The Starlight Motor Inn

We stayed this past weekend as a weekend getaway and we absolutely loved the vintage feel of the motel! You can almost feel history in the walls. The rooms were clean and the decor fit the vintage theme. Check in was super simple with a door code provided before we arrived. We called a few hours before we arrived and we were able to get an early check in just by calling. We stayed a total of 3 nights just to explore Downtown Charleston and spend a day at Folly Beach and everything was so easily accessible from the motel! And the pool was such a nice addition for the end of the day relaxation. When we had a request for additional items they were prompt to respond even after hours. When we go back to Charleston we will stay here again!

Our reservation was for one night.. we truly loved the renovation and keeping the vintage heritage of the motel. Our room was clean, great bed, linens, new shower, sink, cute lighting. Pool area was very relaxing.. bonus that it is salt water!!! Music plays throughout the pool area... cute fun inflatables... this is not a fancy frills hotel.. it's a salute to the days past BUT with up to date textures!! The artwork is reflective of the 1960's We LOVED our simply, easy, relaxed, fun stay!!! We met one of the owners, Hank, who told us the iconic motel was due to be torn down.. a group decided to give it a go.. on the National Historic Preservation the motel got recognition from Charleston & National History Preservation Awards!! I appreciate and like that they did not tear everything out .. mimic a renovation.. they actually truly restored this wonderful motel!! We WILL be back!!!!

We stayed at the Starlight for 3 wonderful nights! Every member of the staff was absolutely amazing! They were so personable and full of great recommendations! Their amenities are top tier!!! The beds were so comfortable! They have nightly activities at their lounge or pool. The neighborhood seems a bit sketchy, but please do not let that deter you!! You will not regret staying at the Starlight, where everyone is a star!!!

A Unique and Retro Stay! I recently stayed at Starlight Motor Inn and absolutely loved the experience. The vintage mid-century vibe is beautifully preserved — from the neon sign to the classic decor in the rooms, it felt like stepping back in time in the best way possible. The rooms were clean, comfortable, and surprisingly spacious. And you cannot beat the nightly rate! The staff was friendly and welcoming, making check-in easy and offering great recommendations for things to do in the area. The pool area is also a fun touch, perfect for relaxing. We were in the Charleston area for two night of the Dave Matthews Band at Credit One Stadium so we had lots of other guests who were also attending the concert which added a whole layer of COOL to the place. Like a vintage pool resort with a pool house serving refreshments including alcoholic choices. If you’re looking for a unique and nostalgic place to stay in North Charleston, I highly recommend this gem, thank you Starlight Motor Inn!

This spot is great! I would’ve been happy with it even if we paid normal Charleston rates, but the price is right here. I would be prepared for it to be a little louder than most hotels, but honestly that dies down early in the night. If you do decide to go to the lounge, the music is amazing. All of the staff is great. Comfortable beds. Great boutique little spot. Easy Uber ride into downtown Charleston. My daughter is about to start college here and we will be staying here for the next four years when we visit. Thank you all again.

Super cute place and I love the vintage design! It was clean and very neatly taken care of. The pool was great and well cared for. They had floats and a very adorable pool house. The classic music they have playing makes you feel like you’re traveling back in time and creates a really nice atmosphere. The rooms were so nice & the bunk beds were more comfortable than we had imagined! The TV had a roku, which was a major plus. The bathroom was elegant & the towels were very soft. It was about 25 minutes from Folly, which was the reason for our stay. The area isn’t the most scenic, but it didn’t impact our time at all! If you’re willing to drive just a few minutes down the road, it’s 8 minutes away from the Orange Spot coffee shop, which is worth it!! 20/10 will definitely be booking a stay again!

We came into town with friends to see the Matt Rife show. It was the perfect place to stay! We enjoyed the pool before dinner at King BBQ (a quick walk away) before the show. The rooms were clean and the bed incredibly comfortable. The pool house was open and had a bar. The staff were friendly. We will definitely be back! I highly recommend a stay here.

Wonderfully restored retro hotel with beautiful pool! Walk into these well-equipped rooms with Johnny Carson reruns playing on the TV as soon as you walk in. Ice cold air conditioning with one of the best hotel mattresses I’ve ever slept on. Enjoy live music at the Burgundy Lounge upstairs or hear a DJ spinning tunes in the pool house. Walking distance to fantastic barbecue and a comedy club. 10 minute drive to the North Charleston Coliseum or downtown. Seamless check in all digital, but very attentive to customer service if you have any problems at all. Very practice that way.

Thank you all for comfy and clean accommodations while we in town for High Water. Your shuttle service paired up to do good in your community was much appreciated! We loved the decor and your renovation is amazing! Will be back again.

It's nice on the inside. The have a live band on Thursday nights and it seems very historical! The bartender was not knowledgeable of drinks and she also charged me too shelf prices for a mid shelf liqour. It's definitely a cute place to stay and checkout but I would suggest getting the price list before ordering anything.

This was easily one of my favorite stays ever. We love to travel and have stayed in a lot of nice places, but this hotel is so nostalgic and so well done that I couldn't recommend it enough. The rooms were so clean and comfortable, and the staff was phenomenal. They text you before your check in with your code for your room, so no need to have to get out and check in, and that text number is available for anything you need, we loved that. If you are ever in Charleston, do your self a favor and check this place out. I promise it will not disappoint.

The place had such a charming vibe! Even though finding parking was a little tricky, I had a blast attending this afrobeats gathering at this location. The hotel was spotless, had a one-of-a-kind design, and a lovely pool area.

Delightfully renovated mid mid motel. Don't be swayed by the industrial and liquor store surroundings it is quite safe. Thoughtfully retro decorated and well appointed with all you need for an overnight. Exceptionally loud patrons and guests on karaoke night and loitering in the parking lot. It's definitely a hip place to be on a Saturday night. Room comes equipped with a sound machine but I recommend earplugs and a eye mask. Clean comfortable bed and easy check in and out.

After you turn into the parking lot, you take a trip back in time. You take a step into the 1960s. You see the classy sign at the entrance. The architecture and the pool have the retro vibe. The atmosphere gives you that nostalgic mod vibe. It's like the 60s got frozen in time. The staff greet you with a smile. The live music is great. The interior decor is eccentric and eye catching. Whether you are meeting for drinks, dancing the evening away to live music, or staying a night or two--it is a perfect place to go.

Very sketchy area but isolated to offset this somewhat and advertised as 'updated' hip interiors. However my room had mold on bathroom countertop, on the light switches and some sort of blood or fecal matter on the shower floor which also had large stain. I brought this to attention of the front desk and they told me I was the first person to ever complain about their cleanliness standards. Then when I sent them a video of me cleaning the mold in different areas. They continued to be defensive and said it was paint. Lol. Business 101 don't argue with or gaslight your potential return customer(s). Should welcome the feedback if anything. Then I asked for my room to be cleaned this AM and returned four hours later. Not done. Looks like great bargain online and would come here monthly but not until they up their game in the sanitary/cleanliness area(s).

What a great addition to lodging in Charleston. We heard that this motel was being renovated and updated, while still maintaining the look and feel of a sixties motel. I remember traveling across country and staying at motels, so I was interested in seeing and staying in something more than a national chain, or a long overused and tired motel. The Starlight is great! The original sign seems to be shining on an industrial boulevard in North Charleston, which connects the airport, through North Charleston, to the center of Charleston itself. The room is modern, super well finished, still fresh from complete renovation, with lots of loving touches from the past, in its decor and its approach. But with a great bed and linens, a great shower, and a keurig! It's still being finished, so the pool isn't ready yet, and there is some work going on to finish the project, but it's an honor to experience the loving work of the owners, and to get a great night's sleep!

We had a great stay . The location is central to anywhere you want to go in Charleston, though the neighborhood isn't the best the location served us very well. I loved the boutique-y retro rooms. They are small but well appointed , comfy beds. There is some more reno to do there but I really can see the vision they have ! The bartender in the lounge was very sweet and we had a good time hanging out in there for a few cocktails - really liked the vibe. I will absolutely stay again.

I highly recommend this property! They office manager was very nice. The place was clean on the outside. Once into the room we were pleasantly surprised! Super clean and well maintained! The pillows and bed were some of the best we have had in a hotel room. The surrounding area looks a little sketchy but give this spot a chance.

Great 1960s vibe. Beautiful rooms, great pool and wonderful bartender in the lounge! Family Friendly and very close to attractions including Charlestowne Landing. We will be back!

We went to a cocktail party here and was impressed how they brought an old motel back to its original look. Great job and definitely a place to check out. We will be back

Was pretty leery about the neighborhood, but this place is a gem. Super cool. Comfy beds, clean. Close to everything. Check in/out is very easy. Communication is excellent via text. Run like an air bnb, with staff of site.

Hands-down, the coolest and most unique cocktail lounge in town. It's got a speakeasy feel, with real "Mad Men" vibes, and great cocktails. Can't wait to come back!

We are visiting from CA and read about Starlight. In spite of the location, we wanted to stay because we were so impressed with the story and the look of the motel. It did not disappoint! Everything was excellent. The service, communication, recommendations of where to shop and eat, the nice sized room great shower, comfortable bed, and the entertainment in the bar during the evenings were just some of the details that made it great. The decorative attention to detail was cool. It felt like a trip into the past. We just took Uber or Lyft each day and came out ahead of the cost of a premier hotel downtown. Super easy. As a point of contrast, we stayed in a historic hotel in the heart of Savannah that was 3.5x more expensive and this place was better by far. We are rooting for long term success! Thank you for a great stay and for preserving the history.

BEAUTIFUL HOTEL for the location. Service was amazing even though it was all no contact and online, it was still very easy and simple to book and get into our room. Rooms were very nice and clean with a beautiful bathroom design!!

We loved staying here. The rooms were extremely clean and updated. Everything in room was brand new. The TV was a Roku which was already logged into the motel's account- didn't even have to login to your own. Check in and check out was the easiest we've ever experienced. Our only concern prior to visiting was the location, but after being there for a few days we realized how easy it was to get to downtown and other surrounding areas. We split our stay between here and another "nicer" hotel in Mt. Pleasant and actually ended up preferring this place over the other and wishing we could go back. We'll absolutely stay here when we come back to Charleston. The price is unbeatable for how great it was.

Awesome place to stay. From the moment you pun in you just get a good feeling. Rooms were super clean with a really cool 60's theme. Staff was great. Great swimming pool and game room. Highly recommend. We'll be back.