In Charleston, the tempo of life is as sweet as my Uncle Wilbur’s iced tea and as dillydallying as his drawl. That doesn’t stop me, though, from running past the antique stores and art galleries on King Street. I’m headed to cooking school in Suzanne Pollak’s kitchen, where she runs The Charleston Academy of Domestic Pursuits. After all, I’ve got my priorities. No visit to this centuries-old magnolia blossom of a harbor town would be complete without a visit with her. A cookbook author, socialite and expert on Lowcountry manners, she welcomes me, throws me an apron and gets me cooking the moment I walk in the door. Hoisting a glass of wine, nibbling on some fried zucchini cooked by a friend under Suzanne’s expert tutelage, I fold biscuit dough like origami animals. Suzanne swears this is the secret to flaky pastries. I chop dill for salmon flown in from Scotland that morning, and help mix an organic garden salad, composed from lettuce grown next door. Sitting down at the expertly set table for lunch, we relish our reward. It seems a regular Tidewater social occasion.
A bastion of Southern sensibilities that ensnares with cobblestone streets, Doric-columned antebellum mansions, white-painted porticos, Georgian houses and landscaped gardens, Charleston has the biggest historic district in the world after Rome. Tea parties with china cups are as common behind closed doors as strongly mixed cocktails, and hip restaurants mix it up with beloved local institutions. Enlivened by undertones of African slave descendants (known as Gullah) and their folklore, plus cultural food, language and artistry, the city’s a maze of beauty, stories and mystery, a place invigorated by its history and enhanced by the creative spirit.
A port city should be seen from the water. That’s why this time I choose to stay at the newly opened Beach Club at Charleston Resort and Harbor, a Leading Hotel of the World, just across Charleston Bay from downtown. Part of Charleston Harbor Resort’s stunning complex on the water, this premier hotel within a hotel coddles with class, civility, graciousness and casual Southern chic. Capacious rooms, kitted out in sky blue and cloud white, vaunt subtle nautical themes. Each one frames eye-popping city and water views from large balconies and panoramic windows. Huge bathrooms, equipped with plush seersucker robes and soaking tubs, beckon. A Tiki Bar whips up refreshing tipples, while a two-pool area lined with blue loungers invites repose. The lilliputian, infinitely tranquil spa glossed with dreamy cerulean tones, lies inside near the front desk. There, well-trained therapists administer treatments from massages to facials using top all-natural products such as Naturopathica.

© The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
I suppose what I love most about The Beach Club is everyone authentically manages to treat me like family. I travel a lot, so being truly welcomed and cared about makes a difference. Staff seem to intuit my needs, bartenders remember my drink and stellar bellmen, the first Beach Club employees guests see, have their big-hearted salutations down to a science. In the resort complex, yoga classes greet the day, a nifty shop tempts me to buy not one but two bikinis and The Fish House restaurant does an impromptu vegan gourmet menu as well as its Lowcountry-inspired fish and meat dishes. A water taxi at the marina stands by to whisk you to the city’s heart and back again.
The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina
20 Patriots Point Road
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
tel 843 856 0028
Read This Next
Review: Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus
eFlyer Reviews
Dec 6, 2023
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Dec 7, 2023Why Sun-Splashed Mazatlán, Mexico, Attracts Digital Nomads
Mazatlán, Mexico, has long been an attractive home destination for Canadian and American retirees, but, in recent years, young, digital nomads have also discovered the charms of this coastal city, finding inexpensive accommodations, beautiful weather and plenty of bandwidth for working remotely. The laid-back beach scene definitely eases the transition of relocating to Mexico’s West Coast.
Sponsored Content
Hit the High Notes in Nashville
Nashville’s once-modest skyline continues to evolve as its luxury market grows. Lavish hotel properties are added to the landscape while acclaimed chefs stake claim in the robust culinary scene and premier cultural offerings round out the city’s repertoire.
December 2023
Dec 7, 2023Global Traveler Announces the Winners of the 2023 Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel Awards
For its third year, Global Traveler awards the airline, cruise line and hotel brand best representing diversity, equity and inclusion within the travel industry. Over the past year Global Traveler analyzed many airlines, cruise lines and hotel brands to determine which companies prove most committed to changing the world through diversity and inclusion.
December 2023
Dec 7, 2023Enduring Excellence: Global Traveler Honors the Winners Achieving Top Status, Year After Year
The highly anticipated GT Tested Reader Survey has more reason to celebrate in 2024 than ever before. This year marks the 20th anniversary of our GT Tested Reader Survey awards, with many of the winning brands earning milestone accolades for years of dedicated and consistent service.
Sponsored Content
Why Buy Trip Cancellation Insurance?
Don’t risk losing all the money you’ve spent if you must cancel your trip at the last minute. Allianz Travel Insurance can give you:
December 2023
Dec 7, 2023Global Traveler Celebrates the Winners of the 20th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards
As another phenomenal year of travel comes to an end, it’s time, as always, for Global Traveler to celebrate and award those who do it best as we announce the 2023 winners of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards. But that's not the only cause for celebration here: We've hit another major milestone, as this marks our 20th year honoring the best of the best inn world of travel!
eFlyer News
Dec 6, 2023Study Reveals Least Reliable Airports in United States in 2023
Private jet charter service Jettly recently conducted an extensive study to find the most and least reliable U.S. airports in 2023. Analyzing the total number of delays, cancellations and diversions from more than 390 U.S. airports provided by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the results saw the least reliable airports span all corners of the country.
Sponsored Content
Unearth Seoul’s Hidden Gems
Filled with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, Seoul invites travelers to unearth its many gems, and Seoul Tourism Organization is here to help travelers do just that. Through thoughtfully created initiatives like the Theme Tourism County Competition, Seoul Tourism Organization works closely with local districts to identify and showcase what makes each district unique and charming in all seasons.
eFlyer Deals
Dec 6, 2023Christmas Break at All-New The BoTree
The newly opened The BoTree in London didn’t forget about winter festivities, either. Its Christmas Break offer immerses guests in the glamour of London’s holiday season.
ShareThis