While the hotel may be in a near perfect location, keep in mind that ultimately, it is still a Holiday Inn. Now I have nothing against Holiday Inn, in fact, I enjoy staying at their many wonderful hotels, but they are not five-star by a long shot. What I like about Holiday Inn is that you can almost always trust that you will be taken care of, from good service to a clean, comfortable bed, and the Holiday Inn Oceanfront doesn't disappoint.

The Pros: Though the rooms could use some updating, they are still relatively well-kept. There is a microwave and refrigerator in-room, 32" LCD TV with free HBO, and free wireless internet access, which was very easy to access and reliable during our stay. For those of you looking for some nightlife, stop by the "tiki hut" directly behind the hotel on the beach. The tiki hut is somewhat of a local hangout making it a great spot to meet new people.

The Cons: Unless you have an oceanfront room you will likely not have a very good view from your room. The oceanfront rooms have balconies, but they are very small, probably too small to even use. The breakfast buffet was surprisingly not complimentary; it costs $9.95, which is too much in my book. Some of the housekeeping staff did not speak English making it impossible to ask them any questions.

Overall: The Holiday Inn Oceanfront is a terrific option for your stay on Hilton Head Island. I would suggest if you want to visit Hilton Head Island on a budget to stay here. The hotel is nice, service is great, location is perfect for relaxing on the beach, and close to shops and restaurants; you can't get much better than that on a budget.

Room rates are on average around $125/night. Check out the official site at hihiltonhead.com

Unlike most hotel rooms which are a bit cramped and give you somewhat of a trapped feeling, all 296 of the Hilton Oceanfront Resort's guest rooms are over-sized, measuring in at more than one and a half times the size of an average hotel room. Each guest room features a mini-kitchen with a full size table with seating for four people, microwave and refrigerator, and for some entertainment I recommend taking advantage of the complimentary high speed internet access, TV with on-command movies (easy to use!), and a Playstation. For some relaxing you can either spend your time walking the beach, as I love to do, or sit on your private balcony with views of either the charming courtyard or beautiful oceanfront.

The Pros: The rooms are fairly modern, fitted with tropical décor. The beds are very comfortable. The kitchen and table make it convenient to bring food back or even consider making something of your own inside the room, a great way to save some money by avoiding the restaurants. If you are not into that idea though there are plenty of fabulous restaurants nearby, including the Santa Fe Café.

The Cons: The courtyard can be somewhat noisy, though the problem is quickly fixed by closing the sliding glass door and shutting the curtain. All the doors slam which is not only annoying when it's your own door, but can be incredibly annoying when you are trying to sleep in and you hear other doors slamming. One of the elevators continually had problems during our visit, sometimes not working at all and other times just simply making guests nervous with its unpredictable behavior. The last complaint isn't so much a problem just a suggested improvement; the balcony is a fantastic addition to the room, but it would be so much better if it had a light.

Overall: I highly recommend the Hilton Oceanfront Resort for those of you on a mid-range, or even a high-end budget, looking for a superb oceanfront location. The location is wonderful, grounds are dazzling, rooms are spacious and beds are delightful. Book a room at the Hilton Oceanfront Resort and you're in for a tropical paradise.

Room rates are on average around $200/night. Check out the official site at hiltonheadhilton.com

Check-in is made particularly easy thanks to the friendly staff, made up mostly of exchange students from as far away as Europe and Africa. Once you have checked-in your butler will escort you and give a tour of your room. We stayed on the top floor of the Inn with a spacious balcony overlooking the picturesque first hole of the Harbour Town Golf Links. I highly recommend requesting a room with a first hole view as it is one of the best.

Each of the 60 rooms at the Inn are elegantly decorated, featuring luxurious four poster beds, desk with a Harbour Town Lighthouse-replica lamp, captivating artwork, and that's just the beginning. Through the French doors you will find the bathroom, equally as amazing as the room itself, featuring marble counters, a large mirror and a lighted make-up mirror, a European soaking tub and a separate walk-in corner shower. No matter whether you like taking baths or not, I guarantee you will fall in love with the European soaking tub. I will absolutely be buying one for my home.

The Pros: The rooms are about as close to perfect as you can get. It is clear that there was a lot of thought put into every detail. Each room features a 27" flat screen television with premium channels, high-speed internet, plenty of closet space (plush robes inside), wine rack and wine glasses, a reading chair with a lamp, and an executive desk area with two chairs. There is nightly turn-down service with delicious chocolates. Without a doubt, the luxurious four poster beds, grand bathroom with its European soaking tub, and the balcony with amazing views make the Inn at Harbour Town a must when visiting Hilton Head Island.

The Cons: As I mentioned before, we found things at the Inn to be as close to perfect as we've come across in all of our travels. We did come across a few things that could be improved upon, but they didn't have a negative impact on our stay. There wasn't a light on the balcony, which we would have liked so that we could have enjoyed it while also getting some work done or just to read a magazine. The Inn offers complimentary bike rentals so that you can take in the sights all around Sea Pines. Unfortunately, there isn't an attendant at the bike stand so if you experience any problems with the bike you have to go back to the front desk. When we had a minor problem the staff took care of it immediately. The only other issue is that the Inn is away from all the tourist hang-outs, so you will have to drive quite a bit, but it is well worth it.

Overall: For those with a larger budget, stay at the Inn at Harbour Town in Sea Pines. The Inn is beautiful inside and out and the staff will make sure that you are well taken care of. We couldn't have asked for a better experience at the Inn and we are sure you won't have any complaints either.

Room rates are on average around $275/night. Check out the official site at innatharbourtown.com

- Chad Kennedy, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief