I am planning to visit Charleston (SC) for a long weekend in September and could use some advice.

1. If I choose not to stay in the Downtown area and save a few dollars, which area or areas would be the best alternative? Mt. Pleasant? Ashley River area? Keep in mind I would still like easy, relatively quick access to explore the downtown area with my rental car.

2. If I do stay outside the downtown area, how much should I expect to pay for parking? Are garages overpriced? Are there places where you can park for the day? Are the meters running 7 days a week?

Thanks for the advice... It is greatly appreciated!

We booked a room for two days in September at the King Charles inn.Visiting a historic town is much more pleasant without the car.We pay 279 $ tax incl. Paul

Our favorite hotel in that area is the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Riverview. It's not your typical Courtyard, and has a lovely view of the water and the marina. Make sure to ask for a waterfront room. Parking is not usually not expensive in Charleston, and trolley system that has on-and-off privaleges. I would highly recommend a mini-bus tour of the city. Several of these tour companies are located behind the Visitor's Center. We put off doing the mini bus tour, and finally did one--I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Have stayed in Charleston; BW King Charles is great--parking included. This last week we stayed at Andrew Pinckney Inn--parking was $12, but with the internet rate, it was less than King Charles, and included breakfast. Both are close enough to downtown that we never moved the car. Be sure to enjoy the Gullah tour with Alfonso Brown, Hank's Seafood (next door to Pinckney Inn), the Aquarium/Imax (escape the heat/rain) and the Pavilion Terrace Bar.

Both Ashley River area and Mt. Pleasant are each about a 20 minute drive to downtown CHS. You can easily find parking in either a garage or parking meter. I think the only day free for meters is Sunday.
Mt. Pleasant is just a drive over the bridge, then King St or East Bay into CHS. Ashley River area is either Hwy 61 or 17.

Don't get a rental car and just stay downtown.

Downtown hotels off the top of my head with free parking: Indigo Inn, King Charles Best Western, Days Inn.

If what you want to see is downtown, don't stay elsewhere. It isn't worth the hassle.

Parking is usually around $12 per day.

If you're just going to for downtown, skip the rental car and pay a little more for a hotel. Use the DASH trolley system to get around.

If you do take a car, we used to park down on the Battery along the side of the road for free. It's been several years since we've been, so that might have changed. Otherwise I'd park at the visitor's center and either walk or use the DASH system. In fact, I'd park there, pick up a walking tour booklet, and start walking!

We stayed at a HI just over the bridge in Mt. Pleasant. I think it had free parking at the time, with a bus stop out front.

Days Inn is right in the center and has a free parking. Its website says it is located 1/2 block from Market Street. I don't know what it means but it sounds good. We made reservations for October. I don't usually stay in Days Inn because of a number bad experiences but a price is right.

The Days Inn is fine and it is in an excellent location. You'll be very happy with the hotel.

I've stayed there and enjoyed my stay.

Thanks for the advice so far, everyone! It is greatly appreciated!

I have not booked anything yet because the travel plans may be shifting a bit... at least the number of people staying in the hotel. There may be more people staying in Charleston than just myself since this is becoming a family excursion.

A little more background info...

I will be in the area for my little cousin's graduation from boot camp in Parris Island. I am going to his graduation ceremony on that Friday because he asked me to be there, so I figured I might as well spend the rest of the weekend in Charleston. I have always wanted to see the city, so this seemed like an ideal opportunity.

Therefore, I can not really pass on the rental car because I need it for the day trip to Beaufort on Friday. I got a good deal, though. After a car was offered for $10.95 per day on Hotwire, it cost me $8 per day through a priceline bid!

The advice is very helpful, though, and I wanted to make sure you got my thanks for the input thus far!

You won't be sorry to have a car--and particularly at that price!! We have stayed at the Days Inn (at least I think it was--across from the Tourist Center). It is very very nice. You can park and take the trolley from there. I am not at all sure it is worth staying across the river--stay in Charleston and just pay a bit more.

I stayed at the Days Inn last March. For a chain hotel, it was quite nice. The location can't be beat. If I remember correctly, I only paid about $115 per night for the room. Parking was free.

You can save by parking in Mt. Pleasant, but you should expect to play close to $100 a night there for something decent. I have never found that drive bad. We would get downtown and parked in 15-20 minutes. The only time I didn't like it that much was going back to the hotel and then having to drive all the way back again for dinner. Certainly though, if you can find anything decent downtown for under $120-130, I would stay there instead of Mt. Pleasant for a short stay.

Beaufort is a really nice little town and I would make time for a visit there. It's quite charming, lots of nice little shops and restaurants.

I recently reserved 2 hotels for an upcoming trip. Got the downtown Hampton Inn Historic District for $107 per night, weekday night. (Rates are higher on weekends.) There is an extra charge for parking, which I think is true for most Historic District hotels.

I also got the Ashley area Springhill Suites for $98 per night, with free parking. In the same area, the Residence Inn quoted me $107. I think both hotels also have shuttles to the downtown area.

We just stayed overnight (last Thursday night) at The Anchorage Inn for $99. That's apparently the regular rate (at least for middle of the week). Parking was in the garage behind the Inn for $12 a day (okay to go in and out as much as you want). But as others have said, if you want to concentrate on downtown, you don't need a car.

We were VERY pleased with the Anchorage Inn. Great location, off of East Bay Street (Vendue Range), about 3 blocks south of the market. Lots of awesome restaurants very close by: SNOB, Blossom, Magnolias, McCrady's, High Cotton.

The Inn was a warehouse that has been redone nicely. Our queen bed room was very roomy for the price, and clean. Continental breakfast was okay. Wine & cheese reception was better (okay, so I didn't let Mrs. Beachdweller know she was drinking Franzia from a box--sue me). All in all, a great bargain--much, much better than staying anywhere in Mt. Pleasant for about the same price (e.g., Red Roof, Days Inn).

Just so you don't think I am crazy, I am going to re-post this on a new thread.