The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes is an absolute gem and certainly a brilliant one at that in terms of offering some of the very best in upscale accommodations in Myrtle Beach.

Apart from the nice, make that extremely nice, landscaping which greets visitors upon entrance to the Grande Dunes complex and surrounds the way to the guest reception area of the Inn, there's little about the front side of the building itself that suggests the delightful surprises which await within.  If we had to select one brief term which we think best characterizes the appearance of the public areas in the hotel it would be "subdued elegance".  It's all simply beautiful with magnificent chandeliers, polished stone floors, lots of rich wood paneling and trim, high quality and tastefully selected seating and tables, along with a variety of eye-catching pieces of art.  For guests checking in and out there are no counters with staff positioned behind them, but rather two ornate, free standing desks with attractive, well spoken customer oriented staff seated at them.  Guests are beckoned to comfortable chairs at the desks to transact business or receive concierge assistance.  What if the two desks are busy with other guests - do you have to wait your turn in a line?  Of course not.  One can simply step a short distance away to the ever so comfortable and extremely attractive "Library" with its open view of the reception area to relax while waiting.  All very civilized and terribly well done.

The smartly attired, well mannered bell staff most definitely warrant mention for their attentiveness and genuine eagerness to please.  They communicate in a clearly and easily understood way which is an attribute we've mentioned in other reports that is becoming increasingly noteworthy.  Indeed we did find all of them to be perfectly delightful and enjoyed chatting with them about all manner of things during our three stays at the Marina Inn.

Close by the general reception area is the Reflections bar which is quite cozy and a very pleasant place to while away some time.  On the lower level of the hotel is situated the wonderful Waterscapes restaurant about which we'll have more to say in our section concerned with dining.

At the rear of the hotel is its namesake, the Marina, which is immediately adjacent to the intracoastal waterway.  All manner of water craft are docked there ranging from exotic cigar boats to mega expensive cruisers.  It's quite fun to see their comings and goings, and there's enough of them such that there's always a good bit of entertainment provided.  In the middle of the docks perched out next to the intracoastal with a superb view of it and the marina is the Anchor Cafe - a fun place for drinks and lighter fare.

Tucked into the large space between the back side of the hotel and the marina docks is the lovely pool area or perhaps more accurately stated - the pools area.  Winding pathways crisscross the setting with again very attractive landscaping adding the perfect finishing touches.  We saw nothing but smiling, happily relaxed guests there enjoying themselves in the pools and lounging around them.  There are also bar and other refreshment services provided from a well situated tiki hut sans thatched type roof.  It is all very attractive and gives a sense of intimacy as opposed to what one too often experiences with most resort pool areas.

All of the suites from the most modest one bedroom to the huge four bedroom variety have splendid views of what is a particularly attractive section of the intracoastal waterway and many also provide at least a partial view of the marina.  A number of the suites also look out over the pools area.  We understand there are quite spectacular sunsets that can be seen on the horizon beyond the marina where the waterway disappears into the distance.

On Ed's solo visit his accommodation was a one bed guestroom and on the next two visits when we both stayed there we availed ourselves of the two bedroom with two bath suites.  The combined one bed and sitting room arrangement was more than adequate.  The amount of space available was quite good, and all the furniture and fittings were first class.  The large bathroom fitted with tile and granite type counters was very nicely done.  However, here was found the only thing warranting a complaint of sorts - the "rain forest shower head" (who the heck comes up with such names?).  Essentially it's one of those extra large shower heads with lots of holes from which water is dispensed and it's positioned directly overhead rather than at an angle.  Our complaint with these devices is usually the streams of water emanating from them aren't under much pressure at all which can make trying to rinse shampoo from one's hair a little trying.  We do understand some folk actually prefer this type shower.  Fortunately from our perspective we didn't find such in the two bedroom suites.

In fact, we have nothing but praise for the two bedroom, two bath configuration with the very minor exception that one side of the closet doors in the master bedroom can't be fully opened because of the size and position of the bed and its side tables.  As we indicated, it was nothing more than a minor annoyance.  Something we found a bit curious, though it wasn't a problem for us, was the presence of tube type TV's rather than larger plasma or LCD flat screens.  The  bedrooms, baths, combined sitting and dining room, and separate kitchen were all a good size and unusually well appointed.  The fire place in the sitting area was certainly an interesting feature and is indeed a rarity in Myrtle Beach accommodations.  The fully furnished kitchen was equipped with plenty of wood cabinets, granite counter surfaces and full size, good quality appliances.  We especially enjoyed the large balcony terrace furnished with nice wicker chairs and table.

Housekeeping services were impeccable and everything was consistently found to be clean.  An abundance of high quality bath and hand towels, and wash cloths was provided.  And for those who care about such there were washer and dryer units in a utility closet in the two bedroom suites.  Something we especially appreciated was the reliable high speed wireless internet service provided at no additional charge for guests.  It worked very well throughout the hotel and surrounding grounds.

The only negative comments we've ever encountered with regard to the Marina Inn were from a few folk who have never stayed there.  Those comments invariably were along the lines of it being too much oriented to the yachty crowd and not being beach front.  We want to speak to both of those issues.  If anything more upscale than the typical run-of-the-mill resorts in Myrtle Beach might intimidate you or make you feel uncomfortable, then the Marina Inn might not be for you.  Yes, people who dock their boats in the marina do avail themselves of the Inn's facilities, but we dare say they easily comprise the minority of the guests.  Also, the ones we met seemed to be very decent, unassuming folk and quite pleasant in all respects.  And lastly, the Marina Inn is most definitely not beach front and if that is an important consideration, you do need to choose other accommodations.  However, for those willing to consider something a bit different in location we would like to emphasize again the extremely attractive and entertaining views afforded by the Marina Inn.  We also suspect many people do not realize that the Marina Inn has a beautiful ocean beach reserved for its guests complete with a lovely, large cabana offering a full range of beverages and light food along with other conveniences.  During high season the hotel provides frequent shuttle service to and from the beach facility and guests are able to use their own transportation if they so choose at any time.  It's only a couple of minutes drive from the hotel.

All things considered, there's no doubt in our minds that the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes provides outstanding accommodations for discerning visitors to Myrtle Beach.  We highly recommend it.