If you hear an Islander say “HHBT” or “beach and tennis,” they are talking about the Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort. Located mid Island in what is termed The Chapin or Folly Field beach area, Hilton Head Beach and Tennis is a gated ocean front resort catering primarily to small families.
The resort occupies more than fifty five beautifully landscaped ocean oriented acres, containing eight hundred, one and two bedroom units. With more than five hundred feet of beachfront, the many ocean facing condos have one of the Island’s most dramatic sunrise views.
Each year hundreds of thousands of people flock to Hilton Head Island for its 14 miles of beautiful beaches. Whether you enjoy sun tanning, walking, bike riding, digging in the sand or riding the waves, a day at the beach on Hilton Head Island is always a blast.
Safety:
Most resorts on the island have a guard shack and require you to sign in your vehicle. HHBT (Hilton Head Beach and Tennis) is no different. They do not let anyone on the property that is not staying there or has not received permission to visit. There is access to the property from the beach and know that this is not monitored. There is no patrol on the property but the guard shack will investigate calls made to the office.
Things to do:
The HHBT resort has the Island’s largest ocean front pool complex. For the little ones, there is a children’s pool next to the Olympic size main pool. There is also a third pool near the Admirals Row buildings.
Adjacent to the main pool area are a fitness course, outdoor showers and a pool side cafe.
The ten tennis courts are lighted for evening and night play, and are free to the resort guests. The pro shop runs clinics and offers tennis instruction, and can arrange playing partners. Alongside the tennis club is a large children’s playground and a lagoon side cook out area.
The beach, one of the Islands widest and whitest, is large enough for many games and activities. Like the name implies, Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort is beach friendly. Beach access is super convenient, there are three boardwalks leading directly to the sand and a near pristine beach. The boardwalks are needed because we do not want to trample the Sea Oats. The Sea Oats are the indigenous plants you see waving in the dunes, and are vital to the beach’s ecosystem.
In the welcome center you will find a deli, cocktail lounge, restaurant, concierge services, real estate office, the conference center event ballroom, and the administrations’ staff offices.
For the young at heart, the island’s largest arcade and a golf driving range are a short walk up the bike trail. The Westin Hotel is a ten minute walk up the beach.
Getting around:
After coming over the bridge, y’all go straight for about six miles. It can be a real pleasant drive. Those villas on the right are Mariner’s Point, and just around the bend is the entrance to Windmill Harbour. Before the first light is the Coastal Discovery Museum where you can learn how to shrimp and next door is the Crazy Crab restaurant. The first light is the Squire Pope Road Light which leads to the back gate of Hilton Head Plantation. The second light at Spanish Wells Road leads to Spanish Wells Plantation and a couple of good crabbing spots. If you are not already in the right lane you will need to merge into it in order to avoid the first entrance to the Cross Island Expressway.
After passing the expressway you will come to the third light. This is the Gum tree road light. Right is another entrance to the Cross Island Expressway while left goes to the Island Rec center, Hudson’s, Hilton Head Plantation and the Country Club of Hilton Head. The next light is the school light. A left would take you to the public school campuses and the western end of Main Street. The fifth light is the half way point, and you may see mile marker three. That’s what those little green signs with numbers on them are. Wendy’s is on your right. As you pass through this light, on the right behind the wood line is Wal Mart, Publix, and Blockbuster, and on your left behind the wood line is the Main Street shopping area. Harris Teeter is in this center. The next light is the Hilton Head Plantation Light; a left would lead you to Main Street, the Plantation and the Oyster Reef Club while a right will lead to Indigo Run and the Golden Bear. The seventh light is Beach City Road. A left here would take you by the library, Palmetto Hall, and the Hilton Head Airport. Between this and the next light at Matthews Drive, Pineland Mills shopping is on the right while Northridge and its ten-plex movie theatre is on your left.
The eighth light is at Matthews Drive. You could take a right here and it would lead to the resort. But, you will have plenty of opportunities to take Matthews Drive later, so unless the traffic is stalled, stay straight. A right at the ninth light would take you to McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Bi-Lo, and Port Royal Plaza. After this light think about merging to the left lane. The tenth light is the green arrows at the entrance to Port Royal Plantation. By the way, there are three excellent golf courses in Port Royal Plantation. You should be in the left lane when you pass the fire station entrance and the eleventh light. At the next light you will take a left onto Folly Field Road, you might think of it as an extension of Matthews Drive which was mentioned at light eight. After turning, the entrance to Adventure Cove will be on your right and some beach cottages on the left. The entrance to Hilton Head Beach and Tennis Resort is only seconds away. Take the next right and you are there.
A price within reach, right on the beach. You’ll feel right at home in any one of our 1 or 2 bedroom villas. Each with a fully equipped kitchen, living area with sofa sleeper and bath.
2 bedrooms range from $775 to $1125 based on ocenview to middle of resort.
Cleanliness:
For an older property, HHBT is extremely clean. The building are well-kept, the pool is always nice, the walkway to beach is great, and access to dumpsters is excellent.
Charm:
The property, as mentioned, is older than most on the island. This adds to the charm but there is nothing special about HHBT in this regard. It is well kept, clean, with a great location, but I would not say the property has a special charm to it.
