My wife and I went to Myrtle Beach for our four year anniversary. I used to go to Myrtle Beach every year as a kid and teenager with my family, but the last time was nearly 18 years ago. We always stayed at the Carolina Winds, and I figured I would give it a try as the price was right for the time of year we were going.

We got to the hotel earlier than expected. We figured our room wouldn't be ready yet, but we were pleasantly surprised that we were able to get into our room a full three hours before check in time. The gentleman working the front desk was friendly and helpful. He got us all set for our room, showed us how to use the discount card that comes with the reservation, told us where to park, and directed us to the elevators.

When we got to the room, the hotel was just as I remembered. Our room could probably have used a fresh coat of paint, but there was nothing broken or dirty at all about it. It just looked like it had been a few years since the paint had been updated. The bedroom was nice, with a brand new flat screen TV mounted to the wall, and the living area was even better. The couch and chair were nice, the table was nice, and the TV stand and TV were old, but worked. There were nice decorations in the room, and the kitchen area had all brand new appliances. The only thing bad I have to say about the room is that the bathroom seemed a bit small, but it was usable. Overall, the room was pleasing.

The rest of the hotel was even better. The indoor pool and hot tubs were clean and well maintained. The game room was just as I remembered it. The outdoor pool and hot tub are some of the best, and biggest, I've ever seen at a hotel that wasn't in a tropical location such as Hawai'i, Costa Rica, or Grand Cayman. The outdoor pool is heated, so even in the evenings with the temperatures down in the 60s, it was very pleasant to be in the pool. The lazy river and hot tub at the other building were also both well maintained and nice. I would say the majority of the time that I could, I was spending it in the pool.

The beach access is close and easy, and the beach in front of the property is great. The location of the hotel is also very nice. It's easy to find and right in the middle of the main attractions, which means that 10 minutes in either direction will get you to just about anything you could be looking for.

The restaurant was closed for the season during our visit, so I can't comment on that.

The staff, in it's entirety, was great. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and just plain nice. A really good group of people they've got working there.

I think the best thing I can say about the hotel is that it brought back great memories of growing up, and I will definitely be going back in the future.