Charleston

If you’d like the historic grandeur of Charleston encapsulated in a luxury stay, look no further than the Wentworth Mansion (149 Wentworth St., map), a stunning red-brick, late-19th-century house drowning in elegance, from its rooftop cupola overlooking downtown to its handsome parlor and 21 warm, opulent rooms. It’s pricey, from about $420 a night, but most agree it’s the details—the included cooked-to-order breakfast, the afternoon happy hour, whirlpool tubs and working gas fireplaces in most rooms—that make this property worth a special occasion.

More financially accessible is the boutique Andrew Pinckney Inn (from $119; 40 Pinckney St., map), encompassing two historic buildings downtown. Four suites and 37 rooms are done up in a tasteful British West Indies style, all dark wood and calming blues and sages; amenities include a complimentary rooftop continental breakfast and passes to a nearby gym. The comfortable, renovated Francis Marion Hotel (from $159; 387 King St., map), dating to 1924 and located right on Marion Square (where an excellent farmers market is held on Saturdays), and the cozy Indigo Inn (from $150; 1 Maiden Lane, map)—a former indigo warehouse turned B&B, with a lovely courtyard and free breakfast plus afternoon wine/cheese—are two more solid, well-located midrange options.

Budget travelers, consider the dorms, private rooms/shared baths, and camping facilities at the homey NotSo Hostel (dorms from $26, rooms from $65; 156 Spring St., map) and the NotSo Hostel Annex (rooms from $75; 33 Cannon St., map), the latter of which features private rooms only (some with private bath). Or rent an apartment from Airbnb or VRBO, where great deals can often be found.