Isle of Palms is the perfect place to bring the whole family for a relaxing beach getaway, but like any vacation, there's a lot that goes into the planning stages. If this is your first time bringing your family to the Island, these tips will be a sure-fire way to have the best family vacation yet!
Find the Right Place to Stay!
Different families have different needs when it comes to finding a place to stay. If you have a smaller family, it might make more sense to rent a condo that has a community pool, so you don't have to pay for more space you won't end up using. For families that are bringing their pets, or larger families, a home with eother private or community amenities will be more fitting.
For those looking for a condo, we have several to choose from!
VIEW ALL CONDO COMMUNITIES HERE!
For those looking for private home rentals, we have a lot to choose from in this category as well!
VIEW ALL PRIVATE HOME RENTALS HERE!
While you can browse yourself and book online, we also have a friendly team of Vacation Planners that works in our office's call center 7 days a week, and they can help you find the best rental suited for you and your needs!
Arrange Your Rentals Ahead of Time!
Figuring out what you need to rent, what you should have brought from home and forgot, and where you can go buy last minute essentials can make your stay stressful--especially when you wait until you arrive on the Island. Luckily, many of these factors can be planned ahead of time, with our Preferred Vendors!
- Save time and energy of lugging your beach chairs and umbrellas by having them set up for you with IOP Beach Chair Co.! These items can be added to your Island Realty reservation through our Front Desk team/filling out an order request form.
- If you're travelling with children (infant-toddler,) you'll want to check out Charleston Baby's Away! They offer crib, high chair, and stroller rentals, plus anything else you could think of that you might need but don't want to travel with! For families of all ages, check out their sister company, Beach and Games To Go! They offer games to keep at the vacation rental like ping pong and corn hole, but also games to take with you to the beach like horeshoe and bocce ball.
Plan Your Itinerary (Loosely!)
For activities like going to the SC Aquarium, going on a carriage tour of Downtown Charleston, or doing water sports activities like parasailing or even an eco tour, don't chance it by waiting to book these the day of! During the Summer, scheduled activities like tours and water sports can sell out, especially on peak weeks like the 4th of July.
While we always recommend keeping room in your schedule for flexibility, it's important to schedule the activities you know you'll want to do, so you can plan your day accordingly. Going into Downtown Charleston can mean waiting in traffic (depending on timing,) and you don't want to miss your booking or dinner plans because of it!
If You Can, Make a Reservation!
Going off of the same note, if there's a restaurant that the family definitely wants to go to, see if you can make a reservation! Nothing's worse than waiting an hour plus some for a table when you have hangry kids in your group. Popular restaurants around here like Acme Lowcountry Kitchen, The Boathouse, and the Obstinate Daughter will be booked weeks in advance, so don't wait until the week before you leave to start thinking about those dinner plans!
Bonus Idea! If you're not really up for bringing the whole family out to a restaurant, try catering instead! Lowcountry Boil Company brings the taste of Charleston straight to your vacation rental, and even has options for those with dietary restrictions, and the non-seafood lovers in your group.
Most Importantly--Have Fun!
The point of vacation is to relax and enjoy quality time with family, so don't get too caught up in planning and keeping a schedule that you stress yourself out in the process! Our Guest Services team knows the Charleston area and the barrier islands well, and can help you out with the logistics if you're not sure where to start.
When you are here staying with us, be sure to share your memories on social meda and tag us @IslandRealty! We love to see how our guests are enjoying their vacation, and love to share these memories with the rest of our guests as well!
800.707.6421