Montage Palmetto Bluff Review: Bluffton, SC

After several trips to Charleston and Kiawah Island, my wife and I fell in love with the South Carolina Lowcountry and wanted to explore more of the region. Our next destination was Bluffton and the Montage Palmetto Bluff, a luxury resort set on 20,000 acres along the May River. We used our Inspirato Pass membership to book a two-bedroom suite for five nights, since Inspirato has a partnership with Montage Resorts.

If you’re not an Inspirato member, the best way to book this hotel is through the Preferred Hotels Platinum Partner program or Virtuoso to receive complimentary benefits like breakfast, room upgrades, and property credits. Here is my review of our stay.

Here is my review of our five-night stay at the Montage Palmetto Bluff.

Montage Palmetto Bluff Location

The Montage Palmetto Bluff is situated on the banks of the May River in Bluffton, South Carolina. It’s set within a sprawling 20,000-acre community that features lush forests, tranquil waterways, and plenty of activities including golf, tennis, shooting, hiking, and water adventures.

It’s located between Hilton Head Island and Savannah and is a 45-minute drive from both the Savannah Airport (SAV) and the Hilton Head Airport (HHH).  

The resort is known for its world-class amenities, including a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, a spa, a marina, and multiple dining options. The community is made up of tree-lined rows of Lowcountry-style houses with white picket fences and gas-lit lamp posts.

Check-in Process

Our check-in process was smooth and seamless. We called ahead to let them know we would be arriving early in the hope that we could get our room by 1:00 and were told that would not be a problem.

The lobby is the hub of the resort and includes the Octagon restaurant and bar, a library, the concierge desk, and a couple of boutiques, including a Peter Millar shop. It has a porch where complimentary coffee is served every morning as well as tea and cookies in the afternoon.

Rooms & Suites

There are four different types of accommodations at the Montage Palmetto Bluff: Rooms, Suites, Cottages, and Village homes.

1. The Rooms are housed within the three-story main building and are typical hotel rooms. They are available with king beds as well as two doubles and overlook either the lagoon or front courtyard.
2. The Suites are groups of rooms in freestanding buildings. They are either one or two bedrooms and are located outside the inn, dotting the pathways that wind through the resort grounds.
3. The Cottages are also spread throughout the resort grounds and provide even more privacy as well as views of either the lagoon or river. The river-view cottages have the best view.
4. The Residences and Homes are located within the two villages (Wilson Village and Moreland Village) and are a great option for families and large groups. Both villages are great, but I would pick the Wilson Village homes as they are closer to most of the dining and activities.

Our Two-Bedroom Suite

Our two-bedroom suite was very spacious and featured pine floors, vaulted ceilings, a fireplace, an open-air porch, and a screened-in porch, as well as marble bathrooms with freestanding tubs, two vanities, and a separate shower.

The suite is essentially two rooms combined into one. One of the rooms is a large one-bedroom suite with a fireplace and covered porch and the other room is a connecting traditional room. The suite could either be used as a two-bedroom suite or split up into two separate accommodations: a one-bedroom suite and a traditional room.

It also had three full bathrooms. Two of the baths had a full shower and separate tub with two vanities and the 3rd bathroom had a shower and single vanity.

Restaurants and Bars

Palmetto Bluff has three primary restaurants each with a distinctive dining experience:

• River House – The River House is a fine dining restaurant and has a nice bar in addition to the restaurant. It’s in its own building (in the Wilson Village) and is essentially a steak and seafood restaurant. Reservations can be tough to get on short notice so make sure to plan in advance if you want to eat here.
• Octagon – The Octagon restaurant has indoor dining, outdoor dining, and a large bar. We sat a the bar and ate dinner there twice. The NCAA tournament was on so it was a great place to have a drink, eat dinner and socialize a bit. The food was fantastic!
• Fore & Aft – Fore & Aft is located next to the pool, overlooking the lagoon, and serves casual, Mexican-style fare for lunch

Other dining and bar options:

• In addition to these restaurants, there is a casual sandwich place in Moreland Village called Canteen. In Wilson Village, there is a bakery and coffee shop called Buzz, and an ice cream shop called Melt.
• Underneath the River House is a Speakeasy called Hush, which serves craft cocktails and has live music on the weekends.

Activities and Amenities

In addition to the beautiful rooms and great dining, the Montage Palmetto Bluff has a wide range of activities and experiences to choose from. As a Guest, you can explore the surrounding natural landscapes on the hiking or biking trails, or take a guided kayaking or fishing tour of the river. The resort also offers a variety of activities including:

• Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course (May River Golf Club)
• Palmetto Bluff Shooting Club
• Wilson Lawn & Racquet Club
• Freshwater and saltwater fishing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding
• Veuve Clicquot Picnic + Pedal
• Three pools to choose from. The Inn Family Pool, the Spa Fitness Pool, and the River House Pool.
• And much more…

Check out all of the experiences and outdoor activities here.

Veuve Clicquot Picnic + Pedal

One of our favorite things to do was the Veuve Clicquot Picnic + Pedal, which is a bike tour on their Signature Veuve Clicquot Bicycles including a picnic lunch. We decided to skip the champagne and just have the picnic lunch. It was a great way to tour the area, get a little exercise and have a picnic lunch overlooking the May River!

Wilson Village

Wilson Village is one of two villages within the Palmetto Bluff development. It’s a great example of Lowcountry architecture and offers a wide range of experiences, river access and activities, a gourmet market, and signature shops and restaurants.

Pros and Cons of Montage Palmetto Bluff

We loved our stay and the Montage Palemtto Bluff and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a low-country luxury getaway. Here are some of the pros and cons to be aware of before you book

Pros:

1. Beautiful destination: Montage Palmetto Bluff is situated on 20,000 acres of stunning landscape with beautiful low-country architecture.
2. Plenty of activities: There are a ton of things to do both on the land and on the water. Everything from golf, kayaking, fishing, tennis, biking, dining, live music, etc.
3. Great service: The staff at Montage Palmetto Bluff is known for providing personalized and attentive service, catering to the needs of each guest.

Cons:

1. Expensive: Montage Palmetto Bluff is a high-end resort, with rates that can be quite expensive, especially during peak season.
2. Limited dining options: While the resort has several dining options, you may find the selection limited, especially if they stay for an extended period. There are several options in the town of Bluffton, but they are about a 20-minute drive each way.
3. The rooms are ready for an update. While everything about the hotel and construction is very high quality, some of the fabrics were showing wear and I think it’s time for a refresh of the room furniture.