Where it is
Get directionsSonesta Resort Hilton Head, on the Beach in Shipyard
A 340-room oceanfront resort inside the Shipyard gate, with two new pools, a spa, five places to eat and drink, and golf and tennis next door.
- 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.
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.
More Places to Stay in Shipyard
Spinnaker at Shipyard: two-bedroom townhomes on Shipyard’s Brigantine course, with a pool, pickleball, and bikes and greens fees when you book direct.
Hilton Head Health is an all-inclusive weight loss and wellness resort for adults in Shipyard: programs, the Sweetgrass Inn and villas, meals and spa.
Shipyard Hilton Head rentals: villas and condos inside the gate, the complexes closest to the beach, how booking works, gate passes and bike rules.
Shipyard Hilton Head guide: the 800-acre gated community near Coligny, with villas, the Sonesta, a private beach club, 27 holes of golf and the gate rules.
Hilton Head resorts and hotels in one place: oceanfront resorts, the Shipyard and Sea Pines resorts and island hotels, with addresses and booking links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island on the beach?
Yes. It is an oceanfront resort in Shipyard with its own direct access to the beach.
Where is the Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island (HHI)?
130 Shipyard Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, inside the gated Shipyard community on the south end of the island.
Does the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head charge a resort fee?
Yes, a nightly resort fee. It covers self-parking for one car, Wi-Fi, the pools, pool towels and beach access.
Is the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head pet friendly?
Yes, for dogs up to 40 pounds, two per room at most. Dogs stay in first-floor rooms, and there is a nightly pet fee.
Does the Sonesta have a kids’ club?
Yes. Sonesta Kids Crew is for children aged 5 to 12, with crafts and outdoor games.
Can you eat at the Sonesta if you are not staying there?
Yes. Seacrest Restaurant and Terrace, the resort’s main restaurant, is open to the public for breakfast and dinner.
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