During a recent girls’ trip with my mom to South Carolina, we wanted to explore Charleston and enjoy beach time on Kiawah Island. We spent two nights at the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn, just outside of Kiawah Island.
Here’s my review on the Andell Inn, including everything you need to know before booking a stay and whether I would stay here again.
When you make purchases through the links in my post, I may earn commissions at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As always, I only provide links to products and services I recommend. Read my full disclosure here.
- About the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn
- Where is the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn Located?
- Is there a Resort Fee at the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn?
- Rooms at the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn
- Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn Amenities
- Pros to Staying at the Hotel
- Cons to Staying at the Hotel
- Final Thoughts – Would I Stay Here Again?
About the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn
The Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn is part of Marriott Bonvoy and falls under the Residence Inn brand. It’s technically regarded as a Residence Inn Platinum Hotel.
I’ve stayed at A LOT of Residence Inns over the years, and their only resemblance to this property were the room layouts (room details below).
Other than that, everything has a luxury feel to it. The walls of the hotel are filled with beautiful artwork from paintings and wildlife photographs to stunning statues. And almost everything is for sale – some for tens of thousands of dollars!
The main lobby of the property is gorgeous with elegant couches, chairs, artwork, and a fireplace.
And the service is spectacular. The front desk staff is very eager to assist with anything you might need during your stay, as are the breakfast staff and the bartenders.
Where is the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn Located?
The Andell Inn is located at 300 Farm Lake View, Kiawah Island, SC 29455. The property is located about 45 minutes from Charleston International Airport.
While technically a Kiawah Island address, the property is located before the gated entrance to Kiawah Island and thus does not get you access to the rest of the island as a hotel guest.
If you’re planning an itinerary full of things to do in Charleston, I would not recommend staying at this hotel as it’s about a 45-minute drive to downtown Charleston.
Is there a Resort Fee at the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn?
The property charges a $14 daily destination fee that’s added to your bill at the end of your stay.
The staff at check-in indicated that the destination fee allows for free parking and shuttle access to Kiawah Beachwalker Park. I did not use either service and did not feel the hotel amenities offered were worthy of a destination fee.
Rooms at the Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn
I enjoyed a two-bedroom suite during my stay at the Andell Inn. I booked a standard king room using a free night certificate that I received by earning the welcome bonus on this business card. I then used a nightly upgrade award to select a two-bedroom suite.
The suite was perfect for my mom and me. It featured two bedrooms – one with a king bed and one with two queen beds – separated by the living room and full kitchen. This room would also be ideal for a family or couples traveling together.
Each room had a large window that overlooked a small lake. We did have views of the construction of the new senior living facility going up (anticipated completion date of 2025), but the view was still very nice and the construction was not bothersome.
My favorite feature of the room was the artwork. Much like the rest of the property, the room had fantastic wall decor. There was a fun turtle painting in the kitchen, a cute dog image in one of the bedrooms, and a stunning bird photo in the living room.
Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn Amenities
Free Breakfast
Aside from the location, one of the main reasons I chose this hotel was for the free breakfast. I always love a good complimentary breakfast, but this one comes with bottomless mimosas! Seriously!
The breakfast is a standard continental breakfast with items like eggs, meat, pastries, and cereal. They do have a fun pancake maker instead of the traditional waffle maker.
The hotel offers a build-your-own mimosa bar (champagne and orange juice) to go along with your breakfast. It was such a fun touch. And there are so many incredible spots to sit and enjoy your morning mimosa while taking in the view.
The Porch Bar
The hotel has a bar that opens at 3pm every day, serving light fare and drinks. I found the bar to be very pricey. A glass of wine was $17 and specialty cocktails were $18 (I went to the market across the street and got an entire bottle of good wine for $15).
With that being said, the bartender was very friendly and made great drinks. It’s also a nice spot to socialize with other hotel guests, especially if you are traveling alone.
Saltwater Pool
The pool was definitely the highlight of the property for me. It’s a beautiful outdoor, heated, salt-water pool complete with plenty of sun. The pool features in-water loungers, stairs for easy access, and a ledge to sit.
The pool deck includes very comfy loungers with cushions, several tables with chairs, and a few umbrellas for shade.
Just off the pool deck is a covered porch with a small dining area and a comfy seating area complete with a large tv for watching sports.
The biggest downside to the pool is that there is no pool-side service and the hotel restaurant/bar does not open until 3pm. If you want food or drinks during the day, you’ll need to buy something from the market or go to the shopping center across the street.
I fully realize that there is not typically pool-side service at a Residence Inn, but this is not your typical Residence Inn and with the extra amenities already added, pool-side service (or the restaurant open) would be nice.
Fitness Room
The fitness room at the hotel is pretty typical for a Residence Inn with an array of cardio machines and an assortment of dumbbells. The step-up at the Andell Inn is that they also have two Peloton bikes, a rower, and a stair climber – machines you don’t find at most low-tier hotels.
Shopping
The hotel’s proximity to Freshfields Village is a highlight of any stay at Charleston Kiawah Island/Andell Inn. Located just steps from the lobby of the hotel, Freshfields Village is an outdoor retail destination featuring restaurants, shops, and spa services.
My mom and I spent most of a day walking around the Village and enjoying the unique shops. Some of our favorites: Dolittle’s (pet shop), The Station, Indigo Books, Cantina 76, and of course, Lululemon.
Pros to Staying at the Hotel
The hotel is very nice with excellent and attentive staff. Beautiful artwork lines the walls of the hotel. Parking is free – kind of! It’s included in the resort fee.
The location of the hotel is wonderful. It’s directly across the street from Freshfields Village, which is an outdoor shopping center filled with local and name-brand stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.
It also provides easy access to Kiawah Island via paved bike trails (or car), although Kiawah Island is gated and you’ll need a reason to enter the area.
Cons to Staying at the Hotel
Kiawah Island is a gated community and since the hotel is outside the island, you do not get access to Kiawah Island by being a guest of the hotel. In order to get onto Kiawah Island, you’ll need to provide a specific place to gate security.
Since we did not have a car, I opted not to try to get on the island and just explored the public beach park instead.
It’s a 45 minute drive from Charleston so if you want to go back and forth during your stay, you might want to consider a hotel closer to downtown Charleston.
There is a new luxury senior living facility going up right across the lake from the property. Many of the rooms have views of the construction and will have views of the finished property. While I had a view of the construction from my room, the construction noise was barely noticeable inside.
Final Thoughts – Would I Stay Here Again?
While I really enjoyed my stay at the Andell Inn, it’s not on my short list to go back. I definitely want to go back to Kiawah Island, but I’d choose to stay on the island and have access to all of the island amenities.
During our first night of the trip, my mom and I stayed at the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront and that far exceeded my expectations. I honestly expected the Andell Inn to be better, and while the property was more luxurious, I enjoyed my stay at the Courtyard much more.
With that being said, this is a fantastic option if you’re exploring the area or want to shop during your visit. It’s also much more affordable than many options directly on Kiawah, and I could book fully on points. Since it’s right across from Freshfields Village, shopping is right at your fingertips and no car is needed.
However, I was hoping to be closer to the beach and felt the website somewhat misled how “easy” access to Kiawah would be.
