The Dunlin, Auberge Resorts Collection

Missing the mark Pros: Rooms and grounds are beautiful, new and spacious. You truly feel like you’ve been transported when you arrive. The screened in porches are a very nice touch. Beds are very comfortable. The service by the pool was quick and they were very attentive. Spa staff also very friendly. Cons: For an Auberge and for the type of experience you expect from this caliber of property - they are seriously missing the mark. Linettes: The service was subpar. I’m not sure if it was the waiters experience but both attentiveness and brevity were unacceptable for the money you are paying to dine. The options are extremely limited for a property that is so isolated and the food was not very good. Things we did enjoy were the bread and crab dip. Everything else was not worth the price. Filet was dry and the broccoli was room temperature when it arrived. Service: when checking out we called the front desk several times on both the hotel landline and cell - no one picked up. We wanted help with our bags since our room was the last building and third floor (no elevator). I texted the concierge - they responded after 10 minutes and no one showed up. After 30 minutes we finally got thru to someone to send a bellman. Not being able to get in touch with staff is a HUGE flaw for this type of resort and did not leave a great last impression. I am trying to fair balance my review but the cons are big ones especially when experiencing high end properties around the world.

If you’re looking for the most gorgeous boutique hotel in the Charleston area, this is IT! Situated right on the river and oriented to enjoy the gorgeous natural landscape, this hotel is just beyond lovely. The decor is both cozy and elegant and with such an incredible attention to detail, it feels like you’re staying at the home of your most sophisticated southern friend’s vacation home. The staff is OUTSTANDING- anticipating your needs, offering bottles of water, hustling to get your car, and stopping to suggest a great restaurant and have a chat. The restaurant on property, Linettes, is also superb - the food is inventive and delicious and the wait staff is top notch. The Willett Room has the best lattes and scones and wonderful, creative cocktails- ask for Darrel, who will take fine care of you and suggest the perfect signature cocktail to suit your fancy. We never wanted to leave and will certainly be back as soon as possible!

The Dunlin in South Carolina is a beautiful property with stunning natural surroundings, but it falls short of the high expectations expected at an Auberge property. While the setting is serene, the lack of indoor common areas to relax is noticeable. The biggest drawback is the limited dining options—having only one restaurant on the entire property means the menu should offer more variety to justify the exclusivity. Additionally, while the food is excellent, the value for the price isn’t quite there. The pool is well-maintained, albeit small, and the poolside service is a highlight. The gym and spa facilities are lovely, but the gym, which technically belongs to local residents, requires staff assistance for access, which is an inconvenience. The rooms themselves are beautifully designed, with elegant decor, comfortable beds, and lovely bathrooms. However, since the rooms are all located outside, inclement weather—like the rain we experienced—makes the trek to and from the main areas less than ideal. The staff at The Dunlin is incredible, but there simply aren’t enough of them to provide the level of service expected at a resort of this caliber. While it is understandable that this is the low season, the limited staffing is still noticeable. That said, the biking and walking areas are truly stunning, offering a great way to explore the property. Overall, The Dunlin has a lot of potential but still needs to refine its offerings, particularly in dining and overall guest accessibility. With some adjustments, it has the foundation to become a standout destination, but for now, it has a few kinks to work out.

TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE with the Dunlin. Do NOT waste your time. Made a reservation 5.5 months ago (Aug. 20th 2024) and they EMAILED me today (Feb. 4 2025) 5 and half months after making the reservation telling me my reservation was cancelled. I had already paid half the room upfront too. Their solution was for ME to book a different stay and would offer me $200 resort credit. Why would I ever want to come back if a reservation doesn't mean anything. They screwed up and didn't block off enough rooms for a group and just realized it so decided to cancel my reservation to fix their problem. If they would've canceled my reservation a week after I made it, a month, maybe even 2 months I may have understood. However, they waited until almost 6 months after the reservation was made to realize their mistake and their own incompetence. Instead of taking ownership of their mistake after that much time had past and telling the group they messed up with the bookings, they just decided to cancel my room and probably some others. Put their mistake off on me to deal with. Again, reservation was made 5.5 months ago!! Awful service from what is supposed to be a 5 Star Hospitality group. Glad we aren't going now if this is how they treat their guests before even arriving, can't imagine what its like once you actually get there.

Linnettes was great. There are some nice boutique details within the guest rooms and the design is nice. I didn’t appreciate that the place seemed pretty empty in dead of winter and yet I was still given a room with a view of a parking lot. There was very little to do since it was cold. No availability at spa for services and hardly saw anyone going in/out of the spa all day. Makes me wonder how many they are staffed to serve. Housekeeping staff came to clean and turndown room near 8:30pm after we got back from dinner and so they don’t seem to have timing down. In summary, there is still a great deal to work on before they will be worth the price to stay.

We spent 2 nights at the Dunlin the week of Christmas. Absolutely stunning property and rooms. Perfect for 2-3 night stays. The resort is situated on the Kiawah River. Note there is no beach or golf access; however, numerous activities are available. Most for additional fee. I did a candle making class but there are bike paths, kayaks, fire pits, fitness classes, all sorts of stuff. Or you can just relax on the screened porch which we also enjoyed. The food was quite good and well-thought out but somewhat limited. I especially enjoyed the pickled shrimp at Linettes. You would definitely want to go off campus if staying more than a couple nights. Gym was great with lots of equipment and a sauna. I didn’t visit the spa but my friend who was also there said it was great. I booked a suite to give us more room but the king rooms also look spacious. Definitely book a river view. Our only issue was lack of noise insulation between the rooms. Service was fantastic across the board. What you would expect from Auberge. We had an issue and they resolved it quickly, professionally, and without question. Overall, highly recommend. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays, and I would love to visit in the spring/fall to enjoy more of the outdoor activities.