Hilton Heads Up!
Operation Rest and Relax: Welcome "Home," Soldier
As a way to say “thank you” to U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, an organization was formed this year to provide virtually free vacations on Hilton Head Island for returning soldiers and their families. It’s called Operation R&R. The Vacation Company and several of our owners have become part of the program.
Dr. Grant Evans, a part-time island resident (“soon to be full time,” he says) founded the organization as a very real way to show U.S. troops, who have not seen their families in a year to a year and a half, true appreciation for their service. A number of rental property owners are providing homes and villas free of charge.
Evans, and now a growing number of volunteers, have approached local businesses such as restaurants (55 of them are in the program), water sports companies, spas, and salons to provide discounts for the soldiers and their families. Evans said the response has been overwhelming. All participating businesses are providing deep discounts or simply offering free services or meals.
When the soldier and his or her family arrive, local “greeters” take them to the property where a welcome basket is waiting for them, thanks to one of the first sponsors, Atlantic Community Bank. And the refrigerator is stocked with enough food to get them started! The “greeters” remain “on duty” during the family’s stay.
The group is a non-profit, under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, itself an extraordinary organization. The Vacation Company and our participating owners are very proud to be a part of Operation R&R, and very proud of this “home town” response.
Labels: hilton head, non-profit, vacation company
Best Time to Be Here
We have people always asking the same question: “When is the best time to visit Hilton Head Island?” Our immediate reply with a smile is, “Whenever you can get here!” Admittedly not too helpful.
But bottom line, when it comes to THE BEST time to visit the island, we suggest you choose the months of May or September. (Or both!)
By May we’ve survived another wonderful
Verizon Heritage tournament (and the tens of thousands of people who came to see it), and we’re gearing up for summer. The golf courses are in great shape and the weather is just right. The ocean temperature is still a bit cool (75F), but the beach is perfect. Basically, you’ll be taking part in our “dress rehearsal” for “opening night” – the beginning of our summer season. The air temperatures are usually moderate and quite frankly there are less visitors.
We think September is also a fantastic choice. It’s kind our “sneaky” month. Summer, for most folks is over, the kids are back in school, the weather is warm and so is the ocean. The beach – if you’ve never been to our
beaches in September treat yourself. Maybe it’s the beauty of a September sunrise or sunset. It’s quiet. And like May, we have less visitors.
Both months are also great times to take those side trips to the historic communities of
Savannah,
Beaufort, and our closest neighbor,
Bluffton.
So there’s your answer. But we really do mean it – come whenever you can get here.
Labels: beaches, hilton head, tips, vacation company
Free Wireless Internet
In this campaign season, “free wireless internet in every vacation home” may sound like some presidential hopeful’s slogan (“a chicken in ever pot, a car in every garage” –
Herbert Hoover, 1928). But the fact is every vacation home or villa we offer has gone high-speed wireless. And it’s all yours – free.
You’ve probably been to hotels that advertise “internet access available,” then you come to find out it’s “available” for $7.95 a day and it might not even be wireless! (This recently happened to us at a place where we were paying $200 a night for lodging). We hate that nickle and dime stuff. That’s why our internet access is absolutely free.
While we might suggest you leave your laptop or PDAs behind and simply enjoy the sunshine, fairways and beach, we also know it’s tough to be out of “e-touch” in this instant access world. If you’d like to know how to set up a vacation auto response in Windows Mail or Outlook Express,
click here.
However if you need to keep tabs on the office, schoolwork, the stock market or your kids, you’ll stay connected at any Vacation Company property you choose.
One of the more creative uses of the free internet access we’ve heard so far is a golfer putting a video of his swing up on
YouTube so his teaching pro back at the golfer’s club in Ohio could see it and tell him what he was doing wrong. We did not hear how well our guest played the next day.
It’s definitely golf season on Hilton Head Island. Come see us. And bring your Blackberry.
Labels: tips, vacation company, wireless
Welcome to the Hilton Heads Up Blog!
If you love Hilton Head Island, whether you’re a frequent visitor or resident, we hope our new blog will become your source for what’s going on in the area, including tourism industry news, vacation tips, local events and the latest information about our company.
As you may know, we were founded in 1987 as a short-term rental and property management firm, and we now manage more than 280 villas and custom homes on Hilton Head.
So whether you are sitting at a desk in a cold location daydreaming about your Hilton Head vacation or you have a property we manage, be sure to check in with us every week for all the news you need to know about our beautiful island.
We want to hear your feedback and comments, so please feel free to comment on our posts!
Cheers,
Bob Hawkins and Beth Henzler
Owners, Vacation Company
Labels: vacation company
