The nearest airport is Charleston International which is a 30 to 45 minute drive from the island. You can also fly in to Savannah but this is much further away.
It is a good idea to have your own transportation although the island does offer a shuttle service. There is an Enterprise car rental at Charleston airport.
Kiawah is a private gated resort community. It has a 10 mile stretch of beach as well as acres of beautiful marsh and river scenery. Wildlife is abundant on the island. There are literally thousands of alligators, numerous species of birds, deer, bobcats, raccoons, and if you're lucky, you may get to see a loggerhead sea turtle come ashore to lay her eggs.
In addition to the beach, the island is also well known for golf. There are four golf courses on the island, including the world famous Ocean Course. Golf can be rather expensive. There is also a 21 acre park and playground called Night Heron Park which offers a soccer field and basketball courts and a large swimming pool. There are also over 30 miles of paved biking trails on the island. You also have two tennis centers and a workout facility available. Kiawah is very convenient to Charleston which is only about a half hour drive from the island. There is a great deal to see and do in the city.
Stroll through the shops at The Sanctuary for personal gifts, art and fashionable clothing and accessories, or browse through the selection of golf apparel at the Signature Shop. The island also features pro shops at each of the five championship golf courses. You will find gifts and clothing at the Staw Market at West Beach as well as beach accessories and apparel at the market at East Beach Town Centre.
Kiawah has no shortage of restaurants nearby. There is a restaurant at the Turtle Point Golf club and the Ocean Course (though they only serve breakfast and lunch). The Freshfields village has a great restaurant, and the Bohicket Marina on neighboring Seabrook Island has several great restaurants which offer spectacular views of Horseshoe Creek. Some of these restaurants can be quite pricey so you may want to make the trip into Charleston for dining.
Kiawah Island has a newly constructed hotel called the Sanctuary. Rooms at the Sanctuary can be expensive, particularly if you want one with an ocean view. They can be as high as $600-$800 per night. If you're going during the off season, you may be better off renting a private home or villa. You'll usually get a really good deal on one, particularly booking at the last minute. These homes and villas are privately owned and the owners will usually rent through one of several rental agencies on the island. However, when renting through a rental agency other than Kiawah Island Golf and Tennis resort, access to some of the amenities may be limited.
When selecting your Kiawah vacation accommodations, be aware of the following: All villas are individually owned and managed - thus, no two villas look the same on the inside. # The majority of villas on Kiawah were built in the 1970's and 80's. # Many of Kiawah's villas feature dated interiors and are not well maintained. So, no matter where you rent - it is highly recommended that you see interior photos of the villa that you are renting - no one wants "surprises" on arrival. # Be sure to read on-line comments provided by guests that have stayed at Kiawah. You may find comments on www.VRBO.com or on TripAdvisor.com
'''Kiawah Island Getaways''' offers a boutique selection of the finest vacation rentals available on Kiawah Island. Each property is privately owned, tastefully decorated, comfortably furnished and exceptionally clean. All accommodations offer free high-speed wireless internet access, TV/DVD's (in every bedroom and living room), a CD player that is always stocked with relaxing, romantic music, and plenty of down-alternative pillows, egyptian-cotton bed linens, beach & bath towels. Along with plenty of books, DVD's and games, inside each villa you'll find a Kiawah Island Getaway's Tour Book that offers our personal collection of Kiawah Island and Charleston touring information and recommendations.