This post is about my trip to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I know we are in a pandemic, and South Carolina is a hotspot. Parris called. She was ready to travel somewhere. My timeshare was available. We flew into Charleston, rented a car, and drove to Myrtle Beach.

Home2 Suites Hilton Charleston, South Carolina

Because the coronavirus interrupted how we do things, the hotel shuttle at Home2 did not pick us up at the airport. We took an Uber. Wait times have improved, and fares for Uber are back to normal. I do not know if this is directly related to the uncertainty around unemployment benefits. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted immediately by Tom. He was energetic and went above and beyond his duties as a Hilton employee. Although it was only 1:00PM, Tom checked us in, and we made our way to the 4^th floor. There was enough space for the three of us. We quickly put away our suitcases.

Rodney Scott’s BBQ

I called for an Uber to Rodney Scott’s BBQ. There was plenty of seating available for social distancing. We dined outdoors. Even though it did not seem like we ordered a lot of food, we needed containers to go. We should have ordered the 3 Meat Combo to share. We each ordered the 2 Meat Combo. I picked up the tab, and Parris tipped. If you are in Charleston, please drop by to taste the food of the 2018 James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef, Southeast. To learn more about Rodney Scott, check out the third episode of Netflix’s Chef’s Table BBQ Volume 1. After we made it back to the hotel, I took a walk through the Charleston Convention Center before I turned in for the night.

Thrifty

I looked for a direct flight, but Southwest did not fly into Myrtle Beach. I compared the cost of a direct flight on another airline to flying into Charleston and driving to Myrtle Beach. Because we split the rental car bill, driving to Myrtle Beach was the better deal. I reserved a car at Thrifty. The rental location was no longer offsite; I had to go to the airport. Why is this important? The cost increased because of additional airport fees. When you book online, read the fine print. The agent was professional and explained all charges related to the increase. My options: minivan or Jeep Wrangler. Can you guess what I selected? Before ending my trip to Charleston, South Carolina, we stopped at Tanger Outlets and Walmart. We enjoyed the ride, even though it rained briefly. It took just over two hours to arrive at Ocean 22.

Ocean 22 by Hilton Grand Vacations Myrtle Beach 

As I stated before, I am a Hilton Grand Vacations owner. We were greeted immediately by the valet. As a timeshare owner, I do not pay for parking, but I need to self-park. However, I am unsure how this worked with non-owners because of the pandemic. I checked in and picked up our wristbands while my guests waited for the staff to unload the vehicle. The Front Desk Clerk was friendly. She asked about my preferences, “high floor and ocean view.” She gave me three keys to our room on the 18^th floor with a partial ocean view. Even though Hilton sealed the room door and a map on the refrigerator outlined sanitized areas, I used my Clorox wipes to go over high touch areas. We left the suitcases at the door, put up the groceries from Walmart, and headed downstairs to park the vehicle.

River City Café

We walked to River City Café located near the parking garage. Even as I traveled for the fourth time during the pandemic, I witnessed several patrons trying to dine without a mask. The hostess had to explain to customers several times that you “need a mask to enter and move around the restaurant.” She told the patrons, “You can remove the mask while eating and drinking.” Because I paid for dinner in Charleston, Lynn picked up the tab, and Parris tipped. If you dine at River City Café on 21^st Avenue, you can receive a discount if you provide proof of your stay at Ocean 22. On the way back to the room, I picked up a movie at the DVD kiosk, and we settled in for the night.

Welcome Package, Broadway at the Beach and Ocean Boulevard

I received a DVD card and coupons for restaurants in the area. Included in the packet was free unlimited admission at Wild Water & Wheels Water Park or Myrtle Waves, Lost Mine Miniature Golf, and 1 Day Unlimited Ride Wristband to Broadway Grand Prix. We made it to Lost Mine for a round of miniature golf before heading back to Ocean 22. I drove to Broadway at the Beach. No crowds. Of course, I purchased my souvenir Christmas ornament. We dined at Bar Louie’s. The food was delicious, and the live band added to the ambiance. We were not ready to turn in for the night and cruised down Ocean Boulevard taking in the sights and sounds of Myrtle Beach. Because I am an HGV owner, the cost of my stay was only $70.00 and 1,920 club points for three nights.

Big Mike’s Soul Food 

Everyone did their own thing on this last full day in Myrtle Beach, but we got together for dinner at Big Mike’s. I have visited Myrtle Beach three times, and this is my third visit to Big Mike’s. The food is always good. You must stop by and support this small business. Even though a picnic table was available, we took our food back to the resort and dined poolside. It was late, and only a few people were hanging around the pool. After dinner, I grabbed a movie. When I book at my timeshare, I always take advantage of the free movies using the DVD kiosk.

Time to Drive Back to Charleston

We cooked a light breakfast and checked out by 10:00AM. We made it to Charleston by 1:00PM. By the time we left Thrifty, we had to wait 30 minutes before we could check-in at the airport. This flight was changed by Southwest shortly after we booked in June. Because I knew we would spend a few hours at the airport, I brought a good book to read. However, we did not spend four hours sitting at the airport. We headed to a lounge to enjoy light refreshments. Although Amex has closed the Centurion lounges, some of the Priority Pass Lounges are now open. The cheese, soup, and peanuts were enough for a light lunch. The lounge also offered hard seltzer and a few mixed drinks. Click on the credit card icon at the top of this post to learn more.

Still Traveling During the Pandemic

Yes, I have taken four trips during the pandemic, but I had two negative COVID-19 tests. I have plenty of masks, Clorox wipes, and hand sanitizer. If I do not feel comfortable in an elevator, I will step off. When I see crowds at the pool, I take a walk instead. I avoid crowds when I am shopping, and most retail stores limit their capacity. Dining indoors or outdoors has not been an issue. My last COVID-19 test was on August 7, and I received my negative results the next day. It has been 14 days since I traveled to Myrtle Beach, and I am not experiencing any symptoms. I began my self-quarantine when I came back to Chicago. Some friends have shared they are not ready to travel, and I am not encouraging anyone to take a trip. I want you to travel when you feel comfortable.

Final Expenses for my Trip to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

I enjoyed my trip to Charleston and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We picked the perfect time to leave Chicago because we were not around when the tornado passed through. It did not rain once while we were in Myrtle Beach. On our last day, I watched the sunrise. The final expenses for this trip were $506.69. The breakdown includes: flight $182.96, food $130.95, Uber/Car Rental $146.30, and shopping $46.48. I used 15,000 Hilton Honor points to pay my portion of the stay in Charleston and 1,920 Club points for Myrtle Beach. My guests split the cost for the remaining balance.

Safe Travels

#LSKTravelz