The Cloister: Classic Sea Island Family Vacation Destination

What: The Cloister
Where: Sea Island, Georgia
Cost: Rates for Georgia residents start at $375, Others start at $395
Photos: Additional photos can be found on Field Trips with Sue on Facebook

For many Atlanta area families, Sea Island has been a mutigenerational destination for decades. For those of us that didn’t grow up in Georgia, it’s a beach resort along the Georgia coast our native neighbors seem to revere. For those of you who may have felt a little less welcome the past few years, I have good news, The Cloister is returning to its roots. For those who’ve never been, now’s a great time to finally experience the luxury of Sea Island. Special Georgia rates make it more affordable than it’s been in years and the resort is making a special effort to court families.

For those not familiar with The Cloister, in 2006, The hotel underwent a $350 million renovation, replacing almost entirely the resort built in 1929 as a temporary structure.  A century of generational family vacations builds an affinity for buildings and traditions. During the renovation, owners were keenly aware of the bonds guests felt with the resorts structures and traditions. They meticulously re-created several details from the original buildings such as the Spanish Lounge, incorporating the original stained glass windows and recreating details such as intake grates to create a new version of the familiar favorite. The result is a beautiful new hotel with a rich history even a new guest can appreciate.

Accommodations at this Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond Resort range from guest rooms, to suites and private cottages. The rooms are larger than normal. A typical Forbes Five-Star hotel room averages between 400 and 450 square feet. The smallest room at The Cloister is 700 square feet. In addition to ample elbow room, hotel rooms at The Cloister are exquisitely decorated with spectacular views. The large bathrooms have luxurious touches such as talcum powder in a crystal and silver shaker and bath crystals for your deep soaking tub. My children especially liked soaking in the tub while watching the bathroom TV.

If the hotel experience is all about the bed, The Cloister is at the top of the class. Even my children, who bring their own pillows with them, were tempted to trade out. Between the heavy curtains and the lavish bed, I had to wake even the youngest at 10 am rather than him waking us at his normal 7:30 am.

The Candy Store at The Cloister

The best part of a stay at the Cloister is the Beach Club. You enter through a hallway with gift shop, candy store and 1950’s era soda fountain, past Big George’s Bar and Grill to a grand area with three pools including an adult only lap pool, two family pools – one with zero entry, splash fountain, baby pool (with palm tree cover for the little ones and sun areas for mom) and hot tub. A row of hedges separate the pools from a grassy area for sun bathing, shuffleboard, beach volleyball and an incredible sand floor kids playground with unique climbing structures. A few steps beyond is the Atlantic Ocean and beach where you can pull up a complimentary chair and umbrella or just play in the sand. Since the Cloister is the only hotel on the otherwise residential Sea Island, the beach is only as crowded as the 175 hotel rooms and suites.

Pulling Crab Trabs while Kayaking

The Cloister has a dizzying array of activities ranging from golf and tennis, to horseback riding, fishing, boating and even a shooting school.  Some activities are adult oriented others specially designed for kids. My boys loved the air rifles at the shooting school and each child received a souvenir baseball cap. The resort has two 18-hole championship golf courses and has been rated No. 1 in the U.S. among “World’s 50 Best Golf Hotels” by Golf Digest Index. Several golf pros including: Davis Love, Matt Kucher and Zack Johnson play out of the Sea Island Golf Club.  A Spa and Fitness Center offers a variety of treatments, as well as relaxing facilities that beg you to linger.

Morning Coffee and Pastries at The Cloister

Each morning complimentary coffee, tea and pastries are offered in The Cloister’s main building. The plain biscuits are worth getting up early. In the afternoon, tea, lemonade and cookies are available.  Each day, kids and adults can enjoy a second run film in the Movie Theatre adjacent to the Beach Club. For $5, enjoy the movie on the big screen with a drink and popcorn. Take a visit back in time to the Soda Fountain where you can pick your tunes on the complimentary juke box and enjoy a divine two-scoop Gold Brick Sundae. Work off your treat by enjoying  the gorgeous manicured gardens with a walk around the resort; be sure to stop and see the live oaks planted by past U.S. presidents and heads of state from around the world.

For parents that want to enjoy some time away from the kids, the Cloister is known for fantastic children’s programs run by a team of Junior Staffers. Programs range from hour long sessions to daytime camps and an evening Children’s Dinner. 

The Playground Between the Pool and Beach

Junior Staffers are well vetted and it’s a difficult and coveted summer job. To be considered, you must be at least 18 years of age, have graduated from high school and currently attending college at a freshman level or higher at the time of application.  After a candidate applies and passes an initial phone interview, they must participate in a Junior Staff Trial Work Experience. These Experiences are a pre-requisite to the Junior Staff Summer Program and are essentially a working interview. There are 16 Experiences ranging from early October through Spring Break and are typically 5-7 days in length. Based on their performance during the Trial Work Experience, candidates may or may not be offered a summer position. If they are offered a position, most work one of three sessions that vary in length from 6-8 weeks.

Sea Island Vacations

Although we were provided a complimentary room and admissions for the purpose of reviewing (as is common in the travel industry), we only recommend places we would stay and products we would use