Harbour View Inn, Charleston

The Harbor View Inn is a beautiful hotel with lovely rooms and historic elements and ideally suited to the historic downtown. The front desk service was superb...ask for Jen, she has an idea and an answer to any question you might have. I give it 5 stars!

From the moment we called the front desk for reservations, we have received nothing but warm, courteous, honest, and extremely accommodating service. The property's location is prime, it's exterior and interior very pleasing and well-maintained. The off-season rate was surprisingly low. Staying at Harbor View Inn was perfect for our last-minute overnight getaway, and we would, no doubt, recommend it to anyone.

After reading reviews online, I was not surprised to discover that our standard-rate room had only a blocked view of the waterfront, but that was not a big deal to my party. (If it is to yours, shell out the extra money for a designated room with a view and make a fuss if you don't get what you paid for.) The Inn is conveniently located near Waterfront Park and all the best Charleston shopping and dining. Rooms are clean and spacious, especially the bathrooms (although the HVAC, at least in our room, was a bit temperamental--bring slippers for the icy bathroom floor!). Free in-room breakfast was a great service, as were the various receptions throughout the day (wine/cheese at 5; cookies/milk at 9; coffee/tea/candy all day). The employees were exceptionally friendly and attentive. Really the only thing keeping this rating from being 5 stars was the surprising amount of "ambient" noise-- although our room was tucked away on a corner, we heard a lot of conversation (not yelling or anything, just normal voices) from the room next door, and some kind of frequent machinery humming (I guess we were right above the laundry room? At any rate, I've experienced better soundproofing). Although there's not as much the hotel can do about this, the early-morning garbage pickup outside was also a rather unpleasant wake-up call! Light sleepers should probably bring earplugs and request a room on a higher floor. I hope this doesn't scare anyone away because the Harbourview is a really lovely hotel in a great location, and I would certainly stay there again and recommend it to friends. But the handful of negative reviews online seem to be the product of unrealistic expectations, so it's good for people to know what they might encounter.

My husband and I stayed at this hotel with our teenage children. We loved this hotel!! The rooms were very clean and stylish. The beds were deliciously comfortable! The room includes a free continental breakfast brought either to your room or brought to the rooftop garden. There is also a complimentary 4-5pm cheese, fruit & wine hour. But the kids couldn't wait to get back to the hotel each evening for the milk and cookie hour at 9pm! The hotel is right next to a walking park with a fountain that the kids could play in. It's only a few blocks walk to the Open Market, too.

My husband and I just spent five nights at the Harbor View, we found our room and bathroom to be meticulosly clean. All employees with whom we came in contact were extremely pleasant and very helpful. I found the Inn to have a very warm and home-like atmosphere. We expecially liked, and took advantage of the morning continental breakfast, the wine, cheese and fruit served in the afternoon and the wonderful, warm cookies and milk, served at bedtime. The bed linens were the nicest we have had at any hotel in which we have stayed. We would not hesitate to stay again at the Harbor View Inn. Before booking, you must remember that the Harbor View Inn is just that, a small, personal Inn, a very welcominig and warm place to stay. You must go out for restaurants (very close by) and gift shops. Keeping that in mind we highly recommend it!

The location was great...I got a cheaper room rate and I know why when I got there...when you opened up the curtain for which I thought might be a waterview....all I saw was scrap metal and some kinda old powerplant that is non-functional...needless to say that curtain stayed closed. When you go there besure to bring extra money for tipping..they will do everything for you, but not without a price! There were no fans,whirlpool bath or fireplaces in the room where we were. Made reservations on internet...one may want to call Harbour view to make sure you get what you are paying for. The beds are very comfortable!

Our stay here was above and beyond the best ever in Charleston. This place describes excellence in so many ways..the hotel is beautiful yet not stuffy..the rooms are the extremely clean and the beds are outstanding-the best ever in a hotel room..the staff-always nice and efficient..the food seems to never stop..breafast included..coffee/tea/fruit all day..various candy..afternoon wine/cheese/fruit..cookies/milk at night and chocolate on your pillow at turn down when the day is complete..honestly the location could not be beat..steps away from everything in Charleston and right in front of the beautiful waterfront park that circles around to the battery for a great walk or nice jog which all add up to a great and relaxing vacation! We hated to leave!

My husband and I recently stayed at HVI and we could not have asked for a better hotel. The staff, the facility, the amenities, and the location were all first rate. Every single member of the staff seem to do everything possible to make sure each guest has the best stay possible. As far as the rooms, the ones with a view of the harbour are street side and seem to be smaller than the ones on the backside. Some rooms have fireplaces and sunken tubs. The room we stayed in was in the back with a view of an electrical substation but we didn't come to Charleston to sit in our room and look out the window. Therefore, we chose a backside room as it was larger and quieter - not that any of them are noisy. If you want a "view", sit on the rooftop terrace or get outside and enjoy it in person!! The only downside was the breakfast packages. Not much to choose from but keep in mind this hotel is a hotel with no restaurant or cooking facilities. Taking that into consideration, what they do offer is quite good and they were creative with their packages. Keep in mind you're in Charleston with dozens of restaurants to choose from all within a few blocks. Get out and try a different one each meal. HVI offers plenty of extra goodies throughout the day to keep you going between meals. HVI is the best choice in Charleston!!

EXCELLENT. VERY ATTENTIVE tHE BEST LOOKING BEST LOCATED HOTEL WE HAVE EVER STAYED AT WITH A STAFF THAT COULD NOT DO ENOUGH FOR US.tHE TURN DOWN SERVICE WAS THERE NIGHTLY AND THE STAFF HAD GREAT SIGHTSEEING ADVICE.

This was my first time in Charleston, so I was not sure what to expect. As I was looking for a place for my honeymoon, I did not mind spending a few extra dollars for room. Overall, I was satisfied with my stay. The staff was friendly, interacting with us at every encounter, asking how the dinner was, good morning and the like. I stayed in one of the historic rooms, which unfortunately faces the street, so there was not a view of the harbor. The rooftop deck did have a clear view and provided for some spectacular photos at dawn. The room was clean, the furnature was tasteful, the electronic room safe was a plus, as was the tempurpedic mattress. My only bites are minor points, but I will provide them. It was not mentioned that the breakfast served at no extra charge was essentially a cold breakfast; hard-boiled eggs, cold cereals, oatmeal, bagels, juices and coffees. The 10ft wood shutters did not have a means to stay open when swung open (one was lodged in pretty tight, so I didn't risk pulling on it.) The stand for the very attractive 6ft marble bathroom sink was plain ol' pine. The electical wall plates were beige plastic. As I said, the bites are minor, but if I were running a high end establishment, I would use higher grade materials so that the appearance matched the service and the cost. Otherwise, a nice stay, and the location is within a short walk of many, many establishments.