Montage Palmetto Bluff

Teaming with screaming children, disorganized staff, unclean, and service at the level of a third world country, avoid at all cost.

The location is beautiful. The rooms are spacious, comfortable and the decor is nice. The service is highly variable and doesn’t meet what one would expect from a resort of its caliber. The service is slow and uneven. Activities (even on-site) aren’t run by the Montage allowing staff to disclaim responsibility for poor experiences. Folios and bills on room were repeatedly wrong and it is hard to find staff to address those issues. Despite the lovely surroundings, I would not return.

The Montage is an amazing place to spend with family. There are so many activities for all ages, like tennis, swimming, and so many nature tours. The property is beautiful and well maintained, and the service is top notch from check in to concierge to restaurants. Also the food in the restaurants is delicious (we tried Octagon and Buffalos)!

Had the best anniversary here! Luxurious accommodations and service. Delicious food and River House and fun drinks at Hush. We took a gorgeous bike ride throughout the grounds and then went clayshooting. Would love to come back.

the stay was exceptional. we felt this throughout our Stay. Our experience with the level of excellence, create lasting memories for my wife and I

Traveling as a couple with a small dog (chihuahua) in mid-December, we spent three nights in a lagoon cottage at Montage Palmetto Bluff and had a terrific experience that truly exceeded our expectations.
We have stayed in these cottages previously, back when the property was managed by Auberge. Given that the cottages are approaching 20 years old, we expected some wear and tear. That was not the case at all. The cottages look much as we remember them from nearly two decades ago – beautifully maintained, refreshed, and thoughtfully updated while preserving the classic Lowcountry style. The furnishings and interiors feel timeless rather than dated. Each cottage is equipped with a fireplace, which we thoroughly enjoyed on cool mornings while sipping coffee.

We were extremely impressed with the overall hotel experience. The bell staff were exceptional. They truly could not have done more for us. From handling luggage and smoothly managing our rental car with valet service, to shuttling us back and forth between the main hotel building and our cottage, every interaction was warm, friendly, and professional. All transportation was via golf cart, and in the early mornings and evenings the staff zipped up the cart enclosures to keep us warm—small touches that made a big difference. One long time employee, Chabu (Shay-boo), has been working there for at least 15 years and he remembered us from our previous stays during the Auberge era. It was remarkable and he is an exceptional human being that we are blessed to know.

This was also my birthday weekend, and my wife had coordinated with the concierge in advance to arrange a few birthday surprises to be delivered to the cottage. Everything was executed perfectly. The concierge even sent over a complimentary bottle of champagne along with a handwritten birthday note, which was a very thoughtful and much-appreciated gesture.
Breakfast at Octagon was consistently excellent. The à la carte menu offered many appealing choices, and service was attentive and polished each morning. Mimosas were delivered promptly in generously sized glasses, which we appreciated.

We also had dinner at Octagon one evening, including dessert, and the experience was outstanding. Service was attentive, the food was excellent, and the wine service was particularly strong, with a generous and well-curated list. I had a special Halibut dish and requested a center cut portion and I received it and it was piping hot which I loved. My wife had the shrimp and grits and she thoroughly enjoyed it and again, the service was just so on point and gracious. It was a Sunday evening, and a talented solo guitarist provided a wonderful ambiance that made our final night especially memorable. We also stopped by the Octagon bar before dinner one evening, where the bartenders were friendly, welcoming, and engaging.

We were traveling with a small Chihuahua, and the staff was wonderfully accommodating to her, which was important to us. The interior of the main hotel building is absolutely stunning – the detail in the trim work, moldings, and furnishings is remarkable and really sets the tone for the entire property.

We also visited the boutique and found some charming and unique items. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the spa, as we were busy house-hunting during our stay, but it looked beautiful and is on our list for a future visit. The pools were a bit too cool for swimming in December, but they are gorgeous, with lagoon views and a lovely setting. Each evening there was a fire pit burning behind the hotel, and we enjoyed making s’mores before the bell staff escorted us back to our cottage.

Housekeeping service was excellent overall. One turndown service was missed, but when we called after returning from dinner, two staff members arrived promptly and took care of it while we walked our dog. The response was immediate and gracious.

Although our primary reason for visiting was to look at real estate and we had a very full schedule, we were surprised by how much we were able to enjoy the hotel in between appointments. It truly enhanced our stay and made for a memorable stay.

Montage Palmetto Bluff is a special place, beautifully run, and we look forward to returning (although we may soon be residents of PB!).

Palmetto Bluff is a special place. The cottages are a wonderful way to enjoy the property in both luxury and privacy. Highly recommend the shooting club.

Fabulous resort. The finest I’ve visited. Wonderful facilities, hotel is superb, and staff second to none. Can recommend without any reservation.

Terrific hotel. Highly recommended. Perfect time to go in November for Thanksgiving. S'mores every night. Golf cart for family while there and greast excursion is the Sportman's Experience where the whole family was able to shoot a 22. caliber rifle. Everyone loved it.

Beautiful location, bike trails, horse riding, lovely views, great food. Access to May River for kayak and boating. Rooms were kept very clean and tidy. Beds were fabulously comfortable. Very pleasant staff.

The Montage is an absolute DREAM. This was our second visit there. I cannot say enough good things about it. It is beautiful, all of the dining options are amazing, and everyone couldn’t be nicer. We will be back and I would recommend the Montage at Palmetto Bluff to anyone. It is STUNNING.

Disappointed. These people lack integrity. We had a valuable watch stolen by someone on staff, but it was made way worse by the managers and security people lying over and over and offering nothing in response. Pretty location, but with all the lying and stealing going on, we wouldn’t recommend. We rented a house and a cottage for a week, and the service wasn’t good to begin with…especially for the price. What a shame.

We took our whole family over Thanksgiving. The village and activities were very festive! The s’mores, dining, skeet shooting, golf, spa and dolphin cruise made our trip even more special. Thank you for the memories!!!

This is a beautiful hotel and there are lots of things to do here for every age. It’s the essence of Southern Hospitality.

I am always so confused when luxury hotels have inhumane cancellation policies. I was supposed to stay at the Montage. I called 23 hours in advance to ask to cancel due to a family member that had an expected serious emergency. The hotel staff were rude and told me they were unable to manage a refund. They would allow a rebooking within 48 hours. I don't have the time to figure out a new vacation plan during this time. I also had the Auberge booked and they were so kind about the situation! I am a regular guest at 5 star hotels and also manage corporate retreats. Why get so upset about a single night over the loyalty over my long term business.

My wife and I attended a wedding there. Outstanding accommodations and services. Beautiful setting. The wedding was wonderfully done, as well. Highly recommend this resort.

I visited with 3 girlfriends for a 2-night cold November stay and we had a great time! I was a little worried it wouldn’t be as enjoyable with cold weather, but that wasn’t the case at all.

The spa was wonderful - shoutout to my therapist Bell. We generally enjoyed the restaurants we visited (Octagon, Buffalos, River House) and the Outside Palmetto Bluff kayak experience was a great morning workout. Shoutout to the man who shuttled us around in a golf cart on a couple of occasions, Kevin (Daily?). He told us all about the history and really made us feel welcome and at home.

Tips: Book restaurant reservations in advance - they get very busy!

Beautiful resort with excellent service and food. We were very pleased with our room and the use of a golf cart during our stay. The grounds are immense and Beautiful.

We have been to Palmetto Bluff twice before and we love the beauty and nature that it provides. This review is only about the Montage and not the community. I would recommend the community to anybody but the experience with the Montage did not meet our expectations. It seems like this facility wants to cater to corporate events and weddings and there is clearly a struggle between the community and the hotel. The harmonious relationship that existed in our previous visits had obviously been strained and fractured. The hotel is nice, the accommodations are cozy but I am paying for more than just a room. This is where the hotel falls short. I found myself asking what am I getting or $1000+/nt? We were not told about limitations on the restaurants in the community and how many restaurants are only available to members or require advance reservations by the concierge (things we learned the hard way). We would have expected that information upon check-in. We had two failed attempts to try to have dinner on property so after these mishaps, we decided that it was best to spend our money in the local town (we stayed for 4 nights). We did eat lunch at Buffalos and sandwiches at RT's market and enjoyed the community but I still found myself asking what do you get for $1000+/night at this resort. Maybe our expectations were tainted by our previous trips but I felt duped by what we received. Why doesn't the hotel tell you about the amenities that you can enjoy? We were told we could pick up free bikes but nothing about the numerous trails that exist. No information about the 20,000 acres and miles of riverfront that make this community special. Although we appreciated the welcome drink, we would have welcomed more information about the property, amenities, restaurants, and what you may want to enjoy during your stay.