The 10 best hotels in Myrtle Beach

Feel like a king at this towering resort, literally – you can see from almost anywhere on the coast. The rooms range from lavish, one- to five-bedroom condos and two-story townhouses, to private villages and cottages along tree-lined streets. While every room is spacious (think 9ft-high ceilings, double doors and walk-in closets), the real gem is the Bridge. Suspended between the resort’s two towers, this 5,200-square-foot penthouse has seven bedrooms, seven and a half baths, a media room and a private balcony with panoramic ocean views. We’d book that one just to find out what half a bath is.

This moderate beach hotel has all the amenities of a Hilton – like modern rooms with private balconies, Hilton Serenity Beds, LCD flatscreen TVs and more – with the added benefit of the gigantic SPLASH! Waterpark. Staying here means never having to leave, thanks to that and a host of other on-site attractions. Start your day with Starbucks coffee from The Bakery, then spend your afternoon at the beach, taking a golf or tennis lesson, or at SPLASH! Raining? Spend the day at the latter; the whole waterpark is indoors.

It’s hard to miss this all-glass hotel, which stands 20 stories high from its spot on North Ocean Boulevard. All of the rooms are apartment-style, and they all have full bedrooms, living and dining areas, sofa beds, private balconies and full kitchens. Neutral hues and bright teal accents make the hotel interior look like a giant piece of the kind of seaglass you find on a beach, but the real focal points are the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that look right out onto the ocean. They almost make you feel like you’re on it.

If you’re in town to party, Broadway at the Beach is Myrtle Beach’s top party spot, with everything from live music and sports bars, to a comedy club and even a dueling piano bar. And the obvious place to stay if you want to experience its myriad offerings in a leisurely fashion is this friendly, well-kept and comfortable chain hotel – it’s steps from all the fun. Its 11 rooms are all bright and spacious, and should you need a night off from the dueling pianos or wannabe Jerry Seinfelds, the beach is just a mile away.

The fun doesn’t stop at this grand hotel, which packs 3.5 acres of oceanfront property with waterparks, restaurants, pools, a fitness center, shops, a coffee shop and an Entertainment Zone with a bowling alley and pool tables. Every room is painted a sunshine yellow and has a direct view of the ocean; the largest is the oceanfront one-bedroom suite with a fully-equipped kitchen, a living room, a separate bedroom and a private balcony.

If you’re traveling with your family, there’s no better place to stay than Dunes Village Resort. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the Atlantic Ocean, while the room’s pastel hues, floral curtains, rustic woods and wicker accents bring a touch of the outdoors in. The hotel’s four-bedroom condos with full kitchens and separate living areas are winners in their own right, but add in an indoor 30,000 sq ft waterpark with 250ft-long lazy river ride, a massive swimming pool with water volleyball, different hot tubs, a kids’ splash area and a submarine and it’s a slamdunk.

Luxury is the norm at this expansive upscale resort, which includes an on-site spa, private beach cabanas and the Grande Dunes par-72 golf course. Washers, dryers, and glass showers kitted out with Tommy Bahamas amenities make every room feel like a king or queen’s lair, but the real treasure is the view: every room has a private balcony with sweeping views of the Intercoastal Waterway and golf course. A private shuttle connects guests to the beach just minutes away.

This boutique property has all of the amenities of a mega hotel, with the one-on-one service and charm cozy hotels like these are known for. In each guest room, aquamarine walls match the teal Atlantic Ocean shimmering through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Outside it, the Strand has everything a good vacation needs – like a pool, beach access, a fitness center and even free breakfast – but what makes it stand out is the service. The staff go the extra mile to make sure every guest feels at home, and at the hotel restaurant, the chef will whip up anything you want.

Get a touch of the West Indies at this beach hotel, where no room is smaller than 264 square feet, every guest has a private balcony and (because of its prime stretch of sand) no high-rises block the view. And speaking of the view, dine in front of it at the award-winning Cypress Room, or order a housemade Bacon Cheeseburger pizza right to your room. The hotel’s Four-Bedroom Villas can sleep up to 14, and the resort is so big that there’s plenty for everyone to do. The three indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, lazy river, tunnels, waterfalls, a kids zone made to look like Ancient ruins, oceanside massages and a tanning lawn should be a good start.

Don’t want to stay in the busy part of town? Retreat to South Wind on the Ocean, your very own sandcastle in North Myrtle Beach. The five-bedroom oceanfront condos can sleep up to 12, and they all have Victorian furniture, fully equipped kitchens and wrought iron balconies. The resort is a modern-day fairytale: there are gardens, fountains, indoor and outdoor pools and a lazy river. Take a dip in one of the oceanfront whirlpools and trust us your quiet escape will truly feel like an… escape.