Southeastern US Road Trip
Andaz Savannah
Embassy Suites Charleston Historic District
Anderson Ocean Club and Spa
Country Inn & Suites Asheville Outlet Mall
It had been several years since I last visited Myrtle Beach but I found it hadn’t changed all that much. It was still very touristy with high-rise after high-rise along Ocean Boulevard along the beach. Compared to the historical sites we’d seen in Savannah and Charleston, Myrtle Beach can be a step down culturally but we enjoyed great weather and had a lot of fun walking on the beach, playing mini-golf and just relaxing.
As mentioned in the intro to this series the primary reason for our visit was to fulfill a Hilton Vacation Club timeshare presentation in exchange for a few nights of lodging. Originally that presentation was going to be in Hawaii but after the pandemic struck I just wanted to get that obligation fulfilled as quickly as possible. So this fit in well as a stop on our road trip.
We arrived at the mustard-yellow building in the afternoon. The loading/unloading area is a half-circle ramp that leads to the back of the building. While valet parking is available, you can self-park for free in the same garage (albeit on higher floors) and it’s only a block away.
Check in was quite simple and we were given wrist bands to wear that would allow us certain privileges. The only thing we used them for was the free mini-golf across the street.
Originally thinking there would be three people on this trip we’d reserved a two-bedroom unit with two beds in the second bedroom. Even after our third party dropped out we kept the 2 BR unit because the only second bed in a 1 BR unit would be a sleeper sofa and neither of us wanted to claim that. So we did end up with a co-payment for the unit but for us it was worth it.
Two-Bedroom Partial Ocean View
Ours was a partial ocean view unit which meant that we had to look sideways from our balconies to be able to see the ocean but that was fine. We were able to get a nice ocean breeze anyway. The downside was that the master bedroom’s balcony overlooked the parking lot to the high-rise next door. Normally that’s not an issue but we arrived at the end of Bike Week 2021 and, my goodness, the revving of the bikes started early in the morning and continued until late at night.
Our unit was on the fourth floor all the way to one end. Once inside the entry hall the 2nd bedroom was on the left and the kitchen was on the right. The main bathroom, which could also be accessed via the 2nd bedroom, was next on the left, across from the dining table. The stackable washer and dryer were in a closet next to the bathroom. The master bedroom with ensuite bath was the last door on the left, across from the living room area which had a balcony. Here’s the floor plan, only our unit was the mirror image.
The second bedroom had two queen beds with a single nightstand between them.
Fortunately, like most Hilton properties these days the base of the lamp also had charging ports built into it.
Across from the beds was a closet, a chest with a TV atop it and the door to the central bathroom.
The closet did have a few hangers as well as one luggage rack.
The bathroom had a tub/shower.
And a decent-sized vanity.
It also had this strange area that might have been intended to be a linen closet or something but had no shelves or bar to hang anything. But if you were staying here long enough to unpack I think this would be a great place to store empty suitcases.
The kitchen was across from the second bedroom and featured stainless steel appliances. It was certainly more than we needed for our 3-night stay but it was nice to have a full-sized fridge where we could unpack everything in our cooler for awhile.
The dining table was just over the bar from the kitchen. It seats six though if you have two people on the sleeper sofa the unit could actually sleep 8 people.
On the wall between the central bath and the master bedroom is the closet with the stackable washer and dryer as well as the HVAC unit. It was nice to be able to take home some clean clothes.
The living room had the sleeper sofa with a couple of arm chairs as well as a unit that could be used as a coffee table or for seating.
The TV was on a cabinet across from the sofa. A DVD player was attached and movies could be “rented” for free from a machine in the lobby.
The balcony off the living room had the partial ocean view and a nice breeze.
The master bedroom features a king bed with nightstands on either side. They have charging ports built into the base of the lamps as well.
Across from the bed is the chest with a TV.
The closet was on the far side and this is where the safe was located along with the extra bedding for the sofa.
Next to the closet was a little alcove with a bench that I used for my suitcases.
And next to the alcove was the master bath. I liked the high countertop and the sink was bigger than the one we’d encountered at the Embassy Suites.
This bathroom has only a shower. It has two of the little wire baskets for toiletry items but both bathrooms suffer the same lack of a place to hang a wet washcloth.
This was one of my favorite things – the lighted makeup mirror. Not because I was wearing makeup but because it was a moveable magnifying mirror with light! Kudos for this one!
Toiletries were by Crabtree & Evelyn which I like much better than the ones by Neutrogena.
The master bedroom has its own balcony though the view is of the complex next door.
Pools
The hotel has a number of pools. Since we didn’t use them I didn’t check to see if some of them are adult-only. There’s one that’s tucked under the building.
And then a few others. Note there are hot tubs both under cover by the pool above and at either end of the outdoor pools.
There’s also a pool bar located just a few steps up from the pool deck. It had closed just a few minutes before we passed by.
In the end
The complex is just steps from the beach but has a number of pools if that’s more your style. We didn’t visit the spa so can’t comment on that. But I’d be happy to stay here again if the opportunity ever presented itself.
2B Traveling 
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