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The Cloister at Sea Island

Sea Island • Sea Island Beach • SPLURGE

avg. $648 / night

Includes $34 / night in cash back

Cash back is redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out

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5% cash back on all completed stays (redeemable via Virtual Visa, Venmo, or bank transfer starting 24-48 hours after check-out)

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Hotel loyalty points

Points accrual and status eligibility with major hotel loyalty programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, and others

Free breakfast

Breakfast-included rate options available

Room upgrades

Complimentary room upgrades (subject to property availability)

Extend your stay

Early check-in and late check-out (subject to property availability)

Location

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At a glance

Addison Mizner's 1928 Mediterranean Revival resort with Spanish colonial interiors and private beach horseback access.

Best for: Architecture enthusiasts and collectors of Mizner's work

Highlights:

  • Addison Mizner's 1928 Mediterranean Revival masterpiece on Georgia coast
  • Interiors with exposed timber beams, mahogany headboards, and baroque mirrors
  • Private beach access; guests still arrive on horseback
Romantic-colonialtimeless

PB hotel design editorial

Addison Mizner's Mediterranean Revival vocabulary — terracotta roof tiles, stucco walls, arched loggias, and Venetian-inflected ornament — found its most enduring expression not in Palm Beach but on a Georgia barrier island, where The Cloister at Sea Island was completed in 1928. The resort was conceived by Howard Coffin and designed by Mizner in the idiom he had perfected along Florida's Gold Coast, and its white-rendered facades rising above the dunes retain that original romantic character even after a comprehensive reconstruction completed in 2006 that expanded the property to 85 oceanfront rooms and suites while preserving the architectural language intact. The interiors carry the warmth of a particularly well-furnished Southern plantation house translated into Spanish colonial terms. Exposed dark-stained timber ceiling beams, painted a faded celadon between the joists, run through the guest rooms, grounding carved mahogany headboards with scroll-top detailing, layered Persian rugs over wide-plank hardwood floors, and gilded baroque mirrors that sit comfortably alongside coral-upholstered armchairs. The dining room pushes the material register further — an elaborately coffered cypress ceiling with worm-eaten patina, iron-and-linen chandeliers, arched leaded windows, and leather-seated chairs with turned stretchers establish a dining atmosphere that owes more to an Andalusian cortijo than a conventional hotel restaurant. From the air, the freeform pool terrace, lined with sabal palms and white-canopied sun loungers, curves toward a wide tidal beach where, characteristically, guests still arrive on horseback.

Travel notes

1hr drive from Jacksonville airport (JAX); 1hr 15min drive from Savannah airport (SAV); 20min drive from Brunswick airport (BQK)

About

The gracious welcome of The Cloister. The distinctive warmth of The Lodge. The privacy of one of our many Cottages. Wherever you stay, this is a place that feels familiar, even if you've never been before. A hidden treasure waiting to be explored.

Amenities

Pool

Internet

Kids Activities

Beachfront

Shuttle Bus Service

Suites

Room service

Free Internet

Free Parking

Wheelchair Access

The Cloister at Sea Island Reviews

1,592 reviews

"We just checked in after planning our visit for a full year in advance. This is to celebrate a special occasion and within an hour of arriving, I have massive regrets. If I didn’t have other people joining me, I would leave ASAP. Our Beach Club 1BR suite smells of mold. Plain and simple. I asked to be moved and was told nothing similar is available due to the holiday weekend. As we are expecting guests to join us, having a suite (as opposed to a single room) is crucial to provide a common gathering space. Again, this trip has been planned for one year in advance. There are THREE air filters in the room (none of which were turned on when we arrived). There’s humidity on the bathroom mirror. Even the metal plaque on the knife holder is rusty (see photo). The air conditioning is struggling to reach its goal temp in both rooms, and one of the thermostats has a low battery. This is not up to Sea Island standards. Especially for thousands of dollars each night. Has anyone even stayed in this unit in the last year to notice any of this?!? Further, our suite is very worn. Not only are there stains on tables and pilling of the carpet, but the owners kitchen pantry is left open and full. Nice to know their yorkie, Charlotte, needs butt powder 2-3 times a day. I don’t need to feel like I’m camping in someone’s musty basement full of their leftovers at a supposedly 5 star resort. Adding insult to injury, we booked a second room (again, ONE YEAR AGO) and that room is in a totally separate building. Is it because I’m not a regular guest? (Sorry that normal people have to save up for these special vacations and can’t come every year.) Did I not get some magic password to request the non-mildew rooms? I stayed here several years ago and this was NOT was I expected. Management is going to respond with claims about deep south humidity. I get it. I grew up with massive southern humidity. But I would never ever let a guest enter my house if it was in this condition. I’m going to cry for a bit and then have no choice but to stay because we live 16+ hours away. Lesson learned. Hope this helps someone."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Jul 02, 2026

"A first class resort with tennis, pickleball, golf, beach, restaurants, activities (kayak, bike), plenty of pools, etc. It is like staying at a very well-appointed country club. The restaurant selection is diverse, and the food is very good. It is a verified luxury resort with tons to do and friendly, attentive staff. My only complaint is that they sometimes “nickel and dime” guests who are already paying a full price. Our bill included ten (10!) additional charges per night — several taxes, several indiscernible acronyms, the ever-present $85 “Resort Fee” and a housing “donation”! (A donation for what?! Can’t Sea Island donate the $2 itself instead of adding it to my bill???). Give me a break! Fees added $400 per night to our lodging bill! They also try to up-sell you endlessly: rent a $600 cabana at the pool; buy a $200/day beach “drinks and snacks service” (NOT worth the cost!); pay for daily grocery delivery service; etc. When I stay at a first class resort, I expect to pay up, but I cringe at these never-ending cheesey add-ons and hidden costs. A hot dog and chips cost $13, so it’s a bit insulting to add extra costs. It’s like going to a Mercedes dealership and being told that the floor mats cost extra. We had a great stay, but I expected a bit more vis-a-vis candor and disclosure. It just feels childish and cheesey. Nonetheless, it’s a great place (now that you’ve been educated!)"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

Jun 07, 2026

"This was our 6th visit to Sea Island in 8 years and our first time back in two years and we were so sad to see the property decline! Our beach club room had many problems and there was a pervasive smell of sewage all around the area. We had almost no hot water one day and no water pressure. The rooms are in badly need of a refresh. Memorial Day weekend was so crowded I almost had a panic attack at the pool. SO MANY PEOPLE. Beach service took over an hour and blended drinks arrived melted. Management did make it right when I brought all of this to their attention but I hope the owners are planning a renovation soon!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 27, 2026

"After many years of loyally visiting for Memorial Day this may be our last. While the grounds remain absolutely beautiful the service at this historic property continues to decline. Our reservations made several months in advanced and confirmed twice over the phone, were not honored as requested, luggage was handled so poorly that they damaged the contents braking a large and thick wine bottle and staining our clothes in the process. Management gave us a half hearted apology and didn’t charge for laundry service. Finding a chair by the pool at the Beach Club is nearly impossible, beach chairs are also extremely hard to get and service takes over an hour. Finding a table for lunch took close to an hour every day and forget about dinner on site without a reservation, River Bar took 2 and half hours to seat us. For a hotel of this caliber and tradition, this price point is no longer justifiable for nostalgia of better days, very sad."

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 26, 2026

"The amenities at this resort are amazing! Loved the Georgia Room dining experience! The spa & staff members treat you like royalty!"

A Tripadvisor traveler review

May 22, 2026

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