Highlights: Charleston Place

•Charleston Place hotel is located in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, one of the premier historical districts in the United States

•Within walking distance of some of Charleston’s most beautiful sites, best restaurants, and most distinctive shopping

•Staff exudes Southern hospitality, with excellent service and personalized attention

•Rich Charlestonian décor creates inviting and cozy guest rooms

•Exquisite dining in warm, luxurious setting while relaxing jazz plays in the background

•All the comforts of an office-away-from-office, with a business center to meet every need

• Exquisite spa with state-of-the-art gym

Amenities: Charleston Place

• 440 rooms, 8 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; non-refundable $75 fee. Check-in 4 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access, wireless Internet access. Fitness room, fitness classes available, spa. Indoor pool, outdoor pool, children's pool, whirlpool. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: Charleston Place

Nestled in the heart of South Carolina’s most historic city, Charleston Place is a haven of luxury. This stunning property is surrounded by beautiful old buildings and cobblestone streets, and is directly across the street from the city’s old Market Place in Charleston. The hotel is also within walking distance to some of the city’s best shopping and finest restaurants; however, for fine cuisine, one need look no further than the hotel’s Mobil Four-Star-rated Charleston Grill. Southerners are known sharing the gift of food with guests, and the tradition carries over at Charleston Place. In addition to the Charleston Grill, guests may dine at the Palmetto Café or the Thoroughbred Club. Room service is available 24 hours a day, and the hotel will also arrange for “gourmet meals to go.”

These sorts of added extras are only part of the service I received during my stay. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and pampered, as the staff paid careful attention to my every need from check-in to departure. I received extremely personalized service and was impressed that the concierge was able to handle any request.

The beautiful Charlestonian décor of the guest rooms are warm and comfortable, making guests feel right at home with a lush bed and spacious bath. There are 440 rooms and suites in the hotel, yet it still maintains an intimate feel. With in-room Internet and faxing abilities, business travelers will be able to work in the privacy of their own room. For additional business needs, a full-service business center, complete with professional staff, is available.

The romantic Charleston setting makes this a good destination for couples, and I saw several strolling through the lobby. The hotel offers several features that would appeal to romantics, including the opportunity to pack a picnic lunch for a quiet outing or arranging a private horse-drawn carriage tour of the surrounding area.

Families are welcome here as well, and the hotel will gladly help guests plan outings into the city to help keep children entertained. There is even a children’s wading pool so parents can watch their children while enjoying the comforts of the spa or its accompanying gym.

(+) Beautiful location with attentive service and refined style

Guest Services: Charleston Place

The entire hotel lends itself to a gentile atmosphere and an air of privilege. The staff did their best to make me feel welcome and pampered, beginning with a swift, friendly check-in by a receptionist who explained many of the hotel’s features and also confirmed my spa treatments.

The concierge was exemplary. She seemed to anticipate my needs, offering numerous creative ideas for things for me to do in Charleston. She was very friendly and professional and provided me with maps of the area. She also suggested several nearby restaurants where I could enjoy local cuisine.

(+) Warm and professional service exuded Southern hospitality

Guest Rooms: Charleston Place

Gentle Southern charm carries over into the style of the guest rooms at Charleston Place. All 440 guest rooms and suites are decorated in a traditional motif to fit in with the historical Charleston setting, complete with early American reproduction furniture. Each room contains a television with its own VCR as well as high-speed Internet access, a fax, and a data port.

The best views of Charleston are from the Club Level on the top two floors, which are only reached through private access. The exclusive two-story Club Lounge includes beverage service all day, continental breakfast, afternoon tea, and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

My deluxe room was large, very elegant, and beautifully designed. Fitting in with the period furniture, I had an armoire instead of a closet as well as a small writing desk. My bed was made with lush linens and numerous pillows, and the large marble bathroom was supplied with exquisite, wonderfully aromatic soaps, lotions, and shampoos.

(+) Elegant rooms reflect the gentile Southern style of Charleston
(-) An armoire and period furniture is a nice touch, but means limited closet space

Facilities & Activities: Charleston Place

Everything you need to relax and stay in shape is available for the asking here. Charleston Place’s spa offers a wide range of treatment options, including manicures and pedicures and a full range of exotic scrubs and aroma therapies. I scheduled two treatments to take advantage of the variety available. Unfortunately, I had to cancel one because the first ran late, but the experience was among my most memorable.

The spa had some wonderful features, including a luxurious indoor pool with a retracting roof to allow guests to sunbathe while indoors. The area also includes a large Jacuzzi, steam rooms, and a children’s splash pool. Those who want to spend the day at the spa can order meals to be delivered in between treatments. Or, if celebrating is on your agenda, champagne and caviar is also available.

Professional trainers are on staff at the spa’s gym to provide instruction on free weights or on the state-of-the-art cardiovascular machines. They also lead classes in aerobics, yoga, and body sculpting, and there is no better way to see the city’s historic district than on a power walk with one of the instructors.

The entire area surrounding Charleston Place offers a stroll through history. Carriage rides are available through the historic district, and the hotel can help arrange tours of nearby plantations. The downtown area is just a few minutes from area beaches and the islands, which offer a wide array of water sports, including deep-sea fishing and sailing. The region is also known for its excellent golf and tennis opportunities.

(+) Wonderfully unique leisure opportunities both on-site and in historic surroundings

Dining & Lounge: Charleston Place

Charleston Place is known for its outstanding cuisine, offering three dining opportunities to satisfy your palate. Those seeking an informal atmosphere can try the Palmetto Café, which offers a variety of American and international dishes, while the Thoroughbred Club in the lobby is available for tea, cocktails, appetizers, and desserts.

The jewel in the crown is the Mobil Four-Star-rated Charleston Grill. This restaurant’s rich décor with its mahogany paneling and marble floor, as well as live jazz music each night, set the stage for what proved to be a wonderful dinner. Dishes were inventive and tasted as good as they looked. The wine list was also impressive, providing a wide variety of vintages from which to choose.

Room service is available 24 hours a day, and the hotel will also arrange a picnic lunch for any excursion guests may want to take. Upon departure, take advantage of the hotel’s “gourmet cuisine to go” to take a bit of Charleston Place with you.

(+) Sublime food and in a relaxing, rich atmosphere

Business Services: Charleston Place

Charleston Place caters to the business traveler, offering high-speed Internet in each room as well as a full-service business center, ready to help with any request, from photocopies to extensive presentation materials. This center is so well equipped that it can handle tasks that would normally be sent to an outside printer if you were back at the office.

The business center staff was efficient and professional, even offering me several options for my shipping needs. In addition to being able to use my own personal computer, the center offered printing and fax services, and the staff offered to help me in any other need that might arise. I found the experience very easy, as if I was working with a personal office assistant.

Because of its location in the heart of Charleston, the hotel is a popular site for meetings. There is 22,000 square feet of meeting space available in the hotel, including a more than 14,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, ten function rooms, and eight hospitality suites. Just across the street, the Riviera Conference offers up another 9,000 square feet and includes an amphitheater and a beautiful rooftop terrace.

(+) Business travelers are well-accommodated, both in the comfort of their rooms or in the well-equipped business center