April 2009 Archives

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is the most popular ocean-side resort destination along the east coast of the United States. Millions of visitors arrive each year to view its magnificent coastal topography, visit the areas many historical and cultural attractions, and, one can’t fail to mention, play golf. Of the many reasons for the popularity of Myrtle Beach, the most important is its wonderful weather.

 The area has an average daily temperature in the mid ‘70’s. Best of all, as a region with a subtropical climate, Myrtle Beach experiences mild winters. At its coldest, in January, Myrtle Beach rarely cools below the low 50’s and often the daytime highs reach the mid- 60’s. This is perfect golf weather for those who are otherwise shoveling snow and bundling up in parkas farther north. December and February are even better with an average daily temperature in high 60’s. Nights are colder, however with temperatures dipping down near freezing.

 For golfers and nature lovers, spring is the best time to visit Myrtle Beach. In March and April the daytime temperature hovers around 70. During spring the nights are still cool, but pleasant. High 40’s to mid-50 degree temperatures also make this the perfect time for romantic walks along the shoreline, a patio dinner at one of the amazing seafood restaurants along the shoreline, or a visit to the nearby Intracoastal Waterway to watch the sailboats headed to Florida with their running lights glowing in the darkness.

 Like all regions with subtropical climates, Myrtle Beach is humid in the summer. Average temperatures are in the high 80’s and low 90’s throughout June, July, and August. But it is a moist heat and this is the time to enjoy the cooling waters of the Atlantic Ocean. However, you will be surprised at how warm the water is in comparison to beaches in the northeast. Water temperature is in the low 80’s in July and August, begins falling in September and reaches a bracing 50 degrees in the winter months.

 Spring water temperatures are in the 60’s. Even in the heat of the summer there is good news in that the evenings are cool – low 70’s is the average at night and the sea breeze will further invigorate you. For golfers, July is the wettest month, with over 5 inches of precipitation. But the sun shines more often than not in Myrtle Beach. There are, on average 215 days of sunshine in this ocean-side paradise, 150 days of overcast skies, and only 70 days of rain. Keep in mind that the hottest months are also the least expensive months to play. Greens fees fall as fast in June, July and August as the temperatures rise.

 You will find frequent afternoon thunderstorms this time of year, so plan to get your golf in early in the day. Whatever your plans include in Myrtle Beach the weather is likely to cooperate. From sightseeing at nearby historical sights in the fall, golfing while your friends shiver at home in the winter, sunbathing in the heat of summer, or sailing in the spring, the weather is often Myrtle Beach’s best attraction.

Despite last week's wild fire that began near the Barefoot community in North Myrtle Beach, hotels in Myrtle Beach have now resumed normal operations and are telling tourists to come on down. While many residents of the North Myrtle Beach area were displaced because of the wild fire, the popular tourist attractions in the Myrtle Beach area remained unaffected for the most part and at this point all attractions and hotels are open and operating normally.

This includes the golf courses, with the exception of two Barefoot Resort courses, which are possibly Myrtle Beach's most popular tourist attraction. The Myrtle Beach area has approximately 55 golf courses totaling 1,026 holes. While the wild fires burned more than 20,000 acres and destroyed nearly 70 homes, miraculously almost all of Myrtle Beach's golf courses were spared from any damage.

The ability of the hotels and tourist attractions to remain in operation despite the wildfire is attributed to the quick action of local and state emergency personnel who acted diligently to control the wildfires. Also, due to the natural barrier created by the Intracoastal Waterway, much of the fire and smoke associated with the wild fires was prevented from reaching the tourism related businesses located along the Grand Strand. The Grand Strand is located east of the Intracoastal Waterway while the wild fires occurred west of the Intracoastal Waterway, which has allowed the tourist attractions to remain largely unaffected, even from the smoke which often lingers for days or weeks after a wild fire.

Even though the Myrtle Beach area was largely unaffected by the wild fires, Myrtle Beach officials have asked tourists to avoid Highway 22, Highway 31, and Highway 90, at least until the end of April, as portions of these roadways remain closed for precautionary measures due to the wild fires. These Myrtle Beach officials have also stated that the Myrtle Beach International Airport is open and completely unaffected and that as of April 24, 2009, all area golf courses are open and operating on a normal schedule.

At this point it should be pretty clear that the Myrtle Beach area is now operating normally despite the wild fires, but it is understandable that potential tourists may still have some questions. Potential tourists can contact the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce with any questions or concerns. Horry County is also making officials available to answer any questions or concerns regarding the wild fires.

Tourists who do make it down to Myrtle Beach during the remaining days of April will be able to participate in Myrtle Beach's Go Green Month, which lasts through the entire month of April. During Go Green Month, tourists who show that they recycle are able to receive coupons and savings from many area merchants.

Although the wild fires struck right at the beginning of the tourist season, it appears that Myrtle Beach has met the challenge and they are open for business.

Hello from Myrtle Beach.

As you may have witnessed through various news outlets, a wildfire that began yesterday is currently affecting a section of the North Myrtle Beach area.  Tourism throughout Myrtle Beach proper and in particular, the Coral Beach Resort, Sea Crest Resort and Holiday Inn-“At the Pavilion”, have not been directly impacted by this terrible event.

The fire is currently located well west of the Intracoastal Waterway, affecting a small area of the Grand Strand, approximately 20 to 25 miles north.  To date, the wildfire has caused damage to private homes in the North Myrtle Beach area. Luckily, no major injuries have been reported and area fire and safety personnel are tirelessly working to minimize impact to homes and wooded lands in the surrounding area.

Even with the tragedy currently affecting our area, Coral Beach Resort & Suites, Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort and Holiday Inn-“At the Pavilion” are open. In addition, we are continuing to accept reservations for those looking forward to a Myrtle Beach family vacation weekend.

We are deeply saddened by the current happenings in our area and are keeping our friends and neighbors in our thoughts and prayers. As we move forward, we ask that you do the same.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what’s happening at any of our three resorts.

When searching for oceanfront efficiency units for your next vacation, a search on the Internet will result in many choices of locations and many accommodations from modestly priced ones to luxury facilities. There are many beautiful beaches from which to pick. Would you rather have a nice, wide sandy beach or a more rugged rock lined coast? There is much information available on the Internet to aid you in deciding on a location for your vacation.

Once you have decided on an oceanfront destination for your vacation you will need to decide what kind of efficiency will fill your needs. Is being on the first floor a consideration? Is a porch or patio with an ocean view desirable and available? How many bedrooms are available in a unit? Is there more than one bathroom if your group is large enough to need this? Does anyone in your group require that the facility be handicapped accessible? Among the questions that will need answers are whether pets are allowed if you desire to have your dog or cat accompany you.

Also, there is the matter of smoking. If you are a smoker, check to see what the policy is at a potential rental site. To some, a swimming pool is desired so be sure to see if the facility you are considering has one if this is important to you. If there are children in your group this may be particularly important. Jacuzzis are offered by some facilities if you like to have a relaxing soak after a day on the beach.

To help make your decision easier many sites on the internet offer very good photos of the outside of their buildings as well photos of the rooms which will give you a good feel of what to expect once you arrive at your destination. Most also have directions on their site to guide you. When picking your efficiency it may also be important to you to find what type of entertainment is nearby. Is history your thing?

 If so, you may want to book efficiency in a coastal area that is rich with history with tours available to interesting sites. Taking a trip to the oceanfront is enjoyed by many people and is an ideal family vacation. With so much information available on the Internet today, it is possible to sit in the comfort of your home with your family members and search and search until you find the ideal location for your vacation rental.

If you will be taking your family on this trip it is important to find out whether this is a child-friendly facility and whether there are activities that the children will enjoy. Some landlords have limits on the number of people who can stay in a unit so that should also be checked out. The idea of a vacation is to find a place that all of the participants will enjoy and the place you chose to stay can go a long way in whether you enjoy your stay.

Welcome again to our premier oceanfront resorts blog and Happy Spring to you! I’m Lynette Emiroglu, director of sales and marketing for Coral Beach Resort & Suites, Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort and Holiday Inn-“At the Pavilion.”

Throughout all of our resorts, we’re currently running a phenomenal special that will certainly help resort visitors like you in planning your next Myrtle Beach vacation.  Dubbed the “Early Book” savings program, it is designed to help Myrtle Beach-bound vacationers save on lodging costs.

For a limited time, vacationers who book their Myrtle Beach vacations in advance can save up to 35 percent on lodging costs at Coral Beach, Sea Crest or the Holiday Inn-“At the Pavilion.” The rates for this special are as follows:

·         Booking 90 days in advance – 35 percent savings

·         Booking 60 days in advance – 30 percent savings

·         Booking 30 days in advance – 25 percent savings

·         Booking inside 30 days of visit – 20 percent savings

In addition to the “Early Book” program, our three properties are offering one free night’s stay during the leisure seasons with the purchase of a two-night stay in-season via our “Free Stays Program.”

We are excited about these great savings opportunities for potential and repeat Myrtle Beach vacationers. In the face of today’s economic uncertainty, we fully believe in providing value to those who deserve, and are in need of, a relaxing vacation. Our three properties have been a fixture in Myrtle Beach for more than 25 years, and we feel obliged to give customers more value for their money.

Until next time, feel free to let me know your thoughts on what’s happening at any of our three resorts.