Courtyard Charleston Waterfront Review & What to Expect

During my first ever visit to Charleston, my now husband and I stayed at the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront Hotel by Marriott. We had a great experience here and a really enjoyable stay, which is why this hotel is one of my favorite choices for waterfront hotels in Charleston SC on a moderate budget. This is my (not sponsored) full review!

*I was not paid to write this review

This blog contains affiliate links, and I will get a small commission if you are to book a hotel room through these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Quick Summary : Courtyard Charleston Waterfront Review

The Courtyard Charleston Waterfront is directly on the beautiful Ashley river and my choice for one of the best moderately-priced hotels in the city.

This isn’t your standard Courtyard Marriott – it really feels more like a mini resort with great river views, an outdoor waterfront pool, lots of lounge areas, an on-site restaurant, free shuttle service, fire pit, and a super friendly & helpful staff.

All this for a great price just a few miles and walking distance from Downtown Charleston. Keep this hotel in mind as one of the best waterfront hotels in Charleston SC for groups who don’t want to splurge!

Full Courtyard Charleston Waterfront Review : One of the Best Waterfront Hotels in Charleston SC

How to Book Courtyard Charleston Waterfront

I recommend using Booking.com for the best prices at the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront and so you can see photos of each room type when booking. Make sure to check out the views from each room type – there are even rooms with water views for a great price! Keep in mind Charleston is an expensive city to stay in overall.

Is it Worth the Cost?

Yes! The best part about the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront is that you get a nice, scenic hotel on the water with upscale rooms for a fraction of the cost of the hotels on the water on the other, more tourist-popular side of the island.

I will say the average nightly rate is much cheaper during the week days, so you will get a better deal if you’re visiting during the week or over the course of a week versus just coming for a weekend.

Location

The Courtyard Charleston Waterfront is in a great location about 20 minutes from the Charleston International Airport (CHS) and 2 1/2 miles away from the main strip in Downtown Charleston, so you’ll have easy access to everything you could want. You’re a little bit farther from the most popular tourist sites as compared to the hotels which are in the heart of Downtown but getting there is super easy and it’s worth it.

You have several options which I explain in my review below, but in short you can either take the hotel shuttle, take a short drive (~5 min) about self park, take a quick & easy Uber, walk about 45 minutes, bike about 15 minutes or take a pedicab to downtown.

You’re also conveniently just 20 minutes from Folly Beach, which I highly recommend visiting if you’re a person person like I am! Lastly, it’s conveniently right next door to the Historic West Point Rice Mill, which is one of Charleston’s best waterfront event and wedding venues, so it’s an excellent choice for people hosting events there.

What to Expect at Courtyard Charleston Waterfront

As we drove up to the Courtyard Charleston Marriott the first thing we noticed was the beautiful location right on the water. Since it was our first time in the city it was really cool to get a taste for the natural beauty of the area without it being a crazy expensive stay. I was blown away by the scenery and it really felt like we could experience luxury here without splurging.

As soon as we arrived we also noticed how friendly the staff was. You can definitely feel the southern hospitality here and can expect great service! The front desk was so welcoming and helpful, not just at check in but during our entire trip. If only every hotel could be like this.

Our spacious guest room itself was great, and as expected for a Marriott. We opted for a room without a good view because we wouldn’t have much time to spend in the room anyways. It was your typical Courtyard Marriott room and super clean and modern. I really liked this cool chair we had in ours – perfect for napping.

We also checked the free wi-fi when we got in and found it worked great. In case this is helpful to anyone reading, there’s also a business center and a fitness center here (but who needs those 😉).

After getting settled we spent our whole first afternoon at the outdoor waterfront hotel pool with views of the Ashley river and hot tub looking out over all the boats. It made me remember how much I want a boat some day! We also played a long game of corn hole out by the water.

After going up to change we relaxed in the rocking chairs and near the fire pits out by the water. It was a perfect first evening in town before dinner where we spent virtually nothing, thanks for this hotel!

After a night out in Downtown Charleston, we spent more time outdoors at the hotel. There are some benches and fire pits, and it was really nice sitting out for a few minutes before going in for the night. You really have everything you need here!

The next morning my husband, the coffee drinker of the two of us, appreciated that they sold Starbucks coffee at the Bistro restaurant in the lobby.

My favorite part about the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront is the scenic location, still within easy reach of everything that Charleston has to offer. To get to the main downtown area and the Charleston Waterfront park, you have several options outside of driving and parking.

Option 1 – There’s a complimentary shuttle that runs regularly each day. Keep in mind you do have to be patient if you’re going to use it, as sometimes it’s not on time and there could be a line / it does get full. I would probably plan to Uber instead if you catch the wrong timing or the line looks long.

Option 2 – Walk or bike! Whether you walk along the water around the edges of Charleston or through the town it’ll be a scenic path. Walk through the city and you can pass nearby attractions like College of Charleston and Marion Square.

If you want to walk all the way to the Historic District of Charleston & the waterfront park, it’s about 2 1/2 miles if you take the quickest route straight through the city and you will want to wear comfy shoes. You can also turn your walk into somewhat of a walking tour. If you’re okay with walking for a little over an hour, walk along the water for stunning views.

We did this one nice afternoon and then took an Uber back and would do this again! Make your way along the water toward the Battery and White Point Garden, making your way up to Rainbow Row and then Waterfront Park.

Option 3 – Semi unique to Charleston are the pedicab taxis, perfect for the warm climate and seeing more of the city. You can usually just flag one down easily in the center of the historic downtown Charleston area, but if you’d like to take one FROM the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront TO downtown, you can ask for help at the front desk.

Overall, Charleston Courtyard Marriott is absolutely one of the best waterfront hotels in Charleston SC and a great place to post up during your trip to Charleston. Especially if you like the idea of a spacious outdoor pool with beautiful views, and appreciate a river and sunset view like I do!

If you’re convinced you can book your stay at the Charleston Courtyard Waterfront here!

If not, check out my popular guide to where to stay in Charleston SC here for more recommendations. Enjoy your vacation!! ☀️