Everything but the… Wait Including the Kitchen Sink

Posted on by

I needed to put my feet in the sand and hear the sound of the ocean waves; it was a Island Vista Resortlong-over-due necessity. So we planned a weekend at Island Vista Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised with the amenities available in the suite, including one king bed, 1 sofa sleeper, 2 full baths, full kitchen, dining room, washer and dryer, in room safe, and an oceanfront balcony that offered access to both the living room and the bedroom. It provided everything a guest needed to stay for a night, a weekend, a week, or even a month.

Island Vista ResortThe suite was tastefully decorated with a Tropical British West Indies flare and offered a spectacular view of the blue Atlantic. Even though we arrived in the dark, I could hear the ocean waves crashing on the beach. I was instantly relaxed. The view of the pools and ocean below built the anticipation for the next day. I was tempted to run down and jump in the ocean right then but I’m no fool. I had no delusions about the temperature this time of year, even in Myrtle Beach. Watching the waves from the balcony was plenty of ocean for me on Friday night.

Island Vista Resort

The full kitchen had cupboards stocked with dishes, glasses, pots and pans, and Island Vista Resorteverything else we might need to prepare a meal. There were even granite counter tops and tile floors. We had no reason to leave the resort for meals, although I did want to try out a local Italian restaurant for dinner. When traveling with a child or children, it’s the in-suite amenities that make a hotel stay feel like home. We could easily put her milk in the fridge, boil water for bottles, and prepare her meals and snacks in the room. It eliminated any added stress. The highlight for Athena was the low stocked pots and pans. She quickly found that cupboard and created her own kitchen band. Luckily, there wasn’t anything breakable on the bottom shelves.

Island Vista ResortThe bathrooms were huge with tile flooring, and more importantly, fans. I know that sounds like a minor detail but stay at a few hotels without bathroom fans and see if you feel the same way. The master bath had double vanities, a Jacuzzi tub, and a separate shower. That’s where I felt most at home. Since moving into our new house a month ago, I’ve really become spoiled with the separate shower and double vanities. Having similar amenities at a hotel was a pleasant surprise.

The massive living area had an 8 person dining room table, tray ceilings, a television, a pull-out sofa, and tons of seating. The balcony assess spanned the entire wall and extended into the master bedroom. The master bedroom had it’s own television, a king bed, walk-in closets, and plush bedding. There was plenty of room for a crib for Athena, which the hotel provided and we could still access the balcony without feeling crowded.

Island Vista Resort

Island Vista ResortIt wasn’t until Saturday that I realized that there was even a washer and dryer. What a Island Vista Resort, Myrtle Beachperfect addition to a beachfront hotel room! We were in and out of the pool and the ocean both days. Normally, I stand in the bathroom with the hair dryer for twenty minutes rather than putting on a wet suit.  I was delighted to have a place to dry our bathing suits in between swims without wasting my time doing it.

Our weekend at Island Vista Resort successfully reminded me that monthly beach vacations are required, but our next stay will be extended. We’re thinking about staying for a week next time and Darren can work directly from the hotel. With all the amenities of a home, anything is possible.

39 thoughts on “Everything but the… Wait Including the Kitchen Sink”

  22. Have you ever seen the movie Napolean Dynamite? Lots of folks don’t like it … and I believe that’s so because they don’t understand it. Anyway, I’ve gotten off track! There’s a great, and very simple, line from that movie that comes to mind! L-U-C-K-E-Y .. if you know the movie you know the sort of inflection used when it is spoken! Looks like you’re having a very relaxing time. Nice. D

    Like

    Reply ↓

  27. Nice to see that you travel WITH a kid. I hear so many people say they stop. Of course life changes, but I always saw it as a positive change, a “rearranging things in another way, but just as fun way”…and of course, still taking time off for yourself. …but I’m just starting to learn with taking on some kids to mentor/foster and taking them places. So I’m very much discovering what others do and how they pull it together!! Thank you! 🙂

    Like

    Reply ↓

  30. My dad has enjoyed Myrtle beach many a time and I have yet to visit. That is a hotel worth spending time in and great for keeping children comfortable. Thanks for the post. Your daughter is so beautiful. Love that smile!

    Like

    Reply ↓

  33. Love it, the next time you are looking for a get-away let me know, I own a timeshare with Marriott and have several 7-day weeks to rent at various resorts including our home resort in Orlando. We haven’t been able to get away since 2009 and they are just being banked.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  35. It only counts as a REAL trip to Myrtle Beach if you visit the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove, immortalized in not one but TWO novels of speculative fiction: Mine (“Immaculate Deception”) and “Zero History” by William Gibson – who was born right up the road in Conway.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  36. Funny how a travel adventure changes the way you look at things when you include a toddler! The bathtub, the washer & dryer, the fridge and kitchen sink. Solo, they were nice to haves; but with toddler in tow, they are AWESOME. We used to stay at Residence Inn whenever we were taking ski trips with the family; nice to have the 2 bedroom suite, so the kids had their own bathrooms; we could pop a Stauffers lasagna in the oven after a long day on the slopes, etc. Have you discovered travelling with a roll of masking tape? Great way to “baby proof” a room quickly; electrical outlets; cabinet doors with breakables inside, etc. 🙂

    Like

    Reply ↓

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s