Having never been to the southern states, it was about time I planned a trip to that part of the US. My friends recommended I visited Charleston, and they say you should always listen to the ones who know! They were right, Charleston is a beautiful city, very different from cities such as New York, Philadelphia or Washington DC which I’m used to. Forget about skylines and tall buildings, Charleston is all about the history, the (low!) colourful houses, palm trees and super photogenic angel oak trees! (Perfect for your Instagram feed!)
When to visit charleston? AVOID HURRICANE SEASON (June – October) I learned the hard way! We visited the first week of September, right after hurricane Harvey, and had to evacuate because hurricane Irma was on its way. We were told the city can get flooded really quickly, which will result in power outage, etc… So if a hurricane is coming, you want to get out of there ASAP! The weather is very nice all year around. It was about 30 degrees Celsius and very humid when we visited in September. When I asked about the temperatures in the winter, I was told you’d only need a jumper at night, so not very cold! |  |
How to get to and around Charleston?
Charleston has an international airport. One of the few American cities you could fly to, and not need to hire a car, as pretty much everything is walking distance.
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Where to stay in Charleston?
THE BELMOND CHARLESTON PLACE, HOTEL REVIEW
| We stayed at beautiful Belmond Charleston Place, and I cannot recommend it enough! A luxury hotel in the heart of Charleston, with an award-winning restaurant, a gorgeous rooftop spa, and beautiful rooms.  |  |
The room
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Spacious, luxurious, beautiful view of city.
A platter of fresh fruit was waiting for us in the room as we arrived, with a bottle of wine and other nibbles.
A platter of fresh fruit was waiting for us in the room as we arrived, with a bottle of wine and other nibbles.
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THE CLUB LEVEL
Available by private access only, The Club Level is located on the top two floors of the hotel offering the best views of Charleston. A cozy velvet and leather banquette with velour and silk pillows invites you to sit back and relax while enjoying the all-day complimentary food and beverage service! (That includes breakfast, afternoon tea, evening appetizers, desserts, and an open bar!)
 The view from the Club Level where you can enjoy your breakfast, afternoon tea, pre-dinner drinks or evening sweet treats!  |   |
THE SPA & FITNESS CENTRE
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The rooftop bar & sunbeds, perfect to watch the sun set over the city!
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If you follow me on Instagram, you'd know I love a good gym!
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Where to eat in charleston
Fancy atmosphere & gourmet food... the charleston grill
I brought my brother along to review The Charleston Grill, located in The Belmond.
Little did they know he is the most difficult food critic in history! But The Grill passed the test (and that is something!) Everything was absolutely perfect. From the atmosphere, to the jazz band, decor, service, and of course, cuisine.
Little did they know he is the most difficult food critic in history! But The Grill passed the test (and that is something!) Everything was absolutely perfect. From the atmosphere, to the jazz band, decor, service, and of course, cuisine.
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casual & delicious southern food... poogan's smokehouse
A few minutes away from The Belmond, right in the middle of town. Perfect to soak up the Southern atmosphere!
What to do in Charleston?
walk around, get lost, take pictures! repeat.
Walk to the waterfront and take it all in! You will see many gorgeous mansions on your way.
Visit a plantation: The boone hall plantation
There are several plantations you can visit around Charleston. We went to the Boone Hall Plantation. NB: You will need a car to get there! (About 30 minutes from the city centre). Boone Hall Plantation is one of America's oldest working plantations, continually growing crops for over 320 years. The drive into the plantation is very scenic... You may recognise this place from a very famous movie. Can you guess which one? (Hint: Ryan Gosling!)
Entry is $24 per person, and includes a guided tour of the mansion. The tour is 30 minutes.
NB: weather dependant. No tour when it rains!
NB: weather dependant. No tour when it rains!
Allow at least 1 hour at the plantation, to have time to walk around the mansion's garden, and the pond.
