By Contributing Writer
Downtown Charleston, S.C., is a historic district that has stood since the city was founded and is filled with Southern history and culture. Visitors can take tours through the landmarks, 18th century plantations and homes, churches, museums, the city market and the Battery. The downtown area is also home to a number of art galleries. Many of the accommodations available in downtown Charleston are located inside historic buildings.
Historic Four-Star Hotels
The historic four-star hotels in downtown Charleston provide all the luxury of the more modern four star hotels with all the historic charm of Charleston. The John Rutledge House Inn is an antebellum home which is now a bed and breakfast filled with antiques and historic reproductions. Guests enjoy amenities such as wine and sherry in the ballroom, morning pastry delivery, and afternoon tea. The Planters Inn is another historical four-star hotel. Built in 1844, this inn has two buildings surrounded by a garden. The guestrooms have Italian marble bathrooms, four-poster beds, wide floor plans, and 10-foot ceilings.
John Rutledge House Inn
116 Broad St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 723-7999
www.johnrutledgehouseinn.com
Planters Inn
112 North Market St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 722-2345
www.plantersinn.com
Contemporary Four-Star Hotels
These contemporary four-star hotels enjoy the historic downtown location but provide guests with the comfort of modern furnishings. All of these four-star hotels have business centers, banquet facilities, restaurants, and concierge service. The Charleston Place Hotel has an Italian marble lobby, an open arm staircase, with a 12 foot chandelier. Amenities include an indoor/outdoor swimming pool with retractable roof, a splash pool and 24-hour room service. The Market Pavilion Hotel is a boutique hotel with lavishly styled suites that feature marble baths, crown molding, and mahogany poster beds. Some suites have private terraces, grand pianos, a drawing room, and a panoramic view of the city and harbor.
Charleston Place Hotel
205 Meeting St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(888) 635-2350
www.charlestonplace.com
Market Pavilion Hotel
225 East Bay St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 266-4222
www.marketpavilion.com
Historic Three-Star Hotels
Downtown Charleston has nine three-star hotels in historic buildings. These hotels have the modern niceties in a historic setting filled with antiques and reproductions. The Elliot House Inn showers its guests in pleasantries, such as serving morning breakfast and paper in the room on silver service, offering complimentary wine and cheese, canopied beds, freshly cut flowers, a semi-tropical courtyard, and Jacuzzi. The Fulton Lane Inn is known as one of the most romantic hotels in the Charleston. This inn has canopied beds, large whirlpool baths, continental breakfast delivered to the room, and wine served in the lobby.
Elliott House Inn
78 Queen St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 723-1855
www.elliotthouseinn.com
Fulton Lane Inn
202 King St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 720-2600
www.fultonlaneinn.com
Contemporary Three-Star Hotels
These modern hotels provide amenities such as a fitness center, gift shop, business center, restaurants, and a concierge service. The Doubletree Suites offers chocolate chip cookies at check in and a lobby with brass chandeliers and decorative ceiling medallions. The Kings Courtyard provides complimentary wine in the lobby and in-room massage service.
Kings Courtyard Inn
198 King St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 723-7000
www.kingscourtyardinn.com
Doubletree Suites Charleston
181 Church St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 577-2644
www.charlestondoubletree.com
Budget Hotels
If you want to save money and stay in downtown Charleston, you might consider the two-star Days Inn. The Days Inn has a swimming pool, laundry facilities, business center, and in-room safes. The restaurant has a garden-style setting and serves low-country cuisine. The one-star Market Street Inn overlooks the Historic City Market. With only five bedrooms, this tiny inn has a courtyard garden and offers a continental breakfast.
Days Inn Charleston Historic District
155 Meeting St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 722-8411
www.daysinn.com
Market Street Inn
48 North Market St.
Charleston, S.C. 29401
(843) 723-2177
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