"How did it strike you on arrival?The Planters Inn corners what you might call "Main & Main" (i.e. arguably the best address in the city), in this case Market & Meeting. Despite heavy foot traffic outside, the inn's interior feels quiet and civilized, as if you've stepped into an affluent private southern residence and been asked to stay awhile. An antique Chinese tea chest graces the entry hall, as do large Gullah woven sweetgrass "rice fanners," and mango iced tea is served in the parlor. What’s the crowd like?Well-mannered travelers from every corner of the globe. Celebrities (but we won't name them). Honeymooners. Julia Sugarbakers. The good stuff: Tell us about your room.I chose a Garden Courtyard Suite in an expanded wing of eleven rooms, each opening onto an L-shaped veranda overlooking a tranquil inner courtyard. Each room has its own wrought iron deck furniture where you can sip an early evening wine or Old Fashioned and watch the ceremonial lighting of copper lanterns below. The newer rooms feel more contemporary than their more traditional counterparts in the main building, but still in keeping with Charleston vernacular. Carved four-poster mahogany beds, accent vases, large Audubon prints, burnished mirrors, and sweetgrass baskets lend a sense of place, while remote-control blinds, dual flat screens, rolling bathroom doors and walk-in showers keep things current. How about the little things? Any of that worth a mention? Any of that find its way into your suitcase?In-room amenities include Nespresso machine, strong backlit vanity lighting, and turndown macarons baked daily by the chef. Wi-Fi was free and strong. As for pilfering things in my suitcase, I should say that guests here are far too well-heeled to consider such an impulse, but if I were a true thief, the question is, "What would I NOT steal?" The Baker Historic Charleston Collection bed alone probably costs more than most luxury cars. Perhaps I would grab a reproduction Sacred Bird and Butterfly Chinese porcelain plate off a hallway wall, a pattern used in Charleston's Nathanial Russell House circa 1808. Room service: Worth it?Not surprisingly, the most popular room service request is a bottle of champagne and a slice of the hotel's famous 12-layer coconut cake (some people even order the cake for breakfast!). Generally, the hotel encourages guests to dine in the restaurant itself so as to enjoy dishes straight from the kitchen as the chef intended. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.Most Charlestonians agree that the Peninsula Grill epitomizes fine dining, and indeed established Charleston families stage special events and large family meals here. The velvet-lined walls and sundry antebellum portraits set a cultivated mood without feeling stuffy, and the food is sublime. A petite but elegant bar is known for its seasonal Meyer Lemon Bourbon, Planters Punch, rare vintages of champagne, and broiled oysters. Bottom line: Why will we love it here?An instant classic since its inception in 1994, meticulously maintained, and the only Relais & Châteaux property in Charleston, a truly elegant hotel with unparalleled fine dining." - Allston McCrady
