Cottages at Shipyard

If you have children and would like a great

place to vacation this is it. We have taken our

Gandchildren there for 4yrs. and will continue

to do so. Just makes you feel GOOD.

We have been going to The Cottages for 5 years and of all the timeshares that we have traded for over the past 10 years this is our favorite. Shipyard is a quiet and beautifully maintained gated community. The golf course and lagoons wind throughout, and there are miles of bike and walking paths. The Cottage units are older, but solid, and they are maintained very well. Every year there is something new. You can not hear the neighbors, and being a two story building, there are no people walking on the floors above you. We have use of a 2 bedroom unit. The bedroons are upstairs with the master bedroom having a king bed and the other having 2 singles. Each has their own private bath and TV. There is a half bath at the front entrance, and all units have washers and dryers. The front porch faces a lagoon and a back porch with rocker and tables looks over the golf course, which is a few steps away. In the evening they allow use of the golf course for chipping and putting, riding bicycles, and walking. The beach is within an easy walk or bike ride.

We like February because the weather is usually warm, but not hot. The resort does not allow pets, but residents of Hilton Head love dogs. We bring our dog with us and keep him at the Low Country Kennel. They allow us to take our dog in and out as much as we want. We take him to the dog park and run him on the beach. In the winter season you can ride bikes and take pets on the beach at any time, and they do not need to be on a leash, just under control.

The Players Club is available for use by all Cottage guests for a nominal weekly fee. It is a fitness center that is a membership club for Island residents. They are a fully equiped center with plenty of equipment, a heated indoor pool, hot tub, racquetball courts, tennis courts that are both indoor and outdoor, aerobic classes, kick boxing, and all the amenities of a fitness club. Guest receive a weekly schedule and can join any of the classes at no additional cost. The resort offers morning walks, bike rides, exploring the beach and wildlife classes and some siteseeing opportunities in Savannah and Beaufort.

We stayed in a 3 bedroom unit (152) located in the back of the development near the Hilton Head Health Institute. We were just steps from the grills, (unheated) pool and hot tub.

There is a heated pool at the Egret Point facility nearby for Cottage guests to use at no charge.

The cottages come with everything needed to enjoy a week at Hilton Head Island. I would bring dishwashing tablets, extra laundry detergent, shampoo and soap. Also, there are no hairdryers. An ironing board and iron are supplied.

Our unit backed up to a beautiful wooded area just off a fairway of one of the three Shipyard courses. Expect to make friends with racoons and squirrels, they're all over the place.

We spent alot of time on the covered porch out back, complete with a rocking chair, a table and seats for all your guests. It was private, the bugs were nowhere around, and we enjoyed the evenings out here.

A master bedroom with a king bed and private bath was located on the main level. Also on the main level is the kitchen, dining area, living room and laundry room. The kitchen is a little small but very efficient. All the appliances were new and very clean.

The sofa bed in the living room was broken down. As a couch, it was bearable. As a bed, it was not.

Another fault we noticed was the fact the bath for the living area is accessible only by going through the bedroom - annoying if you're sleeping or changing clothes. A split bath would have been a smarter choice.

Upstairs are two more bedrooms, one with 2 twin beds and the other with a king bed. All the beds are comfortable, and all the bedrooms have plenty of closets and drawer space. Each bedroom has it's own private bath. There are no jacuzzi tubs, but all have showers/tub combos.

The decor lacks the flair of the newer resorts. If you have the computer game "The Sims", then you know what the decor is going to remind you of. Shades of aqua, peach and pink over dark green carpet. The Cottages are older, and if you keep that in mind, you won't notice the decor so much. They are functional and practical (except that bathroom).

I can see why they don't have the gold crown rating, due to the age probably, but they are located in a wonderful area inside Shipyard Plantation with an abundance of bike paths. Just a short trip to the ocean too!

The setting for the Cottages is breathtakingly beautiful. It doesn't get much more relaxing out here, especially with a drink by the hot tub.

Spinnaker owns these units and they take excellent care of them. The grounds were meticulously maintained everywhere. Guests of the Cottages have full use of Egret Point recreation facilities including the heated pool, fitness room and activities.

During our stay, (off season) they had a Tuesday night pasta dinner for $5 a couple, morning nature walks, bike rides and kayak lessons. Also offered are crabbing, candlemaking, tie dye t shirt souvenirs and movie rentals. All are very reasonably priced and appreciated as many island activities are overpriced and shut down during off-season.

The activities director at Egret Point was very nice and offered suggestions for where to eat, shop and visit. His name is Peter, be sure to meet up with him early in your stay - he's a jewel.

We felt welcome and would definitely return here. We're not owners, but would consider buying a Spinnaker timeshare because of this experience.