Montage Palmetto Bluff

This property is very good and the setting is about as good as you can get with a strong low-country, laid-back, Southern vibe. In my view, the Montage rates a B+ but they charge like they're an A. We stayed most of a week in a river front cottage that was charming. The cottage is large inside, a nice firteside sitting area, a really good bathroom and changing area, plus a large screened back porch. Really, this is as good as you can get. So why not rate the Montage an "A"? A) Staying in a cottage is private and cozy. But the one we were in was far from the hotel and restaurant. With no kitchen in the cottage, meals like breakfast required a trip to the hotel. If the weather is good - that stroll would be nice. When the weather is wet or cold or super windy...that trip is NOT comfortable. B) The Montage attempts to solve this issue by offering door-to-door golf cart pick-up. Fine as it goes - but one day we stood and waited for 20 minutes as no cart was available or they forgot about our request. And cold is cold whether walking or riding in a golf cart. C) Consider what time of year to go. The early January period is extra sloiw and The Montage uses that pause to repair and refresh facilities. The result is many shops and restaurants were closed. This isn't the Montage's fault - but just letting you know to be certain you understand what will actually be available during your stay. D) Activities are focused on out-doors things which makes sense. Great, unless the weather is bad. Just know that if bad weather renders outside activities undoable - there are not many inside activity options. Lastly, somehow, service was off a bit from time to time. Our car was valet parked, we ordered it up, and it wasn't delivered as they forgot about our request. I already mentioned the long wait for a golf cart. Staff was mostly excellent but some, in guest facing positions were less welcoming. Small issues but - with an "A" cost I expected comensurate "A" service all the time.

My experience at Palmetto Bluff is one I will never forget. The amazing staff, especially Hope Green and her team were exceptional. I was chosen to exhibit my artwork in The Octagon Restaurant. My team worked closely with the staff of The Montage to create an unforgettable event. Guests were greeted with champagne and hors d’oeuvres and treated to the beauty of the restaurant and bar. The wait staff, bartenders and servers were courteous and professional. We had dinner with a party of 10 waited on by the amazing Gary. Gary is every restaurant’s dream server. He was attentive and funny without being overbearing, he was professional, beyond reproach. We all fell in love with Gary. Our room was large, clean and remarkably comfortable. Every single need was anticipated and taken care of before we even thought of anything. The bathroom, bedroom and all room accommodations were five star. The most important aspect of our stay was the phenomenal people who make their living at the Montage. The valet, the front desk staff, wait staff, kitchen, shop, spa, etc. etc, have found where they belong. They collectively create the unique, superior and extraordinary experience that is The Montage. I cannot wait to return.

One of the finest properties in the world, with word class service. We have now been to a few Montage properties in the US, and I Would be comfortable rateing them above the Ritz and the Four Seasons. The outdoor oster roast was one on the nightlight, with the South Carolina coastline as a backdrop.

My husband and I recently stayed at palmetto bluff to celebrate his birthday. This was our second time staying there and it will be our last as they fell short on service, food quality, room quality and the overall property. To begin checkin was extremely rushed and did not set the tone for a “luxury” stay. Our room was not ready upon arrival around 2:30 PM, which was fine, however we were not offered a welcome cocktail nor any info on our AMEX FHR reservation. We assumed this would be given to us once we received our keys- it was not. We were also not told where our bags would be held and not told anything around the significant restaurant closures on the property. While waiting for our room we decided to grab a drink from the octagon bar but were told we could not put it on our room without a room number…this is quite odd as it is pretty standard to be able to give your last name and begin a tab while waiting for the room. We decided to walk the property while waiting for our room and my wife was aghast with the conditions of the property. For starters there were empty cocktail classes and coffee cups all over the sitting room floor and in the lobby. Several children decided to play and stack cups with the water cups in the sunroom, leaving them unusable as they were no longer sanitary and the vibe in the lobby was that of overall chaos and not a luxury resort. While walking the property outside we saw extensive garbage strewn across the lawns including a bottle of toothpaste, water bottles, juice bottles, liquor minis, balloons and bags of dog waste to name a few. Several dog waste stations were left open and there were also balloons and party debris all over the grounds. Again, this is not what I would expect from a luxury resort and it was a disappointment to experience as the last time we were here we enjoyed the manicured grounds. Our room was ready around 3:50, while within the 4pm guaranteed check in time it was later than we had hoped. Upon entering our room it seemed like it was rushed to be cleaned and the overall condition of the cottage was extremely worn. For example the bar area was sticky and had water spots all over the counter, there was no cover on the box spring, the furniture and walls had stains on them, several lights in the cottage were burnt out, the steam shower stripping was pulled back, our light on the patio did not have a lamp shade (curious as every other cottage near us had a lampshade), there were ladders on the side of our cottage, mildew on several doors, bathroom ceiling was peeling, dead bugs in the bathroom, holes in the screened in porch, the molding in the entryway separated from the fall, and we were surprised that there were no curtains on the largest wall of windows that caused us to wake up extremely early in the morning. Outside of the room quality I would say we were very disappointed with the overall hospitality- for example we were never told, not even at check in that octagon was the only open restaurant, meaning only 1 out of 8 or 9 was open and they didn’t feel it necessary to share this…..Our room was missing the touches I would have expected such as blankets for the patio, the lampshade on the patio lamp, our bikes had the names of the previous guests written on the back, we only had one set of towels. They offer “complimentary” items throughout the day including cookies and cocoa. When the cookies were put out in the afternoon there was chaos as limited to no staff was helping monitor the line which allowed for children to stick their hands into the marshmallow for the hot cocoa, rendering it unsanitary. We also heard several people saying they were staying in town at homes but still came for the complimentary items. The small details are what really make a stay stand out and for nearly 2K a night the resort fell extremely short. Food quality was a disappointment as not only was it limited but the quality was lacking. We opted for room service and when ordering we’re disappointed to learn items were unavailable including sweet potato fries, I would have expected the limited dining options to have been disclosed at check in if not at booking. Food on both occasions (breakfast and dinner) was extremely subpar and did not align with the menu. During our last visit our biggest issue was how everything was inedible and it was a disappointment to learn this again. I do not recommend anyone staying here and do not splurge for the luxury cottages, in my experience the standard rooms are much nicer and kept up to a better standard. I mentioned my concerns to the manager before we checked out. As we were only staying one night and got into our room much later than expected we were not able to share these any earlier. It’s a shame that the hotel staff felt the only acceptable action was to offer 50% off a nearly 2k night stay. In my opinion and from my experience here, they do not value customers opinions and are clearly struggling to keep it together. TLDR: overpriced and old rooms. Food is inedible. Grounds are very dirty and not well taken care of. Property is usually half closed and they charge full price and do not let you know of closures.

Wonderful place for a family getaway. Provides a wide range of activities to meet the needs of all of ages. It was a bit nostalgic watching the kids freely explore the property on bikes. Plenty of dining options to choose from.Service was exceptional. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice retreat.