Frequent Miler's latest team challenge, Million Mile Madness, is almost done! The last two weeks Greg, Nick, and Stephen competed to earn 1 Million SAS miles by flying 15 airlines. But who completed the challenge with the most Speed, Affordability, and Style?
When visiting Vacation Rentals at Wild Dunes Resort, you never know what you’re gonna get (other than fantastic beaches). Wild Dunes is a sprawling beach-side property on Isle of Palms, South Carolina, not far from Charleston. Wild Dunes is made up of the Wild Dunes Resort along with many privately owned condos, villas, and homes which are grouped into named clusters: Beach Club Villas, Shipwatch Condos, Summer House Condos, etc. Some of these clusters are sets of medium-rise condos and others are groups of villas or houses. I believe that each cluster has its own shared pool.
Most individual owners rent out their units when they’re not there. And many, but not all, choose Wild Dunes Property Management to manage their rental. This mix of independently owned properties then becomes the entity known as Vacation Rentals at Wild Dunes Resort. In other words “Wild Dunes Resort” and “Vacation Rentals at Wild Dunes Resort” are two different things. It is the Vacation Rentals version that I’m reviewing here.
Vacation Rentals at Wild Dunes Resort. Bottom Line Review.
Bottom Line: The combination of fantastic beaches, excellent service, and home-like comfort features (washer & dryer, full kitchen, etc.) make this a great choice. I think that this is an especially awesome choice during the pandemic since it is easy to avoid interpersonal contact while enjoying the beach and views. Note that if you don’t need access to resort features, you are likely to find much better prices by booking through Airbnb or other similar services.
My wife and I have now had the opportunity to stay twice at Vacation Rentals at Wild Dunes Resort. Both stays were “workcations” where we spent most of our time each day working, but also frequently took breaks to walk the beach. For our first stay, in January 2021, we booked 6 nights in a one bedroom oceanfront unit. We were upgraded to a two bedroom oceanfront unit at Shipwatch Condos. On our second stay, in February 2021, we booked 6 nights in a two bedroom oceanfront unit (only because 1 bedroom ocean front units weren’t available) and we were upgraded to a 3 bedroom oceanfront villa at Beach Club Villas. I’m assuming that having top tier Hyatt Globalist status was key to earning both upgrades, but it’s also possible that they were upgrading everyone. January and February are very much the off-season here and so I’m sure there were many empty units.
Like a box of chocolates
As I stated above, each unit is different and is separately furnished, presumably by the unit-owner. As a result, anything I have to say about the comfort of the beds, the quality of the wifi, and so on is pretty much irrelevant to you, the reader, unless you happen to find yourself in exactly the same unit. On our first stay, the condo had everything we needed, but the wifi wasn’t great. On the second stay, the wifi was great, but we really could have used a tea kettle and a proper desk. We found the beds to be comfortable on both stays, and each unit had been cleaned very well.
Hotel Benefits
One welcome surprise was the extent to which Wild Dunes employees treat vacation rental guests the same as Wild Dunes resort guests. For example, bathrooms were stocked with standard amenities (soap, shampoo, cream), and if we needed anything, they were quick to bring whatever we wanted to our unit (salt & pepper, coffee filters, robes). Additionally, because of my Hyatt Globalist status, they gave us free breakfast for two every morning. This came in the form of two $25 breakfast certificates daily.
Ocean Front Tip
Ocean front tip: If an ocean view is important to you, then look for an ocean front unit rather than an ocean view unit. Ocean front ensures that the windows of your unit face the ocean. Ocean view could mean (for example) that you can see the ocean when leaning over your balcony and looking to the side. Note: This is a general tip for just about any oceanside hotel or rental — it is not meant to be specific to Wild Dunes.
Miscellaneous Info
- Points Price: N/A. You can book paid stays through Hyatt’s website, but not point stays.
- Cash Price: Varies. On both visits we took advantage of a “stay 2 nights, 3rd night free” promotion, which was why we stayed 6 nights each time. The first stay, where we booked a 1-bedroom oceanfront unit (but were upgraded to a 2 bedroom unit), we paid $156 per night before taxes. For the second stay, no 1-bedroom oceanfront units were available, so we booked a 2 bedroom unit for $179 before taxes. On that stay, we were upgraded to a 3 bedroom villa. In retrospect, the advantages of the villa were well worth the extra $23 per night, by a long shot. I expect that prices will be far higher in the warmer months.
- On-Site Dining: Very good (but pricey). We picked up breakfast every day from the Wild Dunes hotel restaurant (Coastal Provisions). It was very good. We also ordered take-away for dinner once and that was very good too. There are other dining options at the resort, but this one had the best selection and was the only one open every day during the winter.
- Service: Excellent. Each time before arriving I received a text with our unit location and a code to get inside. Inside was a packet of information, free breakfast vouchers, and two parking passes. Whenever we needed anything more, we simply texted back to the same number and someone quickly came with whatever we needed.
- Housekeeping: According to the documentation found in each unit, if you book a 7 night stay beginning Saturday or Sunday, you will get a single housekeeping visit mid-week. On shorter or longer stays you’re on your own. Since we booked two 6-night stays, we didn’t have housekeeping come at all during our stays. And since we were working from the unit, that was actually preferred.
- Resort fee: 16% resort fee (waived for Hyatt Globalists) includes parking and intra-resort transportation. That’s steep!
- Parking: Parking for two cars is included with resort fee
- Hyatt Elite benefits: As a top-tier Globalist Elite, on each visit we were upgraded to a bigger unit than we had reserved. Additionally, we were given free breakfast for two every day. Also, resort fees were waived after I asked.
- Hyatt points and elite nights: Stays booked through Hyatt are eligible for earning Hyatt points and elite nights (towards elite status). Three weeks after my first stay, though, I’m still waiting for credit to appear. My Hyatt Concierge filled out a missing stay request on my behalf. I’m sure it will come through eventually, but patience is required!
- COVID Notes: I loved the completely contact-free check-in process. I received an email telling me how to access my unit, went inside, and texted them back to say that I was safely checked-in. That’s it! Inside public buildings it appeared that mask wearing was strictly enforced, but I didn’t spend much time anywhere but my unit or the beach and so I had limited experience with that.
Photos and captions follow…
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Does anyone know if globalists get 4 pm check out at the vacation rentals?
No, globalists are not guaranteed 4pm checkout at resorts at all (and Vacation Rentals is considered a resort). I asked for late checkout on my last stay and they only gave me until 11am (usual is 10). I then asked for noon and they granted that immediately. I didn’t need later than that so I don’t know what would have happened if I had asked for later.
Lol well this is a new fee! Found on my WD bill: Beach Nourishment Fee – $2/day. Should we have to feed it if we don’t step on it?!
LOL. You can’t expect the beach to feed itself!
Or the 16% resort fee! I pd a seaparate $40+/day but high season can easily be double that. Glad I’m now Globalist.
I would definitely check out the resort map (on the WD website) once your “cluster” is assigned by text. Some of them, like Lagoon Villas & The Village, are nowhere near the ocean. You would otherwise feel more like you were in any condo-dense area & not especially an island. The map also clearly indicates which of the beach-side condos are closest to the ocean.
Most of the Vacation Rental condos are decades old (some as much as 50 yrs!), but the interiors seem mostly updated. And most are large.
The new Sweetgrass Inn opens March 26, just to the right of the existing Boardwalk Inn hotel. Another 30,000 sq ft including 150 addtl rooms along with a Spa & thankfully 3 new dining options for the resort. The rooftop grill/bar should be great for sunset viewing.
Since we are not quite Globalist, for breakfast we drove a little over a mile outside the resort to the first shopping center. There are several restaurants along with a nice Harris Teeter grocery store, coffee shop, liquor store, etc. Really convenient & definitely expanded our options outside the resort proper.
Biz center inside Boardwalk Inn is a great place for free intermet & use of 8 desktop computers along with free printing. I liked it was a large center rather than the typical cubbyhole and nobody hassles you. The Work From Hyatt concept was prominently displayed. I preferred working from this center than the condo where my connection was intermittent.
A short drive to Sullivans Island is enjoyable to view yet more pricey real estate & luxury cars + Fort Moultrie, Interesting & large Ntl Park.
I’ll return but probably for the new hotel with all the Globalist status trimmings. Thanks Greg, good find, & tied in great with Wentworth Mansion in Charleston, only a 25-minute drive away.
Hey Greg, Thanks for the inspiration. Was the rooftop balcony you took a nap at similar to the one in picture 25 at https://abnb.me/ak8O33hzQdb
Not really. That place looks a lot nicer than the unit I was in. The balcony I had wasn’t really rooftop but rather a balcony off the upstairs bedroom
Hey Greg,
I live here and my spouse used to work at Wild Dunes – excellent write up. I would have settled for merely getting ‘Isle of Palms’ correct, but thank you for properly identifying the difference between the resort and the community, as well as correctly noting individual ownership of the condos.
I’ve been a long-time reader and I appreciate that you continue to pay attention to the details.
Good piece and I hope you enjoyed your stay!
Thanks!
We stayed last week at Wild Dunes in a 1 bedroom oceanview. I am an Explorist but did not receive any upgrade. We were happy with the oceanview as you could see the ocean very clearly from the bed, living room and screened in patio. I have filed a missing credit report as my nights have not posted yet. Hoping they post sooner rather than later as that will push me into Globalist status. We loved walking the beach several times a day. Nice area.
I just went back into my Hyatt account and the 6 nights just posted. Waiting now for the 6 bonus nights to post.
My points from my original stay finally posted 3 weeks later. For my second stay, points posted 24 hours after check out.
Thanks, Greg, & just in time as we check in this weekend.
I booked a 2-br Ocean View & am being upgraded to an Ocean Front in Seascape with Explorist status (3rd nt free for $711 ttl). They sent me a link in advance to the actual condo we’ll be staying – looks pretty & is 1,300 sq ft.
I found the photos really helpful since each condo is individually owned & furnished/decorated, I could ask for a reassignment in advance. This stay gets me to Globalist – thanks for the help in getting me there enjoyably!
Forgot to mention, too, that when I checked-in on the Hyatt app I could’ve “upgraded” to a 3-br Ocean View for only $5/extra/nt. I opted to stick with the free upgrade they’d already given to a 2-br Ocean Front though (as you suggested).
Greg, did you drive or fly? Curious as to how far you went (no pun intended) to remain contactless.
We drove. We stopped overnight (or longer) in NC in both directions on both trips (our family has a vacation home in western NC)
I think something messed up on your rss feed, it no longer provides the full title of your article. Just wanted to let you guys know. Thanks.
Thank you! What title do you see for this post? I see the full title in my feed and double checked it in the feed XML itself:
We are headed back there again for the last few days of February to get more double elite nights, but we are staying in the Boardwalk Inn. I ended up getting a special rate through Hyatt about a week ago of 30% off and if you stay 3 nights you get 100.00 resort credit. So I booked a king room for 100.00 a night! It was only a 72hour sale. My husband is a newly minted globalist now so we will get free breakfast and no resort fees and more than likely a free upgrade. It is a great place and I’m looking forward to going back. Also data on my points and elite nights posting from my last stay there in December was it took about a week, but we stayed in the resort village not the vacation rentals.
Great deal! One caution: they’re doing a lot of very loud maintenance around the Boardwalk Inn. I’d recommend asking them to put you as far from the noise as possible (hopefully that would mean a Village condo on the water)
Thanks for the heads up. I can’t wait to try out the new hotel they are building. It should be opened by the end of March.