Wentworth Mansion Charleston
I enjoy exploring the Hilton Honors footprint. It’s been vast for quite some time, but in the past few years, the program has brought new brands into the fold. It’s also created partnerships with other entities, such as Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) and Auto Camp. I tasted a bit of the former last week during a one-night stay at Wentworth Mansion Charleston. It was a sensible move. The Wentworth had been on my must-stay list for some time, I had a free night certificate close to expiration, and plans to visit extended family in the area were approaching, anyway. These are the main takeaways from my visit.
Arrival
I arrived a bit after the 4 pm standard check-in time. An employee promptly greeted me before I finished opening the door to the still-privately-owned home built in 1886. Check-in was a bit on the stuffy side, but warm enough. As I collected my thoughts after the several-hour drive, the front desk agent launched into the history of the property. I tried my best to keep up.
My heart wasn’t into asking about upgrade options. I’m recently back at lowly Hilton Honors Gold status. In the interest of maintaining low expectations, I didn’t presume SLH properties particularly cared about Hilton status, anyway. Besides, on this one-night stay, I was curious to experience standard accommodations.
The front desk agent assigned a room, advised on the afternoon hors d’oeuvres and wine on the sun porch, and handed me off to a bellman for escorting to my room.
The Room
I received an East Wing room on the top floor. With a spacious foyer and large bathroom, this standard room felt much bigger than it actually was. The king sleigh bed faced windows on three sides of the room, including a few straddling a large wardrobe. Inside was plenty of storage space and a small flat screen TV mounted to the base, which handily pulled out and angled toward the bed.
Beyond the bed was a large area rug, desk, and sitting area. My favorite feature of the room was between those last two – an original gas fireplace. If that wasn’t enough charm, the room offered another fireplace in the bathroom across from the (working!) jacuzzi tub. The bellman helpfully instructed on how to turn each fireplace on and off. He mentioned the nonalcoholic beverages in the fridge were complimentary (as is parking).
I enjoyed the jacuzzi tub the next morning with the fireplace blazing, as I momentarily pretended it was January rather than May.
Breakfast
Circa 1886 is Wentworth Mansion’s onsite restaurant, housed in a separate building just steps away. The restaurant serves breakfast and dinner daily, but I only experienced the first as I had other plans for dinner elsewhere in Charleston.
Breakfast is served 7:30 through 10:30 am daily, and I arrived just before 9 on this Wednesday morning. The dining room was mostly empty, so I shamelessly picked a booth for my solo meal. Breakfast is a fairly formal affair, with white tablecloths changed between diners, but welcoming enough. Wentworth Mansion guests receive a breakfast entree and beverage as part of their stay. I went with the biscuits, sausage gravy, and eggs. The entree tasted better than it looked. I enjoyed the extras which came along with my breakfast, including a small dish of fresh fruit, a nibble of bread, and preserves. Coffee was strong and flowing. The attentive waitstaff ensured my cup was always more than half full.
I savored breakfast as I identified the mellow versions of familiar background music, including:
- The Pixies’ Where Is My Mind on piano
- A strings version of Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends
- More strings via OneRepublic’s Secrets
Service
Service was thoughtful and attentive for most of my stay. As I hopped down for appetizers and wine just after 5 pm, a couple employees welcomed me and promptly offered wine. I settled in with my glass of white and noticed another worker was having small talk with other guests. He then brought me into the conversation. This guy was a true pro, somehow making it all feel natural and unforced. Egads, I caught myself enjoying the discussion, as surface and fleeting as it was.
I subsequently wandered around the main level of Wentworth Mansion Charleston, and before I knew it, the same front desk agent was before me offering up even more history of the property. I rolled with it, learning more about the historic property with 21 guest rooms. He encouraged me to check out the cupola at the top of the mansion, and I’m glad I did. I went up the main staircase, climbing a final spiral one to reach it. The views from the indoor porch were impressive, but stepping outside was even better. The property has sweeping 360 views of Charleston. After all, it’s the tallest private residence in Charleston, I had learned.
Oddly enough, the only service blemish came from a Wentworth Mansion manager, or “Innkeeper,” as the welcome card stated. I had asked for a 1 pm late checkout, just one hour after the standard 12 noon checkout. My request was promptly rebuffed. But I was more disappointed in the reasoning than the actual refusal itself. I found the innkeeper’s explanation insufficient at best and disingenuous at worst. I’ll elaborate on this more in a future article.
Wentworth Mansion Charleston – Conclusion
I had a satisfying stay overall, but the innkeeper interaction will taint my memories of it. I don’t have plans to return to this property at this point as I simply won’t be in the area. Beyond that, what I found to be the innkeeper’s hamfisted handling of my request makes my return even less likely. Nonetheless, I endeavor to remember the positives of my short stay at the Wentworth Mansion Charleston. The property offers a wealth of standard amenities that most anyone can appreciate.
Have you stayed at the Wentworth Mansion Charleston? How was your experience?
