Overview
Overlooking the Ashley River just off Highway 61, La Quinta Inn Charleston Riverview is geared towards travellers who require an economical and pet-friendly hotel with easy highway access and a free breakfast.
This hotel has 175 air-conditioned guest rooms, each offering one king bed or two double beds, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a coffeemaker, a desk, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Rooms with a mini-fridge and a microwave are also available, and the hotel is wheelchair accessible.
Hotel amenities include an outdoor pool, fitness facilities, 24-hour coffee in the lobby, a business centre, guest laundry facilities, a free continental breakfast and free parking. Up to two pets per room are permitted free of charge and an area shuttle is available (charges are applicable).
California Dreaming Restaurant is a 2-minute walk away, while Charleston's city centre can be found about 7 minutes away by car. South Windermere Shopping Center is roughly a 5-minute drive (or 16-minute walk) westward, and Charleston International Airport (CHS) is a 20-minute drive northward. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, up to 2 pets free, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: July 25, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with praise going to the hotel's staff, rooms, location and value.
The hotel's staff were praised by numerous guests, who characterized them as friendly, responsive, helpful and knowledgeable. One patron noted, "The staff went out of their way to make our stay very enjoyable and were always helpful with tips on the best places to eat, activities to experience and places to visit".
Many reviewers enjoyed their accommodations at the hotel. They described their rooms as clean, spacious, tastefully decorated and well equipped, with nice harbour views and comfortable beds. A few guests had complaints about their rooms, however (see below).
Several lodgers were pleased with the hotel's location. They found it to be close to Folly's Beach, downtown Charleston, James Island, various attractions, shopping, plantations and the marina. A few guests did mention, however, that this hotel is maybe more suitable for those with a vehicle. (The nearest bus stop is about 12 minutes away on foot.)
The hotel's value was also praised by some guests, who described the rates as reasonable, economical and great.
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about the breakfast area, the rooms and noise transfer.
While the majority of reviewers were pleased with the quality and variety of breakfast items, a few guests had complaints about the breakfast area. They found it to be too crowded, and had a hard time finding a seat when there were large groups at the hotel.
Although many guests enjoyed their clean and well-equipped rooms, a few lodgers had complaints. They reported dog odours, worn decor and some cleaning issues.
Noise disturbances were mentioned by a few lodgers, who reported noise from guests in adjoining rooms, as well as highway noise and noisy in-room air-conditioning units.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #43 out of 55 Charleston hotels with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5 from 422 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 3.8 out of 5 with an 84% recommendation rate from 445 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 7.6 out of 10 from 258 reviews.
The author called the hotel on July 25, 2013 to verify some information.