The enchanting and trending destination of Charleston offers an ideal mix of Southern hospitality, rich history, mouthwatering cuisine, breathtaking scenery, and outdoor adventure. Stroll the cobbled streets in the Historic District to discover gems around nearly every corner, from architecture to eateries serving delicious Low Country fare. Just outside the city, you’ll find gorgeous beaches and golf courses galore. Charleston also hosts a wide range of hotels with something for almost anyone, but if you’ve got your heart set on one with a pool, you’ll want to book one from this list.
The Charleston Place
A top Historic District hotel tucked along a leafy street just a few minutes on foot from the popular City Market, The Charleston Place offers a magnificent saltwater pool. After a refreshing swim, relax poolside and order the hotel’s famous truffle fries and other treats to be delivered right to you. Other highlights include the spa, which offers massages and other pampering treatments, along with a relaxation lounge and boutique. One of the best restaurants in the city is right here, too: the fine-dining Charleston Grill offers a menu of Southern-French dishes with wine pairings that can be enjoyed with live jazz. Rooms come with plush beds with high-end mattresses, minibars, coffeemakers, and Italian marble bathrooms with robes and slippers.
Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina
Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina is nautically themed and offers fabulous views of the harbor and downtown skyline. One of Charleston’s best resorts, it not only hosts the only waterfront Tiki Bar in the city but multiple swimming pools, including a 30,000-square-foot tropical pool deck with cabanas. There’s a heated cabana pool and a seasonal outdoor pool that overlooks the private beachfront and pier. Water activities are available from its marina docks, and an educational, interactive kids’ program is offered too. As it’s just outside Charleston proper, a free trolley can bring you right downtown. Or hop on the water taxi that can bring you to popular attractions like Waterfront Park and Aquarium Wharf. Other notable features include a full-service spa and fitness center, while rooms come with mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and 42″ flat-screen TVs.
Hotel Bennett
Hotel Bennett is a top luxury hotel in Charleston inspired by native Charlestonians and classic European design. It overlooks Marion Square, just a five-minute walk from the Charleston Museum, and has a rooftop pool where you can reserve your own cabana, complete with views of the harbor, a flat-screen TV, a minibar, and a sofa. The spa offers a full menu of treatments and a fitness center, while the on-site restaurant, Gabrielle, serves tasty seafood and steaks. There’s also a French-inspired patisserie and a Champagne bar. Rooms have amenities like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minibars, Nespresso machines, and bathrooms with separate showers and deep soaking tubs.
Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton
Mills House Charleston originally opened way back in 1853 and is located in the heart of historic downtown Charleston. It has a long, interesting history, once hosting General Robert E. Lee, but the highlight at this top-rated boutique Charleston hotel is its open-air pool with poolside service included. Enjoy dining at the Barbados Room Restaurant, which offers a menu of southern-style cuisine, drinks at the bar, and working out at the gym, which includes free weights and cardio machines. Rooms include flat-screen TVs and Keurig coffeemakers. Some have private porches or balconies too.
Wild Dunes Resort
Located in Isle of Palms, just a short drive from downtown Charleston, Wild Dunes Resort is a beachfront property and popular Spring Break destination. It hosts an array of pools, including two oceanfront pools with Beachside Burgers & Bar right in between. There’s a large pool for laps and an adults-only pool for tranquility, among others. The property also offers a fitness center, golf, tennis, and bike rentals, casual and upscale dining options, a spa, a salon, and fitness classes. A kids’ club and family-style activities like kayaking trips are offered too. The wide range of accommodations includes one-, two- and three-bedroom suites and penthouses, all with mini-fridges, Keurig coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, furnished terraces, free Wi-Fi, and bathrobes.
Market Pavilion Hotel
Making lists for having one of the top rooftop pools in the nation, the Market Pavilion Hotel also offers an ideal location in the heart of historic Charleston. Located right across from the City Market, it’s overflowing with 18th-century charms, despite its more recent construction in 2002. The pool sits within the rooftop Pavilion Bar and includes chaise lounges, while memorable dining can be enjoyed at the Grill 225, one of the most lauded steakhouses in the city. Maine lobster and up to 50-day-aged cuts of beef are on the menu and enjoyed in an intimate, romantic setting. The helpful staff goes out of their way to ensure a memorable stay, like the plate of sweets they leave for you at turndown. All rooms have 18th-century period reproductions and stunning antiques, mahogany beds, and marble bathrooms with spa robes, upscale toiletries, and separate showers and tubs.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort
For those who want to spend lots of time at the beach or swimming and/or lounging at the pool without being too far from Charleston, Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a great pick. Besides ranking as one of the best golf resorts in the United States, it offers two beautiful pools and all sorts of activities, including kayaking, tennis, open-air painting, and five of the country’s most respected resort golf courses. There’s a lavish spa for blissful relaxation and more than a dozen restaurants, cafes, and eateries. Accommodation is available in freestanding homes, independent villas, and rooms, all of which come with free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, Keurig coffeemakers, minibars, and balconies with garden or ocean views. Some have whirlpool tubs too.
The Restoration Hotel
Located in the heart of Charleston’s Historic District and one of Charleston’s best hotels, The Restoration Hotel is a boutique hotel that’s steps from upscale shops, restaurants, and museums. The rooftop Indigo Pool boasts one of the best views in the city, allowing guests to enjoy a refreshing dip against a magnificent city backdrop. Cocktails and light bites are served here too. A continental breakfast is available every morning in the lobby, and in the evening, a free wine and cheese reception is hosted here as well. Complimentary iPads and bicycles are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and guests enjoy free access to the EcoFitness health club nearby. The luxurious one- and two-bedroom suites all come with full kitchens, flat-screen TVs, washer/dryers, bathrooms with spa robes, and private patios or balconies.
Tides Folly Beach
Tides Folly Beach is a waterfront hotel in an ideal location between Center Street and Folly Beach Pier. The location on one of South Carolina’s best beaches is what draws most, but it also has an outdoor heated pool open year-round that’s surrounded by loungers. There’s a casual eatery with a bar and stylish lounge, along with an oceanfront patio that has its own large bar and seating for drinking or dining. The main restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as brunch on the weekends. There’s a cafe on-site for light bites and Starbucks coffee too. All rooms face the ocean, providing fabulous Atlantic views, and include beach decor, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and coffeemakers with complimentary Starbucks coffee. Some of the higher-end options include Juliet balconies or small, furnished patios.
SpringHill Suites Charleston Mount Pleasant
Located on the northeast side of the Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant – a place known for its historic homes and lively oaks – and less than 10 miles from Charleston’s historic district, SpringHill Suites Charleston Mount Pleasant offers a cheap getaway option that comes complete with an outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center. An all-suite hotel, every unit has a kitchen area with a microwave, mini-fridge, and coffeemaker, along with a flat-screen TV, iPod dock, free Wi-Fi, and a separate living area with a pull-out couch. A well-regarded breakfast buffet is provided for free every morning of your stay.
