Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview

It’s hard to miss the 14-story circular shaped high-rise housing the hotel, a local landmark in Charleston well-known for its top-floor Harborview restaurant, which attracts locals and guests alike. Because of the building’s odd shape, the lobby area on the ground floor is made up of a series of separate rooms. There’s a comfortable seating area in one section with a living-room vibe that features carpets, cozy armchairs, and a fake fireplace. Apart from the lobby, the other public areas of the hotel have a dated look: corridors are lined with ugly, worn carpets, and the restaurant has a tired, old-fashioned look. Many of the guests staying here are couples visiting Charleston on vacation, or on their way to or from a cruise. The hotel is also popular with families.

The Holiday Inn Charleston Riverview is located on the Ashley River overlooking two bridges of the Savannah Highway. The property sits in a fairly isolated location in an area of marshland, but the historic city center is a 10-minute drive away. Charleston International Airport is a 17-minute drive.

• Five-minute drive to The Citadel
• Nine-minute drive to the Waterfront Park
• 10-minute drive to Historic Charleston City Market
• 13-minute drive to South Carolina Aquarium
• 14-minute drive to HL Hunley Museum
• 17-minute drive to Charleston International Airport
• 21-minute drive to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
• 26-minute drive to Middleton Place

Rooms feature pleasant, tasteful decor with gray wall-to-wall carpets in a simple starburst pattern, white and beige walls, attractive oak furniture, framed architectural prints, and elegant lamps providing soft lighting. Amenities include air-conditioning, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, hairdryers, and irons and ironing boards. The King Suites also include a seating area with a pull-out sofa, entertainment center, and kitchenette. All rooms have balconies, though these are not accessible due to safety reasons. Rooms facing the river and downtown area have the best views. 

Many of the guest rooms are due for an update, however, and show signs of wear and tear, like peeling paint, worn carpets, plumbing issues in the bathrooms, malfunctioning telephones and air-conditioning units, and unpleasant musty smells. The traffic noise from the highway next door is also a frequent complaint from guests.

The Harborview Restaurant and Lounge on the top floor of the property is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is a popular place to dine with locals and guests alike. Buffet breakfast is available for an extra fee, and room service is available during restaurant hours. The outdoor swimming pool on the fourth floor is surrounded by a sundeck with loungers, and there's also a fitness center on-site that's well-equipped with several cardio machines and weights. Two computers and printers are available in the lobby for guests’ use, as well as a coffee corner and small provisions store. Other amenities include meeting rooms, free on-site parking, and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. The hotel provides a free shuttle bus service linking the hotel with the historic downtown area -- but it only runs every two hours, which may not be frequent enough for some guests.