What an incredible visit to Charleston, thanks to the dynamic, authentic and most knowledgeable Kevin the Concierge, who should be recognized as an Icon of this historic grand City. Kevin is tireless. His attention to detail and his ability to know instantly what sights and culinary treats would be most appreciated by the guests -- his guests -- to say nothing of his enthusiasm, encouraging one to want to experience all the City has to offer. He is Charleston's Treasure. He works with an incredible team - a group of folks whose sincerity and desire to please we have not experienced anywhere else during our years of travel: Suzi , an effervescent, bright and lovely young woman who went out of her way to make our stay so very, very special; Corey who, on his way home after his evening shift, literally stopped to make sure we parked in the right place; Joyce, a member of the wait-staff who is a credit to the hotel's restaurant; and Nigel, the bartender, a man of good humor who knows how to make the guests feel special, made this Holiday Inn a four-star experience. Musts: Gullah Tours, and restaurants Sienna, Hank's, and Hominy Grill - you will be treated like royalty, thanks to Kevin. This is not your father's Holiday Inn, but a special, engaging and unusual place more deserving of four-stars than most hotels with that rating.

This was def the best hotel we stayed at during our trip. The rooms were awesome and spend the extra to get a balcony. It was within walking distance of everything, maybe 10 minutes to the market. The staff at the hotel were great. I had no plans on talking to the conceirge Keven though we heard alot about him through this site. But, by the second day we were bored so went to talk to him. He really is the best, very helpful, didn't rush you at all and gave us some great ideas and hooked us up with some neat things to do. Everytime we walked through the lobby that man was busy and stayed enthusastic all the time! I hope they are paying him what he is worth because he is an asset to that hotel.
We went to the bar there one night and that was alot of fun. Met some great travelers there and with the bartender and another guy on the staff had a blast drinking and watching college football.
All in all, if we were ever to go back to Charleston, I would stay at this hotel.

Location is great, the staff is the best I ever met. Room are clean and very nice. Just a great experience that I would recomend to anybody who wants to stay in Charleston. They really make you feel at home!

My husband and I travelled from Ontario to Charleston at the end of August for a relaxing adult trip. The 14 hour drive was uneventful and we arrived in Charleston about 8pm on August 26th. Our first night was to be at a 4 star hotel in the downtown area. Now, the hotel was beautiful......but there was one key component missing....a concierge!!! We arrived in time for dinner but had to rely on the door man to give us directions and recommendations for dinner!!

The next morning we checked out of that hotel and took a walk to the Visitors Centre. Now this facility is beautiful and the brochures are carefully displayed and after picking up the brochures we thought would interest us,we lined up to speak to the travel counsellors behind the counter. I asked if there was anything special we should be doing, and recommendations for our week in Charleston and her reply was....well you have the brochures just go through them!! These young girls...and we went back more than once....are incredibly under trained and unhelpful.

At this point we took our brochures and proceeded to the Holiday Inn Historic District. The front desk was extremely gracious and helpful . At this point I spied Kevin McQuade, conierge extraorinaire at his desk . I took my 45 brochures to him and laid them on his desk and then the magic began!!! He spent 2 hours with us lining up plans for the week!!

Now, this is a Holiday Inn and as a Travel Agent I can tell you that it is not a luxury hotel.....BUT what makes a hotel wonderful isn't always the bricks and mortar but more importantly the people working there that make the vacation one to remember. Having said that our room was very nice, the pool courtyard is beautiful, the hotel is situated a comfortable walk to the downtown core right across from Marion Square. But what makes this hotel wonderful is the staff. The front desk staff that say goodbye and hello each time you enter the lobby. Ask you where you went for dinner and how it was and of course the magic of Kevin who sits at the big desk in the lobby and works his charm.

Kevin is genuinely interested in you. Asks all kinds of questions about what interests you. And then gives you knowledge that isn't in any travel book. Because I had the travel books with me and this vacation wouldn't have been anywhere near as special if we had done what I thought we should do according to the books.

Kevin made us fabulous dinner reservations....right down to requesting tables he thought we would like. We had the pleasure of eating at Hanks, High Club, Sienna, Hominy Grill,Cru Cafe, Boathouse Restaurant and Jim's Barbeque. We had drinks at the Pavillion Cafe and listened to live jazz at High Cotton. It was magical.

He had us do Tommy Dew's walk and then the Gullah Tour to get two perspectives on "Southern Living"..His insight was incredible.......we are Canadian......the Civil War and the Southern way of living came alive for us in a way a book could never explain.

We did the Lighthouse Eco Tour......there is no where in Ontario that a dolphin is going to swim along side the small craft and then beach itself on the sand shore to catch fish. The key was, how would we have ever known that happened in South Carolina if it wasn't for Kevin?

Our vacation wouldn't have been anywhere near as special without Kevin's help and guidance. He made the trip for us.....without question. He was also kind enough to take us on "Kevin's Magical Mystery Tour" through the streets of Charleson one evening and show us some of the special places that only a local would know. I still dream about that night.....truely magical.

And last but not least he encouraged us to spend an evening with Ed Macy....doing an incredible ghost walk that was so entertaining.

So to Kevin and staff at the Holiday Inn Historic District......our sincere thanks for a wonderful week!!! We WILL see you all again soon!

Kent and Rebecca