As a true millennial, I thoroughly enjoy a good ’90s callback. Why? Because I miss the simplicity of my childhood, when the only rule was to come home when the streetlights came on. My friends and I ruled our block, riding bikes, playing sports in the street, and spending endless hours at our community pool. I have tried my best to give my kids a similar summer experience, and this year I accidentally booked the most 90’s-reminiscent vacation spot imaginable.

We spent one week on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, and it was one of the best family trips we have ever taken. Plus, I found a way to use points from an old credit card to book it, making this trip nearly free. I am breaking down exactly how I did it and how you can too.

 

 

 

Location

Kiawah Island is a thirteen-mile stretch of pristine beach located about forty-five minutes southeast of Charleston, SC. The island has everything a family could need: grocery stores, hotels, rental houses, pools, playgrounds, tennis and pickleball courts, pools, and miles of walking and biking paths. We stayed on the island for our entire trip, but you could easily take a day trip to Charleston for shopping or even dinner. 

You could even split your stay between Kiawah Island and Charleston, or add Wild Dunes Resort, another Hyatt Beach property Northeast of Charleston. This hotel is also bookable with points, and staying here will feel very different from a trip to Kiawah Island. It’s a true resort stay; rooms are bookable for as few as 15,000 Hyatt points per night. Each option gives you a completely different vibe, and it’s easy to add to your trip.

 

 

Getting There

We drove from our home in coastal North Carolina. With normal traffic, the drive would have been easy breezy. Unfortunately, Charleston is a true Southern city, and its infrastructure reflects that. Traffic can be a nightmare. I highly recommend factoring that in when you are deciding whether to fly or drive.

If you are flying, book into Charleston International Airport (CHS). Delta, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Breeze, Southwest, JetBlue, Avelo, Sun Country, and Allegiant serve it. It has a solid lineup for a mid-sized airport, which means you have real flexibility if you are trying to redeem miles and find that sweet spot for award fares. It is about a 45-minute drive to Kiawah from CHS, so plan on renting a car.

 

Where We Stayed

We stayed in a two-bedroom, three-bath beach villa that I booked through the Sanctuary Hotel. Our villa included a private parking space, a full kitchen, a living room, and a deck with outdoor furniture. It was basically a home away from home, which made traveling with two kids so much easier. No hotel-room cabin fever here; everyone had space to spread out, and we could put the kids to bed without having to turn in ourselves.

 

 

Things to Do

Kiawah is one of those rare spots where you could fill an entire week without even leaving the island. Not only do you not have to leave the island, but you also don’t have to even drive if you don’t want to. My favorite part of the whole trip was biking everywhere. I think that is what made me really feel like a kid again. No rush to go anywhere, just days filled outside all facilitated by a bike.

 

 

The Beach

Kiawah’s beaches are hard-packed, which makes them much easier to walk and bike on than the loose sand you will find at many other beach towns. Low tide opens up a huge stretch of flat, firm sand that’s perfect for littles and their tiny legs.

 

 

Biking

The island is best explored on two wheels. You can rent bikes for your whole family, including kids’ seats, trailers, and tag-alongs for the really little ones. My favorite part is that you can literally ride everywhere. No part of the island is off-limits to bikes. The bikes made our trip truly magical.

 

Pools

Between resort pools and community pools, there is no shortage of splash pads, slides, and lazy afternoons poolside. Our kids were obsessed with biking to all the different pools. No afternoon was the same.

 

 

Freshfields Village

 A few miles off the island, there is an outdoor shopping and dining district. It has a grocery store, coffee shops, and boutiques. Depending on where you are staying, you can even ride your bike here without any trouble.

 

Tennis, Pickleball, and Golf

If your family is into any of these sports, Kiawah has championship-level courts and courses, including the famed Ocean Course, home to past PGA championships. We are a golfing family and thoroughly enjoyed playing at Turtle Point.

 

 

Night Heron Park

This location was basically our vacation home base. Our villa was only steps away from Night Heron Park. Tucked in East Beach, it’s home to family and children’s pools (complete with slides and a splash pad for the little ones), a nature center, a kids’ art studio with nightly family crafts, basketball courts, an incredible playground, and the Nest Market. 

 

 

Nature and Wildlife

Kiawah is known for its alligators, dolphins, and birdlife. Keep your eyes open while you explore. We saw deer, alligators, many ocean birds, dolphins, crabs, and even stingrays. My kids absolutely loved all the wildlife; we didn’t go a day without seeing something spectacular.

 

Why We Loved It

It felt like a real neighborhood, not a resort. Nothing against resorts; in fact, I absolutely love them for kids. But this place felt different because we stayed in the villas. We had more space to spread out, and I loved being able to cook breakfast and lunch at the villa. That lowered our out-of-pocket costs while also letting us just have a day. We put very little planning into this trip. Which is very uncommon for me. My Type A personality really enjoyed this go-with-the-flow island.

There is so much more to do on Kiawah Island beyond the beach.  I also loved that there is something for every age of child. Kiawah is perfect for families with little babies all the way up to teens. I know all the teenagers we saw loved having the freedom to go off on their own while parents weren’t worried about their safety. Since we are so close to Kiawah, I plan to go back annually for years to come.

 

 

Other Places to Stay on the Island Using Points

The Sanctuary Hotel 

Points per night: 86,000 American Express Membership Rewards®

 

 

You can book this property through American Express Travel® as a Fine Hotels + Resorts® option. It qualifies for the $300 biannual travel credit. This hotel is Kiawah’s true luxury resort. It has oceanfront rooms, multiple pools, a full-service spa, and a kids’ club. It even has some great on-property restaurants. My family ate at the famed Ocean Room, and it was nothing short of magic. You will want to stay here if you are booking for the true luxury resort experience because it has it in spades. 

 

Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn (Marriott Bonvoy)

Points per night: 37,000 to 76,000

 

 

I love this option because you can book it using your Marriott Bonvoy points or your transferable points from American Express® or Chase. This hotel is a smaller boutique property. It has a rooftop pool, an onsite restaurant, and easy access to all the fun Kiawah has to offer. This hotel isn’t directly on the island, but it’s within walking distance of Freshfields Village, so you get walkable shopping and dining. 

 

The Dunlin, Auberge Collection 

Points per night: 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards®

 

 

You can book this property through American Express Travel® Fine Hotels+ and Resorts®. This is a great option if you want to use your $300 biannual hotel credit, points, or cash. I love booking this way because you also get all the extras American Express offers, like room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, and guaranteed 4 pm checkout. The Dunlin leans into its marsh-front setting with a modern Lowcountry design that feels distinctly Charleston, not beachy. This property is unlike anywhere else on the island since it overlooks the marsh instead of the ocean, making this hotel perfect for sunset views to the west. 

 

How I Used Points to Book our Villa

Before I enrolled in Points Talk Academy®, my husband and I used one card for everything. We have a pretty good stash of points that have just been sitting on my account. I found out that I could erase travel expenses with this card (through First Citizens Bank) just like I would if I used the Capital One Venture X Credit Card to erase travel. I paid for our villa stay using this card. We paid $3,800 for us to stay in our villa for the week. As soon as the charge hit my card, I used 380,000 points to erase our stay. I had no idea my old card had this benefit; in fact, it may even be a new benefit. But I am glad I did some research to figure out the best way to use all these points. If you have a stash of points you don’t know how to use, I encourage you to research whether you can do the same.  

 

 

Charleston Hotel Options Bookable on Points

If you decide to add on a Charleston stay before or after your beach vacation, these are the standout points-friendly options.

 

Hilton Club Liberty Place Charleston

Points per night 105,000 to 225,000

 

 

Located on East Bay Street, this hotel is just a short walk from both the aquarium and the historic downtown market. The rooms are modern and classically Southern all at once. You even get a kitchenette, which is a nice touch if you want to be able to do some of your own cooking. Even though you will be in famous downtown Charleston, this hotel is also charming and quiet.

 

Grand Bohemian Charleston, Autograph Collection

Points per night 75,000 to 113,500

 

 

Located in historic downtown Charleston, this boutique hotel is only blocks away from the City Market and The Battery. Grand Bohemian properties are known for their bold interiors and comfortable rooms. Staying here will feel distinctly different than just another standard chain hotel and will give easy, close access to all Charleston has to offer. 

 

Wild Dunes Resort, A Destination by Hyatt Property

Points per night 15,000 to 30,000

 

 

If you are looking for a South Carolina beach destination with more of a resort look no further than Wild Dunes Resort. It sits on the northern tip of the Isle of Palms, about fifteen miles from historic downtown Charleston, giving you beach seclusion with access to a lively southern city. 

Like Kiawah Island, Wild Dunes is a large property that sits between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. While you stay there, you will have access to the beach, pools, two Tom Fazio golf courses, tennis, and pickleball.

 

Final Thoughts

Kiawah Island genuinely surprised us. We went into this vacation looking for a quick and easy getaway, and we came home with a new family favorite. We have only been home four weeks and my kids have asked almost daily when we can go back. I loved everything about this location, and I am so glad I found a place where my kids can be kids, and I can just be the calm, cool mom.

If you are looking for the perfect family beach trip and want the small-town, low-key, simple vibes, Kiawah Island deserves a spot on your list. As for me and my family, we cannot wait to return!

 

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