviting.

Location: Kingston sits between central Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, 15 to 20 minutes from the boardwalk and Broadway at the Beach and about ten minutes from Barefoot Landing and the Tanger Outlets. It is convenient for The Carolina Opry and Pirates Voyage on North Kings Highway, and the wide beach in front is excellent for long walks in the off-season.