3 Best Hotels in Edisto Island, Charleston

This company's inventory of privately owned beach homes ranges from a two-bedroom apartment over a gallery to one-bedroom condos and six-bedroom manses smack-dab on the beach. Units are furnished, with one to several TVs and DVD players, and their kitchens are stocked with pots and pans, dishes, cutlery, and microwaves. During peak summer months, most properties require one-week minimum stays.

If you're looking for high-end amenities in a get-away-from-it-all escape, the island's only resort has it all. These 250 time-share units can be rented out with a two-day minimum stay. Summers are solidly booked, especially the weekends. Although none of the accommodations sit on the beach, most are just a short walk away, and there are three swimming pools within the resort. The family-oriented recreation staff knows how to keep kids amused with everything from painting classes to organized nocturnal turtle-watches. There are also Lowcountry shrimp boils and nature walks, but the primary activity here is enjoying the island's golf complex. A tram transports you to the resort's beachfront cabana, which is delightful, with plenty of chaises.