Pros
- Serene, romantic setting in beautiful Carolina Lowcountry, with lagoon and river views
- Cottages start at 1,140 square feet and have fireplaces and Italian linens
- Luxe bathrooms with big walk-in showers and separate standalone tubs
- Flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and Wi-Fi
- 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Course
- Acclaimed luxury spa
- Adult-only pool with river views, and larger Canoe Club pool
- Longfield Stables, Wilson Lawn & Racquet, a modern fitness center, seasonal kids' club, and boating trips
- Delicious fare at River House Restaurant, May River Grill, Buffalos, and Canoe Club, plus 24-hour room service
- Golf carts and bicycles available for traversing property
- Impressive wildlife, including dolphins, sea turtles, and bald eagles
Cons
- No iPod docks
- Resort fee
- Village Home rental properties lack the nuances of the cottages (though they're still luxurious)
Bottom Line
This sprawling estate in Carolina Lowcountry provides a one-of-a-kind experience that uniquely blends southern history and almost otherworldly natural beauty: rivers, misty marshes, old oaks draped with wispy Spanish moss, and salty breezes. The main hotel building looks like a classic southern mansion, and the 50 Cottages and Cottage Suites are simultaneously homey and utterly luxurious, with working fireplaces, screen porches, and gorgeous bathrooms. The multi-bedroom Village Homes are also luxurious, but lack some of the nuances of the cottages. Guests can enjoy a range of recreational facilities, including golf, bicycling, tennis, croquet, kayaking, and swimming (in the two pools), and the luxury spa is highly acclaimed. It's not an overstatement to say that the Montage Palmetto Bluff is one of the most special properties in the entire country.
Amenities
- Cribs
- Fitness Center
- Internet
- Jacuzzi
- Kids Club
- Pets Allowed
- Pool
- Spa
Oyster Awards
Scene
A serene, distinctly southern luxury retreat in Carolina Lowcountry

People will often describe the Carolina Lowcountry with words such as mystical, ethereal, and hauntingly beautiful. That's because this region along the southern part of the South Carolina coast, home to wetlands, rivers, saltwater marshes, and mossy forests, is all of those things. It's a place that feels at once exotic and distinctly American, a place where time seems to have stood still; the Gullah inhabitants and language (a blend of Creole and English) still thrive, historic architecture has been preserved, and the magical natural beauty has remained relatively untouched.
Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre real estate development about 20 miles east of Hilton Head Island, and 20 miles north of Savannah, embodies some of the best of what Lowcountry has to offer. It sits along the May River, a tributary to the Atlantic Ocean, and is blissfully tranquil: Visitors will drive along a private road (blocked off by a security gate) under a canopy of trees to reach the main square of the picturesque Palmetto Bluff Village, and the development's facilities -- including the golf club, fitness club, boat house, and pools -- never feel crowded.
Montage Palmetto Bluff is the gem of this development, and offers what are among the most luxurious accommodations on the entire east coast. The property includes the main River House, which offers sweeping views and plenty of cozy common spaces -- a wide front porch, a library, and a small lobby; numerous small white cottages dotting the landscape; a chapel; and ample recreation facilities (which are shared with the residents of the village).
The River House looks like a classic southern mansion, with a two-story porch, gabled roof, and off-white wood siding, and in front of it are the ruins of an actual, historic southern mansion. The crumbling columns and brick foundations of the grand Wilson Plantation House, built around 1910 and burnt to the ground in 1929, evoke the bygone days when guests arrived to Palmetto Bluff by steamship and train for lavish parties. In fact, the whole property in many ways feels stuck in time: Guests can travel around by bicycle or even horse, the grounds are lit at night with flickering gas lamps, and the pace of life is wonderfully slow.
Location
Part of the Palmetto Bluff real estate development in Carolina Lowcountry
Montage Palmetto Bluff is located in Bluffton, South Carolina, about 20 miles west of Hilton Head Island and 20 miles north of Savannah -- but a world away. It's part of a peaceful, beautiful region along the South Carolina coast known as Carolina Lowcountry, where salty marshes meet mossy forests. The hotel is part of the Palmetto Bluff real estate development, which features a small, picturesque village, private homes, an 18-hole golf course, and numerous recreation facilities.
- 33-minute drive from Hilton Head Airport (on Hilton Head Island)
- 43-minute drive from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (and the city of Savannah)
- 30-minute water taxi ride to the beach at Daufuskie Island
- 2-hour-20-minute drive to Charleston
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Things You Should Know About Montage Palmetto Bluff
Also Known As
- The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
Room Types
- Cottage Suite
- Forest View Cottage
- Four Bedroom West Wilson Home
- Four Bedroom Wilson Deluxe Home
- Four Bedroom Wilson Village Home
- Historical Concepts Home
- Lagoon View Cottage
- River View Cottage
- Three Bedroom Boathouse Penthouse
- Three Bedroom West Wilson Home
- Three Bedroom Wilson Deluxe Home
- Three Bedroom Wilson Village Home
- Two Bedroom West Wilson Home
- Two Bedroom Wilson Village Home
Address
477 Mount Pelia Rd, Bluffton, South Carolina 29910-8343, United States
Phone
(866) 316-5262
Website
Scene
A serene, distinctly southern luxury retreat in Carolina Lowcountry



People will often describe the Carolina Lowcountry with words such as mystical, ethereal, and hauntingly beautiful. That's because this region along the southern part of the South Carolina coast, home to wetlands, rivers, saltwater marshes, and mossy forests, is all of those things. It's a place that feels at once exotic and distinctly American, a place where time seems to have stood still; the Gullah inhabitants and language (a blend of Creole and English) still thrive, historic architecture has been preserved, and the magical natural beauty has remained relatively untouched.
Palmetto Bluff, a 20,000-acre real estate development about 20 miles east of Hilton Head Island, and 20 miles north of Savannah, embodies some of the best of what Lowcountry has to offer. It sits along the May River, a tributary to the Atlantic Ocean, and is blissfully tranquil: Visitors will drive along a private road (blocked off by a security gate) under a canopy of trees to reach the main square of the picturesque Palmetto Bluff Village, and the development's facilities -- including the golf club, fitness club, boat house, and pools -- never feel crowded.
Montage Palmetto Bluff is the gem of this development, and offers what are among the most luxurious accommodations on the entire east coast. The property includes the main River House, which offers sweeping views and plenty of cozy common spaces -- a wide front porch, a library, and a small lobby; numerous small white cottages dotting the landscape; a chapel; and ample recreation facilities (which are shared with the residents of the village).
The River House looks like a classic southern mansion, with a two-story porch, gabled roof, and off-white wood siding, and in front of it are the ruins of an actual, historic southern mansion. The crumbling columns and brick foundations of the grand Wilson Plantation House, built around 1910 and burnt to the ground in 1929, evoke the bygone days when guests arrived to Palmetto Bluff by steamship and train for lavish parties. In fact, the whole property in many ways feels stuck in time: Guests can travel around by bicycle or even horse, the grounds are lit at night with flickering gas lamps, and the pace of life is wonderfully slow.
Location
Part of the Palmetto Bluff real estate development in Carolina Lowcountry
Montage Palmetto Bluff is located in Bluffton, South Carolina, about 20 miles west of Hilton Head Island and 20 miles north of Savannah -- but a world away. It's part of a peaceful, beautiful region along the South Carolina coast known as Carolina Lowcountry, where salty marshes meet mossy forests. The hotel is part of the Palmetto Bluff real estate development, which features a small, picturesque village, private homes, an 18-hole golf course, and numerous recreation facilities.
- 33-minute drive from Hilton Head Airport (on Hilton Head Island)
- 43-minute drive from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (and the city of Savannah)
- 30-minute water taxi ride to the beach at Daufuskie Island
- 2-hour-20-minute drive to Charleston
Best Rates
Amenities
-
Air Conditioner
-
Airport Transportation
-
Babysitting Services
-
Balcony / Terrace / Patio
-
Business Center
-
Cable
-
Children's Pool
-
Concierge
-
Cribs
-
Dry Cleaning
-
Fitness Center
-
Full Kitchen
-
Golf Course
-
Internet
-
Jacuzzi
-
Kids Allowed
-
Kids Club
-
Laundry
-
Meeting / Conference Rooms
-
Mini Bar (with liquor)
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Pets Allowed
-
Pool
-
Room Service
-
Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space
-
Spa
-
Supervised Kids Activities
-
Tennis Court
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.