Andrew Pinckney Inn

Andrew Pinckney Inn has a quintessential Charleston façade, with bright yellow paint and picturesque Juliette balconies covered in colorful flowers. The property's two historic buildings date back to the mid-1800s, and feature original hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. The hotel opened in 1996 and was renovated in 2010 and 2011; its style blends the influences of traditional Charleston and the West Indies.

While the lobby and tri-level atrium area are somewhat dark, other spaces, including the entry to the annex building and most of the rooms, receive ample sunlight.

The rooms have varying layouts, due to the historic nature of the buildings. Decor varies from room to room as well. Some rooms feature enviable views, such as St. Philip's Suite, which has postcard-perfect vistas of the iconic Episcopal church.

The hotel's list of on-site features is short, which helps explain the reasonable rates. The hotel does provide self-parking (for a fee), free daily hot breakfast on a rooftop terrace, free snacks and beverages throughout the day, free Wi-Fi, and a business center with free Internet access and printing.

Andrew Pinckney Inn may offer the best location in Charleston for the price. It's located on Pinckney Street in Charleston's charming Historic Downtown, two blocks north of the Charleston City Market and within walking distance of grand churches, historic sights, world-famous restaurants, and chic shops and galleries. Just around the corner from the hotel are several tour operators specializing in horse-drawn carriage rides.

• 21-minute drive to Charleston International Airport
• 4-minute walk to the Charleston City Market
• 4-minute walk to St. Philip's Church
• 5-minute walk to Waterfront Park
• 7-minute walk to Gibbes Museum of Art
• 8-minute walk to King Street, lined with high-end restaurants, art galleries and shops
• 10-minute walk to Marion Square
• 11-minute walk to the College of Charleston
• 17-minute walk, or three-minute drive, to Calhoun Mansion
• 14-minute walk, or two-minute drive, to the Charleston Museum, the oldest museum in the US
• 17-minute walk, or four-minute drive, to South Carolina Aquarium
• 20-minute walk to South Battery Park
• 12-minute drive to the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum
• 16-minute drive to Charles Towne Landing, the birthplace of America

The rooms have charming, West Indies style decor -- think British colonial with a tropical twist, with crisp white bedding, chairs upholstered in light blues and yellows, and a mix of dark and white woods. Modern electronics include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and iPod docks. Some units have original historic details such as hardwood floors and exposed brick walls.

Every room has a unique layout, due to the historic nature of the two buildings. The downside to this is that some rooms are far more desirable than others: Some units are extremely small, while others have windows that only face the interior of the building.

Still, several rooms, including the St. Philip's Suite and the property's three townhouses, are particularly spacious and even have rather breathtaking views of the downtown skyline's iconic churches.

• Each room is unique, and some feature original hardwood floors and exposed brick.
• Bathrooms with shower/tub combos and Gilchrest & Soames toiletries
• 32-inch flat-screen TVs with digital cable
• iHome docking stations and clock radios
• Daily housekeeping and evening turndown service
• Air-conditioning (some units also have ceiling fans)
• Queen Guestrooms are the inn's most affordable -- the downside, however, is that windows face the building's indoor atrium and thus receive virtually no natural light.
• Junior Suites feature extra sitting areas outfitted with pull-out sofas. Some Junior Suites also feature Jacuzzi bathtubs.
• Two-story Townhouse Suites feature living rooms with pull-out sofas, one-and-a-half bathrooms, wet bars, kitchenettes, and master bedrooms.
• The St. Philip's Suite features excellent views of the city's iconic St. Philip's Church from a Juliette balcony.

While the hotel does not provide any specific amenities for children, the property is suitable for families. Some room types have pull-out sofas and kitchenettes, and little ones might enjoy the free snacks and freshly baked cookies found in the lobby throughout the day. The location in Historic Downtown is convenient for sightseeing.

• The free breakfast served on the hotel's rooftop terrace is extensive, featuring hot items such as casseroles, meat dishes, grits, and sausage, as well as pastries and croissants from the acclaimed local bakery, Saffron.
• Snacks and beverages are available throughout the day in the lobby.

• Free Wi-Fi throughout
• Free newspaper delivery to rooms
• Concierge desk and 24-hour front desk staff to assist with activities, restaurant bookings, and specialized tours
• Laundry service (Monday through Friday)
• Valet parking, for a fee

The hotel does not have dedicated conference rooms, but the property's atrium and rooftop are available for small business meetings. There is also a small business center with one computer and a printer (Internet access and printing are free).

The Andre Pinckney Inn participates in the Green Hotels program, and is required to follow certain eco-friendly practices.

• The hotel uses eco-friendly cleaning supplies and laundry detergent.
• Coffee and tea products are organic and Rainforest-friendly
• The hotel recycles all eligible materials.
• Recycled paper used for office supplies

The two buildings that house Andrew Pinckney Inn's guestrooms are located on opposite sides of Pinckney Street. Both buildings date back to the mid-19th century and have a few preserved historic elements, including hardwood floors, exposed brick walls, and a few stabilizing cables that were strung through the building following the city's 1886 earthquake. Horse-drawn carriages often make their way down this street, as they did over a century ago.

All rooms at the Andrew Pinckney Inn were renovated in 2010 and 2011 and are still in excellent condition. Bathrooms were also redone, featuring stylish fixtures and whirlpool tubs.

For a historic property, the Andrew Pinckney Inn has made a good deal of effort to accommodate those guests with mobility impairments, adding a ramp to the annex and installing elevators in both buildings. The hotel says its rooms are ADA-compliant. (Guests in wheelchairs should note that none of the bathrooms we viewed had roll-in showers or grab rails, however.) The hotel accommodates hearing-impaired guests with communication kits featuring visual alarms and notification devices, closed caption TVs, and TTY telephones.

Although several units at the inn are accessible directly from the outside, and don't require entrance through the lobby, the neighborhood is extremely safe, so there is little cause for concern. All rooms come with safes, and there is a security guard and front desk clerk on-site at all times.