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Tag: South Carolina

Hotel Review: Montage Palmetto Bluff

Hotel Review

Montage Palmetto Bluff

A Luxury Resort IN SOUTH CAROLINA
MARIA DIEGO

Montage Palmetto Bluff is located 30 minutes outside of Savannah, Georgia in Bluffton, South Carolina. It is a private, exclusive resort destination that is the perfect vacation for the whole family in the most beautiful, picturesque setting. 

Perfect For: Families | Multigenerational Travel | Romantic Getaways | Weddings

Palmetto Bluff South Carolina

32.2038,-80.8840

Montage Palmetto Bluff

Location: Palmetto Bluff, in Bluffton, South Carolina, 18 miles north of Savannah, Georgia.

Getting ThereMontage Palmetto Bluffs closest airport is Savannah, Georgia, but you can also fly into Hilton Head, which are about a 35 minute drive to the property (airport codes HHH or HXD). 

Tree at Montage Palmetto Bluff

Vibe: Montage Palmetto Bluff is a picturesque resort set within a sprawling 20,000-acre development in Bluffton, South Carolina. The community is made up of tree-lined rows of 2- story brick houses with white picket fences and gas-lit lamp posts. It’s a step back in time to another era where you can fully disconnect and enjoy the natural surroundings of the South.

History: The area of Palmetto Bluff is steeped in a rich history, with the original mansion that is now owned by Montage Palmetto Bluff belonging to the Wilson family in the 1920s. Nobody knows how, but the original mansion burned down in 1926, and there’s a record that Mrs. Wilson ran into the burning building to salvage her shoe collection, tossing the shoes out of the second-story window out to the grassy lawn below. The Wilson family pet cemetery can also still be found on property. The area of Palmetto Bluff used to be a hunting and fishing retreat up until the 1950s. Pat Conroy is a beloved writer of the area, and his memoir, The Water is Wide, tells the story of the area, if you’re interested in the history.

Palmetto Bluff Vibe

Accomodations: 200 resort accommodations with more private residences being added

  • La Samanna Rooms

  • Rooms at Montage Palmetto Bluff

Lunch at Montage Palmetto Bluff

Food & Beverage: Montage Palmetto Bluff currently has 7 restaurants that are quite spread out around the property, so it is helpful to reserve based on the activities you will be doing for that day. I also recommend a golf cart rental, to easily get around the area without having to rely on the transportation provided by the resort. The Canoe Club is a more formal option for dinner and one that I highly recommend booking well in advance. Octagon is the restaurant in the main inn, where you will likely eat most of your breakfast meals, particularly if they come included with your stay as they do when you book with Diego Travel..

Wellness: Spa Montage provides a full service salon and spa that caters to the many wedding groups they have and offers a private pool, exclusive to guests of the spa. They also have a steam room and sauna located in the ladies’ and men’s locker rooms that you can enjoy before your relaxing treatments that use Valmont and Tata Harper skin care products.

Spa at Montage Palmetto Bluff

Clay Shooting Lessons At Montage Palmetto Bluff

Things to Do at Palmetto Bluff: Montage Palmetto Bluff offers tennis, golf, biking, and boating, among other activities for grown ups and kids. Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club is located about 10-15 minutes from property is offers clay shooting and air rifle for kids. Families can also enjoy the several tree houses around property, the Paintbox kids club program, and the Montage Merit Badges that kids can receive as they complete each of the unique programs on property. The resort has 3 different pools that can be used exclusively by Montage Palmetto Bluff guests, thought Bluffton itself has others that can be used by homeowners.

What  Sets  It  Apart: Montage Palmetto Bluff is your ideal destination for your group event such a wedding, corporate retreat or incentive trip. It really is its own township and offers versatile accommodations that would be a good fit for any group. Ever since Justin Bieber was married on property, it’s been in high-demand for destination weddings, for its picturesque and fairytale setting.

Church at Montage Palmetto Bluff
Palmetto Bluff Horses

How Much Does Montage Palmetto Bluff Cost? How much does it cost? Nightly rates start around $495 in low season for a forest view King room in the main inn and go upwards of $4,000 for multi-bedroom residences.

Diego Travel Loves: The ease and convenience of having everything right there. You really don’t need to leave the Bluff to explore outside; though we recommend chartering a boat (contact us to reserve yours!) to explore the local islands that can only be accessed by boat.

Montage Palmetto Bluff Boat Charters
Diego Travel Extras at Montage Palmetto Bluff

Extras You’ll Get with Diego Travel:

  • $100+ resort credit
  • Daily breakfast credit
  • Upgrade at time of booking, subject to availability
  • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

    Montage Palmetto Bluff Insider Tips:

    You can do a guided day to Daufuskie Island and learn about the rich local history and culture, while enjoying lunch at a delicious local spot, or you can arrange an oyster roast on nearby Paige Island. When you book your stay with Diego Travel, we can include these experiences to make your stay truly unique and unforgettable.

    Insider Tips at Montage Palmetto Bluff

    Summary of Our Stay at HMontage Palmetto Bluff:

    I decided to plan my birthday weekend to Montage Palmetto Bluff at the end of August since it’s a destination that I book often, but had never experienced for myself. The flight schedule was perfect, so we were able to enjoy a long weekend without the kids missing any school. The immense live oak trees on the drive into the Bluff are breathtaking, and the rows of gas-lit iron lamp posts signal that you’re near arrival as you pull up to the recreation of the historical Wilson mansion. Everyone was friendly, and while we waited briefly to check-in, the kids ran back and forth on the expansive green lawn to get their pent-up energy out from the short flight.

    Montage Palmetto Bluff 2

    The first night we had dinner at Buffalo’s, aptly named for the buffalos that use to roam the property prior to it becoming a development. Service was friendly and the food looked delicious, but our plates were hit or miss in terms of taste. The atmosphere was lively, and you definitely need a dining reservation for every meal when visiting Montage Palmetto Bluff, especially because guests are welcome from both residences and off the Bluff. I recommend booking dinners at least a month out for best availability.

    Montage Palmetto Bluff Sunset

    Our creek view cottage was spacious – more space than we’re accustomed to when traveling with our 3 kids – since we were upgraded at time of booking, which is what you’ll also receive when booking your stay with Diego Travel. Because we didn’t have time to pick up our golf cart the previous night, we waited quite a bit of time for a ride to the tennis courts on our first morning, which made us a bit late for the kids’ tennis lessons. However, the resort was extremely apologetic and comped our tennis lessons. Had we known the lay of the land, we also could have walked, but I do recommend having the golf cart set up from arrival, as it’s much easier to get around property with the kids. If you’re traveling without kids, you can probably just have the bike rentals, which would be a fun way to get from each point.

    Tennis Lessons at Montage Palmetto Bluff

    After tennis, we enjoyed breakfast at Octagon’s, and then had time to visit the pool by the Canoe Club in the afternoon. We saw alligators in both the lagoon and over by the Canoe Club, so be careful with letting your little ones get too close!

    I wanted to experience as much as possible, so I signed up for activities in advance from shooting, to a boat charter, to the spa, and enjoyed all of them as my clients would. My main takeaway is that it takes a very long time to get from one point to another as everything is much more spread out than I had envisioned, so be sure to allow enough time between meals and activities. And also remember that you’re in the South, so the pace is slow!

    Aerial view of Montage Palmetto Bluff

    Our second night we had dinner at Cole’s, which is in the Moreland area where the evening kids club is located and the bowling alley. While the kids enjoyed that, we had dinner with our 4- year-old since kids have to be 5 to enjoy the kids club. Our Southern dinner was delicious, particularly my husband’s fried chicken plate. We highly recommend! At the end of the night, we caught the shuttle back to the main inn, where we met our older kids at the s’mores station where they were on their 2nd or 3rd gluten-free s’mores. They did not want to turn in!

    S’mores Station

    Montage Palmetto Bluff was a perfect long weekend to have some fun activities with the kids, with something for everyone. My clients who belong to country clubs or tennis and golf clubs love it because it offers world-class facilities to play all of these sports. While I don’t personally play tennis or golf, I appreciated the great lessons that my kids had, but we particularly loved the day out on the boat that we enjoyed with Captain Gio. He was a fantastic guide and shared stories from the area that we would never have experienced had we not done the boat charter. I would be thrilled to set up my clients with Gio to do some of these unique experiences to see the area from a different perspective.

    Palmetto Bluff Waterways

    When you plan your trip, reach out to us and we will take care of all the details while getting you all the added amenities, whether you’re planning a visit for your honeymoon or for your company retreat. We can assist with it all.

    Let’s Get Planning!

    Palmetto Bluff South Carolina


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    The Difference Between Montage Palmetto Bluff and The Cloister at Sea Island

    The Difference Between Montage Palmetto Bluff and The Cloister at Sea Island

    MARIA DIEGO

    A Diego Travel agency and Virtuoso client favorite domestic destination has always been both Montage Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina and The Cloister and The Lodge of Sea Island, Georgia – two luxury resorts that parallel in both style, size, and type of clientele that visit both resorts.  If you are undecided between which of these Virtuoso vacation properties might be right for you, we are here to point you in the right direction.  In addition to helping our clients navigate the differences between these two luxury resorts, as a proud affiliate of Departure Lounge, we also offer our clients many benefits in booking with Diego Travel at both hotels.

    • Resort Credit added to your stay
    • Daily complimentary breakfast (for 2 people per room)
    • Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
    • Priority room upgrade when available
    • Personalized trip planning to make the most out of your vacation (when utilizing our trip planning service)
    • Custom Diego Travel welcome box with goodies for new clients who opt to utilize our trip planning service

    Both Montage Palmetto Bluff and Sea Island are the perfect destinations for a family vacation, a multi-generational vacation that includes grandparents, parents, kids, aunts, uncles, etc, a girlfriends spa getaway, a domestic honeymoon, or even to host your large corporate group or event.  So how do you know which property is right for you?  Well, that is what we are here for, to break down the two.

    Getting There

    Montage Palmetto Bluffs closest airport is Savannah, Georgia, but you can also fly into Hilton Head, which are about a 35 minute drive to the property (airport codes HHH or HXD).  To get to Sea Island, Georgia, you would fly into either Jacksonville, Florida or Savannah, Georgia, and will be about 45-55 minutes from Sea Island.  If you plan to fly private, there are FBOs very close to either property, BQK for Sea Island, which will put you at about a 5-10 minute drive.

    How to Get to Montage Palmetto Bluff and Sea Island

    • 32.208,-80.8843

      Montage Palmetto Bluff

    • 31.2002,-81.3332

      Sea Island, Georgia

      Sea Island, Georgia

    Why you should plan a trip to:

    Montage Palmetto Bluff Waterways

    Montage Palmetto Bluff

    • There are 200 guest accommodations/rooms at Montage Palmetto Bluff, along with residences that are part of the resorts rental program (they are privately owned, but fully serviced).
    • Rooms range from a Forest View King without Balcony (which you will never be in if you book your stay with Diego Travel, as you get upgrade at time of booking) in the Main Inn to 5-bedroom residences.
    • Montage Palmetto Bluff offers tennis, golf, biking, and boating, among other activities.
    • There are 8 dining experiences and 3 different pools.
    • Activities include cycling, horseback riding, hiking, boating, water and paddle sports, fly-fishing, bird-watching, sporting clays, carriage rides and archery.

    Sunset The Lodge at Sea Island

    Sea Island

    • Sea Island also has 200 guest room accommodations, plus many vacation home rentals.
    • Rooms range from River View King rooms in the Cloister to 4-5 Bedroom residences at The Lodge.  Privately-owned residences can be rented through the Sea Island Cottage Rental program, which you can find more information on my blog here.
    • Sea Island has something for everyone, with exclusive adults-only areas if you want to experience a romantic honeymoon, to accommodations for multi-generational families
    • The 65,000-square-foot Forbes Five Star Spa at Sea Island is far superior to the spa experience at Montage Palmetto Bluff, so if this is important to you, then opt for Sea Island.
    • Activities include diverse activities like tennis and squash, destination picnics, fitness classes, five miles of private beach, bike riding, 3 world-class golf courses and home to the PGA Tours RSM Classic, sporting clays, and sport shooting at the nearby Broadfield property, fishing, boating, water and paddle sports, along with many culinary experiences.

    What Is The Highlight at:

    Palmetto Bluff vs Sea Island

    Palmetto Bluff

    Montage Palmetto Bluff is situated along a winding wetlands in the picturesque town of Palmetto Bluff, a one-stop-shop for convenience for the whole family.  You dont need to leave the community throughout your entire stay, as they offer a variety of restaurants, biking, horseback riding, shooting, golfing, fishing and boating.  Though if you want to, youre a short drive to Savannah and Hilton Head.  The best part of our time at Montage Palmetto Bluff was getting out on the water by boat, and exploring the different islands.

    Palmetto Bluff vs Sea Island

    Sea Island

    Sea Island is an oceanfront front private island, unlike Palmetto Bluff which is located along a delta. To access Sea Island you must be a guest or home owner, which makes it a slightly more exclusive experience. Sea Island has a beautiful long beach and offers a broad range of activities including biking, golfing, shooting, paddleboarding, horseback riding, fishing and boating. In addition to several on property restaurants, there are many dining and shopping options at nearby St Simons island.

    Who Should Visit?

    Montage Palmetto Bluff Pool

    Palmetto Bluff

    Palmetto Bluff is a great destination for those wanting to immerse themselves in southern charm and enjoy winding waterways that frame this picturesque destination. Outdoor enthusiast can explore miles of bike and walking trails, go horseback riding, play tennis or explore miles of waterways by boat.

     Palmetto Bluff is ideal for large, traditional family gatherings, or a romantic escape for couples who are just looking to disconnect to reconnect.  We saw a bit of everything from couples, to bachelorette/girlfriends gatherings, to families with young children and grandparents.  Because they have accommodations for everyone, it makes it very easy.

    Sea Island

    Sea Island

    Sea Island offers miles of uncrowded beaches at the Beach Club, secluded hunting at Broadfield, world class golfing at the Lodge and old world charm and elegance at the Cloister.

    While youll find everyone from families with small children, to couples celebrating their anniversary, to newlyweds on their honeymoon, Sea Island has an accommodation that will work best for you.  If you choose to celebrate your honeymoon here, youll be joining 40,000 other couples who have done so (including my grandparents!).  I would never place honeymooners in the Beach Club, just like I would not likely place a family with small children in the rooms at the Lodge.  Its best to consult with me in order to select the right fit for you.

    Need Help Deciding Which One Is Right For You?

    We are always here to walk our clients through questions, itineraries, and custom trip planning. If you really cant decide which property youll enjoy more, then we say why not enjoy both?! We have planned trips for families to enjoy one property for 3-4 nights and then drive to the other property for 3-4 nights to experience the best of both worlds. You can easily spend a few days at each, but keep in mind that during peak seasons, youll want to book well in advance for getting your top choice of accommodations at both Sea Island and Montage Palmetto Bluff. You can schedule a call to answer any questions and start planning your next escape to Montage Palmetto Bluff or Sea Island. We cant wait to make your stay extra special!


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