Perfect location!

Guest: Jen (Woburn, MA)
Date of Stay: 06/30/11 Review Submitted: 07/13/11

Our stay at the Shelter Cove condo was great for our family of 4 (kids 11 and 9). We never once regretted staying on the marina as opposed to the beach simply because there was so much to do at night. It was a short drive (about 3 minutes) to the beach (you can also take the free Dunes Buggy if you want) and we went about 4x during our week-long stay. I suggest going early, or, like us, around 2/3pm- parking at the Plametto Dunes beach is tight if you try to go any other time. Since we flew and there are no beach chairs to use, we rented them from the place in Palmetto Dunes for around $80 (4 chairs, umbrella) for the week. We also had to buy beach towels. Not a big deal, and probably doesn't matter to most, as many people who visit HHI drive there. Beach is beautiful- no rocks or seaweed and 86 degree water- so nice! At night, we frequented almost all of the restaurants in the marina- loved Bistro 17 for all meals. Scotts has nightly entertainment, as does San Miguels (always busy- go at or before 5 and you'll be good!). We also took in the entertainment at Harbourfest (you can hear everything from the condo- love it!). Since we were there for the 4th, we got to watch the extended version of the fireworks right from our balcony! Loved that we didn't have to fight the crowds below! Firework nights are really the only nights that I would suggest making any reservations for the marina restaurants- it's packed down there! Pretty quiet the other nights, though. During the day, before the beach, we went on the dolphin tour and the Crabber J and caught some crabs, my husband and son rented poles and fished from the pier at the Disney resort across the way, they also kayked along the lagoons in Palmetto Dunes (much quieter than from the marina). We visited Sea Pines and Harbourtown- cool place to walk around, shop, eat, and drink. Finally, we swam in the condo pool many times. Overall, this was a great place to stay, having almost everything you would need for your vacation. I highly recommend staying here! We had a fabulous first visit to Hilton Head and will definitely go back another time! Thank you, Ackermans!

Owner response:Thank you for the kind words--and for the suggestion. I just bought the best portable beach chairs I could find, which which will be taken to the condo on my next trip down in a few weeks. Thanks!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, pet owners, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Vacation Rental

Guest: Michele (Mountain Brook, AL)
Date of Stay: 06/24/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

We have been coming to Hilton Head for many years. We were estatic with our stay at On The Water. Byron was easy to deal with and the condo was perfect. It was in excellent condition and we especially loved the location at Shelter Cove. We typically stay on the other side of Hwy 278, but we thought we would try this for a change. WOW - we were so impressed. Having the six beach cruisers available was a great addition. The view from balcony was beautiful - it was convenient to restaurants and shopping. We will stay here again for sure.

Recommended for:

Professional, clean, comfortable and great location.

Guest: Mamagoose (Lake Norman, NC USA)
Date of Stay: 06/08/11 Review Submitted: 06/17/11

This place is it. Look no further. The process for renting was very profession. No need to be concerned. Every email was answered promptly, all the information regarding the unit and the area easily available. The condo was beautiful, comfortable and most importantly CLEAN. The view was beautiful. Wonderful restaurants and shopes all in walking distance. one of the best things is every Tues you have a firework show right on your balconey. This is a great place to stay. Had a great time. Thank you Byron. .

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Convenient location, great amenities, lovely home!

Guest: Susan and Clay (Southbury, CT USA)
Date of Stay: 05/14/11 Review Submitted: 06/15/11

We truly enjoyed our stay in Shelter Cove. This condo is terrific! It provides the first time (or return) visitor to Hilton Head with excellent amenities in an ideal location. There are a variety of shops and restaurants all along the harbor within walking distance (Bistro 17 and the Fish House were both very good). This second floor condo is very well- furnished, clean, comfortable and spacious. Loved the 2 accesses to the patio and the fabulous view of the harbor. Awesome patio! Great kitchen, t.v. and sound system. Access to any location in Hilton Head is easy from this central location. Communication with Byron was professional, prompt and courteous. He was always ready and willing to share his knowledge with us, sent us all kinds of information on the area as we were making our plans, and continued to offer his help via telephone once we arrived. It is easy to see why this condo gets high marks: all the extra touches demonstrate the owners' pride in their lovely home. We were very happy with our choice, would love to come back, and would recommend this rental without hesitation. We felt fortunate to have found this ideal spot. Thank you again for your hospitality!

Owner response:Susan and Clay: Thanks for your kind words. We think a lot about little things that we might do to improve upon our guests' experience here--and we try really hard to make our villa a place that you will leave with fond memories, and want to return to. And I hope you do come back!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great family vacation place

Guest: Michael (Huntington, WV)
Date of Stay: 08/10/10 Review Submitted: 11/22/10

Just wanted to say "thanks" again for the use of you great condo. The kids really enjoyed the big TV, the pool and riding the bikes to the beach. The location was convenient to everything we needed and we really enjoyed watching the boat in the marina from our balcony while we cooked outside on the electric grill. The shop and galleries downstairs were a real treat. A couples of days we caught the free shuttle to the beach which was also very nice. You made our vacation planning very easy and I appreciate these ease of communication with you and your wife. Best wishes, Michael in WV

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Location; A Shame about The Deposit (Revised)

Guest: Mrs. We Love HHI (Rosman, NC)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 08/17/10

Update: Byron contacted me on 8/10 to apologize for not returning my deposit. We received the deposit on 8/12. I have revised my overall rating from 3 stars to 4. I also would like to revise my recommendation to say that even though my family no longer has interest in staying at this particular condo, I do recommend it for anyone else.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Family Vacation with Outstanding Accomodations

Guest: Jim the Lizard (Strongsville, Ohio)
Date of Stay: 07/16/10 Review Submitted: 08/10/10

Great vacation! Byron was a great property owner, accessible and prompt with emails and phone calls. The condo itself is clean and in great condition, and the description is accurate - staying in Shelter Cove offered numerous amenities without having to get in the car (shopping, dining, pool, harbor or boat trips). The property has an elevator to make packing and unpacking easier, as well as luggage carriers on wheels to roll up your bags to your room, and then back to the car when the vacation is over. Parking area was full every night, but area was quiet after 9:30 PM (all outside entertainers ceased playing around then) and never had any issues with disorderly neighbors or loud kids. We have a loud kid, and were grateful that other parents and families were respectful of each other's accomodations! Our condo offered a fantastic view of the Tuesday night fireworks, and due to it's location, never really was too loud from the entertainment, restaurants, or folks strolling around outside. Byron's condo offers a cool grill on the very cool patio, and the master bedroom offers private access to the patio as well as an entrance from the main living room. The kitchen offers top tier kitchen appliances, with lots of storage space. The washer and dryer were put to use pretty much every day, and worked well. The bedroom with the two full beds has a private entrance also, which is great for those early risers or late night folks. Finally, the IPOD system, as well as the fantastic wall TV, were great for those downtimes when air conditioning was a must. Easy to book, accomodating owner who obviously takes pride in his property, and central Hilton Head accomodations - great vacation with a great condo!

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Great Location; A Shame about The Deposit.

Guest: We Love HHI (Rosman, North Carolina)
Date of Stay: 06/26/10 Review Submitted: 08/08/10

My wife, our son, and I thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Byron's condo. The rental and surrounding scenery were as beautiful as the posted pictures. We especially enjoyed the pool, the deck overlooking the harbor, the Tuesday night fireworks, the grill, and the big-screen TV. Byron was a most helpful renter and was always just an e-mail away to answer any questions that we had before our arrival. After our vacation, however, is when disappointment arrived. Deposits were promised to be returned approximately 1 week after check-out. As of this writing, 5 weeks have passed since our return, yet no deposit has been returned to me. Several e-mails have been unanswered; one was replied to on July 20, promising that the check would be mailed "tomorrow." 19 tomorrows have passed since then, yet no deposit has been returned to me. My wife and I had discussed staying 2 weeks at this location next summer. Due to the non-return of the deposit, we have decided to find another place to stay on HHI. In addition, I cannot recommend this rental to others.

Recommended for:

Condo on the Water

Guest: Alice and Mark (Bridgeport, WV)
Date of Stay: 07/03/10 Review Submitted: 07/13/10

We recently returned from our stay at Hilton Head Island, where we stayed in this condo. It was everything we were hoping for and more! The location (Shelter Cove Harbor) was perfect, with a lovely view of the Harbor. The condo was beautiful, clean, spacious and well-furnished. We particularly enjoyed sitting on the deck in the mornings and evenings, as well as walking and biking through Shelter Cove and the surrounding areas. The atmosphere was relaxing, with something for everyone - shopping, eating, and entertainment. The owner's quick response to any questions we had was another great feature. He provided us with much information prior to our arrival, making our move-in smooth. I would most definitely stay here again, and highly recommend it.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, sightseeing, adventure seekers, girls getaway, age 55+, families with young children, families with teenagers.

Guest: Nicki (-)
Date of Stay: 05/24/10 Review Submitted: 05/24/10

05/24/2010 This was our very first attempt at booking a vacation property on line - so we were somewhat "cautious" about the process. However, after meeting Byron via phone he put all our concerns to rest. We loved the condo and its convenience to the surrounding areas. For a first-time attempt it yielded a five-star result. -nicki m., Eddyville, Ky (namaxxxxxx@sbcglobal.net)

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