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Hotel Reviews

Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront

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The Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront is a new and modern hotel located just steps from Portland, Maine’s Old Port neighborhood. It opened in July 2021 and was the first Canopy by Hilton in all of New England. The hotel’s design incorporates the red brick aesthetic of the area with industrial metal accents that pay homage to the working waterfront across the street. The hotel also features local touches, including artwork by Portland artist Matt Chamberlain and a Winter Garden-Reception Area with an artificial skylight that changes colors throughout the day.

Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront
Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront

The 135-room hotel features a rooftop restaurant and bar with waterfront views, a ground-level restaurant and bar, meeting and event spaces, and a glass-walled library with a conference table. Other amenities include a 24-hour gym with Peloton bikes and complimentary cruiser bikes.

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Location

Located on the corner of Center and Commercial Streets, the hotel’s in a great spot to take advantage of both of Portland’s main attractions. It’s across from the waterfront and also just a few blocks from Portland’s Old Port business district.

Parking

On-site, valet parking is available for $40 per day. There is a self-park lot right next to the hotel, but the daily rate doesn’t work out to be much cheaper than valet.

Lobby

The first thing you notice about the lobby is the unique artificial skylight. It changes colors throughout the day, so the vibe in the lobby is always changing. The hotel designers smartly used greenery located throughout the lobby to provide pops of color and bring the outside in. The combination of these features gives the lobby a nice and welcoming indoor/outdoor aesthetic.

After our almost disaster of a flight out of O’Hare, we didn’t arrive to the hotel until 6 a.m. the next morning. During the flight fiasco, I had messaged the hotel from the Hilton app, so they knew we were going to be late. Check-in went very fast, which is to be expected at that time of day, but still very appreciated. We were in our room within a few minutes of arriving and were able to grab a quick nap before exploring the city.

The Room

Everything in the hotel still looks fresh and new, even three years after opening. That includes the hallways and the hotel rooms. The room has a nice entryway complete with an all-in-one unit featuring a dresser, open closet and coffee station.

The rooms are neither large nor small, but the design is all about ease and comfort. The bed was cozy and there were plenty of outlets and USB ports to charge all of your gadgets. I loved the decision to go with wood vinyl flooring instead of carpet. More newer hotels seem to be ditching the old carpet look for this more modern design. It feels much cleaner but doesn’t take away from the room’s warmth.

I also enjoyed finding locally made macarons waiting for us in the room. It was a nice touch that and got our stay off to a pleasant start.

The Bathroom

The modern design continues in the bathroom as they utilized the the same wood for the vanity that’s found on the all-in-one unit. It’s clean and well maintained, showing no signs of wear and tear.

The shower is quite large and there’s a sliding door to separate the shower and toilet from the vanity area.

Hotel Amenities

Amenities include a rooftop restaurant and bar, a ground-level restaurant and bar, a 24-hour gym and complimentary cruiser bikes.

Dining

Salt Yard

The Salt Yard Cafe + Bar offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a chic and welcoming space. During the day, food is ordered at a counter and guests are invited to linger as long as they’d like. They have wonderful pastries and typical breakfast and lunch fare.

In the evening Salt Yard transforms into a cocktail bar with daily happy hours from 2pm to 5pm and a small bar plates dinner menu.

Luna Rooftop Bar

The hotel is very proud of the Luna Rooftop Bar and it’s easy to see why. Located on the sixth floor, the main draw is it’s panoramic view of the working waterfront and Casco Bay.

Luna captures the artistic spirit of Portland, with communal tables, intimate lounges, and accordion glass walls welcoming the outside in. It’s a great spot for people watching and an expertly made cocktail. It also offers shareable plates and small bites, perfect for a round of drinks and appetizers before dinner.

Fitness Center

The 24-hour, complimentary fitness center has everything you could want. Equipment includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, free weights, yoga mats and even Peloton bikes.

Complimentary Bikes

The hotel also offers complimentary bikes to its guests. We love when hotels offer this because it’s a free and fun way to explore a new city. The day we arrived, we rented bikes and had a fun time getting to know the different areas of the city. We asked the staff for suggestions on where to go and they recommended a waterfront trail that goes around the peninsula that is Portland.

Bottom Line

Portland is a classic New England city with so much to offer. If you’re looking for a hotel to setup a homebase, I would highly recommend the chic Canopy by Hilton Portland Waterfront. It’s location is stellar, within an easy walk to the Old Port and a stone’s throw from diverse dining and shopping options. It’s modern and stylish rooms and top-notch cleanliness makes it feel like you’re one of the first customers, even three years after opening.

Trip Report Index

Hotel Indy, Indianapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

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Last month, a high profile college basketball game between Arizona and Purdue brought Annie and me to Indianapolis. We wanted to enjoy the game and evening with a few drinks, so we decided to stay overnight, instead of driving back to Chicago. Having manufactured a free night from of a recent Marriott promotion, I chose to use that free night certificate and 7,000 Marriott points to stay at the Hotel Indy, Indianapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel.

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History

The hotel was originally constructed in 1969 as the State Life Insurance building. Back then it was a concrete cube, made up of large panes of glass, concrete and metal. During that midcentury-modern period, this type of architecture was known as Brutalist architecture. The building served as office space for 50 years.

Then in 2019, after the building’s sale, the new owners began developing it into a hotel. The original building was five-stories, but a sixth floor was added to accommodate more guest rooms and a rooftop lounge with skyline views. After a two years of construction, the hotel opened for business in October 2021.

Marriott calls their Tribute Portfolio brand a “family of independent boutique hotels”. That means every hotel in this brand is unique and in many cases pays homage to the local culture and history.

Location

I chose this hotel for its proximity to the Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where the game was being played. The property is located downtown, in the city’s Wholesale District. It’s just one block from the arena, but also a short walk to Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center.

My only gripe about the location is that it’s across the street from the bus terminal and county corrections office. While I didn’t feel unsafe, some of the people walking around the area seemed a bit shady.

Parking

The hotel offers valet parking for $45 per night, but I decided to use Spot Hero to book a much cheaper spot only a block from the hotel.

Lobby

The lobby isn’t the biggest, but it’s new and styled with clean lines and colorful furniture. The lobby, as well as our room, had an exposed concrete ceiling, which was obviously something kept from the original architecture. The look reminded me of loft apartments that keep exposed walls.

Hotel Indy, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

The Room

Our room was located on the 5th floor. In the elevator bank there was another cutout in the ceiling to expose the old concrete. I particularly liked the styling of the carpet, with the geometric shapes and pops of color.

The open space right as we walked in the room made it feel larger than it was. The hotel designers kept with the theme, but in this case the entire ceiling was old concrete. I wish they hadn’t kept the concrete ceiling theme in the room itself. To me, it made the room feel a little cold and unwelcoming.

However, the room had everything you’d need, including a king bed, a small chaise lounge, a small table, a smart TV and a coffee station with refrigerator. Plus, as you’d expect with a newer hotel, there were plenty of outlets and USB ports.

The Bathroom

The bathroom was clean and modern and I particularly liked the lighted circle mirror.

Hotel Amenities

Dining

There are multiple dining options within the hotel. Around the corner from the front desk is The Brandon coffee bar which is open until 2 p.m. The Hulman, a full service restaurant, is also located on the first floor near the lobby. The third option is The Cannon Ball Lounge on the 6th floor.

The Hulman

The Hulman offers Indy-inspired American fare. While the restaurant has a nice look to it, the reviews seem to be hit or miss.

The Cannonball Lounge

The Cannonball Lounge is located on the hotel’s 6th floor. It’s one of Indianapolis’ only rooftop lounges, where guests can enjoy craft cocktails, small bites, and local beers. The lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows to gaze at the cityscape while sipping on drinks. It also has an outdoor rooftop with terrific views of downtown Indianapolis.

Photo courtesy of Marriott Hotels.

Fitness Center

There is no spa or pool, but they do have a 24-hour fitness center equipped with cardio machines, free weights, yoga mats, and more.

Bottom Line

I always prefer newly renovated hotels. They’re clean, modern and usually there’s no “ick” factor. The Hotel Indy fits those adjectives but I think the style may not appeal to everyone. For me, I didn’t love the exposed concrete ceilings in the room itself. It was a nice touch in the lobby and common areas, but I prefer my room to be more traditional.

That being said it is really close for people attending nearby concerts or sporting events.

Trip Report Index

  1. Manufacturing a “Free” Hotel Night in Indianapolis
  2. Hotel Indy, Indianapolis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort

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Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Entrance
The Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort

One of the perks of owning the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is receiving up to $400 in annual statement credits for eligible purchases made at participating Hilton resorts. The difficulty in using this benefit, is that it only applies to those specific properties Hilton classifies as “resorts”. In the United States, the vast majority of these are located in warm-weather climates like Florida, California or Arizona.

Note: Prior to 2024, the resort credit was $250 per year, however it now comes in two $200 semi-annual credits (one credit to use January to June and the other to use July through December).

As someone who lives just outside Chicago, I’m pretty much in a Hilton resort wasteland. In order to use this benefit, I have to plan a whole vacation like in 2022 when I stayed at the Hotel del Coronado.

Fortunately, Illinois has one property that does classify as a resort, the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort. Since the resort credit is “use it or lose it”, I’ve gotten into the habit of booking a room here when I don’t have plans to use the credit elsewhere. I’ve stayed at this resort twice in the last six years — once in 2018 and again in late 2023. Both times the sole reason was to use up the resort credit before it expired.

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History and Location

The hotel was built in the 1980s, so I assumed it would be a little dated. When I stayed there in 2018, however, I was pleasantly surprised as it had recently completed a dual-phased renovation. When Hilton took control of the property in 2014, their stated renovation goals were:

  1. Stress the “resort culture” and its most stunning feature, the views
  2. Enhance the overall look and functionality of meeting rooms and guestrooms
  3. Improve use and flow of the lobby, restaurants, and public spaces

Even in 2023, the renovation still looks great even though it’s been seven years already. The resort is conveniently located just 17 miles from O’Hare Airport and 20 miles from downtown Chicago.

Lobby

The result of the relatively recent overhaul is a modern and elegant lobby. It still looks brand new and that clean, modern feeling reverberates throughout the entire hotel.

Hotel Rooms

During my 2023 stay, the goal was to earn the most Hilton points I could without spending more than $250. So I booked a suite that had a bedroom plus living room. In addition, I booked the more expensive “double points” rate to earn twice as many base points.

King Bedroom Suite with Living Room

The suite itself was really nice! Everything from the carpet to the furniture looked brand new. Assuming the room had been renovated several years ago, it has aged very well.

When I opened the door to the suite, I found myself in a large living room. There was easily room for three to four people to fit comfortably amongst the couch, chair and desk.

Across from the couch was a wall-mounted flat screen TV, making this room a perfect hang out area.

The bedroom was located through the living room doorway. What’s really nice about the suite is you can shut the door and close off the bedroom from the living room. That’s a nice privacy option if you’re staying with family or friends and want to have some separation.

The bedroom was big, fitting a king bed, a dresser and two night stands. There were a lot of gold accents, and I particularly liked the headboard, all of which made the room feel elevated.

The Bathroom

Compared to the room itself, the bathroom was just average. One thing I noticed is that the tile work between the toilet and shower showed signs of wear. That area of a hotel bathroom must wear quickly because I’ve noticed this in many hotel rooms over the years.

Bottom Line

The “double points” room rate, including taxes, was $218. I also charged a beer and some hot wings to the room, so the total bill came to $249.42. Within a few business days, that entire amount was reimbursed by the resort credit. What’s great about the whole thing is I still earned Hilton points for my stay. In total, I earned 12,025 Hilton points for a stay I paid absolutely $0 for!

Standard Two Queen Beds Room

My original stay in 2018 was during the summer and I had my two daughters with me. The goal of that stay was to have a resort-like, one day, stay-cation on the cheap. The room rate on that stay was higher, so I booked a standard room with two queen beds.

The view from our room of the outdoor pool and Willow Crest Golf Club.

Our room was clean and being on one of the upper floors, it had a beautiful view. On a clear day you can even see the Chicago skyline to the east. The room was on the back side of the resort, so we had views of the beautifully manicured golf course and the outdoor pool. We even had a birds eye view of an outdoor wedding that occurred that afternoon.

Using Elite Status Benefits

Executive Lounge

Another benefit I receive as a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire cardholder, is Hilton Diamond Status, which provides access to the Executive Lounge.

I visited the Executive Lounge the morning after my stay to check out the free breakfast. There were only three hot food options available that morning — scrambled eggs, sausage and breakfast potatoes. They also had fruit, a variety of bread to eat as is or toast and yogurt. To drink they had bottled water, soda and a Starbucks coffee machine.

Hotel Amenities

Pools

The outdoor pool area can’t complete with sprawling resorts you might find in warmer climates, but it’s pretty nice for what it is. Even though we didn’t arrive until after lunch, there were several lounge chairs still available. Keeping with the “resort culture” theme, the hotel had staff walking around taking drink and food orders. They also have a snack shop called Noonan’s right next to the pool where those relaxing pool side can pick up a quick snack or beverage.

There was no reason for us to use the indoor pool on such a nice summer day, but it’s a nice option for off-season or rainy days. They also have a few ping pong tables by the indoor pool that we enjoyed.

Dining

Things have certainly changed from 2018 to 2023 in terms dining benefits for those with elite status.

Back in 2018, I received vouchers for the Sunday breakfast buffet worth $18 per person. The breakfast buffet was top notch and had everything you might want. From eggs to oatmeal, waffles to pancakes, even lox and bagels, the buffet had all the breakfast basics covered. There was also a chef making omelets and waffles to order!

Post-pandemic, the resort offers access to complimentary breakfast in the Executive Lounge for up to two guests for qualifying Hilton Honors members in lieu of the $15 daily food and beverage credit.

Room Service

Room service is one thing that hasn’t changed. Back in 2018, my daughters were young and thought it’d be fun to order room service for dinner. The menu had some nice options and everything we ordered was very good. I had the charcuterie pizza which is exactly what it sounds like. Cheese pizza with several different types of Italian meat toppings and it was very tasty! My kids liked their burgers and fries and really just enjoyed the whole room service experience.

B. Restaurant / B. Lounge / B. Cafe

Next to the lobby is the restaurant space. The resort calls it three different things but everything is really in one large space. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner while the lounge is a good spot to have a happy hour cocktail. The cafe focuses on quick items like Starbucks coffee, pastries and grab-n-go options.

Golf

The Willow Crest Golf Club looks like a nice track and is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, which preserves wildlife habitat while protecting the property’s natural resources.

The hotel has many other amenities that I haven’t taken advantage of, including a fitness center and meeting/conference rooms.

Miscellaneous

During the summer weekends, there’s a lot of action happening across the resort. It was very lively! During the day, the hotel had a kids station setup poolside. Kids could be entertained with arts and crafts while their parents enjoyed the pool. At night, they set out chairs so guests could watch a movie al fresco.

Preparing for the outdoor showing of Guardians of the Galaxy 2

Bottom Line

I’ve enjoyed both stays at the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills resort. It’s recently renovated and has many of those “resort culture” amenities that you’d expect from a Hilton resort property. 

Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago

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The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago is a newly renovated boutique hotel in the heart of “The Loop”, the city’s bustling downtown business district. Renovations of the 191 guestrooms and 22 suites were completed in 2019, but work is still in process on the lobby and restaurant (as of November 2023). My wife and I used a free night award certificate earned from my IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card for a stay-cation in downtown Chicago. We chose this hotel because of its proximity to the Chicago Theatre where we had tickets to see a comedy show one evening.

Kimpton Monaco Chicago

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Location

The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago is located at the corner of North Wabash Avenue and East Wacker Place. The location is perfect whether you plan to get around on foot, by car or by train. There are three subway stops within two blocks and a commuter train station just five minutes away. However, any city is really best explored by waling the streets and thsi hotel is a great home base for that. The Kimpton Monaco is within a ten minute walk from world-class shopping on Michigan Avenue and State Street. It’s also just steps from several iconic theaters in the Chicago Theater District. Here are a few other nearby attractions:

  • Chicago Riverwalk – a 1.5 mile waterfront corridor located just outside the hotel’s front door that’s home to restaurants, bars and a “must-do” architectural boat tour
  • Millennium Park – one of Chicago’s newer attractions, this park is home to the famous mirror-like Cloud Gate sculpture and an outdoor music venue
  • The Art Institute of Chicago – a world renowned museum where you can gaze at Georges Seurat’s “La Grande Jatte in the River Seine”, just like Cameron did in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
  • Navy Pier – under ten minutes away by car, this 50-acre waterfront park is a hit with families; attractions include the Chicago Children’s Museum, a musical carousel, a large Ferris wheel, mini-golf, an IMAX theater and plenty of shopping and dining options

Parking

Valet parking is available with unlimited in and out privileges for $64/night. This still feels like it’s over the top expensive, but unfortunately it’s very much in line with other downtown hotels.

Lobby

Unfortunately the lobby and restaurant were undergoing renovations during our stay. During the renovations, the hotel is using the restaurant entrance as the main hotel entrance and the restaurant’s waiting area as a makeshift lobby.

Even though I would’ve loved to stay here when all the renovations were complete, the hospitality from the staff made the stay worthwhile. At every touchpoint, the staff was friendly and super helpful. We were greeted warmly by the bellman as we pulled up in our car. He explained the parking policy to me and then directed us inside the hotel. Before we could even think about opening the front door, he quickly swooped in and opened it for us. In fact, he did that every time we exited or entered the hotel. Most importantly, he was always smiling and talkative, whether it was filling us in on the state of the renovations or recommending a nearby restaurant.

The Room

Upon entering the room, we first noticed a nice entry area that’s a little bigger than the typical hotel room entryway. The bathroom was to our left and just ahead was a closet, featuring a mini-fridge, bathrobes and yoga mats.

The decor is modern and sophisticated, with distinctive details such as tufted headboards. The rooms have high ceilings and large bay windows, which is a signature detail of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago. At those bay windows are cozy perches where you can sit and take in the action of the city below.

All rooms and suites have modern conveniences like 55-inch televisions with fully interactive streaming capabilities, Bluetooth-compatible alarm clocks and plenty of outlets and USB ports.

Beside the location, the other main reason we chose this hotel was that it’s dog-friendly. Kimpton is an IHG hotel brand and IHG is probably the most dog-friendly hotel chain in the United States. On the website, it says “We invite you to bring your pet no matter their size, weight, or breed, all at no extra charge. If your pet fits through the door, we will welcome them in.” With that open invitation, we brought our golden doodle, Murray, with us!

Murray liked the comfortable bed but his favorite thing was sitting on the bay window perch and looking out at the city.

The Bathroom

The redesigned bathroom matches the guest room perfectly. While it’s on the small side, the bathroom was clean and modern. It had a tiled walk-in shower with marble accents, a rain showerhead, a detachable hand faucet and a custom vanity with lighted mirror.

Hotel Amenities

Dining

Fisk & Co.

Fisk & Co offers a Belgian-inspired take on seafood and craft beer at lunch and dinner and an American-with-a-twist breakfast and brunch. During the warmer months, their outdoor patio is also open.

The hotel offers room service, which they call “Knock and Drop”. Guests can order from the full menu and satisfy their cravings whatever the hour. We took advantage of this to order dinner to our room, so we didn’t immediately leave Murray to go out to eat. Annie and I both ordered cheeseburgers, and they were really delicious.

Miscellaneous

Every day from 5pm to 6pm, the hotel has an evening social, where complimentary wine and a light snack is served. We went down there while we waited for our dinner and enjoyed a few glasses of wine in an elegant setting.

The hotel also has a complimentary fitness center that’s open 24/7. They have one Peloton bike, two treadmills, two elliptical machines, a stationary bike, free weights, yoga mats, balance balls and other accessories.

Bottom Line

I really enjoyed staying at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago. The cost of parking is really the only negative, but it has a lot going for it. It’s newly renovated, the location can’t be beat, it’s dog-friendly and the staff gets an “A” for hospitality.

The room renovations are very modern and well done. I’m excited to see the finished product once the lobby and restaurant renovations are also complete. The hotel’s location is right in the heart of everything and they will welcome your furry friend no matter his or her size. Finally, having a staff that’s welcoming, friendly and social really makes a difference and added to my enjoyment of the hotel. I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to return!

Trip Report Index

  1. Using My IHG Free Night Award at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco
  2. Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago

The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel

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If you need a place to stay when visiting Charleston, you can’t go wrong with the superb, Marriott-branded Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel. It was redesigned and relaunched in 2017, and still feels brand new six years later. The exterior is kind of inconspicuous, but inside the hotel is vibrant, charming and eclectic. Amenities include a coffee shop, restaurant, heated outdoor pool, fitness center and complimentary bikes with which to explore the historic city.

The Lindy Renaissance Charleston
The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel feels hidden despite being in the middle of downtown.

All that being said, perhaps the best part of the hotel is the southern hospitality guests receive. Every staff member we encountered bent over backwards to provide top notch service and it really added to the experience.

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Location

Situated in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, the hotel’s location on Wentworth Street could not be better. It’s about a half-block from famous King Street, which has an array of shops, restaurants, bars, and galleries. One might wonder about the noise level given its proximity to this iconic Charleston street. Fortunately, it’s situated on a lesser trafficked cross street, so it feels hidden despite being in the middle of downtown.

The hotel is also adjacent to the College of Charleston and within a 10-minute walk of other popular attractions like Charleston City Market.

Parking

On-site, valet parking is available for $45 per day. They also have an electric charging station opposite the entrance for those with electric vehicles.

Lobby

During the renovation, the lobby was redesigned and furnished to create a central meeting place in the heart of the hotel. It’s a warm and inviting space, with comfy chairs all over the place encouraging people to connect and hang out.

The lobby functions as the meeting and gathering hub for hotel guests.

We arrived at the hotel around 11 a.m., so as expected, our room wasn’t ready. However, the front desk checked us in and took care of tagging and storing our luggage, so we could start exploring the city.

The owners of The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel have done an incredible job training the staff. Everyone who works there was warm, accommodating and happy to go out of their way to provide excellent service. I didn’t expect this level of service and really didn’t think it would even matter that much to me. However, it really did enhance our stay and would be a big reason to come back.

Every valet provided excellent service to their guests.

Great service can usually be measured by the little things. The valets always opened the door anytime we were coming or going. They were eager to recommend local attractions or help us decided on a place for lunch. I also saw a guest ask a valet where he could recycle a can of soda. Instead of just pointing him in the direction of the trash receptacle, he took the can from the guest and disposed of it himself.

The Room

As with the rest of the property, the hallways and hotel rooms still looked new and modern, even six years after the renovation.

I loved the decision to go with wood vinyl flooring instead of carpet in the rooms. It’s a much more modern look and and felt both rustic and clean.

I also enjoyed the curated artwork above the bed, which kept with the hotel’s eclectic style. It gave off a boutique hotel vibe that you don’t usually get from a big hotel chain. Overall, the room had a king bed, plus a large sitting area and a small desk. It also had a 55-inch smart TV and plenty of outlets and USB ports to charge all your gadgets.

The Bathroom

The decently-sized bathroom was clean and well maintained, showing no signs of wear and tear.

The black-and-white rabbit wallpaper, which lined the bathroom walls, was another nice eclectic touch.

Hotel Amenities

Amenities include a coffee shop, restaurant, heated outdoor pool, fitness center and complimentary bikes.

Dining

The Lindy Renaissance Charleston has a coffee house plus a full scale restaurant and bar on the premises.

Handy and Hot

The hotel’s coffee shop, Handy and Hot is open daily between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. This grab-n-go spot specializes in homemade biscuits, hand pies and other assorted breakfast and lunch items.

Lenoir

Opened in 2021, Lenoir is a concept from chef, cookbook author and PBS star, Vivian Howard. Open Tuesday through Sunday, it serves cuisine of the rural, agricultural South and aims to treat people like they are guests in a home rather than patrons in a restaurant.

Photo Courtesy of Marriott.

Outdoor Pool

The heated saltwater pool is located on the hotel’s rooftop. It’s a great spot to soak up some sun while enjoying the charm of Charleston’s historic buildings.

Fitness Center

The 24-hour, complimentary fitness center is located next to the pool and has everything you could want. Equipment includes treadmills, elliptical trainers, exercise bikes, free weights and strength-training machines.

Complimentary Bikes

The hotel offers guests complimentary bikes with which to explore the “Holy City”.

The staff helped us map out a route and then we were off to explore. Riding bikes through the city was definitely one of the highlights of our trip. We actually biked twice while we were there, exploring all different parts of Charleston, from the harbor to Waterfront Park to some of the more residential areas.

Bottom Line

I would love to come back to Charleston some day and there is certainly plethora of great hotels to choose from in the historic district. However, I wouldn’t hesitate to stay again at The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel. The location can’t be beat and I was really impressed with the level of service given to us by every single hotel employee. Charleston is a very charming and vibrant city and this hotel is the perfect match.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Charleston
  2. The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel
  3. Where to Eat in Charleston