We ended a week-long trip down the coast in the city of Charleston and selected this hotel because they had smoking rooms on the the 8th floor with views of the city. I recall when the hotel was being built -- had eaten dinner there twice in the past forty years -- and stayed there once about twenty years ago -- but knew really knew nothing else about it as we've mostly stayed at Charleston Place for the past twenty years. The good reviews on Tripadvisor settled it. We were NOT disappointed. The views of the city from our rooms were spectacular. The staff was every bit as professional, informed and courteous as the staff at Charleston Place. I was working in Charleston one of the days we were there and could get into downtown in five minutes. We had breakfast upstairs both mornings -- had drinks in the bar one night -- entertained a table full of guests in the dining room another evening -- and had room service another evening. Everything was really great. Regarding the food: downtown Charleston is practically buried in four star (well deserved stars) restaurants so the competiton regarding food is extremely keen. Although the food was perfectly fine, one would not go to the dining room atop the Holiday Inn for the food -- you go downtown for that. BUT -- a very important but -- we had some well-travelled locals in for dinner and the wonderful view, excellent service and perfectly acceptable food won them over (they remarked that they certainly plan on bringing out of town guests there at least for drinks in the future just to enjoy the city view and good service) so I think that is a pretty good recommendation. I do want to comment on the architecture: I have a master's degree in historic preservation and a strong concentration in architectural history. I must say that -- far from being a blight on the landscape -- this building is an extremely fine representation of its type from the third quarter of the 20th century and it is absolutely neither banal nor ugly. (If you want to see banal and ugly, consider the boxy "La Quinta" that lies slightly east when viewed from the top of the Holiday Inn). This building will actually become eligible for consideration to be nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in about nine years. I sincerely hope that it is nominated and accepted as it is a beautiful relief from the humdrum hotel posseurs of more recent vintage. Furthermore, its presence is proof that Charleston is not merely mired in the 18th and 19th centuries but is a living city that has some interesting architectural examples (although a small inventory) from across time. Having said that -- yes, certainly we will stay there again and I hope it is very soon.
- Holiday Inn Charleston
- Charleston Holiday Inn
