This lovely 50-room bed and breakfast located across from the Old City Market reflects Old Charleston tradition with its wood-paneled lobby and spiral staircase. Guest suites feature over-sized rooms, private balconies, large bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and luxury toiletries. Some suites have working fireplaces. A variety of hot and cold refreshments are available in the lobby all day. If desired, guests can enjoy a complimentary Continental breakfast in bed. Other amenities include champagne greeting on arrival and an afternoon wine and cheese social. Famed Tristan restaurant is located on the ground floor of the same building; other fine restaurants are nearby. -Natasha Lawrence

Originally an 1890 wedding gift from the father of a bride, it features nine elegantly furnished guestrooms with private baths. Built one block from Charleston Harbor across from White Point Gardens, it was established as a guest house in 1946 with an excellent reputation for gracious Southern hospitality. Guests are pampered with a deluxe Continental breakfast on the piazza, in-suite or in the garden along with traditional afternoon tea and freshly baked treats. Within walking distance are grand mansions, shopping and dining establishments. Concierge service will help with dinner reservations, and guests can pick up the city trolley at the park. -Natasha Lawrence

Whether you're on a romantic getaway, a business trip, or planning a wedding, the Mills House Hotel is an exceptional place to stay. It's easily recognizable; just look for the grand, pale pink and white building with the arches. Fine dining, luxurious rooms, an outdoor pool, meeting rooms, and a ballroom are all on the premises. The restaurant and lounge-bar feature country fare and showcase interesting artifacts. Check out the "Legendary Packages" and special events that the hotel hosts time and again.

The Market Pavilion Hotel gives luxury accommodation a new meaning in Charleston. While the rooms and amenities are sure to flatter, it's the Southern hospitality that is a class apart. The staff is courteous and treats guests like royalty. The bar and cafe are great places to hang around for a quick meal or conversation. The cascading pool, in-room bath products, butler service, complimentary cocktails and an intimate, secure environment are reasons to make this your hotel your home away from home.

Francis Silas Rodgers built this lovely mansion in 1887 which today is Hotel Wentworth Mansion. It is a beautiful residence with opulence oozing from its pores. Every little detail has been taken care of-from accommodations to the service. There's a lot of drama where the interiors are concerned. The furnishings are made of mahogany, oak and walnut, and tiled floors, crystal chandeliers, stained glass and ornate plasterwork rule all the rooms here. Sit by the fireplace on cool evenings or take a dip in the jacuzzi which is in every room. The service is superlative and one couldn't ask for more. For a vacation of style and elegance, Wentworth is your pick!

The Planters Inn in the Historic District of Charleston has been serving guests for more than 150 years now. It offers you a grand stay with elegant rooms, whirlpool baths, fireplaces and courtyards, all this at reasonable rates. The suites are decorated with antique furniture, their walls adorned by original artworks. The penthouse with its private terrace, offers a lovely view of the surrounding area. Enjoy your lunch and dinner at the popular in-house restaurant Peninsula Grill. The hotel can even arrange meetings and parties for you, and if there's to be a wedding in the family, you can definitely trust Planters to do a great job.

One of the city's most esteemed accommodations, the John Rutledge House Inn carries the honor of being the site of countless gatherings leading to the formation of our country. No expense is spared to provide the guest with amenities. The rooms are decorated beautifully with antique fixtures, and the upstairs sitting room showcases a marble fireplace and ornate molding. The inn's builder was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

George Barksdale, formerly of the South Carolina House of Representatives, built his home in 1778. After his nephew, Thomas Barksdale, sold the property in 1817, the house's condition slowly deteriorated until it was painstakingly restored in 1985. Today, the Barksdale Inn is a 14-room bed and breakfast. Each room offers comfort and intimacy with a blending of modern luxuries and traditional furnishings. Tea and sherry are served on the back porch each afternoon. In season rates are higher.

The Harbour View Inn is billed as Charleston's finest hotel. The rooms are furnished with four-poster beds, wicker chests and rattan chairs. The rooms have a view of the harbor and the lobby is steeped in nautical mystique. A continental breakfast is delivered to your room and there are snacks, wine, cheese and flavored iced teas available throughout the day. In the evenings, the inn serves fresh-baked cookies with milk and the turn-down service includes candy on the pillow. Rates vary by season.

Battery Carriage House Inn is an eleven-room bed and breakfast with one additional suite located near The Battery in historic downtown Charleston. Each room is individually decorated and has its own private entrance. Samuel Stevens constructed the original building in 1843; the ballroom, library and mansard roof were added later. The bed and breakfast faces White Point Gardens and Charleston Harbor. Rates are higher during the spring and fall. Weekends require a two-day minimum stay.