‘I had no idea’: A decades old law locals should know before booking a staycation

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Max Neubauer has lived in the Grand Strand for nearly ten years and wanted to book a staycation with his wife for a weekend getaway. However, he was shocked to find out some hotels turn away locals.

Neubauer said he was all set to check out online for a room at the North Beach Resort and Villas, but the submit button would not work.

He looked at their policy and discovered they do not take reservations for Horry and Georgetown residents.

“I had no idea,” Neubauer said. “I was totally floored and flabbergasted when they said we couldn’t book there. I was like, are you sure? She said, ‘Yes, I’m sorry we won’t allow you to stay.’”

Neubauer shared his experience in a now viral post on Facebook garnering thousands of comments with similar stories.

Some people said they were aware, and others were not of a decades-old South Carolina law that has been around since 1994.

The Lodging Establishment Act allows hotels to turn away locals or anyone else as long as they do not discriminate against someone’s race, gender, marital status or age.

MGA Travel President Michael Graham said issues like big parties and illegal activities prompted the rule, and many hotels choose to follow it over safety concerns.

However, Graham shared Neubauer’s frustration as he’s faced a similar issue when trying to avoid driving home after drinking with his wife.

“I tried to rent a room, and they were getting everything ready, but they saw my license and that I had a Little River address, and they said sorry we don’t rent to locals,” Graham said. “That’s not only frustrating, but it’s kind of unsafe for somebody trying to be responsible.”

So, Graham shared some tips for locals who may want to book a staycation.

Plan ahead as early as you can
Non-chain hotels may be more likely to rent to locals
Consider booking staycation during the winter
Avoid third-party booking websites because they may not know about the rule

Here’s a list provided by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce updated as of 2023 of properties that rent to locals:

Best Western Ocean Sands Beach Resort
Cabana Shores Hotel
Camelot by the Sea
Carolina Winds Resort
Compass Cove Oceanfront Resort
Crown Reef Beach Resort and Waterpark
Fairfield Inn by Marriott at Broadway at the Beach
Grande Shores Ocean Resort
Hampton Inn and Suites Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
Hilton Garden Inn Myrtle Beach Coastal Grand Mall
Holiday Inn Oceanfront at Surfside Beach
Homewood Suites by Hilton Myrtle Beach Coastal Grand Mall
Island Vista
Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes
Ocean Creek Resort
Ocean Park Resort
Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club
Polynesian Beach & Golf Resort
Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort
Seaside Resort
Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center Hotel
Staybridge Suites Myrtle Beach - West
The Caravelle Resort
Towers at North Myrtle Beach

Note: This list is managed by the Visit Myrtle Beach Call Center and obtainable by calling the center at 800-356-3016. The list is not meant to be a comprehensive list of Grand Strand lodging properties that rent to locals. Rather, it offers a variety of options for locals to take a staycation. As of March 2023, these properties are members of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and shared with Visit Myrtle Beach that they will accommodate locals from Horry and Georgetown counties. Local residents should call the property first to verify their local resident rental policy before booking. Additional accommodations not found on this list may also accommodate locals.

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