I’ve always loved the ‘southern charm’ aesthetic— colonial-style architecture, plantation homes, stark white siding with black shutters and a huge front porch, complete with two rocking chairs and a mason jar of lemonade. Montage Palmetto Bluff, inspired by their surroundings in scenic South Carolina, took this vision and kicked it up a notch (or ten) to make themselves one of the most luxurious resorts in the USA.
Sitting on 200,000 acres (Manhattan and a half) of marshland, Palmetto Bluff is a lush and beautiful area with a rapidly growing population. Only about 30 minutes from Savannah International Airport (SAV) and 15 minutes from the town of Bluffton, the Montage luxury resort chain picked the perfect area to accomplish their Southern oasis. Nestled right on the May River and surrounding a beautiful lagoon, Montage Palmetto Bluff is a dream come true.
When you pull up to the Inn, which is the main building and reception area, you see a gorgeous white mansion and a sweet little chapel. You pull up the long drive and some sweet, handsome young men are there to open your car door and collect your bags. Walk in the massive front door, through the reception area and you’ll find a bar, a restaurant, and a cozy den. They even have two large pitchers of fruit infused water to help you cool off.
We stayed in one of the guest homes with a lagoon view. The suite was just across the bridge from the Inn and only a short walk from the Village Square, which houses several other restaurants and another small chapel. Our suite had a comfy king bed, an ensuite bathroom with two vanities, a separate toilet room, a large shower, and a giant soaker tub. The sitting room had a nice couch and chair, fireplace, television, mini-bar, and another bathroom with a shower. Off the living area is a screened in porch with a couch, coffee table, and dining table. My favourite part (aside from the AC) was the porch, because you could sit out with a coffee and a good book to enjoy the warmth and the view without worrying about bugs.
The food on the resort was spectacular. We ordered room service for breakfast almost every morning, which was amazing to enjoy on the porch. Be sure to try the yogurt and granola with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, you will not regret it. Jessamine was probably my favorite restaurant, and while Buffalo’s was also good, definitely opt for the steak over the pasta. Check out everything I ate on this trip here.
Montage Palmetto Bluff has so many fun activities to offer and is such a large resort you could never do it all in just four short days, which sadly was only as long as we were there. However, I was able to do a few recreational activities which I thoroughly enjoyed. First, you HAVE to rent a bike. They are only $15 USD per day (to a max of $45 USD) and are the perfect way to explore Palmetto Bluff’s vast grounds. Plus they have a little basket and make a perfect Instagram picture! Secondly, go to the campfires. They have three giant fire pits in front of the Riverhouse restaurant near the Village Square. They have the cutest little kiosk with free gourmet marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate squares for you to make the perfect s’mores. Thirdly, take advantage of the complimentary Mercedes service (yes, you heard that right!) which allows you to borrow a shiny Mercedes and drive anywhere for up to 4 hours. We took ours to Bluffton for the morning— read about that adventure here. Boat tours are offered from the dock that sail the May River to areas such as Hilton Head. I also recommend you go kayaking in the lagoon. I didn’t do this for fear of alligators, but I should have gotten over my worries and just went for it. Don’t forget the treehouse!
I do not have a single complaint about Montage Palmetto Bluff except for wishing I had more time there. I can’t speak to the price tag because I was lucky enough to be there with a family member on a business conference who was staying there for free. From my understanding, it’s not inexpensive— but everyone deserves to indulge at least once in their lives, so I fully recommend this place if you have some luxurious travel plans in your future.
Have you been to South Carolina? Do you plan on heading to that area soon? Stayed at any other Montage resorts? We would love to hear from you! Leave us a comment or reach out on social media, @twowildtides.
xoxo,
char
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