Hilton Head Island Guide

Important Information

Enjoying Hilton Head Island: It's only natural!

We know you will be delighted with our beautiful island and friendly people. Hilton Head Island is a special place that was developed on environmental principles designed to keep the area ecologically healthy and beautiful. The island was built around mixed-use resort residential neighborhoods and/or "regimes" that have regulations and policies.

The following is designed to help familiarize you with the unique differences of Hilton Head Island to maintain the health and beauty of the island and maximize everyone's vacation enjoyment!

Vehicles/Bicycles

If you have a camper, trailer, boat, motorcycle or other recreational motorized vehicle, they may not be allowed to be parked at your vacation rental. Please call ahead regarding restrictions and off-premise parking options.

Bicycles are welcome, and we have miles of beautiful paved paths to enjoy. However, Sea Pines Resort does not allow access by bicycle even if you are willing to pay the $5.00 gate fee. You can, however, drive in, pay the gate fee, park your vehicle at the Trolley stop and take the complimentary trolley into Harbour Town, Sea Pines Center and the Sea Pines Beach Club. Bicycles can be rented at the Sea Pines Center located near Harbourtown.

Other resort residential resorts may allow you to enter by bike or auto if you are visiting a commercial area like a tennis club or a resort’s restaurant.

We do recommend that you rent a car if you are flying in. Although we have miles of biking and walking trails that are perfect for daytime exploring, these are not lit for travel after dark (see below).

Don't Be Caught in the Dark

Hilton Head Island has been mindfully developed to align with nature and keeping the nighttime actually dark has kept light pollution from skies along our beaches. Unlike other coastal resorts, on Hilton Head Island you can enjoy meteor showers from the beach during the summer, see the Milky Way with the naked eye on a clear night and enjoy other natural phenomenon of the night skies.

Expect minimum lighting for safety around parking and shopping areas; no neon signs; not a lot of street lighting; no lit street signage except on the Cross Island Expressway; no bike path lights. And, from May through August – we draw our curtains and shades if we live along the ocean so as not to disorient the tiny Loggerhead hatchlings that are trying to find their way to the sea.

So be mindful, be grateful and be prepared to navigate in our neighborhoods!

Native Flora and Fauna

Hilton Head Island is a semi-tropical location with a plethora of preserved natural habitats that makes our location so picturesque. All plants, trees, sand dunes and wildlife are protected and there are FINES levied for damage, harm, interference or removal of such. Leave no trace of your passing. You can  help by practicing the following:

• Please do not litter our highways, beaches, parks or bicycle paths.
• Please do not remove live sand dollars, starfish or other live sea critters from the beach.
• Please do not tramp across the sand dunes, pick the sea oats or other dune side shrubs.
• May through September, keep your window shades draws if you are staying oceanfront in order to help the Loggerhead hatchlings return to the ocean. Lights disorient them. Do not disturb the nests!
• Never feed a wild animal as this will make them see us as a food source and they become a lot more aggressive about making our acquaintance. Think alligators.

We gratefully share our island with some of the seaside, marsh and forest creatures: mice, spiders, lizards, squirrels, deer, egrets, herons, sea birds, alligators, raccoons, and possums among others. Most of these animals stay where they belong, but sometimes a mouse or lizard, a few spiders or Palmetto bugs come indoors, or our racoons enjoy the remains of someone’s barbecue dinner in the trash.

We do our best to keep them out with regularly scheduled monthly extermination or trap them when they come in, but, remember, this is the result of being in or around natural habitats. There is no extra charge for these critters and no discount or refund will be given if you decide that their presence is unacceptable.

Vacation Rentals:

Do your homework before you leave home.

Checking In, Lock Box Codes and Other Ways to Start Your Vacation Right

Read your Letter of Agreement carefully before you sign and return it. Call us before you leave, particularly if you plan to arrive after hours. We will give you directions and information “live and in person” to make your experience the best it can be!

• Check-in is 5 p.m. or later; check-out is by 10 a.m. at our main office, 20 Executive Park Road.
• Please call ahead to (888) 433-4762, during normal business hours, for the code to access your after-hours check-in packet.
• Our main office is located at 20  Executive Park Road.
• The Village at Palmetto Dunes guests check-in on-site at the resort located at #10 Robert Trent Jones Lane. On-site office phone number is (843) 842-4649.
• After Hours Check-in: If you are checking in after normal business hours, your check-in package will be in a drop box is located on the outside of each office. Come see us the next morning for registration.

Accommodations/Housekeeping

• Vacation rentals are different than hotels or motels! Our vacation rentals are privately owned homes and villas located in various areas of the island. Although all properties are equipped to AAA Three Diamond standards, the interior decor will reflect the taste of the owners, and some homes will offer more amenities than others. They have everything to make you comfortable, are more spacious and cost effective than a hotel room, allow you to experience a neighborhood setting and have flexibility with meals. Please treat your rental as if the owner was a friend of yours. Please note the following:
• We supply a towel set and bed linens for the property's maximum number of occupants. Bring extra towels if you require more, and well as your own beach towels as they are not supplied.
• All units either come with a washer/dryer or you have access to laundry facilities on site. We can supply you with fresh towels during your stay for an additional fee.  Additional housekeeping service is available for a fee should you desire it daily or mid-stay. Please arrange in advance or at check-in.
• We supply starter soap, kitchen detergent, one dishwasher pack, one roll of paper towels, dishtowel, one scrubby, two rolls of toilet paper and a small box of tissue per bathroom, soap for each bath and sink, trash bag for each garbage can, and a small box of laundry detergent only. Plan to purchase more or other supplies.
• Sleeping accommodations vary per property, however, no more than the stated maximum number (capacity) of people (over 2 years old) shall sleep in any house. This is strictly enforced.
• Rental items such as cribs, rollaway beds and their linens are not supplied.
• Outdoor pools and hot tubs may be heated at an extra charge. Ask your Vacation Counselor if this applies to your property.

Pets

Most homes and villas do not allow pets and you may be asked to leave the premises with forfeiture of all rental moneys paid if this rule is violated. A mandatory $200.00 pet clean-up fee will be levied if a pet is found.

However, there are a few owners that do accept them but require a mandatory pet deposit. Please inquire. Pets must be closely supervised and leashed at all times to abide with Town codes. You are required to clean up after your pet, so be sure to bring a scooper and bag.

Reservations/Cancellation Policy

Because we have a symbiotic relationship with owners (No house, no rental. No rental, no check. No check, no house.), our reservation and cancellation policy protects all involved. Minimum night stays vary by season and inventory availability. Generally speaking, 7-night stays are offered Saturday to Saturday or Sunday to Sunday and are standard Memorial Day through Labor Day. Shorter stays are possible depending upon availability. Please inquire.

Reservations are taken no more than one year in advance. A 50% deposit  is required for confirmation, refundable with 45-day notice, less a $100 administrative fee. The balance is due within 30 days of arrival or the reservation is automatically cancelled and your entire deposit is forfeited. Credit cards, debit cards and personal checks are all accepted for payment but personal checks will not be accepted at check-in.

Refunds

We want you to be happy, so our Vacation Counselors will work long and hard with you to choose the correct property for your needs. Often we have more photos than are displayed on the web and we have plenty of information. Just ask.

• No refunds given for reasons of location, décor, housekeeping or repair issues that may arise. The latter two will be attended to immediately upon notification of management, or guests may be reassigned due to problematic maintenance issues (see your Letter of Agreement).
• No refund on shortened stays.
• No refunds for illness or other personal emergencies. We offer Vacation Insurance. Ask about it.
• No refunds for weather unless we have a mandatory evacuation.

Suggested Items to Bring to Your Vacation Rental

• Groceries and condiments, if you plan to cook
• Paper and plastic products napkins, aluminum foil, charcoal and lighter fluid for grill (ask if there is a gas grill)
• Personal toiletries, i.e. shaving gear, toothpaste & brush, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc. (Each property is equipped with a starter supply of  soap and paper products)
• Hair dryer
• First aid kit – it’s just good to have!
• Beach and pool towels; beach chairs and umbrellas, or you can rent at many beachfront locations
• A desire to relax and enjoy the genteel pace of this southern sea island

Directions to Check-In Office

Via Business 278: After crossing the bridges onto the Island, continue on Business 278 (Wm. Hilton Parkway) approximately 12 miles to the Sea Pines traffic circle. Enter the traffic circle from the left lane, take the third right off the circle and exit onto Pope Avenue. Continue on Pope Avenue (in the left lane) approximately 4/10 of a mile and turn at the third left onto  Executive Park Road (St. Luke’s will be on your right). Our office is the first building on the left.

Via Cross Island Expressway: After you cross the bridges, follow Business 278 (Wm. Hilton Parkway) until you reach the Cross Island Expressway. Bear left to enter the parkway and travel approximately 4 miles until you reach the toll plaza ($1.00). After the Plaza, continue straight for approximately 2 miles to the Sea Pines Circle. Take the second right off the circle onto Pope Avenue. Continue 4/10 of a mile and turn at the third left onto Executive Park Road (St. Luke’s will be on your right). Our office is the first building on the left.

Directions to The Village at Palmetto Dunes Check-in Office

To get to The Village at Palmetto Dunes after crossing the bridge, stay right and take Business 278 (William Hilton Parkway) approximately 8.5 miles to Palmetto Dunes. Take a left into Palmetto Dunes go approximately 7/10 of a mile. Make a left at Alexander’s Seafood Restaurant (on your right) onto Trent Jones Lane. Follow Trent Jones Lane past tennis courts (on your right), make the second right, The Village office will be on the left. If you are checking in after office hours there is a lock box located to the left of the office door.

Have a safe journey here and

enjoy a rejuvenating time on Hilton Head!