Hawthorn Suites

I know there are a lot of people looking on this forum for places to stay, and I just wanted to say that this place was awesome. It%26#39;s about six or seven miles from downtown, but the money I saved made it worth it. I paid $50 a night for four nights, which included a room with a king size bed with a TV, a little kitchen nook, a large bathroom and a separate living area with a couch and chair and another TV. And the place was very clean.

They had a room with two computers with high-speed internet, which came in handy for getting directions. They also have an indoor pool and a fitness center. I didn%26#39;t use either one, but for families with kids, the pool is nice.

They also had breakfast each morning, including eggs, bacon, a waffle-maker and bagels. Nothing fancy, but a lot places don%26#39;t even provide a hot breakfast.

When I looked up this place before booking, the only complaints were about the staff. The staff was great during my entire stay. They were all courteous and helpful. On the day I checked out, the head housekeeper had to check me out because the person working the desk DROVE a couple to one of their tours after they missed their ride.

So, if anyone is looking for a pretty cheap hotel within range of the city, I%26#39;d highly recommend this place. If I ever come back to Charleston (which I hope to).

The only major issue I had was that I had to pay for parking everywhere in the city. Obviously, you have to drive to Charleston from the hotel, so to go anywhere, you have to pay to park. It%26#39;s not too expensive, but it definitely adds up. I think I spent close to $30 just for parking, but the extra money I saved by staying a few miles outside of the city more than made up for it.

Also, I went to Savannah for a day and I have to say that it doesn%26#39;t even come close to Charleston.

Anyway, hope this helps someone who%26#39;s looking for a nice place to stay!

Hawthorn Suites

Thanks for the info - yes, many people are looking for alternate places to stay.

And - for your return trip - Murray Blvd (at Whitepoint Gardens/ Battery) has free parking. It is a bit of a walk if you%26#39;re going to upper King St but you can walk there in about 20 minutes. (It%26#39;s not far - there are just some street lights that will slow you down)

I think your Savannah comparison explains why when people say they only have one day we recommend Savannah - when they can ';linger longer'; they will love Charleston.

Thanks again - see you soon! :)

Hawthorn Suites

Thanks for the report!

I frequently drive past Hawthorne Suites on my way into Charleston. The hotel is only a couple of years old. The West Ashley location on Rt. 17 is not scenic, but is very convenient if you have a car. Sounds like a good option for a budget traveler.

Thanks for the report. I saw a Hawthorn Suite van at the airport the other day picking up a flight crew...I do not know if it is for the same property.

You%26#39;re right, Savannah Highway isn%26#39;t very scenic, but it had just about anything you can think of along the way (including an oddly high number of cash advance places!).

Thanks for the parking tip CultureHound, I guess I should have asked about that before I came down :D

And you%26#39;re definitely correct about Savannah being a better one day stay. I really liked the historic, touristy kind of feel of Charleston much more. Savannah is still quite a busy, industrial city. Not really a complaint, I guess it just takes away a bit of the nostalgic feeling that I get when I walk around Charleston.