Charleston SC Lodging
 

French Quarter Inn vs Planters Inn
We've gotten two great recommendations for these two hotels which both seem like fine properties.
I have reservations at both for 5 nights coming in next Wed, Oct 27.
Any thoughts on choosing? We are a 57 yr old couple who will be coming to see the Nationwide Golf tournament at Daniel Island. When we are not out there we will walk and sightsee in Charleston.
Interested in any differences in location, comfort, amenities, or any thing else that would make a difference.

Thanks for the help...

Ken

Can't comment on either of these locations. We stayed at the Francis Marion once. It was ok, nothing spectacular. However, I can HIGHLY recommend the Joseph Aiken Carriage House. For a very unique experience at a reasonable price, you can't go wrong. The Aiken Carriage house is an antebellum mansion, privately owned. The owners have converted the outbuildings into upscale "apartments." For the same price as a hotel room, we had a living room, 1.5 baths, washer/dryer, a full kitchen and a beautiful bedroom with antique furniture. It is within walking distance of a Harris Teeter and is close to all the major downtown attractions. You can't go wrong. There are only a small number of units (I think 4) and the caretaker is great. It's not a B&B and it isn't a hotel either. Just a really nice, elegant and gracious hotel close to everything.

Sorry - last sentence should read:

It's not a B&B and it isn't a hotel either. Just a really nice, elegant and gracious APARTMENT close to everything.

Also, very quiet, near a great breakfast place, has beautiful grounds and the caretaker will show you around the big house.

Both are great. You'll be happy with either one. Have fun.

Thanks to both of you. We decided to stay at the French Quarter Inn.
The apartment option looks very nice, just not what we feel like for this trip.

Ken

Let us know how much fun you have.

Just came back from a day in Charleston and will give a lunch recommendation I've not heard/read before. Virginia's on the corner of King and Hutson, just down from the Francis Marion. Absolutely delicious food, old family recipes in the low country style.

I'm glad you liked it. It gets very mixed reviews. I need to get downtown to check it out.

Really? We stopped at the Blue Bicycle since it is owned by a friend of a friend. Great book store.
I wanted to order everything on the menu.

Didn't quite finish my train of thought. The clerk recommended it, and had a menu there. We were going to go to Poogan's Porch because I wanted something other than grilled chicken on caesar (and NOT shrimp and grits, which I can make better than anyone else!). Anyway, we enjoyed it a lot.

I know, right! I got a shrimper friend. Next time you're down let me know. I'll hook you up!

There's a guy who sells his family's shrimp at Pawley's hardware--it is SO delicious. Says he was even written up in the Washington Post--maybe because he sells to Cokie Roberts when she is at PI. It really is a different "animal" when you get it that fresh.
We go down to Georgetown also and get seafood off the boats there.

For what it is worth we stayed at Planter's Inn this past June. We had a wonderful time. Hotel staff was very friendly, accommodating and helpful. Our 2nd floor room which overlooked market was spacious, nicely appointed and had an extremely comfortable bed. We were quite surprised at how quite it was - we never heard any street sounds. We liked being in close proximity to the market, shops and restaurants and yet it was always easy to drive from the hotel to other points of interest around the city and surrounding areas. All in all it's a great place stay stay - we'd go back again in a heartbeat.