Mount Pleasant's finest hotel sits on Charleston Harbor, so you can gaze at the city's skyline, yet a water taxi from the marina will get you across the harbor in 10 minutes. A lot goes on here, from splashy boat shows at the marina to wedding celebrations on the man-made white-sand beach. Ask for one of the renovated rooms with fireplaces and plasma TVs. Children can jump into the mini-mariners' program while parents are navigating a sailboat. A number of annual sailing events are held here, and the bar scene is fun. Pros: the most accessible hotel to downtown that's not in downtown (approximately 6 mi away); a "trolley" runs to the Old Market from 10-10 daily; renovations have made a huge difference. Cons: no gym or spa (both are planned at this writing, however); the lobby and the restaurant are not memorable.
Visit the Travel Talk forums for help on planning your trip