Sonesta Resort Hilton Head, on the Beach in Shipyard

Rooms

340 rooms and suites

Setting

oceanfront, inside Shipyard

Pools

an adults-focused pool and a heated zero-entry family pool

Dining

five restaurants, bars and cafés

Pets

dogs up to 40 pounds

Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island is the oceanfront hotel at 130 Shipyard Drive, inside the gated Shipyard community on the south end of the island. It has 340 rooms and suites on about 11 acres by the beach, and Shipyard Golf Club and the Van der Meer tennis center are its neighbours.

It is Shipyard’s only hotel: the community’s other resorts are timeshares and a wellness retreat. A $30 million renovation redid the rooms and added a new pool complex.

What guests say

Guests pick it for what is on the grounds: several pools, a choice of places to eat and drink, and the beach a short walk away. Staff come up again and again, often by name, for going out of their way to help. The complaint that recurs is about money: some guests found charges on their bill they had not expected, so ask what the nightly resort fee covers and what a room change or view upgrade costs before you commit.

Rooms at Sonesta Resort Hilton Head

Rooms come in several categories, from deluxe and superior rooms to terrace, pool-view, premier-view and horizon rooms and suites, plus accessible rooms. Each has a balcony or a patio, and the views are of the gardens, the pools or the ocean, so name the view you want when you book. Rooms have a mini-fridge and a coffee maker.

Pools, the Beach and the Spa

The renovation gave the resort two pools with different jobs: a relaxation pool aimed at adults, and a heated zero-entry lagoon pool with a children’s area. There is an adults-only hot tub, and pool towels are handed out poolside. The beach is right there: the resort has its own direct access to the sand.

The Spa at Sonesta, on the second floor, does massages, facials, body treatments, nails and waxing. The fitness center is open around the clock and has Peloton bikes.

Restaurants and Bars at the Sonesta

The main restaurant is Seacrest Restaurant and Terrace, which looks over the lagoons and serves a breakfast buffet and a Lowcountry dinner. It is open to people who are not staying at the resort.

• The Patio Bar & Deck: the casual bar, with pub food, TVs and rotating draft beer.

• Driftwood Rum Bar: an evening cocktail bar off the lobby, built around rum and local spirits.

• Sweet Cane Bar and Grille: the poolside bar, with frozen drinks and casual food when the weather allows.

• Sea Glass Provisions: the lobby café, for coffee, pastries, sandwiches, pizza and gelato.

Families and Pets

Sonesta Kids Crew is the resort’s kids’ club, for ages 5 to 12, with crafts and outdoor games, and in season there is a kids’ night out with dinner, swimming and a movie. The resort takes up to two dogs of up to 40 pounds each, in first-floor rooms, for a nightly pet fee.

Golf, Tennis and Shipyard Drive

The resort runs guests over to Shipyard Golf Club, whose 27 holes wind through the community around it. The Van der Meer tennis center is next door, and our guide to tennis on Hilton Head covers it and the island’s other courts. Bikes can be rented at the resort, and Shipyard’s paths lead to the Brickyard Pub at the golf club.

Shipyard Drive is the main road through the community. Shipyard is gated, so check the Shipyard guide for how the gates work.

Resort Fee and Booking

The resort charges a nightly resort fee on top of the room rate. It covers self-parking for one car, Wi-Fi, the pools, pool towels and beach access. Book on the resort’s own site or call (843) 842-2400, and ask what the fee comes to for your dates.