The first time I stayed at the Sanctuary at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, I thought someone had slipped a crown on my head while I was sleeping.

I’m not used to being treated like a prince by anything other than my dogs at feeding time, but at the Sanctuary, they pretty much smother you with attention. There were times when I raced for the front door, trying desperately to open it myself. But no, they’re quick at the Sanctuary, and there was almost always someone there ahead of me.

They were open and honest about their pursuit of the five-star award bestowed by the Mobil Travel Guide, and I’m glad they finally got it.

According to Mobil, the Sanctuary is one of only four new properties on the list of 41 North American hotels, resorts and inns to hold the five-star rating.

The resort’s spa also got a separate five-star award, making the property one of only two properties with separate hotel and spa five-star ratings. The Mandarin Oriental in New York is the other.

The golf isn’t bad either. The Ocean course already had a five-star, Mobil rating. I guess these Mobil guys liked the joint.

Maybe now they’ll relax and let me open a door myself.

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