Hilton Head Luxury Resorts
Six places that earn the word luxury: a Forbes-rated inn, a Four Diamond oceanfront resort and the island’s big spa resorts.
The island resorts that earn the word
We use the word for properties with a published luxury rating or a full-service resort with a spa, several pools and a beachfront setting. Each card says which.
Sea Pines’ boutique hotel at Harbour Town, and the only Forbes Four-Star hotel on the island, with balcony rooms over the marina or Calibogue Sound and a private beach club.
An AAA Four Diamond oceanfront resort in Port Royal with a spa and three outdoor pools.
A 340-room AAA Four Diamond resort on 11 beachfront acres in Shipyard, with a spa, two pools and a large renovation behind it.
The oceanfront full-service resort in Palmetto Dunes: direct beach access, three pools, a spa and three golf courses close by. No luxury rating is listed here; it is on the list for the setting and the amenities.
Hilton’s full-service resort and spa directly on the Atlantic beach. Listed for the location and spa, not for a published luxury rating.
Just off the island
One luxury resort sits on the mainland side, in Bluffton, about a half-hour drive from the island’s beaches.
The Forbes Five-Star resort inside Palmetto Bluff on the May River, with Spa Montage, three pools and River House. It is not on Hilton Head Island.
How we chose
Hilton Head has no Forbes Five-Star resort on the island itself. The top published rating here is Forbes Four-Star, held by The Inn & Club at Harbour Town, and AAA Four Diamond, held by the Westin and Sonesta according to the island tourism board’s listings. Montage Palmetto Bluff, on the mainland in Bluffton, holds Forbes Five-Star.
The Omni and Hilton Beachfront are on the list because they are oceanfront full-service resorts with spas, not because of a published luxury rating. If an award matters to you, check the resort’s own site for the current year.
For a villa or townhome with more space, see the full resorts list, or browse vacation rentals for private homes.
More places to stay
Every Hilton Head resort in one place: oceanfront resorts, Marriott and Palmera villas, Shipyard stays, Harbour Town and inns, with booking links.
Hotels and resorts with their own frontage on the Hilton Head beach, from Coligny to Port Royal, with the ones a few blocks back left off.
Hilton Head vacation rentals: beach houses, condos and villas by beach area and complex, who manages them, dog-friendly homes, and how renting works.
Hilton Head has no Caribbean-style all-inclusive resort. One wellness resort includes meals, and these packages and stays come closest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best luxury resort in Hilton Head?
For a published luxury rating on the island, The Inn & Club at Harbour Town is the only Forbes Four-Star hotel, and the Westin and Sonesta hold AAA Four Diamond. For an oceanfront resort with a spa and pools, the Omni and Hilton Beachfront are the other names on this list.
Are there five-star hotels in Hilton Head?
Not on the island. The highest Forbes rating on Hilton Head Island is four stars, at The Inn & Club at Harbour Town. Montage Palmetto Bluff, in Bluffton, is Forbes Five-Star. Ratings change, so confirm on Forbes Travel Guide before you book.
Which luxury resorts are right on the beach?
The Westin, Omni, Hilton Beachfront and Sonesta are oceanfront. The Inn & Club at Harbour Town is on Calibogue Sound and uses a private beach club for the ocean. See the oceanfront list.
Which luxury hotels have a spa?
The Westin, Sonesta, Omni and Hilton Beachfront all have a spa on site, and Montage Palmetto Bluff has Spa Montage.
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