SC Travel Guide
Hotel Woes / Hotel Weddings / South Carolina Hotels / Charleston Hotels / → All Tags
Wedding Couple Has Naked Man Drama at Charleston DoubleTree
There’s nothing more beautiful than a wedding and we’ve covered many a good story here at HC. But then comes the tales of nuptials that go oh-so-wrong. And stories of nakedness. And when they mix? Whoa, daddy.
Take this OTT “Wedding Crashers”-like episode that occurred at a Charleston, South Carolina DoubleTree Hotel. 20-year old Samuel James Dengel was arrested and charged with indecent exposure after he flashed his genitals to the bride and groom during their ceremony this past weekend, according to the Daily Mail and Philly.com stories.
The mother-of-the-bride told officers she saw a naked man in the window of the hotel room at the DoubleTree Hotel where the wedding party had assembled. Dengel was apparently easy to identify due to a large tattoo on his back which he’d been showing guests earlier that day, even though he supposedly wasn't a guest of bride or groom. Written in Latin, the tattoo "Vi very veniversum virus" supposedly translates to 'By the Power of Truth, I, while living, have Conquered the Universe.' Mmkay. But, wait, there's more.
Hotel News / Hotel Renovations / Hilton Head Hotels / South Carolina Hotels / Charleston Hotels / Omni Hotels / → All Tags
Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort Is Now An Omni
Omni Hotels has been busy down in South Carolina securing the re-branding of its newest property: the Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort. Changes to the hotel will come gradually: starting first with the name change.
Though Omni's sibling company, Allegiance Hospitality, has managed the resort since 2003, now the whole place rests in Omni's hands. The current $18 million renovation, which will last through 2013, is intended to better "showcase the natural beauty of the resort." Which could mean anything really, but we're hoping for more windows that look out onto the ocean for better views. Meanwhile, time will also be devoted to the Courtyard area between the resort and the beach, as well as the pool area.
Photo Galleries / Charleston Hotels / Loft Hotels / → All Tags
An Apartment Doubles as a Hotel Room In Charleston
It's always a gift to find a local hotel with a good "story." Here in Charleston, SC, where we've spent the past weekend island-hopping (unfortunately, not hotel-related), we were tipped off to a small, 15-room hotel on King St—the city's main shopping strip—known as Restoration on King. And despite other, better-known places located nearby, Restoration on King has been making waves based on one major advantage: huge, loft-style rooms that actually resemble lofts.
Certain NYC hotels have claimed to model their rooms on basic loft designs—in some cases, even incorporating the word into the name of the hotel. But here's the main difference: the rooms at Restoration on King, were originally built as private condos, and only later re-purposed as hotel rooms. So between the washer-dryer machines and full kitchens, guests have more space than they could ever know what to do with. Click below for pics of the rooms!
Hotel Yoga / Yoga Hotels / Hotel Fitness / South Carolina Hotels / Auberge Resorts / → All Tags
Do Your Downward Dog Down By The River at The Inn at Palmetto Bluff
If you can't head to India for a yoga retreat this summer, an alternative could be waiting for you in South Carolina. The Inn at Palmetto Bluff may be more known for its golf course, but it's offering a Lotus on the River wellness weekend that will get yogis all twisted—in a good way—outdoors. The hotel claims that South Carolina's naturally warm air and moisture will detoxify you as you strike a pose alongside the May River.
The three-day yoga getaway will include plenty of time for you to practice your flying crow pose. But the weekend will also include meditation, lectures from guest speakers and a full-moon kayak expedition.
Snapshot / Hotel Bathrooms / Hotel Shower Caps / Westin Hotels / → All Tags
Is This Hotel Trying to Tell Us Something About the Bathroom Phone?
We've come up with 20 Different Uses for hotel shower caps but this one was definitely NOT on the list.
This is what greeted us just moments ago at our Westin Hotel in South Carolina. A shower cap on top of the bathroom phone. Not that we're much for using the phone when we're going potty but we're guessing this phone is busted. Sorry! You'll just have to DM us instead.
Seen anything weird in your hotel room? Send us the pic or even better, drop it in the HotelChatter Flickr Pool!
Anti-View / Renaissance Hotels / Charleston Hotels / South Carolina Hotels / → All Tags
In Charleston, A View That's Old as Time?
You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.
Truthfully, this view from the Renaissance Charleston Historic District Hotel in South Carolina is not horrendous, but we were disappointed to see that a hotel in the historic district of a picturesque city like Charleston can't avoid the dreaded rooftop view.
That's what Flickr member Mr. T. in DC saw during his stay at the Renaissance last year. But aside from a typo on a note from housekeeping, Mr. T. in DC said his stay was "quite pleasant." Room rates at the Renaissance start at $209 a night.
Summer Cocktails / Hotel Cocktails / Charleston Hotels / Hotel Restaurants / → All Tags
The Planters Inn's Endless Summer
We've kicked off our Summer Cocktails series where we profile fun new summer drinks that hotels are making. Got one we should know about? Send us the recipe with a photo of the drink. Otherwise, enjoy and @reply us when you're wasted!
This drink is the kind of drink that makes us wanna head to Charleston and the spend the afternoon just soaking up the Southern sunshine and hospitality. The Endless Summer is served at the Peninsula Grill at the Planters Inn, a luxury boutique hotel (only 64 rooms!) set within a restored historic building in the middle of Charleston.
The Endless Summer is mostly sweet (as it should be), made with Bacardi Silver, watermelon juice, lemon juice and a little bit of sprite. And it's only $10. So you could almost make this an endless drink as well. (Not that we here at HotelChatter advocate binge-drinking or anything!) Once you've had your fill at the Peninsula Grill (named “Charleston’s Best Restaurant” nine years in a row) get a room at the hotel. Summer specials start at $199 this summer for a superior queen room.
Wanna take the Endless Summer home with you? We've got the recipe for you below.
Aloft Hotels / Hotel Openings / Snapshot / Charleston Hotels / Hotel Parties / Hotels Charities / Hotel News / Starwood Hotels / → All Tags
Snapshot :: Aloft Charleston's Grand Opening Party
Last week was the grand opening party for the aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center, and this Aloft decided to throw a party - and donate to a good cause.
We spoke to Brian Harris, the General Manager of the Aloft Charleston who said:
"We had well over 500 guests throughout the night, who all loved the hotel. A lot of people said it reminds them of being in New York City or Miami and is a nice change from the more traditional hotels that Charleston is known for."
Aloft Hotels / Hotel Openings / Starwood Hotels / Hotels Doing Good / → All Tags
Aloft Charleston Throws An Opening Party With a Do-Good Twist
So we've been closely keeping tabs on all the aloft openings throughout America (and, Canada) each one opening with a decent amount of fanfare, and some opening without any at all, but the aloft Charleston Airport and Convention Center is throwing a premier party which benefits a local AIDS group.
Marriott Hotels / Myrtle Beach Hotels / Resorts / → All Tags
Marriott Myrtle Beach :: "Service is Speedy and the Lobby Smells like Shea Butter"
Usually, we're turned off by hotels with excessively long names, but we'll make an exception to say nice things about the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes, a name so long we refuse to waste the energy typing those nine words into this post again. (Get ready for lots of hotel synonyms!)
These accommodations are not designed for you to drop your bags and go spend your money elsewhere: The property has private beach access, a golf course, (this is Myrtle Beach, after all), a spa, fitness center and several restaurants; plus, rooms are sizable, there are quite a few outdoor--and one indoor--pools; service is speedy and the lobby smells like shea butter.
Aloft Hotels / Hotel Openings / Hotel Hype / → All Tags
Another Day, Another Aloft Opening
Guess what kids? We have another aloft opening! This time, it's the aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center, which debuted on Thursday.
And did you hear?! Rooms have an urban-influenced design, loft-like ceilings, oversized windows, platform beds... Zzzzzz.
Are we boring you yet? You may have heard this all before, but that doesn't matter to Starwood and its attempt at world domination (even if the plan has been scaled back a bit). And we've still got four more openings to go before the year is out.
Though after aloft Philadelphia Airport opens next Saturday, we get a much-needed vacay from the aloft extravaganza. The fervor takes a break until October 1, when the aloft Denver International Airport opens, followed by aloft Charlotte Uptown at the Epicentre on November 1 and aloft Dulles North on November 6.
Seems to us a break is exactly what we need to get excited about aloft again, as we're firm believers that you can have too much of a good thing.
WASP Hotels / Charleston Hotels / → All Tags
WASP Hotels: Play Genteel Southerner At HarborView Inn
The cocktail-sipping, scooner-sailing prepsters up in New England have nothing on the quail hunting, plantation dwelling WASPs living south of the Mason Dixon line. Charleston, S.C. could claim their headquarters. As famous travel writer Bill Bryson remarked of the city in his road-trip book The Lost Continent:
I walked away the afternoon, up and down the peaceful streets, secretly admiring all these impossibly happy and good-looking people and their wonderful homes and rich, perfect lives.
Where do the southern elite stay when visiting their Mecca? Well, HarbourView Inn, of course. They provide the hourly feedings that the aristocracy needs to maintain its indulgent lifestyle. Complimentary treats include flavored ice teas in the lobby, an afternoon wine and cheese reception, and freshly baked cookies and milk every evening.
Rooms come with four-poster beds with tempur-pedic mattresses, flat panel LCD TVs, and original artwork throughout. Best of all, it's only a few blocks from the restaurants, historic homes, and tour companies of Market Street.
[Photo: TripAdvisor]
Related Stories:
· WASP Hotels [HotelChatter]
