Jekyll Island, Georgia is known for its casual vibe and unspoiled natural beauty. Because 60% of the island must remain undeveloped by state law, it’s ideal for a romantic retreat or unwinding with family. After a day of biking, golfing, fishing, or lying on the beach, you’ll want a comfortable place to stay. The Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island, with its ¼ mile of beachfront property, delivers on this promise.
Thanks to the Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island for hosting us. As always, as opinions are our own.
Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island
Planning a trip to the Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island? Here are a few of the comforts you’ll find at this resort.
The Rooms:
All of the 157 guest rooms are spacious, decorated in a light, airy, beach theme, and most overlook the ocean. The room options range from traditional styles with one king or two queen beds to suites. Three types of suites are available, including a popular option for families; the kids’ suites with bunk beds. An additional bonus of having a suite is the privacy factor; all of these rooms are located on the second floor and include a private balcony.
Our suite consisted of a living & dining room combination, a kitchenette, and a bathroom. The bedroom was separated from the living and bathroom areas by a short foyer containing a roomy closet. I liked the design of the rooms too. The bedroom was located in front of the suite. Because my husband is an early bird and I am a night owl, he could go to bed whenever he wanted and shut the bedroom door. I still had the entire living area, bathroom, kitchenette and patio to myself. If we had been sharing the room with the kids, it would have been easy to sit on the patio and chat without disturbing anyone sleeping in the bedroom.
Several other perks included in the suite was the pull-out sleeper sofa, the starter set of dish detergent in the kitchen, and an assortment of basic kitchen utensils. Of course, traditional rooms still come with plenty of amenities like a microwave, a mini-fridge, and a coffee maker with tea and coffee supplies. For those of us who like to stay connected with all our devices, it’s no problem. There’s plenty of electrical outlets and access to high-speed Wi-Fi. And, bonus, kids 19 and under stay free when sharing their parents’ room.
The Amenities:
It’s only a few steps to the ocean and the white-sand beaches. All of the beaches are public so you can walk for miles-literally, enjoy a picnic, build sandcastles or bask in the sun. If you need a break from lying on the beach, you’ll find plenty of relaxing activities at the Holiday Inn Resort. Take a dip in the pool while enjoying the view of the Atlantic, or lie in one of the beds or chairs around the pool and soak up the sun and feel the balmy breeze. There’s also an outdoor whirlpool and a separate kiddie pool located in the pool complex. Directly behind the pool area, you’ll find an ocean-themed playground. Since we visited in the off-season, we gathered around the fire pit in the slightly chilly evenings.
Want some time to yourself? Check out the state of the art fitness center. Located on the third floor of the main building beside Northshore Coffee and Martini bar, it has such a beautiful view of the water that it could almost motivate me to exercise. During the high season, an on-site kid’s club is available for an additional fee. The directors focus on outdoor activities, but if it is raining they’re prepared! There’s a kids’room across from the fitness center.
Looking for a way to get the entire family to explore the island? Stop in the lobby and rent bikes. The island has 20 miles of flat paved bike trials. It’s easy to pedal to any destination on the island.
The Restaurants:
Feeling hungry? You never have to leave the resort. They have options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a Marketplace in the lobby with snacks. For a light bite by the pool, try The Anchor. It’s open daily during the high season from March until October. When I visited in November, it was only open on weekends. This is the place to enjoy a drink or a wrap, hamburger, or a seafood dish.
For a quick snack, try Northshore Coffee and Martini Bar. During the day they serve specialty coffee drinks, pastries, and other light items. At 4 PM they open as the Martini Bar, with unique martinis and classic cocktails. I was assured the view from the balcony was gorgeous so I had to see it myself. I agreed once I gazed out over the island and the ocean.
Looking for a sitdown meal? The Beach House serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily and specializes in seafood and other goodies. We visited for dinner one evening and went back the next morning for breakfast! For a starter, we tried that Southern specialty, the fried green tomatoes. They were lightly breaded, fried to perfection, and served with a remoulade sauce. My only disappointment was that there were only three slices.
There were so many options on the menu I wanted to try, but we finally settled on the Mahi Sandwich and the Shrimp and Grits. The Mahi Sandwich was a piece of seasoned blackened Mahi served on a Kaiser Roll with lettuce, tomato, and onion, along with coleslaw, pickle, remoulade, and a choice of side. It was tasty, but the Shrimp and Grits knocked it out of the ballpark.
Made with fried grits, tasso gravy, and fresh Georgia shrimp, this dish has set our new standard for shrimp and grits. When we told our server how much we enjoyed them, he told us they had taken 2nd place in a People’s Choice award. I’m not sure if it was the specially seasoned roux or the crispy bacon strips that pushed these over the top, but they will definitely be on my list of “must eat” items the next time I visit Jekyll Island.
We ended our meal with Salted Caramel Cheesecake, a creamy and light caramel concoction drizzled with caramel and sea salt. I split a piece with my husband, but next time I’ll keep the entire piece for myself! Other dessert choices offered were Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Cake, and Strawberry Shortcake. The portions are large enough to share and the prices are reasonable. And, here’s a money-saving tip. Up to four kids ages 12 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn® on-site restaurant.
Things to Know Before You Go:
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- A daily resort fee is added. This fee covers the morning coffee available from 7 AM to 10 AM in the Northshore Martini and Coffee Bar, newspapers, and high-speed internet access.
- The island has an entrance fee, which can be purchased daily, weekly, or annually.
- Check-in is at 3 PM and check-out is 11 AM.
- The property is located at 701 Beachview Drive North.
- Pets are allowed in certain rooms with an extra pet fee.
- Parking at the resort is free.
Have you visited Jekyll Island, Georgia? What’s your favorite activity?
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I have never but, I do love Georgia, so I will have to make it a point to visit next time. Plus, I love Holiday Inn and I know I’d love it there. Thanks so much for the recco!
This looks like a great little resort! I’m hoping to spend some time in Georgia this winter to get away from some of the Buffalo winter.
It looks like a beautiful place to stay! The suite looks really spacious and the food looks delicious.
That looks like a very beautiful resort. Even the food looks really good. I’d love to take a vacation there someday.
Looks like a nice hotel, I love the pool and the view too. The food looks amazing too. We might need to book a vacation there soon
I’d never heard of Jekyll Island, but I just looked and it’s a reasonable distance for a quick weekend trip. My kiddos would love the Holiday Inn resort for sure!
That’s a super cute place. I have always wanted to visit here. I plan to get there soon, maybe this spring. Thanks for the recommendation.
I live right up the road in SC and I’ve never been to Jekyll Island. I am definitely adding it to my “must visit” places! It looks gorgeous.
The island is beautiful, and the food looks awesome! I will have to keep this island in mind when deciding where to take our next trip.
Looks like a nice place to spend the weekend. I can see the kids enjoying in the pool.
The pool looks really beautiful. I bet the kids would love the slides. This is a great resort for a staycation with the family!
This looks like such a wonderful place to stay. I would love to plan a trip and visit with my family soon.
What an amazing place to take a vacation. Nice accommodations and lots to do there.
I always feel comfortable staying at Holiday Inns. This one looks very nice and the playground is a great feature that the kids still appreciate.
Jekyll Island is such a great place to go and those fried green tomatoes look so good!
What an amazing sounding location to visit and the holiday inn looks like it offers a lovely place to rest and relax at. The rooms look comfortable and a nice area to get some leisure activities done as well.
It is nice to know there is an unspoiled place left on the east coast. I have never heard of Jekyll Island but it seems like a great place to go to for a relaxing trip.
I love the name of this island. I haven’t been yet, but one day I hope. I need some of those fried green tomatoes.
I have always wanted to go to Jekyll Island. A friend of mine will go to every year and I always wonder what it was like. Obviously it’s gorgeous and I can’t wait at some point to get there.