Seaside Luxury on a Shoestring Budget: The Inn at Sea Island

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this southern gem, The Cloister is an elegant resort located on one of the string of barrier islands off the coast of Georgia. In fact, Sea Island is The Cloister. The resort is an ultimate luxury destination with gracious southern hospitality, a lovely mixture of comfort and refinement.

I recently spent a long weekend at The Inn at Sea Island, the budget-friendly lodging option at The Cloister. Though it’s technically located on St. Simon’s Island, it is a short drive or bicycle ride away from the main grounds. And while The Cloister can set you back well over a grand a night for a room, The Inn at Sea Island is a much more economical option, figuring in at a small fraction of that per night.

The Inn offers a beautifully maintained space with clean and modern design. The rooms are bright and airy, accented with sea themed cool blues and seagrass beige.

For only twenty-five dollars per night, you gain access to all of The Cloister grounds. This includes the decadent Sea Island Beach Club, Spa, and multiple restaurants. It felt truly luxurious spending the days at the beach and spa, and the Inn was so sweet I really didn’t mind that I wasn’t staying overnight on the grounds.

The Sea Island Beach Club is probably the main attraction, with five miles of private beach and three swimming pools – both kid-friendly and adult-only pools – offering options for solo retreats, couple getaways, or family vacations. You can walk right off the beach for casual patio dining at the Southern Tide, which offers seafood with southern charm. It’s fine to wear your beach attire; just make sure you have a cover-up.

For a dressier lunch or dinner you can opt for the Georgian Room, a sophisticated Forbes Five-Star restaurant decorated in gold and champagne, glittering crystal chandeliers, fine china, and linens. I especially enjoyed the Oak Room at the Lodge, a cozy, dark-paneled tavern reminiscent of a fine gentlemen’s club. There are just too many dining options to list in a short article, so be sure to check them all out before you go.

To feel exquisitely pampered, I can’t stress enough to visit the spa. There is an additional nominal fee, but I assure you it is well worth it. I spent much of my time at the stunning indoor pool and more time than I care to admit lounging in the sauna with a cool-tub.

Off grounds, you can enjoy a horseback ride along the beach. I’ve been on much more economical rides in my travels, but being someone who seeks out riding opportunities wherever I go, it didn’t take much debate for me to pull the trigger on this one. There’s something so soothing about the rhythmic cadence of horseback set against the soundtrack of waves.   

If you have had your heart set on visiting Sea Island, but never thought you could swing the budget, I highly recommend looking into The Inn at Sea Island for your accommodations. You’ll save enough on your lodging to splurge on the spa and other area activities. And I promise you the experience will be the kind of luxury you wouldn’t expect to gain on a modest budget.