Spontaneous trip to charleston...booking on priceline or not worth risking?
 

Hello...I have been reading through the threads about hotels in Charleston and it sounds like staying in the historic area is recommended. This is a spontaneous trip and first visit to Charleston so I am wondering if it is too risky to bid on a 2 star hotel in downtown or if we are better off selecting a hotel ourselves. I have gambled and lost bidding on a hotel in a city I've never visited ....and lost! Thanks for your input!

Also 2 questions - is the $25 fee to Middleton Place worth the $25 fee? And what is the best restaurant for seafood that isn't too pricey!

If you want to see a plantation then there will be a fee. This time of year the gardens won't be quite in bloom so it might not be the best time to go.

I wouldn't take a chance. It's a popular time for tourists. Look at Best Western King Charles, Doubletree, Mills House, and Hampton.

You'll have to tell me what "too pricey" is. And Middleton is well worth the price. The camellias are still blooming.

We stayed at the Best Western King Charles and were very pleased with the location and accommodations. I reviewed it on Trip Advisor. We had great seafood at Hank's.

Do NOT go to Hyman's.
Not too pricey seafood may be an oxymoron. Expect to pay a respectable amount anywhere you go. You could go for a lunch and maximize your money a bit more. Seafood is expensive no two ways about it.

Right. Avoid any place that has hawkers on the street. The good places don't need to do that.
Also avoid any other hard sell people.

Amen Street is a great oyster bar.

I booked through Priceline and got only a modest discount. Staying in two weeks at the Renaissance for about $40 off the list price. I was hoping for a different hotel, but it does sound like the Renaissance is in a great location. One good thing about booking Priceline in Charleston is that there are very few 4.5 star hotels listed, so the odds of getting a good place are high.

Pharmgirl,
You are very right...while I've never stayed at the Renaissance, the location is great. The city is extremely walkable - not counting the cobblestones, wear comfy shoes. If the hotel is anything as nice as the photos show, you're in for a great trip!

Middleton place is beautiful, especially if you are there when the azaleas are blooming. We had a great meal at the restaurant there. As mentioned above, all of the plantations charge a no-so-tiny admission. Drayton Hall is very different, but keep in mind that the house is empty. That bothers some people, especially if they don't know in advance. There are also many homes in Charleston proper that are open for tours; depends on your interests.

There are so many fantastic restaurants in Charleston, as you can see from the above posts and previous threads. There are tons of menus online so you can check the pricing out. Go to at least one of the highly recommended places, for lunch anyway. You won't regret it. We had a nice casual dinner one night at Monza Pizza on King Street after having a huge lunch at Magnolias (DH's favorite restaurant in Chas.). Our other fav is SNOB. Try shrimp and grits; it's a lowcountry classic.

Not sure what you mean by "too risky". Do they list any 2 star hotels in Downtown? May be better to just look at priceline listings instead of bidding. Beware, the Home and Garden tours start on the 17th(i.e. price jump) but if spontaneous you mean this weekend then maybe you want to look into that.
If you've never seen anything like the plantations (and that interests you of course) then $25 is not bad. Like others said. Another few weeks before prime season.
Plenty of good eats. Hanks and Blossom are personal faves.