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We have friends coming in February and they want to stay downtown in a nice hotel, not real high-end (like the Wentworth), but not a chain like Courtyard or Renaissance. Since it's their first visit, they also want to be right in the thick of things.
Both Belmond Charleston Place and the Market Pavilion hotel seen to fit the bill. Both seem fairly reasonable, and in good locations.
Can anyone offer opinions on either? Reputation? Personal experience? I want this to be a great stay for our guests.
I don't have any experience with the Market Pavilion but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who says anything negative, or even remotely negative, about Belmond. The service is beyond top notch, it's highly rated and written about. The renovations are amazing. If they can afford, or arrange, the club level, even better!
You wont go wrong with either of the hotels you mentioned... both excellent choices .... so let me throw in a couple more who certainly can run with the aforementioned 'big dogs'.... The French Quarter Hotel, The Grand Bohemian ,The Dewberry and for kicks ... The George....
I don't have any experience with the Market Pavilion but you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who says anything negative, or even remotely negative, about Belmond. The service is beyond top notch, it's highly rated and written about. The renovations are amazing. If they can afford, or arrange, the club level, even better!
If you're spending nearly $2000/night for a Club room might as well get the Presidential suite.
Cynic, I had the hotels you listed on my list as well - like them all - but they seem to be substantially higher than the Market Pavilion. Belmond pricing is all over the map - sometimes "reasonable", sometimes not.
One other one that popped up that seems fairly reasonable is The Vendue Inn, and possible Planters Inn.
One deal breaker (other than an out of the way location) for them is cleanliness. I can't remember which hotel it was, but it was in the higher end ones, where someone posted pics on TA of their legs covered in bed bugs. They (and so would I) would rather stay in a basic chain hotel that is clean than to experience something like that. What I don't want is a hotel for them that just rests on it's laurels because it has a great location.
Since we don't go into the city all that much, is the location of the Belmond preferable to the Market Pavilion? The Market Pavilion is above Fleet Landing, which we have walked to but beyond Fleet Landing on E Bay all I seem to remember were railroad cars and it didn't seem as nice of an area as right in the historic district. The whole idea of them staying in town is for them to be able to step out their door into the action, and not have to drive.
Their budget is $350 tops, preferably under $300 though. Central, safe location and CLEAN and doesn't need a facelift (soiled, broken furniture, HVAC system that doesn't work) are their top priorities. They aren't the type of people that care about status, or a great bar scene, or high-end toiletries. They will be staying mid-week so that should help a bit with the rates.
Will late February be OK walking around weather, or should I dissuade them from coming until Mar/Apr/May?
I believe I read somewhere that The Vendue just underwent a major renovation......hard to believe that hotel was the one with the bed bugs.
Are your friends into the art scene ?? The Vendue can offer that. But the Rooftop Bar would be better in April than February. The Mills House is in the center of Gallery Row, if that is a factor.
What's the story on the Harborview down by the water ?? Nice Location, how are the rates ??
The Andrew Pinckney Inn certainly looks nice.
I'd be interested in hearing about where your friends choose to stay and what they thought about it. We have some friends coming in this summer.....always good to have a hotel recommendation.
I checked, and it wasn't the Vendue that had the bed bugs, it was Planters Inn.
They aren't that into art, and after reading reviews and checking prices, it seems the two best bets are still Market Pavilion and Belmond. Harbor View if they want to splurge, but I don't see that it offers them anything that much better and is $100 higher at $349. (For a Monday in February). TA rates Harbor View #6, Market Pavilion #7, and Belmond #13.
The Belmond is $240/night and Market Pavilion is $259/night for the same time period. Still trying to learn which of these has the better location. Belmond is at 205 Meeting Street, and Market Pavilion is at 225 E Bay. In checking Google Maps, it seems each hotel is at either end of City Market, but hard to tell. Not sure which has more around it for walkable shopping and mid-range good restaurants. Pavilion maybe has the edge with the rooftop bar/terrace, but doesn't mean one has to stay there to enjoy that.
In the interest of keeping prices low, would March be ok weather, or is April still better? We went on a house tour one year downtown - either March or April, can't remember - and it was HOT, so I think May is out. Plus prices I imagine would be higher in May.
March can go either way around here -- Sunny and Mild, or Cold and Damp. The Pollen is thick in March.
Room Rates probably start to creep up by April, they may be paying High Season Rates. You'd have to check with each Hotel.
Last time we were at the Charleston music Hall, I took a look around that Embassy Suites on Marion Square.....it's nice. It certainly is well located near most everything.
How 'bout the Francis Marion Hotel ?? At one time the tallest building in the Carolinas, it's full of history.
Isn't it defined by what you want to be near? My preference is E. Bay and I usually choose the Vendue.
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