The Dunlin, Kiawah River

The Dunlin in South Carolina is a beautiful property with stunning natural surroundings, but it falls short of the high expectations expected at an Auberge property. While the setting is serene, the lack of indoor common areas to relax is noticeable. The biggest drawback is the limited dining options—having only one restaurant on the entire property means the menu should offer more variety to justify the exclusivity. Additionally, while the food is excellent, the value for the price isn’t quite there. The pool is well-maintained, albeit small, and the poolside service is a highlight. The gym and spa facilities are lovely, but the gym, which technically belongs to local residents, requires staff assistance for access, which is an inconvenience. The rooms themselves are beautifully designed, with elegant decor, comfortable beds, and lovely bathrooms. However, since the rooms are all located outside, inclement weather—like the rain we experienced—makes the trek to and from the main areas less than ideal. The staff at The Dunlin is incredible, but there simply aren’t enough of them to provide the level of service expected at a resort of this caliber. While it is understandable that this is the low season, the limited staffing is still noticeable. That said, the biking and walking areas are truly stunning, offering a great way to explore the property. Overall, The Dunlin has a lot of potential but still needs to refine its offerings, particularly in dining and overall guest accessibility. With some adjustments, it has the foundation to become a standout destination, but for now, it has a few kinks to work out.

What a fabulous property with even more fabulous staff/service! I stayed 3 nights with my pup (all Auberge properties allow dogs which is what drawn me to it) last week. Wonderful newer resort with amazing amenities. I think the best parts were relaxing in the soaking tub, having my pup visit the local farm animals (a 0.5 walk away), and enjoying cocktails at the Willet room. This property is PERFECT to bring your pup…so many walking trails, as well as a dog park. Also, bring the fam. Plenty of activities to do. It’s about a 30 min easy drive to Charleston. I have zero complaints about any part of my stay. Sam at valet is a true gentleman who gave impeccable service and recommendations.

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE with the Dunlin. Do NOT waste your time. Made a reservation 5.5 months ago (Aug. 20th 2024) and they EMAILED me today (Feb. 4 2025) 5 and half months after making the reservation telling me my reservation was cancelled. I had already paid half the room upfront too. Their solution was for ME to book a different stay and would offer me $200 resort credit. Why would I ever want to come back if a reservation doesn't mean anything. They screwed up and didn't block off enough rooms for a group and just realized it so decided to cancel my reservation to fix their problem. If they would've canceled my reservation a week after I made it, a month, maybe even 2 months I may have understood. However, they waited until almost 6 months after the reservation was made to realize their mistake and their own incompetence. Instead of taking ownership of their mistake after that much time had past and telling the group they messed up with the bookings, they just decided to cancel my room and probably some others. Put their mistake off on me to deal with. Again, reservation was made 5.5 months ago!! Awful service from what is supposed to be a 5 Star Hospitality group. Glad we aren't going now if this is how they treat their guests before even arriving, can't imagine what its like once you actually get there.

We spent 2 nights at the Dunlin the week of Christmas. Absolutely stunning property and rooms. Perfect for 2-3 night stays. The resort is situated on the Kiawah River. Note there is no beach or golf access; however, numerous activities are available. Most for additional fee. I did a candle making class but there are bike paths, kayaks, fire pits, fitness classes, all sorts of stuff. Or you can just relax on the screened porch which we also enjoyed. The food was quite good and well-thought out but somewhat limited. I especially enjoyed the pickled shrimp at Linettes. You would definitely want to go off campus if staying more than a couple nights. Gym was great with lots of equipment and a sauna. I didn’t visit the spa but my friend who was also there said it was great. I booked a suite to give us more room but the king rooms also look spacious. Definitely book a river view. Our only issue was lack of noise insulation between the rooms. Service was fantastic across the board. What you would expect from Auberge. We had an issue and they resolved it quickly, professionally, and without question. Overall, highly recommend. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays, and I would love to visit in the spring/fall to enjoy more of the outdoor activities.

I really wanted to love it here. The surroundings and design of the room is just beautiful, but….. 1)the staff is lovely but there aren’t enough of them. I waited at reception for 10 minutes with not a person in sight. 2) ordered wine at the bar and received dirty glass. They were extremely apologetic and gave me a very large pour but it didn’t feel great to return the glass 3) there is literally an elephant in heels above me. We are on the second floor and it appears the female guest above me is trying to get her steps in for the day. The whole room reverberates with each step. 4) there is not enough lighting on the pathways to the rooms. It’s dark and rainy, would be nice to see where I’m going. Bishops lodge has golf carts, I was told it isn’t far enough here to warrant them. How about it being dark and pouring rain? 5) took forever to get our bags. As I mentioned at the beginning, the staff are trying very hard and I’m rooting for them. At 1300 a night, I expect more. I definitely expect to not hear the amount of neighbor noise I am hearing. I’m so disappointed and I doubt we will come back again.