Emeline

Completely unimpressed for a hotel that was over $700 for one night. We arrived 1 PM and were told our room wasn’t ready, but that they’d prioritize and call us when it was ready. We opted to store our bags and walk around while we waited. At 4:30 PM we still hadn’t heard from the hotel and walked back to find our bags still sitting out unattended at the entrance. After checking with the front desk we were told our room wasn’t now ready - thanks so much for that courtesy call that never came. Immediately upon entering the room we noticed a distinct odor akin to a mold/plumbing issue that was masked with cleaning products. Absolutely disgusting. What was most interesting is that despite the efforts for the room to appear clean and fresh, it was not. Probably the dirtiest room I’ve ever had the “pleasure” of staying in and why is there no garbage can in the bathroom? The rooms are beyond tiny and it’s hard for 2 people to even exist in the room together. Beware.

Room is tiny, old carpet, not properly cleaned for this rate. Even mirror looks like someone cleaned their teeth . Bed looks clean but sinks in like very worn. Our view is to the hotel air conditioning right outside the window. Bathroom looks renovated. Disappointing for our first visit to Charleston… first time TripAdvisor really let me down

Quite possibly the worst hotel i have stayed in for a very long time. The list for the one star is long and well deserved. Let's start with the fact that while the rooms are well air conditioned the public spaces are often uncomfortable and so hot your left sweating just standing there. The rooms are ridiculously small and the beds are the most uncomfortable, old and lumpy beds in the universe. Im sure my pictures do not do the divit in this bed justice but I am 5 foot 9 and 123 lbs and when I laid down my entire body sunk into a hole, not because the bed was plush but because so many people had slept in that spot there was a giant dip. Let me try to explain the noise... being downtown you expect some street noise and basic downtown traffic and you also accept that there will be typical hotel noise but our room was literally behind the hotel restaurant and bar...seperated by just the hallway and all you could hear was the noise of the restaurant, changing dishes, loud diners, bar patrons...it was like sleeping in the middle of the chaos! We didn't really sleep for 3 days! The shower doesn't drain and leaves you standing in water, the bathroom sink was cracked and the cleaning crew was definitely not working very hard. Corners filled with dust and they even placed the lotion bottle in the shower so in my sleepy daze I "conditioned" my hair with body lotion... Views...well downtown it can be hit or miss but i included a pic of ours... unimpressed. Places like the francis Marion give you beautiful downtown views all the way to the bay.... this hotel gives you a less inspiring one. Let's talk coffee... probably the most annoying thing about this hotel is that unless your book a suite you get 2 coffee cups but no coffee maker... only suites have a coffee maker in the room?! Im sorry but even the cheapest hotels have coffee makers in the room...and why provide me with two coffee cups if there is no coffee? They have the whole tray set up....Just 2 cups on it!? You have to get up and go buy coffee from the coffee shop or go to the second floor and use the coffee machine up there...there is 1 machine...its quite busy! Ridiculous... buy a 20 dollar coffee machine people! We were here for a business meeting... the meeting rooms were spread all over the hotel and set up in very awkward layouts. Do not recommend for an event!!! If your trying to take a work phone call there is no place to find a quiet spot to do so...plus everywhere I tried to sit down and take a call it was so hot I was sweating in 5 mins. We were told they would text us for early check in as the meeting started at noon and check in isn't until 4 but they offered to hold our luggage which sounded great...until I finally came out of a meeting at 4:30 never having been sent a text for check in...went to desk and room was ready, got my keys and went down to where the luggage was "stored" and found ALL OF MY POSSESSIONS sitting on a cart along with maybe 5 other guests items on other carts just sitting in the lobby for anyone walking by to take anything. I was told they would keep the items in a safe spot but instead the items had been sitting on a cart in the open lobby unwatched and unprotected all day long! I went down with the ticket to claim it, saw it sitting there for anyone to take, waited FIFTEEN minutes to tell them I was taking the cart to my room and no one ever came around so I took the cart entirely unnoticed by anyone on staff and took it to my room. Anyone could have taken anything at any time and no one ever checked to see if it was indeed me who took the cart! Insane and so irritating. The front desk staff can not see the lobby only the valet can and they were not even inside! People walking by on the street could see the carts sitting there and could easily have come in and helped themselves! The staff is numb at best and downright bored when it comes to helping out. The attached coffee shop is a highlight snd makes a mean iced chai.... they are literally the only ones who kept me sane. With all the other options in downtown and the very high price this hotel charges do yourself a favor and opt for somewhere, ANYWHERE, else!

We had a wonderful experience staying at the Emeline Hotel for a family wedding. The decor was beautiful and the atmosphere was fantastic. The courtyard space was our personal favorite. The service we received from hotel staff, specifically Oliver & his brother, went above and beyond expectations. Their kindness and willingness to help in any situation makes us want to return even more than we previously did! There are many great places you could choose to stay in Charleston, but will be recommending Emeline to any and all that ask!

I really wanted to enjoy my experience with this hotel but unfortunately I felt it did not meet my expectations when it came to the price of the experience. For $450 a night (with amenity fees and a surprise credit card processing fee, and don't get me started on service fees for room service) I would expect a better experience than a cockroach in my shower (while I was in it). I had to wait for maintenance (nothing like a solo female traveler having to let a man into her room late at night) to deal with it because he had to lift the drain cover to remove it, and when I brought my concern to the desk staff the next day I was apologized to but nothing else for my troubles. The location is great but absolutely not worth the outrageous pricing for bugs.