What an enigma of a property. We were confused when we arrived to the hotel because it didn't have a dominant facade that distinguished itself as one. So the entrance to the property was neither vehicle or people friendly. We had to double park on the street and hustle to get our luggage out. (I'm sure this is a restored historical property and strict zoning codes dictate building requirements), but c'mon not even an awning in case of rain? The two main ways into the building itself made no sense. A pair of narrow refurbished heavy doors met you after having to navigate an awkward higher than normal stone step. Obviously not user friendly at all. Next to the valet stand, there were a set of larger glass doors but they were not automatic and there was no clear signage indicating that this was the way to enter if you have a stroller, luggage, a cart filled with belongings, in a wheelchair etc. What bothered me the most was not seeing any clearly visible handicap button to help with the doors. When we returned in the early evening, no one was even there to assist us when I was in my wheelchair. In general, Charleston is a dangerous place to walk due to the incredibly uneven surfaces, cobblestones, bricks etc. At least they could provide better ambulatory access to hotels and restaurants.
On the plus side, the lobby, reception area and the restaurant Frankie and The Fox was attractive, bustling and had a good vibe. The courtyard that extended out from the eatery was huge and offered ample seating and a gorgeous gas burning brick fireplace. The fire was roaring, but none of the heaters were activated so we didn't stay. It may have been a help yourself situation, where we could turn them on ourselves but we weren't informed. We thought it was a wise energy saving effort, just wish we knew if it was OK to turn it on ourselves. Service was warm, gracious and for the most part was great from the valet to check in. We have two labs, so seeing all the dogs meandering this pet friendly place was awesome! As soon as we hit the elevators after checking in, problems surfaced as they were poorly located, and totally inadequate for the size of the building and the number of guests. (Only one was operational so I had to take the stairs twice from the third floor). I'm partially disabled, but not so that I require or need an accessible room. At times, I need to use a wheelchair. The hike to get to our room was excessive even for nimble folks who may have been dragging their own suitcases or luggage carts over the carpeted floors, The hallways were devoid of any wall decor, which did nothing to help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Immediately upon entering, I was not impressed with our "suite". The ceilings were low, the woefully small windows one in each room were painted shut. No ceiling fans and the thermostat in the room did not cooperate when we programmed to at least have the air circulating but we never got it to work.
The walls were painted a dark blue green and even worse, the trim and doors were black. The furnishings were also dark and dowdy, lighting poor, and the amount of furniture they had in the living area was over the top and the scale of the pieces were much too large for the space. My husband and I could literally not be in that room together because we we dodging not only each other but the poorly proportioned furniture plus our belongings as storage was seriously lacking. I spent no time in that section of the suite. The designers of these rooms seriously had no education in room planning. The bathroom was a complete letdown. A tub/shower combo with absolutely nothing to grip for safety while getting in or getting out. (This should be mandatory for all tub/shower combos regardless who uses it). As a result, I could only use the shower once during our 4 day stay. Had to be creative in getting clean every day. The vanity sink area had only one vessel and the set up was unattractive. Nowadays the definition of a suite was nothing like it was years ago. It no longer conjures up thoughts of pampering, luxury, or larger, grander spaces. Our "suite" would have been much more comfortable had they just made it one large space. The location of the hotel was excellent. The thoughtful idea of putting a complimentary coffee, water and fruit station on each flour was a great concept. Instead of an ice machine, they had freezer drawers that had perfectly portioned little bags of ice. Smart. However, since our room was so far from the elevators where everything was located, we only filled our water bottles as we left or returned to the hotel.. In December, we stayed at Hilton Club's Liberty Place and much preferred the accommodations there. Beautiful high end finishes, ample room, balcony, kitchen. Sorry Emeline. Loved your vibe, but not our cup of tea. read more