Preppy Gourmet

Review of The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, A M...

It's Thanksgiving week and COVID is on the rise. I...

It's Thanksgiving week and COVID is on the rise. I wanted a safe, clean place to stay on my way to Kiawah and I chose the Montage because the ratings were very good and I wanted to check out the neighborhood to see if it would be a good place for a vacation home.
I arrived at noon during a dark rainy part of the day and checked in early with no problems at all. Ok, with 1 problem. I got a new Volvo and couldn't figure out how to release the parking brake. Fortunately, the team at the valet desk had a lot of experience and took my girl directly to the charger. {And by charger, I mean extension cord } Whew, catastrophe averted. Seriously, in my mind I could see myself sweating and shaking while hundreds of guests pulled up and around me to check in while I tried to figure out how to release the brake.
The Montage at Palmetto Bluff is beautiful. Even the rain couldn't dull the shine of this southern masterpiece. It feels like a plantation home. The only clue that it is, in fact, a hotel are the desks positioned on either side of the front doors. From the front porch you can see through the entry, parlor and the porch to a fire pit with Adirondack chairs and further off in the distance is an enormous swimming pool. As the floral teams begin to light the holiday trees the rooms fill with warmth from the freshly lit fire the hotel shimmers with an amber glow that is simply stunning.
I was shown directly to my feather free room where my luggage was waiting and unpacked my tennis shoes to take a look around. It was still drizzling but the sun was on the way and things would be dried shortly. The Montage offers free bikes to guests and trail maps to see interesting nature type things. I didn t do that. I went to Wilson Village and shopped, ate ice cream, checked out the marina, spoke to the team in charge of kayaks and canoes, stopped in at the post office and sat down with a realtor. By 5 pm I was starving. Unfortunately, one of the pitfalls of staying in a resort with homes is all of the other people that live there are hungry too. So be ready to make a reservation when the concierge calls you before your stay. I didn t take this advice and had dinner on a bar stool at Cole s.
Cole s was delish and because there were 2 bartenders it was easy to call one over when the tequila turned my breath to fire and I needed water to put out the flames. Plus, I met a very nice couple that was happy to share the ins and outs of living at the resort and how much they loved it. It was a win/win in my book.
Around 10 the complementary shuttle bus arrived to take me back to the hotel for the best rest I ve had since March. I don t know if they are piping something into the rooms or have magic beans under the mattress but I slept 10 hours straight.
The next morning, I had a quandary, take a bath in the deep soaking tub or a quick shower? Like most women I have this image in my mind of a long warm soak, maybe reading a book with candles and orchestral music in the background and the scent of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. The reality is never as good as the dream. The shower wins every time. It was then that I noticed the bug spray on the counter. How I wish I had noticed it yesterday!
For those of you that aren t from the south there are 3 things you can always count on. The weather will usually be hot, it will often be humid and there will always be bugs. Lots of bugs.
I showered, had breakfast and by 11am it was pouring rain. I had late check out but decided to pack it in and get back on the road. I slept great and had a safe comfortable stay. The employees were very good about wearing their masks and