How To Plan the Perfect Vacation

is the perfect place for a relaxing beach getaway. 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, read over these tips from Charleston locals to ensure that you have the best family vacation yet!

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 than you need. Families that are bringing their pets will want to search our pet-friendly rentals, while larger families would fit well in a large beachfront house. 

For those looking for a condo, we have several to choose from! 

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 book online, we also have a team of Vacation Planners who work in our call center 7 days a week and can help you find the rental best suited for you and your needs!

Figuring out what you need to rent, what you forgot at home, and where you can buy last-minute essentials can make your stay stressful. Luckily, many of these factors can be taken care of ahead of time with our Preferred Vendors!

• Save time and energy by having your beach chairs and umbrellas set up for you from the moment you arrive. IOP Beach Chair Co. is a local company who works closely with Island Realty to have all of your beach essentials ready to go when you arrive! These items can be added to your Island Realty reservation through our Front Desk team or by filling out an order request form.
• If you're traveling with young children, you'll want to check out Charleston Baby's Away! They offer crib, high chair, and stroller rentals; plus hundreds of other necessities (and luxuries) that you may 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 your vacation rental like ping pong and corn hole, as well as games to take to the beach like horseshoes and bocce.

For activities like going to the SC Aquarium, going on a carriage tour of Downtown Charleston, or boat charters; don't wait until the day of to reserve your spot! During the Summer, scheduled activities like tours and water sports can sell out, especially during holidays 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 that you can plan the rest of your day accordingly. Going into Downtown Charleston can mean waiting in traffic (hello, rush hour!) and you don't want to miss your boat or dinner plans because of it! 

On the same note, if there's a restaurant that the family wants to go to, see if you can make a reservation! Nothing's worse than waiting hours for a table when you have hungry kids (or adults) in your group. Popular restaurants around IOP like Acme Lowcountry Kitchen, The Boathouse, and the Obstinate Daughter can be booked weeks in advance, so don't wait until the car ride over to start thinking about those dinner plans!

The point of vacation is to relax and enjoy quality time with family, so don't get too caught up in planning! Our Guest Services team knows the Charleston area well and can help out with recommendations if you're not sure where to start.

When you are here staying with us, be sure to share your memories on social media and tag us @IslandRealty. We love to see how our guests are enjoying their vacation!