Charleston Girlfriend Trip in April
 

I am thrilled to be planning a girlfriend getaway! I have been hoping to get to Charleston for years and have wanted to stay at the French Quarter Inn. Of course, it ends up that since we are coming between April 20 and 23rd hotel prices are rather steep -- garden tour, I assume.

The three of us would like to walk everywhere, so the historic district is ideal. We tend to like moderate-upscale lodging and would be happy to have a room at $450 a night if it could hold all of us. Or, if there were a better priced option that allowed us to have individual rooms that would be even better.

Thanks for your help.

The rooms at the Doubltree are really suites which would give the three of you a little more room to spread out and also a fridge and microwave.

The Embassy Suites on Meeting Street has doubles available for $329. It's on Marion Square and a great area. The hotel was the former Citadel.The hotel is great, lots of charm, the downside on being a former school is that some rooms do not have windows, but you can always request a room with a window.

It may just be an "April weekend price" you're running into. I think the tours are all done by then from what I can see.
You might look on Priceline for a 4* in the HD.
The Hampton Inn is not "in" the main HD, but is very nice, has parking, and is across from the visitor's center where you can get a trolley.

The tours by the Historic Society end on the 21st. If you can get tickets, do so. You'll be able to visit private homes and gardens that are not ordinarily open to the public.

http://www.historiccharleston.org/ne.../festival.html

The Farmer's Market resumes in April, so if you're up by Marion Square be sure to go. It's fun.

I plugged your dates into kayak.com, and the Mills House came up at $288 per night. It's also in a great location.

Do be aware that "modern" and "Historic District" are almost mutually exclusive :)

How much nicer is the French Quarter Inn? We're getting a larger room with Terrace, breakfast, afternoon wine and tea and milk and cookies for about $430 a night?

My head is going to explode trying to figure out all the garden tour options. :) There is one from 6-9 pm on April 20 that seems great. But, we only get into the airport at 4:50 -- pushing it? Should I save the historic walking tour for Sunday, or is it different if you do it during the festival.

Thanks for your help.

The FQI is very nice. I've never stayed there (I live here) but I was inside recently. It's great. it sounds like you've got your heart set on it so go for it.

I think it may be pushing things to get to the tour from the airport by 6. The garden tours are different from regular walking tours. Private citizens open their homes and gardens. Do be aware that, with any tour where you are allowed into homes, heels are not allowed.

I always recommend first timers take a carriage ride to get acclimated to your surroundings. You could arrange an evening tour with any of the carriage companies if you like.

I went ahead and booked a Saturday tour.

Are there evening carriage tours available? The person I spoke to at the visitor's office said they were not?

How about this --

Day ! - Arrive, wine/cheese at hotel, dinner at Fig
Day 2- Carriage ride, lunch ? dinner at Hank's
Day 3 - Explore market -- spa/ walking tour/garden visit -- dinner?
Day 4 - Explore, Depart for 2PM flight

That's just a rough outline. Any suggestions?

That's a good plan.

You can hire a carriage to do an evening tour. You'll need to contact the carriage companies individually to see who can accommodate you. For the regular daytime tours, go to the corner of Market and Anson. You'll get in a line and wait to get onto a carriage. The routes change daily, are on a lottery system, so you have to go where the carriage takes you. All the routes are good.

You made some excellent food choices. Be sure to make reservations if you haven't done so. For lunch on Day 2, Cru Cafe is right near where you'll get off the tour. If it's too crowded, go around the corner to Magnolia's on East Bay. Afterward, walk over to Waterfront Park and enjoy the harbor view.

On Day 3, you may also want to walk up King Street and shop. The market is ok, but a little kitschy, IMHO. For dinner, consider High Cotton, 82 Queen, or Anson.

The Historic District is beautiful at dusk. Walk around as it gets dark. Enjoy.

I would add shop on King Street.

Great additions. A few more questions -- should I try to add another walking tour? Or do you think that between the carriage ride and home tours we will have a beginning "sense" of the area. Is there a spa or garden you suggest. And lastly. should we try to get into Husk?

For some reason I thought the market was a cool food market like they have in Europe. No? Are there any "must do's" that we should get to in Saturday because it will be closed on Sunday?

And lastly. should we try to get into Husk? I've seen mixed reviews.

I think you should just spend some time wandering after your structured tours. It's really easy and fun.

Our market is just tourist stuff, with the exception of the basket makers.
http://www.africanamericancharleston...weetgrass.html

The cool food market would be the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning at Marion Square. That's the one thing I would say is a Saturday must-do. Some of the shops on King aren't open on Sunday, but many are.

I've been to Husk several times and enjoyed it very much. It got so much hype I think people's expectations went way out of proportion. If you can't get a rez in the restaurant, go to the bar. It's very cool. It's the building just to the right of the restaurant. The other thing to consider is Tristan inside the FQI. We went there for restaurant week and it was excellent. The tasting menu seems like a good deal (wine included! Yay!)

Relax and enjoy. Moving slow has its advantages!

Wow! Thanks for all the info. Think I should drop my Culinary tour idea, huh? Any specific companies you suggest for the evening carriage ride?

So excited! We added a day to our trip for a plantation day. Purchased Low Country Summer to get in the mood and have dinner reservations at Fig, Fish and Husk!! (We're leaving one night to play by ear) I'll keep all your activity and lunch suggestions handy. Thanks for all your help! Any other suggestions/thoughts?

Oh no! Rain on the horizon for the next few days. Any suggestions of indoor activities?

Today's supposed to be the worst and it's just spitting. Try not to worry too much about it. You could tour any of the old homes, enjoy the aquarium, or sit out on the covered pier at Waterfront Park and watch the dolphins. OR you could just eat :)

What an utterly amazing trip!! I'll write a report next week.

I can't wait to hear about it. I was wondering if y'all were having fun!