Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Okay, so I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Harborside at Charleston Harbor Resort, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The location on Patriots Point Road is actually pretty clever though, because you’re technically in Mount Pleasant but you feel like you’re right in the heart of everything Charleston has to offer. The marina setting is legit too – I mean, you can literally hear the water lapping against the docks from most of the rooms, which is either soothing or slightly annoying depending on how light a sleeper you are.

What really struck me about this place is how it manages to feel both resort-like and authentically Lowcountry at the same time. The rooms are solid (I’d say the 4-star rating is pretty accurate), and honestly, the views make up for any minor quirks in the older sections of the property. You know what’s actually cool? From certain angles, you can see the Ravenel Bridge lit up at night, and during the day there’s this constant parade of boats heading out to Charleston Harbor. The staff clearly knows their stuff about the area too – they pointed me toward Shem Creek for dinner instead of the usual tourist traps, which was clutch. Parking is straightforward, by the way, which anyone who’s tried to park in downtown Charleston will appreciate.

The thing that bumps this place up for me is the little details that show they get what people want when they’re visiting Charleston. The pool area actually faces the water (novel concept, right?), and there’s enough space that it doesn’t feel like you’re sardined in with everyone else’s kids. I stayed here during shoulder season in early fall, and it was pretty perfect – warm enough for the pool but not so crowded that you couldn’t get a decent spot by the water. The 8.1 rating feels about right to me… it’s not going to blow your mind, but it delivers on what it promises. Plus, you’re close enough to hop over to downtown Charleston or even take the water taxi, but far enough away that you’re not dealing with the noise and chaos of King Street at 2 AM. If you’re looking for that sweet spot between convenience and actually being able to relax, this place hits it pretty well.