Elliott House Inn

"Built as a private home in 1861, this "wonderful inn" is in the city’s historic district and close to the Battery and the City Market. Rooms, which open onto a courtyard, have flat-screen TVs, hardwood floors, and Asian rugs following a two-year renovation completed in 2011. "It has the perfect mix of being in a great location and having a very quiet patio area. We won’t stay anywhere else when we visit Charleston." Staff can arrange tours of antebellum homes, horse-drawn carriage rides, and harbor tours. Though there is no restaurant on-site, a continental breakfast of bagels, fruit, yogurt, granola, and more is delivered to guests each morning, and there’s a complimentary wine and cheese reception each evening. "It’s like you are at home. That’s a wonderful feeling."