Charleston Vacations

Charleston

Charleston

Your Charleston vacation

Southern charm will certainly cast a spell as you wander cobblestone streets filled with pastel mansions, antique shops and horse-drawn carriages. But beneath the antebellum exterior, a Charleston vacation also brings vibrant nightlife, ultra-chic shopping and a robust local-food scene. And make time for kayaking, a picnic on the beach, and the barrier islands … you might even run into Bill Murray at The Joe.

Before you plot your Old South getaway, let Orbitz help you with the planning. Our insider tips highlight Charleston's must-see neighborhoods, colonial plantations, and Civil War hotspots.

Hotels

Charleston Hotels

Nightly rates from $89

La Quinta Inn & Suites Charleston Riverview

3 stars
3.4 / 5 149 reviews
Budget hotel in Charleston with free Internet and swimming poolThe La Quinta Inn and Suites Charleston Riverview, overlooking the Ashley River, is just a mile from historic downtown Charleston. The newly-renovated hotel has a shuttle to downtown for a small fee. The La Quinta Inn and Suites Charleston Riverview serves a free breakfast every morning. The 175 rooms and five suites have free wireless Internet. Parking is free. The La Quinta Inn and Suites Charleston Riverview has a fitness center and outdoor pool. HighlightsFree breakfastFitness centerFree Internet accessOutdoor swimming pool   RoomsAll rooms have free wireless Internet. Some rooms at the La Quinta Inn and Suites Charleston Riverview have a view of the marina. DiningThere are several popular restaurants next door to the La Quinta Inn and Suites Charleston Riverview including California Dreaming, Hyman's Seafood, Ruby Tuesday, T-Bonz Steakhouse and Ye Old Fashion Ice Cream. TransportationCharleston International Airport (12.1 mi/19.5 km)Shuttle to downtown Charleston (fees apply) AttractionsCharleston Museum (2.4 mi/3.9 km)Harbor Tours (including Fort Sumter) (2.7 mi/4.3 km)Downtown Charleston (2.7 mi/4.3 km)South Carolina Aquarium (2.7 mi/4.3 km)Patriots Point Park/USS Yorktown (7.6 mi/12.2 km)Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (10.4 mi/16.7 km)Charleston Area Convention Center (10.8 mi/17.3 km) Policies and feesPets allowed.
Nightly rates from $119

Days Inn Charleston- Historic District

2 stars
3.2 / 5 127 reviews
Free parking, Wi-Fi for hotel guests in Charleston's historic districtLocated in the center of the city's downtown, the Days Inn Charleston - Historic District hotel is within walking distance of many tourist attractions and many of the city's best restaurants. The hotel is one of only two properties in the historic district that offers free parking to its guests (one car per room).   HighlightsFree parking in the heart of the historic districtWalking distance from many attractionsSmoking permittedPets welcome   RoomsRooms at the Days Inn Charleston - Historic District hotel are available with either two double beds or one king. The same rates apply for smoking and non-smoking rooms. All 124 rooms include free high-speed wireless Internet, safes, coffee makers, microwaves, refrigerators, hair dryers and iron/ironing boards.   FeaturesWalking and bus tours leave from the Days Inn Charleston - Historic District hotel lobby, carriage tours are available just down the street. The hotel offers an outdoor pool (open seasonally). Both smoking and non-smoking rooms are available. Pets are allowed in smoking rooms (fees apply). The Days Inn Charleston - Historic District hotel consists of two floors with exterior hallways.   DiningToast, a tropical theme restaurant and lounge right out of a Jimmy Buffett song, is inside the Days Inn Charleston - Historic District hotel and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cafe Cafe, which specializes in breakfast and lunch, is adjacent to the hotel. The AAA 4-diamond Peninsula Grill, Charleston Grill, Tristan and Palmetto Cafe restaurants are a short walk down the street. Regional cuisine is served at 82 Queen and Fulton 5 offers northern Italian fare, both establishments are rated 3 diamonds and are just down the street. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. and Hyman's Seafood also are just down the street.   TransportationCharleston airport (11.6 mi/18.7 km)Amtrak station (8.3 mi/13.4 km)   AttractionsOld City Market (0.1 mi/0.2 km)Confederate Museum (0.1 mi/0.2 km)Gibbes Museum of Art (0.1 mi/0.2 km)Charleston Visitor Center (0.7 mi/1.1 km)Charleston Museum (0.7 mi/1.1 km)Fort Sumter and dinner cruises (1.1 mi/1.8 km)South Carolina Aquarium (1.1 mi/1.8 km)Patriots Point Naval Museum/USS Yorktown (5.8 mi/9.3 km)Charleston Area Convention Center/Performing Arts Center/Coliseum (9.4 mi/15.1 km)Magnolia Plantation & Gardens (13.5 mi/21.7 km) Policies and feesSmoking permitted in some rooms. Pets allowed (fees apply).
Value Stay 2, Save 15%
Nightly rates from $114

BEST WESTERN PLUS Charleston Downtown Hotel

3 stars
3.4 / 5 31 reviews
Downtown Charleston hotel with free Wi-Fi offers river viewsThe Best Western Plus Charleston Downtown Hotel has affordable rooms just minutes from the downtown historic district. The city's free trolley shuttle stops near the hotel every 30 minutes. The hotel rooms have step-out balconies, refrigerators, microwave ovens and a view of either the city or Ashley River. The hotel offers free parking and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. HighlightsRestaurant and lounge opening March 2011Free Grab & Go continental breakfast while the restaurant is under renovationFree wireless Internet access throughout the hotel   RoomsAll Best Western Plus Charleston Downtown Hotel rooms have step-out balconies, refrigerators, microwave ovens and a view of either the city or Ashley River. Executive guest rooms also have flat-screen TVs. FeaturesThe Best Western Plus Charleston Downtown Hotel has an outdoor pool and sundeck. Parking is free and so is Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. DiningOpening in March 2011, the Pizzeria & Bar serves a wide assortment of specialty pizzas, pastas, burgers and fries, chicken wings, salads, hot subs and more. Poolside dining and beverage service are offered April to October at the Best Western Plus Charleston Downtown Hotel. TransportationCharleston International Airport (11.2 mi/18 km)Amtrak station (8.5 mi/13.7 km)Free downtown trolley shuttle stops 120 yards awayClose to U.S. 17 and Interstate 26 AttractionsCharleston Visitor Center (1.5 mi/2.4 km)Fort Sumter and Dinner Cruises (2.2 mi/3.5 km)South Carolina Aquarium (2.2 mi/3.5 km)Patriots Point Naval Museum/USS Yorktown (5.5 mi/8.9 km)Charleston Area Convention Center (9.1 mi/14.6 km)Folly Beach (10.2 mi/16.4 km)Magnolia Plantation (11.6 mi/18.7 km) BusinessThe first-floor Magnolia room accommodates up to 75 peopleThe eighth-floor executive board room seats up to 10 people Policies and feesPets allowed, all sizes (fees apply). Smoke-free facility.
Nightly rates from $234

Charleston Place Hotel - Superb Luxury

5 stars
4.5 / 5 65 reviews
Luxurious Charleston hotel with two top-rated restaurants on-siteThe luxurious Charleston Place Hotel features two of the city's finest restaurants on the premises. Many of downtown's historic sites and museums are within walking distance. The hotel boasts a heated saltwater mineral swimming pool with a retractable glass roof. A full-service spa features a Jacuzzi and the on-site fitness center offers professional trainer services and exercise programs.     HighlightsRooftop heated saltwater mineral swimming pool with retractable glass roofFree wireless Internet in guest rooms24-hour room serviceFitness centerTwo 4-diamond restaurants on site RoomsThe large tastefully-decorated rooms include suites and junior suites. The Charleston Place Hotel also offers 22 accessible rooms. All 435 guest rooms and suites at the Charleston Place Hotel include free wireless Internet service and DVD players. All rooms receive twice-daily housekeeping service. FeaturesThe Charleston Place Hotel features a full-service spa with rooftop indoor/outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. The gym and fitness center have professional trainers and exercise programs are offered. Guests staying on the concierge level enjoy a free continental breakfast, and snacks and beverages throughout the day. Valet parking is available (fees apply). The Charleston Place Hotel is smoke-free, but pet friendly (fees apply).  DiningThe 4-diamond Charleston Grill is open for dinner with live jazz seven days a week. The Palmetto Cafe, also rated 4 diamonds by AAA, is open for breakfast and lunch, with brunch served on weekends. The Thoroughbred Club serves afternoon tea, cocktails, appetizers and desserts into the evening. Room service is available 24 hours a day at the Charleston Place Hotel.  TransportationCharleston International Airport (11.4 mi/18.3 km)Amtrak station (8.2 mi/13.2 km)   Attractions City Market and Confederate Museum (0.1 mi/0.2 km)Charleston Visitor Center (0.6 mi/1 km)Fort Sumter and dinner cruises (1 mi/1.6 km)South Carolina Aquarium (1 mi/1.6 km)Patriots Point Naval Museum/USS Yorktown (5.4 mi/8.7 km)Charleston Area Convention Center/Performing Arts Center/Coliseum (9.5 mi/15.3 km)Magnolia Plantation & Gardens (13 mi/20.9 km) BusinessBusiness center includes copying, shipping, design help, fax, printers, computers and Internet servicesCharleston Place has 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 14,000-square-foot Grand BallroomRiviera Theatre Conference Center, a 1930s art deco theater, with a rooftop terrace and 4,000-square-foot ballroom accommodates up to 289 people Policies and feesNo smoking. Pets allowed (fee applies).
Value Save 10% with four nights or more
Nightly rates from $152

Francis Marion Hotel

4 stars
3.9 / 5 106 reviews
Historic charm, modern conveniences in downtown CharlestonThe Francis Marion Hotel was built in 1924, completely renovated in 1996 with a $12 million grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, but there's still plenty of old-fashioned charm. The rooms feature European-style bedding and marble bathrooms with pedestal sinks and brass fixtures. Over the years, the Francis Marion Hotel has hosted celebrities and historical figures, and its location is convenient to downtown Charleston's historic homes, shops, restaurants and other attractions. HighlightsNamed after Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, "The Swamp Fox"In the heart of downtown historic Charleston, walking distance from many attractionsEntire facility is smoke freeListed on the Virginia and National Registers of Historic PlacesThe two ballrooms feature antique chandeliers, high ceilings and windows and marble accented fireplaces   RoomsThe Francis Marion Hotel has 233 rooms, 10 suites and seven penthouse suites. The room décor is reminiscent of 1920s grandeur, but with up-to-date amenities such as free wireless Internet and on-demand movies (fees apply). FeaturesThe Francis Marion Hotel offers concierge service, Spa Adagio Day Spa and an on-site fitness center.   DiningThe Swamp Fox Restaurant and Bar features classic Southern cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Francis Marion Hotel also has a Starbucks on site and offers and room service. TransportationCharleston International Airport (11.2 mi/18 km)Amtrak station (7.6 mi/12.2 km)Walking distance from many attractions downtown AttractionsCharleston's Museum Mile (0.1 mi/0.2 km)Children's Museum (0.3 mi/0.5 km)Charleston Visitor Center (0.4 mi/0.6 km)Fort Sumter and Dinner Cruises (0.7 mi/1.1 km)South Carolina Aquarium (0.7 mi/1.1 km)Gibbes Museum of Art (0.7 mi/1.1 km)Patriots Point Park including USS Yorktown (5 mi/8 km)Magnolia Plantation (12 mi/19.3 km) Business10 meeting rooms totaling 19,000 square feet, all with Wi-FiThe Francis Marion added a 7,000 square-foot conference center in 2004Audio/visual equipment available (fees apply)Business center Policies and feesNo pets allowed. Valet parking (fees apply). Self-parking is available at a city garage next door (fees apply). Effective March 1 2012, parlking fees will be $14 for self parking and $19 for valet parking.
Value Summer Sale - Save 10%
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Flights

Cheap flights to Charleston

Flights to Charleston Round-trip fares Travel dates
Flights from New York to Charleston $278 Wed, Jun 27 - Wed, Jul 11
Flights from Chicago to Charleston $371 Mon, Jul 30 - Thu, Aug 2
Flights from Boston to Charleston $383 Thu, Jul 26 - Tue, Jul 31
Flights from Washington DC to Charleston $243 Fri, Jun 22 - Tue, Jun 26
Flights from Los Angeles to Charleston $475 Wed, Jul 25 - Sun, Jul 29
Flights from Newark to Charleston $239 Mon, Jul 9 - Thu, Jul 12
Flights from San Francisco to Charleston $267 Tue, Jul 10 - Thu, Jul 19
Flights from Denver to Charleston $326 Wed, Jun 27 - Wed, Jul 4
Flights from Kansas City to Charleston $398 Wed, Jul 11 - Thu, Jul 12
Flights from Milwaukee to Charleston $352 Wed, Jul 4 - Tue, Jul 10
Flights from Minneapolis to Charleston $375 Tue, Jul 17 - Tue, Jul 24
Flights from Hartford to Charleston $400 Mon, Jun 18 - Wed, Jun 20
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Charleston highlights

  • Charleston

  • Old City Market

    This open-air market is known for kitschy souvenirs, food and jewelry, but if you're fixing for real authentic goodies – check out the Gullah women's hand-woven sweetgrass baskets.

  • The Battery

    From the southern point of the peninsula, you can walk along the waterfront to explore the city’s -- and arguably the country’s -- finest antebellum mansions.

  • Historic District

    Walk cinematic streets lined with pre-Revolutionary War buildings, over 100 from the late 18th century, and 600-plus built before the 1840s.

  • Folly Beach

    Cross the salt marsh to this barrier-island beach (just 12 miles from downtown) for an afternoon of surfing, fishing and sunbathing.

  • Old Slave Mart

    Explore the only known slave auction house still standing in South Carolina, now a museum. A collection of personal letters, oral histories and artifacts are on permanent display.

  • Boone Hall Plantation

    Visit one of America's oldest working plantations just outside Mt. Pleasant. Enjoy both a heady glimpse of Old South plantation life and modern U-pick fields of strawberries, pumpkins and tomatoes.

  • Charles Towne Landing

    Relive the late 16th century at this original Lowcountry settlement. Be part of costumed reenactments and view replica sailing ships. Encounter pumas, river otters, bison, white ibis and more in the Animal Forest.

  • The Citadel

    Head to the parade grounds of Charleston’s landmark military college to watch cadets march in uniform. Citadel parades are free, and held most Fridays during the school year.

  • Charleston Tea Plantation

    Take a trolley through America’s only working tea plantation, located on Wadmalaw Island. Learn how tea is made, view acres of tea fields, and enjoy American Classic Tea.

  • Fort Sumter National Monument

    History buffs get their fix here – it's the site of Civil War’s first shots. The ferry ride over offers a picturesque cruise through Charleston Harbor.

More on Charleston from the Orbitz Blog

Trick or travel: Exploring Haunted Charleston

By Blane Bachelor The quintessentially Southern city of Charleston bills itself as one of America’s most haunted, and October – with its cooler temperatures and plentiful Halloween offerings – is a fantastic time to visit. Here’s how to dip into the city’s spookier side, from some great Charleston walking tours to Halloween-centric events at the South Carolina Aquarium, plus Charleston plantations where the Southern spirit takes on a whole new meaning. To start soaking up the city’s genteel charms and gorgeous architecture – and, perhaps, some Southern specters -- begin your visit with one of several Charleston walking tours offered by the award-winning Charleston Walks.  These informative, historian-led excursions cover specific aspects of the city’s rich history, but two timely choices are the Ghosts & Legends (1.5 hours), which highlights haunted Charleston’s most eerie tales, and the Pirates & Buccaneers (2 hours) tours, which includes a stop at the unnerving Old Provost Dungeon. Charleston plantations are another must-do for any visit, and during October, they take on a deliciously spooky vibe. By day, Boone Hall Plantation, a bucolic beauty that has been a living and working plantation for more than 300 years, delights visitors with its rolling pastures and oak-lined lanes; by night throughout October, it morphs into Boone Hall Fright Nights, complete with experiences like Psycho Clowns in 3-D and the Terror Trail Hayride (not recommended for anyone under 12). At Charleston’s South Carolina Aquarium, however, you’ll find not-quite-so-terrifying, Halloween-focused offerings targeted to young’uns. The aquarium’s October schedule features several “Scary’um” events, including “Creepy Crawly Critters” presentations and dive shows called “What Lurks Beneath,” both offered every afternoon. One aspect of any Charleston vacation that should never be scary: booking a great place to stay. Among our favorites for Charleston hotels are the Renaissance Charleston and the Planters Inn Charleston, both located in the city’s historic district -- which, with its narrow alleyways and stately cemeteries -- is a superbly spooky area to explore on your own. Related resources San Francisco-based travel writer Blane Bachelor will never forget how her camera battery inexplicably drained during a Charleston walking tour about the city's haunted history a few years ago.

Charleston hotels: 3 grande dames of the South

Southern charm abounds in Charleston, South Carolina, where travelers enjoy beautifully preserved mansions, lively nightlife and good ol’ fashioned hospitality. Charleston also hosts the annual Spoleto Festival USA May 27 through June 12, when the city comes alive with performances by world-class dance troupes, musicians and theater companies. Consider three Charleston hotels that call to mind the Old South, giving guests a glimpse of life in a bygone era.

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* Prices reflect the lowest "base rate" found over the next 30 days. Rates are subject to change and may not include taxes and fees, hotel service charges, extra person charges, or incidentals, such as room service. All rates are displayed in USD unless otherwise noted. Converted rates are provided for your convenience. They are based on today's exchange rate, but the hotel will charge you in the local currency.
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