Embassy Suites Historic Review

The Embassy Suites, Historic is one of Charleston's truly treasured landmark sites. Once the home of the Citadel military school, this historic property achieves a balance of offering higher than average accommodations while preserving aspects of the structure's history for display and as points of interest for the guests.

The lobby is open and spacious sporting oversized antique furniture, large oriental rugs and floral arrangements to soften the contrasting hardwood floors and displays showing military accoutrement from pre-Civil War times until the early 1900's. This lobby is the site of afternoon soirees offering complimentary hors de oeuvres and cocktails to guests.

An atrium hotel with soaring five-story high ceilings, a large interior and several clusters of cushioned club chair seating around a gigantic four-tiered fountain gives the impression of being a small town or castle unto itself. In a sense, the Hampton was just that, a fort with cannons at four points to protect the city of Charleston. Now the atrium is warmly lit with gas lamps and is alive with cascading variegated philodendron plants, a variety of green palm trees and select exotics like torch ginger and bromeliads. Gone are the reminiscences of marches and drills but the large inn with ample ballroom and boardroom space offers a perfect place to accommodate large reception, banquet, and theater or classroom style conferences.

    

Flawlessly implemented are catering and other services required to smoothly execute the needs of those arranging high-end tours and groups, upscale corporate associations and business junkets. With the very well appointed rooms in the Embassy Suites, Historic, every guest, whether business or leisure, will no doubt be amply comfortable in the guestrooms and suites, each of which indulges guests with a view of the atrium, flat screen television, granite counters, wet bar, microwave, mini fridge, sitting area with additional sleeping space in pull out couches.

The Embassy Suites has much to offer in the historic district in the way of sites but also encourages relaxation at their pool or fitness areas and presents a business area with phone, fax and computers for guests' use and a gift shop for notions and convenience. There is an in house restaurant for hot or quick breakfast and the Embassy Suites has affiliation with many area upscale restaurants such as Virginia's on King, Tobacco Row or Rue De Jean for full luncheon and dinner. Menus for these eateries may be requested and reviewed at the inn.

The Embassy Suites, Historic earns a 3-diamond *** rating for its breathtaking lobby and atrium, value in luxury suites, meeting space capacity, group accommodations and historic features and district location.