Picture sitting on your private balcony with a mug of coffee as dolphins play in the wake of powerboats on Broad Creek. Marriott’s Harbour Point resort is nestled in Shelter Cove Harbour next to its “sister” resort, Sunset Pointe. The Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, resort is recently refurbished and features spectacular views of the marsh and frequent dolphin sightings. Next to the resort is a marina on the harbor with boats, fine dining, entertainment, and shopping.
Marriott’s Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe is a gem in the Low Country. It’s on the marsh side, so the rooms come with balcony views of dolphins. The prices are typically lower than those of the same-size resort on the beach on the other side of the island. As an autistic mom & nurse with a gaggle of neurodivergent children, we tell you everything you need to know about sensory considerations.
Check out price and availability of the Marriott Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe.
Pro Tip: This condo gives you the space to spread out. We could do the picky eaters with a full kitchen. We gave our children dark, quiet rooms to help them self-regulate.
Disclosure: I may get a small amount of money from any affiliate links that you click. However, I recommend only products our family loves.
Where are Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Pointe at Shelter Cove located?
Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Pointe Resort
Address: 4 Shelter Cove Lane, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina 29928.
On-site parking: $25 Daily (Vacation club members/II exchange: $0 daily)
Marriott’s Harbour Point Hilton Head resort is approximately two miles from the beach of Palmetto Dunes and next door to Shelter Cove Marina. The Disney Vacation Club resort on Hilton Head Island is across the way from this Marriott resort.
This is part of our Complete Hilton Head Vacation Guide! This specific article provides an in-depth review of Marriott’s Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe at Shelter Cove.
What size rooms are available at Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Point Resort?
Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Pointe at Shelter Cove feature 1050-square-foot rooms with two full bedrooms and a full kitchen, including a refrigerator and range. The sleeping accommodations offer a king bed, two beds, and a sofa bed. The master bathroom features a large jetted tub. The Marriott Harbour Point condos are spacious and provide an excellent home base for even large families.
Are the rooms at Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Pointe handicap accessible?
Yes, Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Point are handicap accessible. Rooms include a roll-in shower, lever-handle doors, lowered electrical outlets, bathroom grab bars, and wider doorways. The resort offers on-site self-parking, which is helpful for accessibility.
The resorts also have elevators, an accessible registration desk, and alternative public entrances. Both the pool and pool pathways are accessible. Service animals are welcome. There are also TTY/TTD and hearing-accessible rooms, and most televisions offer closed captioning. However, please note that during booking, you will need an accessible guest room.
Which room at Marriott Harbour Pointe & Sunset Point has the best view?
We loved the view during our stay in room 205 which is in Marriott’s Harbour Point Osprey Building. The Osprey building overlooks the marsh, so the higher up you are, the better the view. However, the first-floor balconies allow you to walk directly out to the resort. We created a video tour of our favorite room at Marriott’s Harbour Point resort on Hilton Head Island.
This room tour is of room 205 in Marriott’s Harbour Point Osprey Building overlooking Broad Creek. Sitting on the balcony and watching dolphins play in the wake of boats trolling down the marsh was a fantastic finish to our family’s busy Hilton Head day.
Important: Safety & Elopement
When booking a room and requesting your floor, be aware that your loved one is at risk for eloping or hurting themselves on a high balcony. The sliding doors with standard locks lead to private balconies, and may not be enough for a determined explorer.
Bring your own door alarm and ask the front desk if they have a slider lock. If you’re worried about heights, request a ground-floor unit at check-in to avoid a high balcony. To keep everyone safe inside, I recommend a two-layer approach: a physical barrier they can’t reach and an audible alarm if they try.
Our Recommended Travel Safety Gear:
- The Addalock Portable Door Lock: This physically prevents the door from opening even if the deadbolt is turned from the inside. It takes seconds to install and fits in your pocket.
- Door Guardian (Stick-On Version): For inward-swinging doors, it uses high-strength 3M adhesive, so you don’t have to drill into the door’s surface. It sits at the very top of the frame, completely out of reach.
- GE Personal Security Window/Door Alarms: These 120dB magnetic sensors trigger a loud siren the moment the door or sliding patio glass is opened, even an inch.
- Securityman 2-in-1 Security Bar: You lay it in the track of the sliding patio door, and the door is secure. It cannot slide open from either side until the bar is removed.
Are Marriott Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe close to dining, shopping, or activities?
Yes. Marriott Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe are close to the Shelter Cove Marina, which features dining, shopping, festivals, and live entertainment. The restaurants at Shelter Cove Marina include San Miguel’s Mexican Cafe, ELA’s On The Water, Bistro 17, Scott’s Fish Market, Poseidon Coastal Cuisine & Rooftop Bar, and Top Dawg Tavern.
There is an amazing little ice cream and candy shop called Frosty’s Italian Ices and More that my children begged to visit multiple evenings. Frosty’s even had children’s movies playing outside on some busier evenings. Finally, dancing down the boardwalk with a margarita from the outdoor bar at San Miguel’s Mexican Cafe, while live music from the restaurant plays, creates the perfect vacation memories.
To be honest, the amount of work involved in hauling four young kids to a restaurant is Herculean! (You’ll see, I should have made a Neptune reference. If you would rather have a scoop of ice cream than share a meal, we love watching the boats in the marina while we nosh on our frozen treats.
There are plenty of photographic moments where you can watch your kids frolic along the docks. Not only that, but there are exciting boat tours, delicious restaurants with outdoor seating, and a great Neptune statue.
What kind of boat tours are available from Shelter Cove Marina?
Shelter Cover Marina has an outdoor kiosk where you can meet for a 2-hour guided kayak nature tour of Hilton Head.
Whether you want to boat to Savannah, Georgia, or cruise to see the dolphins off Hilton Head Island, there are many local sightseeing tours from which to choose. The Savannah tour departs early in the morning, allows you to spend several hours in historic Savannah, and brings you back to Hilton Head Island. If you’re looking for a sunset cruise or a pirate adventure, there are a number of boating and touring experiences available on Hilton Head Island through Viator.
What restaurants at Shelter Cove Marina are gluten-free?
For our gluten-sensitive friends, Hilton Head Social Bakery is a wonderful option, offering naturally gluten-free treats like macarons and the Chocolate Bluff. They are known for being very aware of cross-contamination and will take steps like changing gloves.
Since they are not a dedicated facility, please exercise caution and speak with the staff if you have a true allergy. For those requiring a dedicated gluten-free kitchen, the island now features new bakeries, such as The G-Free Spot, which may offer a safer experience.
The delectable gluten-friendly treats at Hilton Head Social Bakery (clockwise from top left) include:
- Fresh berry tart
- Cheesecake
- Double Chocolate Cake
- Raspberry macaroon double-layer cream
Does Marriott’s Harbour Point have beach access?
Harbour Point is not oceanfront. However, it is both on the water of Broad Creek and has access to sandy oceanfront beaches. Luckily, the hotel also provides a shuttle, the Dunes Buggy, to the beach.
The Dunes Buggy shuttle also stops at other hotels and resorts along the way. Call the front desk, and they will let you know when to go downstairs and where to go. If you’re up for a long bicycle ride across rolling hills, take the cycling trip to the beach at Palmetto Dunes- it’s worth it!
Suppose the beach at Palmetto Dunes is too busy for a walk, you can bike up the seashore. There are more entrances and plenty of public beaches to choose.
Does the Beach at Marriott’s Harbour Point have Bathroom Facilities and Food?
Yes, Marriott’s Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe features a beach with direct access to the Ocean in Palmetto Dunes, with bathroom facilities, a large wooden walkway, showers, and a Dunes House restaurant. This area is primarily for Palmetto Dunes guests.
The Dunes House features spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and constant entertainment. The food at the Dunes House is nothing fancy, but they have cold alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks and a fresh, hot lunch off the grill. Meal options include salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and hot dogs.
Make sure to stay for the live music at the Dunes House. A band named Unicorn Meat gave us swag after my daughter got pooped on by a single during their headlining song, “Pelican Bomb Squad.”
What are the property amenities at Marriott’s Harbour Point and Sunset Pointe at Shelter Cove?
- Outdoor pools
- Whirlpool spa
- Fitness Center – with strength and cardio equipment
- Basketball court
- Tennis courts
- Bicycle rental
- BBQ and picnic area
- Activity room
- High-speed wireless internet access
- Water aerobics
- Tennis clinic
There’s a quiet main pool, gas grills, and free shuttles to the beach. The resort is perfect for relaxing and logging in to some remote work. The Marketplace Express (convenience store) sells small food items and sundry products.
The balcony is the perfect place to relax and watch the dolphins play in the wake of speedboats. Whether you prefer to relax on the patio with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, there is no better place to be than Marriott’s Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe. We loved watching the sunsets and the changes in the weather throughout the day.
Marriott Harbour Point & Sunset Pointe: Sensory Considerations
Our overall review of Marriott Harbour Point is that the resort is quiet and small enough to walk around. My children loved the routine of visiting the boats every day. If you go early in the morning or between lunch and dinner, it feels much quieter. The resort’s pools are also quiet, especially the Serenity pool. However, even the main pool is quieter than at other Marriotts we’ve visited.
Finally, you can sit on the balcony if your child can be safe. It’s important to know that the chairs can be pulled to the balcony rail, creating a dangerous situation. The first-floor balconies present a challenge for children who may bolt or wander into the marsh. We could lock the doors well and keep our children from going out onto the balcony. However, it may make sense to bring a door alarm or request any safety devices from the front desk.
What are your favorite Hilton Head Island resorts for children with autism? What sensory regulation techniques do you keep in your vacation toolbox?
See our review of the Kimpton Hotel in downtown Winston-Salem, NC.
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