Warm, hospitable and bursting with Southern charm, Charleston, South Carolina is an ideal destination for a romantic getaway, family vacation, or trip with girlfriends. There is no shortage of beautiful hotels to stay in the Holy City – your choice is determined only by your budget and the level of luxury you require.
To fully experience the amenities and walkability of Charleston, we recommend a hotel near the historic district. That being said, it’s always a good idea to check out properties farther out from downtown if you don’t mind a bit of a stroll – you’ll save money while still being in proximity to many of the best sights, shops and restaurants that the city has to offer.
Thinking about visiting Charleston? Check out the post on our visit to the Holy City here!
AN ENJOYABLE STAY IN A HISTORIC INN
One of the most charming boutique hotels in Charleston is the Ansonborough Inn. A former three-story warehouse that once stored stationary, the inn is now a 45-room all-suite hotel located on the outskirts of the city’s historic district.
Each suite has been individually designed and decorated – no cookie-cutter hotel rooms here! Rustic details, like exposed brick and wooden beams, blend seamlessly with rich wood paneling, elegant antiques and luxurious linens.
An impressive collection of original oil paintings grace the walls throughout the hotel, and the soaring atrium that vaults to the third floor hearkens back to the original design of the building.
There’s also a maritime-themed pub located off the foyer, which pays homage to the sea captain whose name inspired the neighborhood where the inn is located.
THE NAUTICAL HERITAGE OF THE ANSONBOROUGH INN
The section of Charleston known as Ansonborough is widely considered to be the first suburb in the city when it was still known as the colony of Charles Town. As rumor has it, a young sea captain named Lord George Anson won 64 acres of land in a poker game in 1724. He sailed the seas for the next 20 years and served as captain of two ships, guarding the shorelines of South Carolina and Georgia from pirate attacks.
Not just a mere gentleman or sailor, Anson proved himself to be a skilled sea captain, becoming the third Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. Anson returned to Charleston in 1745 with an impressive treasure he had collected, and began to divide his land into lots between Anson, Calhoun and King streets, extending to the Cooper River. The current streets of George and Anson are both named for the sea captain who created them.
Charleston’s great fire of 1838 would see almost all of the first homes built at the time destroyed as it swept through the southern portion of the original neighborhood. Only a few of the late 18th and 19th century homes remain in Ansonborough.
As time passed, the neighborhood fell into slum conditions, requiring an extensive rehabilitation of the area by the Historic Charleston Foundation in the 1960s. Ansonborough now enjoys popularity as one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city.
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY AT THE ANSONBOROUGH INN
The inn offers guests a complimentary deluxe continental breakfast with pastries and various hot items, and freshly-baked cookies, coffee, tea and lemonade throughout the day.
Guests are invited to indulge in a free afternoon cheese and wine reception as well, which is so welcome after a full day of sightseeing. The homemade pimento cheese is a treat!
Guests are welcome to enjoy their snacks with a panoramic view of the Cooper River from the newly-renovated rooftop terrace. There is a small guest library with a variety of books available to borrow, as well as a gift section for those important souvenirs. I bought the cutest Charleston coffee cup to remember my visit.
All of the attractions, shopping and restaurants of downtown Charleston are within a comfortable 15-minute stroll from the hotel, making the Ansonborough Inn both affordable and convenient.
Have you ever been a guest at Charleston’s Ansonborough Inn? Tell me about your visit in the comments!
P.S. Safety is my highest priority while traveling. To feel safe and secure wherever you stay, I recommend taking the Addalock with you on every trip. Designed to fit most any exterior door, this is my most recommended travel gadget for peace of mind while traveling. Read more about it here!
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Wonderful stay! Highly recommend. Rooms are roomy and luxurious. Staff is responsive and just want to please you. I cannot say enough about their determination to make sure we had an extraordinary stay. Our appreciation to Finn, Remi, and the morning breakfast crew. We will be back!
Three lovely ladies from Ohio