New unit videos on RQ Hilton Head website!

You may have noticed a couple recent upgrades to the RQ Hilton Head website. We've recently added unit videos of each individual unit, so you know exactly what you're getting when you book. All videos are also posted on YouTube, which makes them easily accessible at any time. Check out our YouTube Channel to view all of our units.

Or, look for the video at the unit level page on the www.resortquesthiltonhead.com website. Here's an example

In addition, ResortQuest has partnered with HiltonHead360.com to provide better mapping of all of our complexes. Sea Pines complex maps are added, with more coming soon! Check it out

ResortQuest General Manager Robert Stenhammer Nominated to Three-Year Term on the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to helping the business community and expanding the regional economy on Hilton Head Island and the nearby town of Bluffton, South Carolina. Hilton Head is one of the nation’s premier resort destinations and offers a variety of villas and private homes available for vacation rental.

November 16, 2009, Hilton Head Island, SC -- Robert Stenhammer, General Manager for ResortQuest Hilton Head Island has been nominated to serve a second term on the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, beginning in 2010. In his first term, Stenhammer has been instrumental in advancing the common interest of the professionally managed Home & Villa vacation rental industry on the Island by establishing VTRiP (the Vacation Travel Research Program) which monitors and projects the health of tourism on the Island. Additionally, Stenhammer has served as the Co-Chairman of the Home & Villa Committee and has worked to increase participation and support of bringing rental company leaders together to prioritize issues and seek a collective voice.

“I am extremely proud to again serve on the Board of this great Chamber”, Stenhammer says, “I will work to further promote tourism on the Island while balancing the quality of life our residents enjoy with the objective of increasing property values for homeowners. My family and I feel fortunate to live and work in this great place; and are extremely happy to call the Hilton Head Island community home.”

ResortQuest Hilton Head Island is Hilton Head Island’s largest vacation rental company, offering over 500 vacation rentals. The ResortQuest Hilton Head portfolio of rentals includes a large variety of villas, luxury private homes, beachfront properties and exclusive golf course locations. For more information on ResortQuest Hilton Head vacation rentals, visit www.resortquesthiltonhead.com or contact a reservations specialist at 800-875-8726.

About ResortQuest:
ResortQuest, one of the nation's leading hospitality and resort real estate companies, provides a one-stop resource in North America's premier resort destinations. ResortQuest is the largest marketer and management company of vacation condominiums and home rentals in the U.S., based on a portfolio of nearly 10,000 vacation rental properties. With the inclusion of Partner Affiliates in North America and Europe, ResortQuest now offers over 100,000 vacation rental choices in over 140 destinations world-wide. With over a billion in sales, ResortQuest Real Estate is one of the nation's leading real estate companies focusing exclusively on resort properties, offering superior brokerage services in the country's premier beach, ski and golf destinations.

Help for Hilton Head in a Tough Economy

With many people scaling back in the face of tough economic times, 2009 is a year when value is going to be the key to spending, particularly when it comes to vacations. Folks are still traveling but they're being really choosy about where they spend their hard-earned money. The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce hopes a $200,000-plus ad campaign beginning next month will encourage those within an easy drive of the island to do just that.
Much of the ad campaign, with money from The Town’s crisis reserves, is focused on advertising on Internet sites used by people in key demographics in the two closest, affluent drive markets: Atlanta and Charlotte. Both cities also offer direct flights to Hilton Head Island Airport and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport as an option.
The campaign will also include electronic billboards and radio spots during drive-time hours and a small number of print ads, and promotional banners and 3D models at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Those will focus on branding the island as a place to relax, recharge and reconnect with loved ones.
This is a key booking time right now and most lodging properties are not at the same pace right now as last year. The Internet campaign should allow the chamber to expand its large database of people who have either visited the island or expressed interest in taking a vacation here in the recent past. The chamber sends everyone in the database a monthly newsletter in order to keep the island fresh in people's minds.

Wakeboarding on Hilton Head

For those of you who like a little adventure Hilton Head is a great place to go wakeboarding. Wakeboarding is a water sport in which a person attached to a wakeboard is being pulled by a rope from behind a boat using techniques that are similar to water skiing, snowboarding, and surfing. Wakeboards are made of buoyant foam and coated in fiberglass and measure about 4 to 5 feet long on average. Boots are attached to the board that your feet slip into with your toes facing the side edge, like a snowboard.
Wakeboarding is a relatively new sport being that it was invented in the late 1980's after the advent of ski boarding. In 1990 the Hyperlite wakeboard was introduced at the World Ski Board Championships and was a phenomenal hit. Since then wakeboarding has been growing in popularity and been embraced by water sports enthusiasts and sports competitions nationwide, including the X Games.
Wakeboarding is an exhilarating and challenging sport because you are being pulled by a rope from behind a boat traveling at about 20-30 mph. You can also move left and right over the wake that is being displaced. Wakeboarding is fun for all ages because you can make it as simple or as difficult as you like. Simply riding behind the boat and moving left to right is always an option, but you care to up the ante you can also utilize the combination of speed and wake to attempt an array of tricks and jumps.
Hilton Head is a particularly good place to wakeboard for multiple reasons. It's a good excuse to get out on the boat and see the gorgeous low country scenery and wildlife from the water. Our area is particularly unique because there are tiny islands that surround and protect the coastline. Not only do they provide a pretty picture but they block movement from the tides providing a glassy calm ocean surface which is ideal for smooth riding.
While on your Hilton Head Island vacation you are interested in giving wakeboarding a try, I would head down to Palmetto Bay Marina. The marina hosts boats for rent and is also the headquarters of the Wakeboarding and Waterskiing School of Hilton Head.

Parasailing

Parasailing - Granted, I would not classify this particular activity as the most extreme of water sport options, but it is pretty darn cool.

Parasailing is a recreational activity in which a person is harnessed into a parachute that is flying behind a boat at anywhere from 500-800+ feet in the air. It might seem death-defying considering the height, but in actuality Parasailing tends to be a very relaxing and a beautiful experience.

Hilton Head is a particularly great location for parasailing as it is one of many barrier islands that protect the coastline of South Carolina and Georgia, and thus setting the scene for all so the unique and breathtaking sights the low country has to offer.

Do It Factor: Definitely DO IT! Perfect for people of all ages-Just ask the world record holder, a 92 year old grandmother who in July of 2008 parasailed with her 10 year old grandson for her 6th consecutive year. Added bonus, parasailing is in some instances handicapped accessible. Check out our ResortQuest Recommends Parasailing partner: Sky Pirate Parasailing

Charter Fishing on Hilton Head

Hilton Head Island is home to some of the best fishing on the southern shore board as, depending on season, you can fish for Cobia, Spanish and King Mackerel, Shark, Red Drum, Tarpon, Wahoo, Dolphin, Marlin, Amberjack, Barracuda and Trout. This is not recommended for penny pinchers as participating in these excursions is a pricey affair, but is truly worth every cent. Be sure to sign up for a charter with a USCG Licensed, if not master licensed, captain, and preferably one with years of experience at this destination such as the Catmandoo and Bayrunner Charters http://resortquesthiltonhead.travelscreamforum.com/www.hhifish.com 843 683-4768 out of Shelter Cove Marina.

Having an experienced captain at the helm ensures safe travels throughout the marsh/oyster beds during low tide, will provide all the equipment, bait, licensures and knowledge of the best fishing spots. The length of your trip can depend on how far out to sea you actually travel, but leaving the sight of land is not incumbent on your good time. Being that Hilton Head is home to some of the largest shark breeding grounds in the world and is well known for inshore fishing, it is not uncommon to catch 60-100 lb sharks, reel in over 70 red fish and see the Tarpon roll all within sight of shore.

Do It Factor: DO IT, it will become a tradition before you know it. It is one of the island's most underrated activities. Not only is it extremely fun and interactive it is perfect for families and provides feelings of accomplishment amongst the patrons. Adults and kids alike will enjoy reeling in the big catch of the day, learning how to cast the line or bait a hook and holding up a huge shark for the camera.

Big City Flair on Hilton Head Island

Are you a wise guy? Like a little taste of the big city?
Then you will fit right in on the North end of the Island in the Main Street Village at Frankie Bones & Wise Guys. Frankie Bones Italian-American restaurant was voted "Best New Restaurant" in 2005 by Hilton Head Monthly magazine.
Its menu features classic and exceptional preparations of the best steak, chops and seafood around. Frankie Bones will leave you smiling and with a spring in your step from the swanky atmosphere, snappy sounds and sure value of your experience. Frankie Bones serves lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.
If you're feeling even more "Zoot Suitish", don't miss Wise Guys right next door! Wise Guys features outstanding cuisine with an uptown flair. The professional and attractive staff will help steer you toward any direction your palate may wish to take you. Or, settle in at the bar for an outstanding selection of appetizers, flat bread and quite simply, the best wine by the glass selection on the Island (Dom Perignon by the glass)! A
nd remember, with your ResortQuest Recommends Card, you will enjoy 10% off your food bill! Frankie Bones and Wise Guys are proud members of the ResortQuest Recommends Program. Frankie Bones & Wise Guys
843-682-4455
frankiebonesrestaurant.com
1301 Main Street
Bon Appetite!

Palmetto Dunes Golfing

Palmetto Dunes Golf is not to be missed on Hilton Head. With 3 outstanding courses, air conditioned carts, segways and a golf school and clinics headed up by PGA Pro Doug Weaver; Palmetto Dunes offers some of the most memorable experiences on the Island. The Arthur Hills course is my personal favorite. Built through rolling dunes and palm trees, Hills will treat your eye and your game to an unforgettable round. Hills features a great practice facility, and the staff at Palmetto Dunes is always at your beck and call. Be sure to look for the historic lighthouse, tucked behind the 5th and 15th greens. Robert Trent Jones created a phenomenal layout in Palmetto Dunes and in 2002, the Resort renovated the course into one of the best courses in the southeast. The course is challenging yet playable and will leave you wanting more. Its signature hole, the par 5 10th, reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Don't miss the Robert Trent Jones Course. George Fazio is one of the most renowned golf architects and his efforts in Palmetto Dunes live up to his reputation. This course requires long precision and a short game to boot. And if you have it going left the day you play Fazio, forget it! Be sure to try out a segway on the Trent Jones course and take lots of pictures because your friends will not believe you! Riding a segway with your clubs attached is a lot of fun and is an experience you will not soon forget. Don't forget your RQ Recomends Card for preferred rates. Palmetto Dunes Golf is a proud member of the ResortQuest Recommends Program. FORE! Golf Hilton Head Palmetto Dunes Resort Hilton Head

Harbour Town Golf Links

Located in Sea Pines Resort, the Links at Harbour Town is the quintessential Hilton Head Island golf experience. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and Pete Dye, this course plays to a par 71 at 6,973 and a slope of 146.
Golfers of all ability levels will love Harbour Town, and the warm service the golf staff provides will make you smile throughout the round. Your forecaddie will give the lay of the land on each spectacular hole. The forecaddie will also help you find errant shots, read greens and rake bunkers. The front nine at Harbour Town will progressively build up to the hardest hole on the course; #8 which is a 470 yard par four dogleg left with trouble everywhere. Take anything less than a 6 on this hole and "run" to the ninth tee, where you will be lulled into smashing a drive toward the green 332 yards away. But be warned, this green is tougher to hit than any green on the course. The back nine starts with four par-4's that are the best in golf. When you arrive at the 15th tee, get geared up for the spectacular finishing holes ending with the Signature par four 18th, playing to the famed red & white Harbour Town lighthouse.
The links at Harbour Town is rated #1 in the state of the South Carolina, and is the home to the PGA Tour's Verizon Heritage Classic every April. Boo Weekley will look to defend in 2009 for the third year in a row. And the best thing; with your ResortQuest Recommends Card you will enjoy discounted green fees all year long! Don't miss the Links at Harbour Town!
866-561-8802 http://www.seapines.com/golf/harbour_town_golf.cfm
FORE!
Sea Pines Resort Hilton Head
Golf Hilton Head

Palmetto Hall Golfing

Greetings!
Did you know that winter is prime time for golf on Hilton Head Island? The sun is warm and the air is cool, and the courses which were over seeded in the fall have grown in nicely and are in great shape this time of year. On the North end of Hilton Head Island, don't miss the two courses in Palmetto Hall Plantation: the Arthur Hills and the Robert Cupp Golf Courses.Here at Palmetto Hall, the courses are managed by the Heritage Golf Group.
The focus on quality and service are apparent and the courses will challenge experts and beginners alike. The Cupp course features a unique and refreshing design, interesting straight line angles and some of the best greens on the Island. Cupp plays to a par 72 and is 7,100 yards from the tips and 5,200 yards from the forward tees.
The Hills course was dubbed an instant classic upon opening in 1991. Dubbed one of America's top 10 new courses by Golf Magazine, the course cuts through heavily wooded terrain. Towering pines and moss draped live oak trees will accompany you for the whole round. Hills plays to a par 72 and ranges from 4,900 to 6,900 yards depending on your tee box selection. It all climaxes at the par 4 signature hole, #18!
You can see more of these fabulous lay-outs and book tee-time at these and other Heritage Golf Group Courses at http://www.palmettohallgolf.com/ or by calling 800-2-FIND-18. Don't forget to use your ResortQuest Recommends Card for discounted green fees! Heritage Golf is a proud member of the ResortQuest Recomends Program.
FORE!
Hilton Head Island Golf Packages
Hilton Head Island, SC

Shipyard Golfing

Shipyard Golf Club is 27 holes of gorgeous terrain weaving through the 800-acre gated resort community that is proof that great things come in small packages. Shipyard Golf Club hails from the renowned Heritage Golf Group which is nationally accredited for creating unparalleled golf and legendary service and Shipyard is the ideal paradigm. The three 9-hole courses provide four tee positions to accommodate to any level of play. Do not let the breathtaking terrain force you to lose focus as the multiple lagoons, ponds and expertly placed bunkers keep the most avid golfers challenged. To add to the overall appeal of these striking courses, Shipyard Golf Club has undergone major renovations to provide golfers the most up-to-date golf Hilton Head Island has to offer. If you are a returning golfer to Shipyard you will notice the changes immediately as the bag-drop area and club house are completely refurbished and modernized to make for smooth transitions, and a relaxed, comfortable and organized greeting area. The practice courses have all been restored as well, including new surface putting greens, remodeled bunkers in the chipping area and a completely mended driving range. Shipyard Golf Club proudly offers PGA professional instruction including private lessons and clinics by Kyle Mobley. Renovations to the golf courses have made extreme improvements to the overall appeal of everything from the greens to the bunkers. The superintendent team expertly chose to remove 27 bunkers over 27 holes to improve the consistency of the course and mended the drainage and sprinkler systems throughout to ensure dependability. They are also in the process of completely changing all of the greens which are being replaced with Diamond Zoysia Grass. This particular stock is distinguished by its fine texture, genetic stability, uniform quality and superior salt tolerance which is primarily important in our island atmosphere. Although all three courses are open to the public, it will be in peak playing form around October First. Special thanks go to the Superintendent Greg Baxter and Assistant Superintendent Doug Burdick for putting in countless hours this summer to create such amazing improvements throughout. If it was not for their fervor and love for the course I cannot imagine that we would have the opportunity to play on such well manicured terrain. Please visit their website at http://www.shipyardgolf.com/ for more information or call 843-689-GOLF for reservations and rates. Discount Golf Hilton Head

If you need an excuse to eat and drink!

Renowned for its dining and drinking establishments, it is understandable that Hilton Head hosts a festival paying homage to that which brings friends and family together for regular gatherings and celebration. Join ResortQuest Hilton Head Island, the feature sponsor for the 24th annual Wine and Food Festival, and enjoy great eats, spectacular drinks and exclusive vacation rental options.
Hilton Head's crown jewel of consumption festivities, the annual Wine and Food Fest is the east coasts largest tented outdoor wine tasting. The festival is spread over three days and features well over 1,000 wines from across the globe. This one-of-a-kind event is kicked off with a showcase of the "Great Chef's of the South" dinner where patrons will sample menu items from four of Hilton Head's most prestigious restaurants.
For the wine enthusiasts, Friday is highlighted by a grand tasting, at $150 per person, showcasing the crème de la crème of the participating wineries and vineyards. Finally, a public tasting held and at $40 ticket prices, even the most novice of wine drinkers can partake in the festivities without a guilty conscience or empty pockets. The most indulgent of days, Saturday features food and wine tastings, local bartending and server challenges, a private auction, farmers market and live music. Ideal for vacationers of all walks of life, this springtime excursion is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of the upcoming summer weather, expand your palate and learn more about the drink that brings people together.
Dining Hilton Head
Hilton Head Events

Heritage...My Favorite Holiday

The Verizon Heritage
I am sure you are thinking: with a name like Heritage, it has to be tiresome. Let me assure you, this is no grandpa's golf game. The busiest of spring time festivities on Hilton Head Island, this professional golf tournament sets the stage for one of Hilton Head Island's biggest parties. Every tee box, fairway and putting green is surrounded by celebrating patrons and the golf course is sprinkled with tents boasting beer, champagne and golf themed gifts.
After the 18th green, travel down to the marina, where the party continues alongside the multi-million dollar boats of the Harbour Town Yacht Basin. Not to forget, nearly all of the bars and restaurants on Hilton Head partake in the festivities offering great specials, extravagant soirees and Heritage themed parties. If you are a true PGA lover or just someone who wants to sport your trendiest madras print gear, The Verizon Heritage is sure to please.
Do It Factor: DO IT, with a disclaimer. This is the perfect opportunity to get away with adult groups or golf lovers. However, very large crowds of people travel throughout Sea Pines and the south end of the island during this event making it extremely congested. P.S. intoxication does tend to happen amongst Heritage patrons...you have been warned.

Live music on Hilton Head!

Music is awesome; it evokes emotion, changes moods and can even cure hysteria. But my favorite thing about music is that it goes hand-in-hand with dancing. Turn on some tunes and see all the heads bobbing and hips shaking simultaneously to the beat. This is why I love to go see music preformed live. It is a perfect concoction of quality tunes, amusing people and space to groove.
Thankfully you no longer have to travel very far to go to an entertaining show as The Shoreline Ballroom opened on Hilton Head Island this year. The Ballroom is a newly remodeled state-of-the-art performance center. The theater size stage is surrounded by over 11,000 square feet of space and highlighted by a 56 foot long art-deco styled bar. There is a nice mixture of tables and chairs adjacent to a sizeable dance floor with plenty of additional standing room. I most recently attended a jamboree at this new hot spot with my good friend Drea who is the guru of jam music with somewhere around fifty Widespread Panic shows and even more music festival attendances under her belt.
Last Saturday her and I strapped on our Rainbow sandals and cruised over to The Shoreline Ballroom to take in the musical stylings of Outformation and Col. Bruce and the Quark Alliance. Outformation opened the show to crowd of screaming fans anxiously awaiting Sam Holt, the lead guitarist, to take the first strums of what proved to be uproariously good time. My guru leaned over in between tunes to inform me that Sam Holt began his career as a guitar tech for the late Michael Houser of Widespread Panic and has amazingly similar sounds to that of the legendary guitarist. And right she was, as a first timer to Outformation, I fell head over heels for Holt's hypnotic, confident style. Outformation self described rock, psychedelic, country music provided a perfect entry for the shows headliner Col. Bruce and the Quark Alliance.
Col. Bruce is legendary in this genre of music and is benevolently referred to as the "Godfather of Jam." His music is eclectic and funky and has been called everything including country swing jazz, southern boogie and gospel bluegrass. Born in Atlanta, this southern rocker has toured with music greats and even appeared in the 1996 film Sling Blade. So it was no surprise that Col. Bruce and the Quark Alliance put on an amazing show jamming out to their funky rhythms while we all grooved to their diverse sound.
Kudos goes to The Shoreline Ballroom as they definitely spent the time and effort into finding and showcasing such amazing talent. The Ballroom has even more fun in store for upcoming shows that include the likes of Air Supply and Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band. See you there! p.s. Special thanks go to Drea for inviting me to go with her to such an amazing show...you are truly fantastic!