Dinogo Readers’ Top 15 Hotels in Charleston for 2024

For over a decade, Dinogo readers have consistently voted Charleston as the top city in the United States. With its vibrant dining options, picturesque streets, and stunning harbor views, it’s no wonder visitors are captivated by this South Carolina gem. However, as T+L readers will confirm, it’s the renowned Southern hospitality — found in the finest hotels of the Holy City — that keeps guests returning time and again.

Understanding the Voting Process

Each year, for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L invites readers to share their travel experiences from around the world, offering insights into the best hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise lines, spas, airlines, and more. In 2024, more than 186,000 T+L readers participated, casting over 700,000 votes across more than 8,700 properties (including hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Hotels were categorized as resort hotels, city hotels, inns, or safari lodges based on their locations and amenities, and they were rated according to the following criteria:

Accommodations and amenities
Setting
Service quality
Cuisine
Overall value

Respondents rated each attribute as excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores represent the average of these ratings.

What Readers Appreciated

Charleston has been intentionally crafted as a city of boutique hotels. A 1998 ordinance limited new hotels on the lower peninsula to a maximum of 50 rooms, creating a landscape filled with delightful inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Despite their smaller size, these boutique accommodations deliver impressive amenities (like breakfast in bed and afternoon happy hours included in some stays) along with genuine Southern hospitality — something our readers adore. This year, boutique hotels account for nearly half of our readers' favorite hotel selections in Charleston, including the top four. In regards to this year’s runner-up, John Rutledge House Inn, one reader remarked, “I have never encountered such personal and attentive service … I would return here countless times.”

Additionally, Charleston boasts numerous expansive luxury hotels that provide all the lavish offerings one might expect. Hotel Bennett, another popular choice among readers ranked fifth this year, features a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, and a chic Champagne lounge. One reader praised Hotel Bennett, stating, “This is luxury at its best. From the accommodations to the dining and the spa, it’s all incredible.”

Ranging from cozy inns to luxurious five-star establishments, here are our readers’ top hotel picks in Charleston for this year, beginning with the top choice, Wentworth Mansion.

The Champion

Wentworth Mansion

Image courtesy of Wentworth Mansion

For the second consecutive year, T+L readers have chosen Wentworth Mansion as the top hotel in Charleston. This historic property, which has been transformed from a private home into a luxurious hotel, offers 21 distinct guest rooms adorned with elegant features like Tiffany glass panels, marble fireplaces, and dazzling chandeliers. One reader beautifully expressed the hotel’s blend of luxury and intimacy, describing it as “a unique experience to stay in a mansion that brings to mind the Gilded Age. You feel like a resident rather than just a visitor.” This home-like atmosphere is enhanced by the hotel’s location in the quieter Harleston Village, conveniently situated just a short walk from the lively King Street. Guests can enjoy fine dining at Circa 1886, which serves multicourse tasting menus in the evening, as well as a complimentary full Southern breakfast each morning.