Royal Dunes Resort, Hilton Head Island: Three-Bedroom Villas

• Villas: three bedrooms and three baths, sleeping up to 8
• In every villa: a full kitchen, private balcony and in-unit laundry
• On site: two outdoor pools, a hot tub, a sauna and a playground
• Beach: about a five-minute walk
• Club: RCI Gold Crown resort, open since 1994

Royal Dunes Resort is a group of three-bedroom, three-bath villas at 8 Wimbledon Court, in the Port Royal resort area on the north end of Hilton Head Island. Each villa sleeps up to eight, which is why it suits families and groups that would rather share one kitchen and living room than book several hotel rooms.

It is a timeshare resort, an RCI Gold Crown resort that opened in 1994, and it also takes online bookings on its own site. It sits along the road into Port Royal Village, not inside the gated Port Royal Plantation, so there is no gate to pass on the way in.

The Three-Bedroom Villas

Every villa has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, a full kitchen, a dining area, a living room with a flat-screen TV, a private balcony, and a washer and dryer inside the unit. Wi-Fi is free. A group of six adults and a baby, reviewers say, fit easily, and the parking is covered and free. A few reviewers found the furnishings dated, and one wanted a smart TV, so expect comfortable rather than new.

Pools, Hot Tub and Grounds

The resort has two outdoor pools, one of them heated, plus a children’s pool, a hot tub and a sauna. There is also a fitness room, picnic areas with grills, a playground, and shuffleboard and cornhole, with scheduled activities in season. Reviewers mention the pool toys the resort lends out for families. One guest notes the pool closes at sunset, so a night swim or hot tub is not an option.

Getting to the Beach

The resort says the beach is within a five-minute walk, and several reviewers agree, though one found it too far to walk. Another says the route is unlit at night, so plan an evening stroll with a light.

Golf and Tennis at Royal Dunes

Royal Dunes sells an Unlimited Sports Package, at $200 a week when we checked, that covers daily golf at five championship courses, tennis and pickleball. The courses it names include Port Royal, Oyster Reef, Shipyard and Palmetto Hall (Arthur Hills and Robert Cupp). Ask the resort what the package includes before you count on it, since the terms change.

Booking a Stay at Royal Dunes

Reserve on the resort’s own booking site, or call the front desk at (843) 681-9718. Owners and RCI members book through their own programs. To compare it with other places to stay, see Hilton Head resorts.

Royal Dunes Reviews

Guests like the spacious, clean villas, the pools and the short walk to the beach, and praise the friendly staff who help with luggage. Some find the villas dated. The Google rating and our summary of the reviews are at the top of this page.