The Best Hotels to Book in South Carolina, USA

South Carolina is perfect for weekend city breaks as well as nature-orientated trips. Home to historic cities such as Charleston, it also has spotless stretches of Atlantic coast. Here’s our pick of the best places to stay, bookable via Culture Trip.
Kings Courtyard Inn, for period charm near the Gibbes Museum of Art
Boutique Hotel

Housed in a mid-19th century building, clustered around three foliage-filled courtyards, rooms at this downtown boutique have preserved original features such as fireplaces, plaster molding, mahogany four-poster beds and hardwood floors. Perks include bagels slathered with cream cheese and fresh OJ each morning along with papers delivered to your room, a wine and cheese reception every evening and a glass of sherry before bed. Enjoy the location on King Street, a buzzy thoroughfare lined with cafes, bars, restaurants and shops of every kind.
The Ryder Hotel, for coastal Carolina hues near the City Market
Hotel

A relaxed, beachy theme dominates this playfully bohemian bolthole with rooms decked out with a light-blue decor, pine accents, shell-shaped cushions on wicker armchairs and wall-mounted knots above the beds. Poolside hangout Little Palm does creative cocktails and coastal-inspired plates such as local oysters with a frozen mignonette and Atlantic shrimp with fennel, celery leaf, crushed tomato and rouille. Folly Beach and Sullivan’s Island are both within a 20-minute drive from the hotel.
Planters Inn, for period Southern charm near the Charleston Museum
Independent Hotel, Bed and Breakfast, Inn

All rooms at South Carolina’s only Relais & Châteaux inn feature four-poster beds, antique furniture and silk drapery, reflecting the building’s history as a refined country retreat. Evenings at fine-dining restaurant Peninsula Grill follow a long-established routine, starting at 4pm with champagne and slices of the hotel’s legendary, twelve-layer coconut cake. Early evening, the courtyard is illuminated by carriage lanterns and tea lights, providing a romantic setting for gourmet Southern fare.
The Inn & Club at Harbour Town, for country club casual near Harbour Town Lighthouse
Hotel

The stars of the show at Sea Pines Resort’s five-star hotel are the three premier golf courses – PGA-featured Harbour Town Links, Heron Point by Pete Dye and Atlantic Dunes by David Love III. Groups of four can book the elegant Fairway Suite with French windows opening onto a terrace with views of the ninth hole, moss-covered oaks and Carolina pines. Head to Ocean Lounge for cocktails and the Links Grill for prime beef and seafood.
The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel, for old-school opulence near City Market
Hotel

A distinguished veteran of Charleston’s hospitality scene, Mills House has cozily proportioned rooms dressed in pale greens and blues, with city views, private balconies or poolside porches. Dine on Charleston she-crab soup at Barbadoes, one of the town’s most seductive after-dark spaces – a tranquil patio centered around a fountain, surrounded by colonnades and the dining room’s high, arched windows. A casual vibe prevails on the pool’s rectangular terrace, where you can relax with a tipple on rooftop-view lounge chairs.
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, for the lap of luxury near Johns Island
Golf Hotel, Resort

No expense was spared in making this modern complex look like it’s been there for centuries: the largest mechanical spade in the world transplanted 160 live oak trees (50ft/15m tall) into the grounds, and the lobby’s hand-planked walnut flooring was put on sleepers to make it creak. Rooms and suites are characterized by the light, classical style of a grand seaside residence, and all have ocean-view balconies. Indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a spa and several bars and restaurants complete the five-star offering.
Island Vista Resort, Myrtle Beach, for family fun near Ripley's Aquarium
Resort

Fronted by palm trees and without neighbors for a mile (1.6km) in each direction, this ocean-facing resort feels like a desert-island getaway. It’s perfect for families, with light-filled rooms and suites to sleep in and an ancient ruin-themed water complex with a lazy river, tunnel and waterfall, as well as indoor and outdoor pools to enjoy. Golfers are also well-placed, with the Pine Lakes Country Club and several other premium courses easily reachable on foot. The Cypress Room serves hearty breakfasts, and the poolside Tiki Hut does a great fish taco.
Cambria Hotel Charleston Riverview, for laid-back luxury near Rainbow Row
Hotel

Impressionistic murals of palm trees, kitchenettes, work desks and retro-orange ergonomic chairs feature in every room at this Charleston base. At Ripley Grill & Bar, build your favorite breakfast omelette and take on the “Lowcountry Loaded Fry” for lunch or dinner – a belt-stretching feast of skin-on fries heaped with black beans, onions, peppers, bacon, cheese and pico de gallo. Other on-site amenities include a well-stocked grocery store, an inviting outdoor pool and a small gym. Charleston’s Historic District is a five-minute drive away.
Hotel Bella Grace, for architectural elegance near Joe Riley Waterfront Park
Boutique Hotel

Rooms at this elegant extended-stay mansion have marble-patterned headboard walls, whitewashed decor and self-catering facilities; guests cooking in can also have groceries delivered to their rooms. Situated in the heart of the history-filled Ansonborough neighborhood, it’s two doors up from the affiliated raw bar and seafood specialist Delaney Oyster House.
The Francis Marion Hotel, for refined restoration near the College of Charleston
Hotel

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!


Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.


KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.